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What is bitter melon? You many have seen this fruit if you live in an area with a large Asian population, or more recently at the local farmers market. Bitter melon information lists it as a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes other cucurbits such as squash, watermelon, muskmelon and cucumber. Let’s learn more about how to grow bitter melon plants in your own garden.
Bitter Melon Information
Bitter melons are the fruit from an herbaceous vine, which as its name indicates is extremely bitter — too bitter to eat if allowed to ripen. Hence, the fruit of the bitter melons — and sometimes the tender leafy shoots — is harvested while young and then stuffed, pickled or sliced into a variety of menu items.
Also known as bitter gourd or balsam pear, bitter melons are harvested prior to seed hardening and are of a uniform pale green with a warty appearance. Fruit from the bitter melon vine can be harvested anytime during the growth period but generally when full sized, still green and about two weeks after anthesis, or the period of time between the opening of blooms and formation of fruit. Bitter melon begins to bloom between four to six weeks after sowing.
Bitter melons are indigenous to Asia with southern China and eastern India the most likely centers for domestication. Today, bitter melons are as likely to be cultivated throughout the world for their immature fruit. None of this completely answers the question, “What is bitter melon” so here is some additional bitter melon information.
The bitterness from this cucurbit stems from the alkaloid momordicine found in growing bitter melons and not to cucurbitacins, which are found in other Cucurbitaceae members. The darker the variety of bitter melon, the more bitter and intense the flavor of the fruit whether being used in culinary dishes or for its various purported medicinal properties such as a hypoglycemic and stimulant for digestion.
The interior of the fruit is a spongy, white pulp peppered with seeds. When bitter melon is sliced, it has hollow areas surrounded by a thin layer of flesh with a central seed cavity. When used for cooking, the pulp is sliced and either parboiled or soaked in salted water to lessen the overly bitter flavor. The resulting texture is watery and crunchy, akin to cucumber. As the flesh of the bitter melon ripens, it turns orange, mushy and splits into sections which curl back exposing seeded bright red pulp.
How to Grow Bitter Melons
Bitter melons are most suited to tropical to subtropical temperatures and thrive in a variety of soils. This rapidly growing vine requires trellising and is usually grown upon a support for climbing vines that is at least 6 feet (1.8 m.) high and 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m.) apart.
Bitter melon plant care dictates planting when there is no danger of frost and temperatures have warmed. Grown as an annual crop, seeds can be obtained from a number of suppliers and direct sown in almost any soil type, although growing bitter melons do best in deep, well-draining, sandy or silt loam.
Bitter Melon Plant Care
Bitter melon is susceptible to most of the same diseases and insect attacks that plague squash and cucumbers. Mosaic virus and powdery mildew afflict bitter melons and it may be subject to fruit flies, so much so that commercial producers will often cover the developing fruit with paper bags.
Bitter melon should be stored between 53-55 degrees F. (11-12 C.) at a fairly high humidity with a shelf life of two to three weeks. Keep the bitter melon fruit away from other ripening fruits to avoid hastening the ripening process.
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)
Bitter gourd, bitter squash, balsam pear, goya, karela
Annual (Perennial in tropical climates)
Bitter melon grows best in USDA zones 9 to 11. The vines of this plant can reach a length of 16 feet. It grows best in full sunlight and in sandy or loamy soil that is well-drained. The pH level of the soil should range from 5.5 to 6.7. If the soil is lacking nutrients, compost needs to be added to make the plant fertile. Bitter melon is known as a fruit but is often used as a vegetable. The fruit is green in the beginning, with a white pith. As it ripens, the outer layer becomes extremely bitter while the pith becomes sweet and red (1). The two varieties of bitter melon are the Indian bitter melon and the Chinese bitter melon. The Indian variety has sharp ridges and warty. The Chinese variety has smooth ridges and is less bitter (2). The fruit is prone to rotting when it comes in contact with moist soil, so its vines should be trellised (1).
Bitter melon seeds should be planted ¾ inch deep and spaced 20 inches apart. A trellis, bamboo poles, or wooden stakes should be inserted in the soil close to where the seeds are planted, allowing the vines to climb up. Once the plants have grown 6 leaves, fertilizer should be added to the soil every 2 weeks. It is necessary to keep the soil moist for a depth of at least 20 inches in order to encourage the growth of healthy fruits. When the vines are not grown on a trellis, the fruits are prone to rotting, so a layer of mulch or straw should be added under the vines. Bitter melon fruits are at risk from the mosaic virus, powdery mildew, and being attacked by insects such as the fruit flies. In order to protect the fruits, it is common to wrap them in newspapers or paper bags with an opening at the bottom. Bitter melons should be harvested regularly to encourage the growth of new fruits (3).
Medicinal/Culinary uses of Curry Plant:
Bitter melon has various medicinal properties. It is antimicrobial, antiviral, and can treat ulcers. It contains a chemical that acts similarly to insulin and can help lower blood sugar levels. A decoction of the root can treat dysentery, rheumatism, and gout. As an antioxidant, the fruit has the ability to lower bad cholesterol levels, which can reduce the risk of getting heart disease. However, consuming too much bitter melons can reduce sperm production in men and may lead to infertility. The antiviral components that have been extracted from the fruit have led to the treatment of HIV (4). They have been used to treat stomach and intestinal problems such as colitis, constipation, and intestinal worms. Bitter melons have also been used to treat psoriasis and liver diseases (5). Bitter melon dishes consist of the fruits being stuffed with pork or shrimp. They have been fried, pickled, or added to soups. In order to reduce the bitterness, bitter melons can be parboiled or soaked in salt water before cooking. The fruits, flowers, and young shoots are all edible (4).
Significance to Cultural Communities
Bitter melon is native to India. It is used in folk medicine to treat Type 2 diabetes in China (1). It is a staple vegetable in Japanese gardens because of its ability to grow in the harsh summer heat, and it is popularly used in Japanese cuisines (3). The indigenous groups of the Amazon add bitter melons to bean dishes and soups. They also brew a tea from the leaves to treat diabetes, measles, hepatitis, fevers, and to stimulate menstruation. A paste made from the plant can be applied to wounds, sores, and infections. Bitter melon is also used in folk medicine in Brazil. It is used as contraception and can induce abortions. Brazilians also treat the fruit as an aphrodisiac while using it to treat rashes, eczema, leprosy, and other skin ailments. Bitter melon is used to treat diabetes and dysentery in Mexico, where the root is also considered an aphrodisiac. In Peru, the plant’s leaves are to cure malaria and treat inflammation. In Nicaragua, bitter melon is used to treat stomach pains, coughs, headaches, hypertension, and help with the childbirth process (6).
Growing Bitter Melon Plants
A bitter melon is consumed in very limited quantities as it is thoroughly disliked by many, especially children. However, it has numerous health benefits. The following article gives you a gist about how to grow this vegetable.
A bitter melon is consumed in very limited quantities as it is thoroughly disliked by many, especially children. However, it has numerous health benefits. The following article gives you a gist about how to grow this vegetable.
