Adding Root Fungi When Planting Vegetables
What Are Mycorrhizae?
Certain kinds of fungi associated with the roots of plants have occurred naturally in the soil for 400 million years. Under the right conditions, they form a close symbiotic relationship with plant roots. They are called mycorrhizae (from the Greek "mukés", meaning fungus, and "rhiza," meaning roots).
This little known family of beneficial fungi live in and around the roots of 95% of the earth's plant species that have not been disturbed by humans, serving as a secondary root system by extending themselves far out into the soil.
Mycorrhizae extract mineral elements and water from soil for their host plant, and live off the plant's sugars. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and other landscape plants with a good population of "mycorrhizal roots" systems are better able to survive and thrive in stressful man made environments.
When mycorrhizal fungi colonize the plant's root system, they create a network that increases the plant's capacity to absorb more water and nutrients such as phosphorus, copper and zinc. This process in turn enhances growth and favors rapid development of roots and plants.
Most Soils Bereft of Mycorrhizae
However, in most soils that have been disturbed by residential construction, or intensive cropping practices with applications of fertilizers containing pesticides and other chemical products, the mycorrhizae content has considerably diminished, and has become insufficient to significantly enhance plant growth.
Mycorrhizae Now Available For The Plants of Yardeners
In the past decade, companies have developed the technology needed to reproduce natural mycorrhizae and package them in a medium that keeps them viable for several years. These new mycorrhizal products are used when planting new plants, transplanting plants to a new place, or on plants already in place. The idea is to get the mycorrhizae down into the root zone of a plant so they can attach themselves to the root system and start doing their good works.
Different groups of plants use different kinds of mycorrhizae, sort of keeping things in each family. Therefore you want to be sure to read the label on any of these products to be sure the material contains mycorrhizae appropriate for the plants you want to improve.
How Do I Use Mycorrhizae??
The products containing Mycorrhizae are most often applied as part of the planting process. The Mycorrhizae are sprinkled into the hole before the plant is placed in the hole. Some products can be applied around existing plants. For details see the instruction with the product descriptions in Tool Shed linked below.
MYKE® is used for fruits, vegetables and culinary herbs, when transplanting seedlings or sowing seeds indoors or outdoors. It ensures an abundant and bountiful harvest of superior quality. It contains mycorrhizae on a natural fine granulated carrier (compost and peat) providing a good seed germination environment.
Instructions For Use With Seeds
1. Turn over soil
2. Spread a layer of MYKE in the bottom of furrow.
3. Sow seeds
4. Cover with soil, water thoroughly
Instructions For Use With Seedlings
1. Turn over soil and dig a hole according to the root ball size.
2. Apply a layer of MYKE on the sides and bottom of the hole
3. Be sure that the new roots are in contact with the product.
4. Cover with soil and then water well.
When using MYKE growth supplements ( called MYCORISE™) only one application is needed. The product should be placed as close to the roots or the root zone as you can so the roots can be colonized by the fungus in the product. It takes about 4 weeks for this to happen. As the roots grow, the mycorrhizae will develop and multiply along with those expanding roots.
MYKE Vegetable Garden is available in 1.4 quart (for 95 plants) and 3.6 quart (for 265 plants) containers.
For more information and a retail source go to Web Site for MYKE