A bitter melon is found in many nations across Asia. It is also a native to many other nations, which are situated in the tropical belt of the world. Usually, it is often found in the wild, but many farmers cultivate it too.
The intense bitterness of this vegetable gives it the name ‘bitter melon’. Some of the other names that are commonly used are balsam pear, bitter gourd, and Ku Gua. Its scientific or botanical name is Momordica charantia. This plant is a creeper, and looks very much like a cucumber vine. Its vine is characterized by a curly growth, tendrils, and brilliant flowers that are yellow in color. The bitter gourd itself is a very odd-looking vegetable. It has an oblong shape, and is greenish in color. A very peculiar feature of this fruit is the external skin that is extremely rough and knobbly. This veggie is used to make curry in India. In some of the Indian recipes it is also fried or boiled. Young children especially dislike recipes using this vegetable due to its bitterness.
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The process of planting and growing bitter melons is pretty straightforward. It does not require a lot of care as it is adapted to the wild. The following are some of the steps for growing this plant.
- Step 1: The seeds are now available in most of the non-tropical countries. You will need to checkout the nearest nursery or botanical garden in your locality. Another way of acquiring the seeds is by ordering them through the Internet.
- Step 2: The next step is to germinate the seeds. To do that, keep them in water for a time span of about 48 hours. After that the seeds start to swell up. Take off the outer covering of the seed. Be careful while taking it off, and do not damage the seed inside.
- Step 3: Make a small hole in moist soil that is about ¾ inch deep. It is very important to keep the soil moist, till the green shoot of the plant pops out of the ground. This shoot is botanically known as the cotyledon. It takes about a week for it to come on the surface of the soil.
- Step 4: The bitter gourd plant has to be transplanted after about two leaves have appeared on its shoot. The place for transplantation has to be dry and also sunny, as this plant is a victim of fungal diseases. Insert a six feet tall pole in the ground that acts like a support for the creeper. Transplant the bitter melon creeper on a sunny day, when the temperature is about 60°F. It is also very important that the roots and the soil around them are not disturbed while the creeper is being transplanted.
- Step 5: To reap better melons, water the creeper every day, preferably in the mornings. If possible, also place some hay or grass around the base of the creeper, to keep the soil damp. You can also tie the creeper with a delicate cotton or woolen thread to the pole.
- Step 6: In tropical or warm conditions, it appears on the creeper after a time span of about 80 days from the day of transplanting.
Remember, not to be very eager and let the plant take its time to grow out completely.
How to Grow Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is a favorite in Asian and Southeast Asian cooking. It can be stuffed with pork or shrimp and steamed or pickled or curried and served with meat or in soup.
Bitter melons are—as their name suggests–a bitter and mouth-puckering acquired taste—something like the acquired taste of a grapefruit or very dark chocolate.
The bitter melon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes squash, watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumbers. Bitter melon can be grown much like cucumbers or cantaloupes but they are a subtropical plant and require at least three to four months of warm to hot and humid weather to mature.
Description: Bitter melon is a vining plant. It has deeply lobed leaves and grows in a fashion similar to squash, cucumbers, and watermelon producing vines 13 to 16 feet long if left unpruned. Fruits are oblong and either smooth or warty, usually about 8 inches (20 cm) long but fruits can vary in length between 2 and 10 inches (5-25 cm) long. The fruit shifts in color from green to yellow to orange as it ripens and over-ripens. The flesh has a watery, crunchy texture, similar to a cucumber.
Yield: Each plant will produce 10 to 12 fruits and perhaps a few more.
Planting time: Bitter melons are a warm-season crop and are best suited for growing in tropical and subtropical heat and humidity. Grow bitter melons where daytime temperatures average between 75 and 80°F (24-31°C). Plant bitter melons in late spring or early summer. Sow seed outdoors or set out transplants no sooner than two to three weeks after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 60 to 65°F (15-18°C).
Site: Bitter melons grow best in hot and humid climates. Choose a warm, sunny location—at least 6 hours each day–to plant. Plant bitter melons in compost-rich, well-drained soil with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.7. Prepare growing beds in advance of planting by adding aged compost and aged manure. Bitter melons can tolerate less desirable sandy- or siltly-loam soil but good drainage is essential.
Planting and spacing: Sow seeds in holes about half-inch deep (1.25 cm) and spaced 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Sow two seeds in each hole. Seeds germinate in 8 to 10 days, though low and high temperatures and soil too dry or too wet can slow germination. Vigorous plants trained on a trellis or fence can be spaced 9 to 10 feet (2.7-3 meters) apart. Plants allowed to sprawl on the ground should be grown on straw or plastic mulch to prevent fruits from resting on moist soil where they might rot.
Trellising can reduce diseases and make harvesting easier. Place a trellis 6 feet (1.8 meters) high and wide or slightly more next to each plant. When the vine grows to the top of its trellis, prune or pinch away all lateral branches from the soil up to the 10th node. This will stimulate the upper branches to grow and produce a higher yield. Prune laterals from 2 to 3 feet long (.6-.9 meters) and prune away the growing tip when it reaches the top of the trellis. As a result, the plant will produce a greater number of flowers and fruit sooner.
Fruit grown from a trellis will grow longer and straighter than those grown on the ground.
Water and feeding: Keep bitter melon planting beds evenly moist regular water is essential for fruit development and growth. Aged compost will feed melon plants. You can also add a slow release organic fertilizer such as 5-10-10 around plants early in the season. Side-dress plants with aged compost during the growing season to add nutrients and to help retain moisture in the soil. To give plants a boost water with compost or comfrey tea every third week during the growing season.
Companion Plants: Beans, corn, peas, pumpkins, and squash. Do not grow bitter melons with potatoes and herbs.
Care: Trellised vines produce hanging fruit, which grows long and straight. Vines allowed to sprawl on the ground should be mulched with straw or plastic to keep fruit from resting on the soil.
The growing tips of trellised vines should be pruned or pinched when they reach the top of the support, as should long lower lateral branches. This will concentrate the plant’s energy and result in more flowers and fruit. Prune when the first female flowers appear female flowers follow male flowers.
Pollination: Vines commonly begin flowering about 5 to 6 weeks after planting. Male flowers open first, followed in a week or so by female blossoms. Both flowers are yellow. Female flowers have a swelling (the ovary) at the base of the bloom resembling a tiny melon. Bees and pollinating insects visit both blooms, transferring pollen from male to female flowers. Usually male blooms live only one day they open in the morning and fall from the plant in the evening. Flower drop is not uncommon.
The ovary of pollinated female flowers will begin to enlarge and fruit will mature in two to four months. Mature fruits will be ready to pick about 12 weeks after planting. They will be light green and juicy with white, bitter flesh.
Hand pollination: Bitter Melons are pollinated by insects and honeybees. If there are flowers but no fruit forms and you find no bees at work in the garden, then you may rightfully suspect that pollination has not occurred. Pollination can be done by hand—this is true for cucumbers and squash as well: pick male flowers and transfer pollen by touching the center part of the male flowers against the center of the female flowers. (Female flowers have an enlarged section that looks like a little fruit between the flower and the vine stem males don’t.)
Container Growing: Bitter melon can be grown in a pot. Choose a container that can hold at least 5 gallons (19 liters) of potting soil—more is better. Make sure the container drains well.
Pests: Bitter melon can be attacked by spotted and striped cucumber beetles. Cucumber beetles can carry bacterial wilt disease which will cause vines to collapse. Infected vines don’t recover. Spray adult beetles with rotenone or a pyrethrum-based insecticide. Use all pesticides at dusk to avoid harming honey bees.
Fruit flies may also attack bitter melons they can spread fruit rot. Prevent flies from reaching the fruit by covering fruits with paper bags secured with twine or rubber bands or wrapping them with newspaper when the fruits are just an inch or two long.
Keep the garden free of weeds weeds often harbor pest insects.
Diseases: Bitter melon is susceptible to most of the same diseases that plague squash and cucumbers: fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, and rust and rots as well as watermelon mosaic virus and bacterial wilts. Trellising which increases air circulation around vines can help reduce fungal diseases. For non-trellised vines, use a straw or plastic mulch to keep melons from resting directly on moist soil. There is no cure for plants attacked by viruses. When possible, plant disease-resistant varieties.
Harvest: Harvest bitter melon about 12 to 16 weeks after planting and 8 to 10 days after blossom drop when the fruits are 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long. The fruits will be a bit pear shaped, with light green skin and a few streaks of yellow. If fruits stay too long on the vine they will over-ripen, turn all yellow, grow too large, and become bitter. Fruits on the same vine can vary in their degrees of bitterness—melons both immature and overripe can taste very bitter.
The bitter melon has a thin layer of flesh that turns orange to bright red when ripe. The flesh surrounds a hollow interior cavity with spongy, white pulp peppered with seeds. The fruit will be watery and crunchy much like a cucumber.
Bitterness is the result of the alkaloid momordicine found in growing bitter melons the darker the color of a bitter melon the more bitter and intense the flavor of the fruit.
Once melons start to ripen, pick fruits regularly every two to three days. The more you pick, the more fruits will form.
Seed production: To save seed for next season, leave a few fruits on each vine to mature past harvest. Mature fruits will break open and release brown or white seeds. Collect the seed, sort it, wash it, and dry it on a countertop, then store it in a cool, dry spot. It will remain viable for 2 to 3 years.
Varieties: Bitter melons native to India have a narrow surface with pointed ends and are covered with triangular “teeth” and ridges. Bitter melons native to China are oblong with blunt ends and have a gently undulating, warty surface.
Chinese varieties include Large Top, Hong Kong Green, China Pearl, Southern Money Maker, and Hybrid White Pearl.
Indian varieties include India Long Green, India Long White, Hybrid India Green Queen, and Hybrid India Pearl.
Use: To prepare bitter melon, slice the fruit open and remove the seeds and pith. Do not peel. The fruit can be parboiled or soaked in salted water to lessen bitterness however this can affect the fruits normally crunchy texture.
Bitter melon can be stuffed (often stuffed with pork or shrimp and steamed), pickled, or curried and served with meat or in soup. The fruit pairs well with other strong flavors, like garlic, Chinese black beans, chili peppers, or coconut milk.
A dietary note: bitter melon is used in traditional Chinese medicine and in alternative medicine to treat Type 2 diabetes. It is also a folk remedy for treating high blood pressure. The combination of bitter melon and drugs sometimes used to treat hyperglycemia can decrease blood sugar levels to dangerously low levels.
Bitter melon has twice the beta carotene of broccoli, twice the potassium of bananas, and twice the calcium of spinach. It also contains high amounts of fiber, phosphorous, and Vitamins C, B1, B2, and B3.
Storing and preserving: Store bitter melons in a paper or plastic bag in the refrigerator between 53-55° F. (11-12°C.). Use within 3 to 5 days of harvest. Store bitter melon fruit away from other ripening fruits to avoid hastening the ripening process.
Common name: Bitter gourd, balsam pear, karela, bitter cucumber, bitter squash, African cucumber, alligator pear, ampalaya, goya.
Botanical name: Momordica charantia
Origin: Southern China and eastern India
Bitter Gourd Varieties
Bitter gourd is widely cultivated in India, it has many varieties. Short varieties are usually grown in the summer season and long varieties of fruits during the rainy season.
01. Pusa do mausmi
This crop is best suited for the spring, summer, and rainy season. It is certified by AICRP (VC), its fruits are long, dark green and smooth, and work stripes.
02. Pusa Vishesh
Pusa Vishesh is grown in the summer season and recommended by I.A.R.I, New Delhi. Its vine is dwarf and easy to care for. Its fruits are medium in length and thick. The upper stripes are irregularly broken and fusiform. The fruit is glossy green, it takes about 55 days to mature.
VK-1-Priya’s color is white and about 35-40 cm in length. It is recommended by Vellanikkara, Kerala, that it takes about 40 days to obtain the crop. A plant produces about 50 fruits.
04. Akra Harit
Its fruit is attractive, bright green in color. The fruit is short in length, with smooth regular ribs. It is selected by IIHR, Hessarghatta and it takes about 100-110 days to get the crop.
Its fruit color is dark green tubercles. The legs are 15–20 cm in length. You can sow till the first week of June – July. It takes about 180 days to get the crop.
06. Phule Ujwala
Its fruit is also dark green in color and medium in length. Fruits are thorny. You can sow till the first week of June – July. Its approximate output is 147 q / ha and perfect for export.
07. Pride of Gujarat
Its fruit is white green and small in color. There are white dabs on the skin.
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GROWING BITTER MELON
Types of Bitter Melon / Bitter Gourd
Bitter melon comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, size varying from 2 inches to as long as 10 inches. The bitter melon Karela of India has a narrow surface with pointed ends, and covered with triangular "teeth" and ridges.
The bitter melon of China is long, oblong with blunt ends with a gently undulating, warty surface. In Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), only Chinese type bitter melons are normally available.
How to Grow White Bitter Melon
Along with cucumbers, squashes and melons, white bitter melon is a cucurbit vegetable. The elongated fruits have pebbled skins and grow up to 6 to 12 inches long. For example, hybrid White Pearl produces tender, slightly bitter fruit measuring 9 inches long and 3 inches wide, while India Long White fruits measure 12 inches long. The 6-foot vine needs a trellis to keep fruits off the ground and preserve fruit quality. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, it grows as a perennial in frost-free regions and as a warm-season annual in cooler locations.
Spread a 2-inch layer of organic compost over the surface of a planting bed in an area that receives full sun. Till the compost 6 to 8 inches into the soil to create a well-drained mixture. Test the soil and add elemental sulfur, if necessary, to lower the pH level to 5.5 to 6.7. Mound the soil into 8-inch hills spaced 4 feet apart, and add 1 tablespoon of complete, low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as 6-10-10, to each hill.
Insert 8-foot stakes 2 feet deep and 4 feet apart behind the hills and press the soil to support the stakes. Tie fishing line to a stake and run the line every 6 inches horizontally and vertically between the stakes to create netting for the vines.
Sow eight to 10 white bitter melon seeds in each hill when the soil temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the seeds with 1 inch of soil and water slowly and thoroughly to soak the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Spread 3 inches of straw or other organic mulch to preserve soil moisture. Provide 1 inch of water each week in the absence of rain.
Thin the seedlings to four plants per hill when the seedlings have two or three leaves. Place the white bitter melon vines on the trellis as the branches grow, and prune the vine when it reaches the top of the trellis. Trim the vine tip and branches to stimulate growth and increase yield, recommends The National Bitter Melon Council. Flowering should begin five to six weeks after planting.
Pull up weeds as they appear. Remove tiny, wingless aphids from white bitter melon plants by hand or with water from a garden hose. Aphids transmit watermelon mosaic virus, which causes raised leaf spots and malformed fruits. To minimize pests, rotate melon plants with non-cucurbit crops on a three-year schedule.
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of 33-0-0 nitrogen fertilizer per hill after the flowers begin to bloom if your soil is light or sandy, recommends Purdue University Cooperative Extension. Water after you apply the fertilizer. White bitter melons need adequate nitrogen, which leaches from light soil. Add another application of nitrogen fertilizer in three weeks.
Pollinate the flowers by hand during the day if you do not have honeybees or other pollinators in your area. Locate the female flowers, which have a thick area between the stem and the flower. Press the faces of male and female flowers together to transfer the pollen to the female flower. Fruits should appear two or three months after planting.
Cut newspaper into pieces that will fit over the developing white bitter melon fruits to protect the fruits from the sun and pests. Fold the pieces of paper over the tops of the fruits and tape the paper sleeve edges together. Leave the sleeves open at the bottom of the fruits.
Harvest white bitter melons eight to 10 days after the blossoms drop, when fruits measure 6 to 12 inches long, depending on the variety. Pick the fruits every two or three days to promote new fruit growth and prevent the fruits from over-ripening. Do not eat soft, over-ripe fruits, which can be toxic to humans and animals.
- Fine Gardening: Momordica Charantia
- The National Bitter Melon Council: Diversity
- Specialty and Minor Crops Handbook University of California Davis
- Purdue University Cooperative Extension: Growing Cucumbers, Melons, Pumpkins and Gourds
- Seedman: Bitter Melon Seeds
- The National Bitter Melon Council: Farm Growing Information
- University of California Integrated Pest Management Program: Cucurbits — Potyviruses
- Los Angeles Times: Growing Bitter Melon — Tricks to an Unusual Treat
Judith Evans has been writing professionally since 2009, specializing in gardening and fitness articles. An avid gardener, Evans has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Hampshire, a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, and a personal trainer certificate from American Fitness Professionals and Associates.


Top 5: Best Continuous Composter Reviews 2017
Composting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of unwanted waste your household generates on a daily basis, in addition, you get the added benefit of free fertilizer for your flower beddings, garden, and crops. There are some nifty options for indoor composting on the market, but to do it on a larger scale you need to move outdoors with a Continuous Composter. Here are 5 of the Best Continuous Composters available, each of these rolling tumblers will help keep your backyard composting as easy and tidy as possible.
What is a Continuous Composter?
A Continuous Composter is usually special bin with numerous bins (2-3) in sequence, transferring materials from one bin to another as the compost matures. This unique composter simplifies the composting process. The bin has usually two or three vertically or horizontally dianabol separated compartments that keep fresh food scraps, partially decomposed material, and mature compost from mixing.
1. Yimby Tumbler Composter, Color Black
The Yimby Composter is the perfect solution for continuous composting of kitchen food scraps and other organic materials. This dual chamber tumbling composter consists of two composting compartments allowing for continuous swapping of the uninterrupted flow of rich, healthy compost.
Constructed of BPA free UV inhibited recycled polypropylene which won’t degrade under direct sunlight. The body stands strong on galvanized steel frame legs which won’t bend, buckle or rust in extreme weather conditions.
The rolling tumbler features adjustable air vents and deep fins to continuously break up large clumps of composting materials for better oxygen to mix with the composting process. This allows for greater aeration than standard composters.
• Dual chamber tumbling composter
• Durable construction
• Adjustable air vents
• Faster composting process
• 37-gallon capacity
2. Joraform Compost Tumbler JK 125
The Joraform range of composters is, without a doubt, one of the most effective and efficient outdoor compost barrels in the world. These Composters were designed in Sweden due to tougher recycling regulations. These bins have been successfully used by homeowners throughout Scandinavia for many years to compost unwanted kitchen waste.
Not only is it being used by homeowners but it’s also been used in schools and kindergartens, where they make a good educational tool for young students. The Joraform range (JK125, 270 or 400) let you make the perfect compost each time from your kitchen waste, with minimal fuss and mess.
The insulating properties allow the temperature inside the tumbler to rise higher than 160 degrees. It consists of dual chambers and dual doors for easy access to finished compost or the producing of it. It can hold up to 106 gallons of waste at a time for bulk composting.
And the attractively designed barrel is kept up high enough with a pair of galvanized steel frame legs for longer sustainability. The JK Composters are constructed for ease and simplicity of rotation
• Easily turn with hands when full of kitchen waste
• The insulation allows the temperatures to quickly rise higher than 160oF, resulting in quick and efficient composting
• The Composter is divided into dual chambers for mixing and maturing
• Pests safe due to high rise above the ground
3. Exaco Trading Company Exaco Mr.Spin Compost Tumbler – 160 Liters / 43 gallons, Dual Chamber Composter On Two-Leg Stand
The Exaco Mr.Spin Compost Tumbler is perfectly suited for small yards and for those individuals who don’t favor traditional mixing of compost with the hand and fork. This continuous composter turns food scraps into healthy fertilizer within a couple of weeks. The dual chambers make it easy for composting (one chamber for mixing while the other can be used for the cooking process).
• Dual chamber compost tumbler
• Perfect for small backyards
• Openings for easy access for mixing or retrieving
• 160 liters / 43-gallon capacity
4. Miracle-Gro DC270MG Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter
The Miracle-Gro Dual Chamber Tumbler let you easily turn your unwanted kitchen waste into nutritious fertilizer for your vegetable and flower gardens. The Miracle-Gro Composter features dual compartments for more efficient composting. You’ll notice inside the chambers there are mixing bars that help accelerate the decomposition process. This makes way for year-round composting. Two easy-slide doors make the filling and dumping a breeze – and keep odors in place.
• Dual compartments for more efficient composting
• Aeration system to speed up composting process
• Mixing Bars inside the chambers accelerate the decomposition process
• Durable, heavy-duty construction
• Will easily hold up to 70L of compost
• This is an aftermarket of generic part
5. Good Ideas CW-2X12 Senior Wizard Dual Tumbler Compost Bin
Two compartment chambers
When one’s full, start filling the other. Never wait for a batch to finish before adding more material.
Better Grip for Turning
The Good Ideas Senior comes with Massive grab bars and recessed handles give you leverage to easily turn the drum.
Keep it secret, keep it safe
The large twist lids lock away odors and also prevent access from children, rodents, and most animals. None shall pass!
• 11 cubic foot total capacity (5.5 per chamber)
• Fully Assembled-Low maintenance
• Large lids to secure the chambers
• Made in the USA with FDA approved materials
• Fully Assembled-Low maintenance
Why waste your hard earned money when you’ll be able to produce rich compost for your garden within a few weeks with a Continuous Composter mentioned above.


In India, April, May are the peak months for harvesting mangoes. So we used to get lot of mangoes in the market. Mango sambar, mango pachadi, mango chutney, mango pickle will always be in our home , in these days. I will be waiting for the month , to relish my favourite mangoes.Nothing can beat the mangoes, we used to get from "Salem". My mom makes the best mango pickle. This particular mango pachadi, is my MIL's recipe. She prepares this for "Tamil New Year", every year. The reason behind this, is the coming year should be a mixed of sweet,sour,bitterness i.e a balanced year. The bitterness comes from the neem flower, which is added to the pachadi. I have not added neem flower.Check this simple recipe and try for new year.
* Wash and pat dry the mangoes well. Grate it in the big holes. If we grate the mango very finely, then the mangoes will become mushy.Take a pan, add oil , splutter with mustard seeds and urad dal.
* Slice the onions, slit the green chilly. Add it to the pan and saute till the onion turns translucent. Now dump the grated mango to the pan and saute. Sprinkle little salt and turmeric powder to the mango . When the mango is cooked, add the jaggery . It will melt and make a saucy pachadi. If we want we can add some water and make the pachadi, like a gravy. Adjust salt to taste.
* We can add some dried neem flower at the end.
* Adjust the amount of jaggery according to our taste.
* Grate the mango , into big chunks.
* Adjust the amount of water according to our consistancy.


Organic Cherry Compote
Minimum 70% of fruit content.Sweetened with apple pulp.
- Code: 1CILCO
- Quantity: 320g
Cherries* (70%), apple pulp* (28,6%), gelling agent: pectin.
Store in a cool and dry place. Once opened store in the fridge .
- Soluble carbohydrates (gr) 26
- Carbohydrates tot. 32
- Energia Kcal 137
- Energia Kj 581
- Lipids tot. 0.5
- Protein tot. (gr) 0.9
- Saturated tot. (gr) 0.1
The informations contained in this schedule are informative purposes only.
For consumption / use of the product we suggest you to read the label.


Advising customers how to care for these sensitive seasonal plants will help them stay the course throughout Christmas, polishing your reputation in the process
As one of the world’s most popular plants, responsible for more than 20% of all potted plant sales in America and with tens of millions sold around Europe each year, the proper care of poinsettias is not just a service to nature, but is also a matter of serious commercial concern for growers and sellers. Here the experts, Stars for Europe, provide some top tips to ensure customers are armed with everything they need to know to ensure their plant outlives the festive season.
Many greenhouse operators throughout Europe are highly dependent upon poinsettias, which not only sell in huge quantities but enable commercial growers to stay full operational all year long, as poinsettias start to grow when most other high cash crops and plants have stopped flourishing.
As the festive ornament of choice and one of the most popular traditional gifts of the season, hundreds of millions of poinsettias are sold in the run up to Christmas. Whilst poinsettias are renowned for making wonderful displays, they have an equally justified reputation for being a little temperamental and tricky to care for. Set yourself apart from supermarket sellers with due care and attention at the till, which should include proper advice on plant maintenance that will help your customers make the most of their plant purchases.
The golden rule for poinsettias is don’t let them get too cold. Inform customers that they must be kept at a temperature of 15-22 degrees Celsius and protected from cold draughts, preferring a warm, sheltered spot with light.
These sensitive plants can easily be damaged during transportation from garden centre or florist to home, so instruct staff to properly wrap all poinsettias in paper without leaving any foliage exposed to the elements. You would ideally put inside a bag for safe measure. Advise customers
that even a few minutes of exposure to cold air – especially an Artic plast in the depth of winter – can terminally damage the leaves, which must be kept well sheltered at all times.
As the poinsettia’s optimum temperature is 15-22 degrees Celsius the store temperature should ideally reach this, maintining at least 14 degrees, with special care being taken during transit and storage prior to the plants being displayed. Display them in a bright and airy position with plenty of natural light, and avoid moving them around in ways that would mean they experience drastic changes in light or temperature. The last thing you want is a reputation for selling injured or dying poinsettias for Christmas.
Given the importance of greenhouse temperature to poinsettia production, it is also important for growers to have the right property insurance in order to quickly rectify damage resulting from adverse weather conditions – especially strong winds, snow and hail – fire or floods. Commercial growers should also invest in in-transit coverage which protects the plants during transportation from greenhouses until they reach their final retail destinations. Retailers should confirm that suppliers have all the proper financial protections in place that will ensure nobody has a major financial upset in the run up to Christmas.
Tip: Simple care instructions in the form of demonstration images and/or basic text can be positioned close to the merchandise to save on time spent at the till during busy times. You can even offer helpful fact sheets for customers to read or take with them.
Water and Nutrition
Poinsettias need soil within an optimum ph range of 5.8 to 6.2, using three parts soil to one part grit so plenty of oxygen can reach the roots.
Advise customers that poinsettias must not be over-watered and left in soggy soil and they should let the compost just start to dry out before light watering, taking care not to soak them. Overwatering can cause poinsettias to be blighted by grey mould and also makes them vulnerable to attack from common pests like mealybugs and scale insects.
Poinsettias prefer humid conditions, so advise your customers to keep them misted if there’s a danger of them gasping for moisture in centrally heated rooms.
Just like your Christmas dinner guests, poinsettias also like to be fed – in this case monthly with a high potassium, low nitrogen fertilser.
NB: Regular fertilisation will occur during cultivation because it helps the plants become established and encourages rapid development of branches after the pinch. Regular fertilisation should continue until 2 to 3 weeks before sale, at which point it should stop. Reducing fertilisation at this time helps extend the postharvest life of the plants and prevents injury to the bracts through soluble salts.
Tip: Merchandise poinsettias by displaing them in their ideal conditions
Find out more
To find out more about Stars for Europe, and to access its incredible library of advice, aspirational imagery and content please visit https://www.starsuniteeurope.eu/en/
NOTES TO EDITORS
Stars for Europe
Stars for Europe (SfE) is a marketing initiative founded by European poinsettia breeders Dümmen Orange, Selecta One, Beekenkamp and Syngenta Flowers. The initiative began in 2000 with the aim to promote and secure long-term poinsettia sales in Europe. SfE activities are currently taking place in 22 European nations. From 2021 to 2024 SfE is supported by EU programme “Stars Unite Europe” in seven countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden.
Reproduction is free of charge provided the source is acknowledged as “Stars for Europe”, we would be grateful if you send a copy.


How Do We Produce?
We produce natural herbal oils with two main production methods, in other words, with pure and natural original production methods. These two main production methods are as follows:
For Natural Fixed Natural Oils: The cold-press natural herbal oils production process.
For Volatile Natural Herbal Oils: The steam distillation volatile aromatic oil production process.
You can access the workflow diagrams of both methods by downloading the PDF documents provided below.
We purchase oilseeds, seeds, and medicinal aromatic plants grown in Turkiye directly from farmer sources, conduct quality controls, and store them in our vegetable oil production factory. Oilseeds and seeds that are harvested correctly during the season are brought to our production facility. At our production facility, they are classified according to organic and conventional production processes. They are stored in our raw material warehouse in appropriate conditions and hygienic environments. They are processed fresh according to the needs and orders of our customers. Until orders and demands arise, we store the products as raw materials, not as vegetable oils.
After our customers place their natural oils orders, the seeds and seeds are processed in the cold-press vegetable oil production line, while the plants, leaves, roots, stems, and flowers are processed in the steam distillation volatile oil production line. We supply our customers with fresh, pure, and the highest quality vegetable oils throughout the year.
Oilseeds and aromatic plants are seasonal. Therefore, we analyze our customers' average vegetable oil needs throughout the year and stock raw materials based on potential demands. This is why the quality standard of the first batch of vegetable oil our customers receive from Naturalis OLEA is exactly the same as the quality standard of the last vegetable oil they receive in the same year. This strategy is the most effective way for our customers to maintain stability and quality standards in their manufacturing processes. This is why we supply the right products for quality production.
You can download the PDF documents below to examine the workflow of the cold-press natural vegetable oil production process and the distillation volatile essential oil production process.


(March 12, 1941 – March 16, 2013)
Mr. Henry Alawanalun Akanko was born in Wiaga-Farinsa to Madam Anaalie Anyawiese and Mr. Atengpeng Akanko Ayisobsa. He had his elementary education at Sandema Old Primary and Sandema Middle Boarding before continuing at Tamale Secondary School where he obtained his West Africa School Certificate in 1967. He also studied Agriculture at the Kwadaso Agriculture College and the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi where he obtained a Diploma in Tropical Horticulture. Further Higher Education took him to Mississippi State University, USA (1970), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria (1974), New Zealand (1974 and Sierra Leone (1980).
His active career as an agricultural officer saw him working in various parts of Ghana. Between 1991 and 2001 (retirement year) he was the Northern Sector Co-ordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture with its headquarters in Tamale.
Mr. Akanko was a passionate farmer throughout his life, growing grains, vegetables and raising poultry. He was always interested in finding the most effective ways of improving agricultural productivity and encouraged young people to see farming as a viable business and not just a subsistence activity.
He received a number of awards and honours among these, The Centenary Certificate of Honour from the Tamale Catholic Archdiocese (2006) and Farmer of the Year at the Tamale Metropolitan Farmers’ Day (2006).
Mr. Henry Akanko is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mrs Rose Akanko, four children and five grandchildren.


Articles in Press
Volume 4 Issue 1
Urease, Invertase, and Phosphatase as Indicators of Soil Microbial Activity at three
Locations in Kentucky
George F. Antonious1*
With increasing cost and shortage of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, there is increased emphasis on use of municipal sewage sludge (SS) for land farming. SS is inexpensive, locally available in large amounts, sources of organic matter, and its use in growing horticultural crops will provide a partial solution to its disposal problem. SS, a by-product of sewage treatment plants, is currently applied to some agricultural soils as an alternative to conventional inorganic fertilizers. Microorganisms in soil, play a significant role in keeping three main nutrients (C, N, and P) through recycling from organic matter.


I love gardens but I hate the work. I know that does not sound like the farmer’s daughter that I am, but it’s true. Gardens are too much work and typically involve machinery that I do not care to buy, maintain or store. I like to live small and on the go, and I hate to sweat!! So tilling soil, killing grass, and building planters is not my thing at all. Neither is pulling weeds or loosing crops during hurricane season.
Well, easy gardening is now within my reach!!! My newest discovery for easy gardening and super healthy herbs, vegetables, plants, etc. is Smart Pots! I discovered them when searching for an easy and healthy way to grow my organic herbs. Check out my YouTube video for a quick overview of Smart Pots!
Smart Pots allow you to grow healthy plants with happy roots, on lawn, concrete, rocks or decks, or whatever surface you have. In other words…no need to kill grade, till or prepare garden rows or beds.
Smart Pots are made with a durable, breathable fabric & grass and weeds do not grow up through them!! Just open, place where ever you want, fill with soil and plant!!
The brilliance of Smart Pots is that unlike conventional plastic, clay, stone, wood or concrete pots that hold heat & force roots to grow in a circular manner, Smart Pots breathable fabric allows oxygen and heat to flow right through & allow roots to naturally air prune. Air pruned roots grow in their natural direction, so it makes your plants super happy in general and also well prepared for transplanting. Also, because the air travels directly through the entire pot, soil dries out evenly. Thus, you are not left with water-soaked roots and a dry a top layer. Yes….it really does keep getting better!
I wish I had taken photos of my plants before I transplanted them from their plastic nursery containers. The difference is dramatic. They seemed to have taken off in a matter of days. The most dramatic growth has been with my peppermint which was leggy and a lighter color. My three varieties of lavender are growing taller by the day. I think I have a fabulous chance of finally having success with lavender!!
Smart Pots are perfect for eco-friendly gardening. Smart Pots are lightweight, reusable, long lasting, BPA-free and made in the USA! That means no expensive, heavy, breakable terra-cotta, ceramic or concrete pots. Another advantage for me is that with these lightweight fabric pots, I can quickly and easily move my plants safely in & out of the garage and not worry about losing them to the furry of tropical storms & hurricanes that we face every June through November. That is 6 out of 12 months!!
But the number one reason I chose Smart Pots for container gardening is that they have no lead like glazed pots and no BPA found in plastics. Both are critical to avoid when growing edibles. Now that is a “smart pot”!!
It is worth mentioning that I did find a knock off, look-alike fabric pot at my garden center, but no where on it did it say BPA free. The garden center told me it was made with landscaping fabric, so I decided to stick with the original Smart Pot which is labeled BPA-free.
Love the look of vertical gardening or have a space that demands that vertical options? Smart Pots also offers hanging bags for vertical gardening on walls, railings and fences.
Smart Pots go beyond container gardening. They also come in 2′ to 5′ diameter raised planting bed “pots.” This means you can plant a vegetable garden anywhere! What is not to love these pots!
I cannot wait to finally make my first vegetable garden as it requires no killing of grass, tilling or building raised bed frames. Pop-up gardening, as I now call it, is totally my style!!
Check out the Smart Pots website for all they offer and plus stores that carry them locally. If nothing nearby, check out Amazon where I found mine. If you use Smart Pots or plan to give them a try, let us know.
XOXO, Hope Maria


After a two-year hiatus, the Farmers’ Market of the Gardening Group of the Green Movement Ministry returned to Sacred Heart Hall on 24 September as part of the parish programme for the Season of Creation. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Farmers’ Market was popularly held twice a year.
Fr Colin Tan SJ, the parish priest, said the opening prayer, which gave the market a spiritual start. Also present was His Grace Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Singapore who has always shown great support for initiatives for the environment.
Fresh vegetables and fruits were sourced from small-time farmers in Pontian just north of the border. Added to this were the parish grown fruits and herbs. Group members also took some months to grow decorative potted plants and air plants from cuttings which were then sold at the market.
There was even a corner to encourage children to grow their own plants. For a small fee, they were given a pot with a small spade, some soil, and a plant of their choice. It was an effort to make the younger generation experience hands-on what it means to do their small part in caring for our common home.
“Everyone plays a part in taking care of our environment, no matter how small it is. It is important to create awareness for ecology. We are together in this worthy endeavour. I am so happy to see so many people coming to this market,” said Patricia, the head of the organising committee of this year’s market.
As usual with any church event, home-cooked food was available for sale. These were prepared with loving care by the group members. Even Fr Colin participated by making and selling “Fr Colin’s Herbal Tea”, which according to him consisted of a brew of Moses in A Basket (Tradescantia spathacea), wolfberry, and pandan.
The founding members of Food Loops were on hand to promote their composting programme. People could sign up to get their food waste (only raw vegetables and fruit peels) collected and composting done in certain locations. A container and sawdust (to prevent bad smells) were provided so that compostable waste can be stored at home for the twice weekly collections.
Several other events have been organised for the Season of Creation this year at the parish level, including a tree planting event with National Parks Board Singapore. These events are a wonderful start to the parish Laudato Sí Action Plan. It is hoped that the annual Season of Creation may be celebrated by the various parish ministries in a cohesive and symbiotic way.
— Fr Francis Lim, SJ
Spiritual Director of the Green Movement Ministry


Hydroponics for India-A Solution for Poverty and Hunger, Sustainability and Livelihood.
By Peggy Bradley
Institute of Simplified Hydroponics USA
And Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash
Optimus Interweave Australia and;
Institute of Simplified Hydroponics, India
"Poverty is the worst form of violence."
Before his assassination in 1948, Gandhi prophesied that from each drop of his blood a new Gandhi would be born on earth. His dream has been realized in leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Corazon Aquino who follow Gandhi’s non-violent movement. Now we have an opportunity to follow his lead in working to end hunger and poverty in India.
According to UN estimates, India has the most hungry people. Over 200 million, or about one-fifth of India’s population, is chronically hungry. About half Indian children are classified as undernourished with a large percentage born with protein deficiency affecting brain development and learning capacity.
Fuel costs have doubled the costs of some vegetables in the past year. This makes life more difficult for the 800 million people in India who live on less than $2 a day.
In India 440 million people languish at the bottom of the economic pyramid and about 500,000 children are born deformed each year due to vitamin/mineral deficiencies. (India Together website)
Twenty-two percent of childhood disease in India is caused by malnutrition. Half of the 2.3 million deaths of children is caused by lack of food and malnutrition.
Potential for Simplified Hydroponics
From the point of view of a family in hunger, their labour is often the only thing of value to help obtain food. Yet over their heads, there is enough solar energy to grow some of the family food requirements. The labour involved is very little, the cost of set up and operation can be just pennies.
The 400 million people without enough food can be estimated to be about 100 million families. If a simplified hydroponic garden cost $100 to set up and operate, the total cost to the country would be 10 billion dollars.
In planning a food program for India utilizing Simplified Hydroponics, the cost can be borne by or supplied by the poor themselves through microcredit that helps families start their own gardens.
A Family Garden in India
For thousands of years, the human population provided for their own needs, often with the help of a vegetable garden. In recent times, with industrialization, more and more people no longer have gardens and rely on their labour to produce money to buy food.
Most daily foods in India include basic ingredients of ginger, garlic and onion. All three of these are very easy to grow in hydroponic culture. The onions can be grown in a bed grower and produce 120 full size onions in 90 days, or about one and a third onions a day.
Ginger is grown as a bush plant in a root grower and pieces are cut off as needed. If it is used every day, perhaps two plants might be needed.
Garlic grows more slowly in hydroponic culture. It can take 180 days to produce a full size bulb from a clove. So perhaps as much as 3 square meters may be needed to produce the family garlic needs.
Tomatoes are a standard in hydroponics, very easy to grow and eight plants should provide one or two tomatoes a day. Eggplant is another very easy plant to grow and six plants should provide one eggplant a day.
Potato and carrot are also easy to grow but should be grown in deeper tubs to provide root growing room.
While lettuce is not eaten very often, the people in India gather wild greens to eat as a vegetable. These greens can be grown in hydroponic culture.
There are advantages to creating and having a simplified hydroponic garden. Right now, in India the prices of food are going up rapidly due to higher costs of fertilizers and transportation. With your own garden many of these costs disappear. The fertilizer cost for 100 pounds of vegetables should only be about $1.50.
If every hungry family is India had a home hydroponic garden, there would be 100 million gardens producing 300 million to 400 million pounds of food every day. The produced food would add 500 calories to each person's diet. With some planning these calories would be the vitamin rich and also improve the quality of life with a varied richer diet.
Some of the owners of simplified hydroponics will be likely to expand their gardens to produce foods for neighbours or nearby markets. It is possible that one out of ten can produce enough to provide the family with an extra five to ten dollars a day. This would mean that of the 400 million making less than $2.00 a day, perhaps as many as 40 million would at least double family income.
For each person now making $2.00 a day or less, most of the daily income is spent on food. With the hydroponic garden this need is reduced, and they can buy the rice, beans lentils and wheat in bulk, perhaps creating a small food supply. This increases national food security, a population more prepared for emergencies.
A reliable steady supply of fresh vegetables should improve overall health of the population. Children now suffering from malnourishment should be better developed and healthier.
As the simplified gardens become established in the country, more potential can be realized by people whose talent and ability is now under utilized. The people with gardens, and some food security, have an opportunity to increase their income and economic security.
A garden is a real joy for most families. It makes obtaining food much easier, and the quality of the food grown should match the best vegetables grown anywhere in the world. So the daily food becomes enjoyable and helps to improve overall quality of life. Favourite foods that were too expensive can now be grown for just pennies.
A garden can be started for about $100 investment and labour of about one to two hours a day. It needs a space of 20 square meters, but smaller gardens can also be built on rooftops, balconies, sunny patios.
As the gardens become established technology they can easily be designed into new housing, and retrofitted into much of the existing housing.
A garden starts to be productive within 60 days and fully productive in 90 days. With a protective structure the garden can also be productive in difficult climates of too much rain or cold. This structure may cost $100 to $400 in India.


GREEN RANCH ~ UPTON, WY $4,741,908.00
7,639.21 TOTAL ACRES MOL 4659.21 DEEDED MOL 2980 LEASED MOL
One of the oldest working ranches in the area this spread has it all ! Large Working Wyoming Ranch!! The Green Ranch is located in the heart of the Thunder Basin Grasslands near the town of Upton, Wyoming. Boasting over 4600 deeded acres and an additional 2900 mol in leases, this Weston County Ranch is the spread of a ranchers dream. Situated contiguous with only 200 acres divided from remainder by a gravel county road. The ranch spans both Crook and Weston Counties. This operating cattle ranch dates back to the original Barton Place and the current owner has expanded with more acreages. The relief is gently rolling with lush native grasses and moving water from Wind Creek and Iron Creek. Timber ridge with ponderosa pines and multiple natural springs. Surface water is abundant across the ranch with the creeks and dozens of reservoirs. There is 650 acres mol of hay ground with crested wheat grass and some alfalfa with normal production of 1 to 1 1/2 tons per acre. Abundant wildlife include record class Antelope and Mule Deer. Predators include fox, coyote, raccoon, skunk and raptors. Water fowl are abundant on the numerous reservoirs and prairie chickens and grouse roam the bottoms. Ranch is currently running cow/calf operation as well as leasing summer grass for pairs.
LAT & LONG 44 09 59.13N 104 44 10.69W
ELEVATION 4305 AT CORRALS


Eggshell powder was used as a fertilizer in a Tomato plant and also used as calcium, Calcium oyster shell grinding machine/powder making machine.
Manure grinder is a machine for crushing manure materials into powders. It is often be used in organic manure fertilizer production line. There are 3 types of manure grinding machines in Shunxin for your reference. Whether you use it for crushing manure materials or pellets, we can meet your needs.
Chain fertilizer grinding machine consists of feed inlet, body, material outlet, rotor (including bearings), transmission and shock absorber. In order to prevent chafing of materials and steel body, it is designed with rubber plates in the body of the machine. There is quick-opening type access door on both sides of the body.
Organic Fertilizer Crushing Machine-High Efficiency This organic fertilizer crusher can grind high moisture & high raw materials The fertilizer grinder is an ideal fertilizer machine for organic fertilizer . More Info ; grinding machinery parts shop in faridabad. grinder machine fou use in to fertilizers,,Some grinders machine round parts These machines include cylindrical grinders and
grinder for organic fertilizer India from Shanghai (grinder for organic fertilizer India) is professional manufacturer, the main production stone crusher machine. Stone crushing grinder for organic fertilizer India grinder for
Alibaba offers 722 fertilizer grinder products. About 58% of these are Grinding Equipment, 1% are Wood Crusher, and 0% are Compost Making Machines. A wide variety of fertilizer grinder
Afterward, by the use of a meat grinder, which can handle your dried-up bones, you can make powdered organic fertilizer for your plants. In such a case, you might need a powerful machine. If you want to make human , then please check our article to know some best recipes for the meat grinders. Pet : Packed Vs Homemade
Chain Fertilizer Grinder Application. Horizontal double shaft chain fertilizer crusher is used for raw materials crushing in both compound fertilizer production and organic fertilizer production process. It is also suitable for crushing various brittle and binding materials such as soda ash, dry clay, shale and limestone, chemical industry
Alibaba offers 387 hammer mill for organic fertilizer products. About 33% of these are crusher, 18% are feed processing machines, and 4% are crusher. A wide variety of hammer mill for organic fertilizer options are availe to you,
SEEC hammer crusher is suitable for large scale organic fertilizer production. Its crushing devs include hammer, baffle and screen. During ing process, the hammer in high speed rotation will make materials into small pieces by intense impact. And particles with qualified size will go through the screen.
The machine which can grind fish and soft chicken legs might not perform well with turkey. Bone meal for plants. We use bones not only for feeding our dogs. We use a bone grinder for bone meal prepared for our plants as well. If you care about the of your plants, you might be thinking of organic fertilizer. To make it at your home, you can
Grinder Machine For Organic Fertilizer. An organic fertilizer manufacturing equipment can help youongda manure making machine is a good choanure processing machinery is a set of machines, which can make fertilizers granular with animal waste including chicken waste, horse waste, cow dung and
, Grinders Malaysia Shop now for best Grinders online at LAZADAmy Exclusive deals on,organic fertilizer crusher machine p in malaysia Fertilizer Market in Malaysia to 2019 Know More
Fertilizer Crusher Machine with Good Grinding Effect. Organic Compost Turner Machine Hydraulic Compost Turner; Auger Type Compost Turner;,Our cage fertilizer grinder is an ideal cho to crush hard chemical and organic materials with moisture content below 40% Crushing size is adjustable to meet various requirements
Apr 28 2015 · email protected Fertilizer cage mill is a kind Fertilizer Crushing Machine Fertilizer Grinding Organic fertilizer more grinder machine fou use in to fertilizers grinding machine organic fertilzier hammer millorganic fertilizer hammer millorganic fertilizer grinderfertilizer more . Details; Fertiliser Ring Grinder Crusher Mills Cone Crusher Jaw. Specifications1 applied to organic
1.Main products: compound and organic fertilizer granulator, mixer, belt conveyor, dryer, screening machine, dewatering machine, crusher, weighing packaging machine, etc. 2.Designated production enterprise by Agriculture Department 3.We account for 80% market shares in compound and bio-organic fertilizer manufacturing filed in China.
production of organic fertilizer from degradable . Chemical decomposition was studied as a potential method for the rapid conversion of waste to organic fertilizer. Chemicals were screened and process parameters were optimized. The physicochemical properties phytotoxicity and manurial efficiency of the product were assessed. A prototype machine . Get P; Stump Grinder For
Fertilizer crusher is often used for turning composted organic fertilizer into powders in fertilizer production line. We employ high quality materials and advanced technology on the machines, guaranteeing the convenient operating and long serv time. Furthermore, there are various types of fertilisers pulverizers for your reference. Whether you want a high output machine or a facility with
Organic Fertilizer Making Machine. Chicken manure granulator is a small and medium-sized granule processing equipment designed for rural households and small farms. It can also process straw particles and organic fertilizer particles. Learn More; Organic Fertilizer Granule Machine Ball Shape. The spherical organic fertilizer granulator shows that organic fertilizer particles are rich in
An organic fertilizer making plant want to powdery fertilizer into granules. But they should test the market effects. Thus, we recommend our smallest plate granulator. The diameter of its pelletizing pan is 500mm. The production capacity is about 0.02t-0.05t per hour. Using this machine, you can produce efficiently and conveniently. Besides, our pan fertilizer granules making machine has many


Who believes that nature made a mistake? And who thinks that scientists are not making one? They have created genetically modified cows that produce human-like milk, in order to make it more nutritious. Human genes were successfully introduced into 300 dairy cows to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk. Human milk contains lot of nutrients to boost up immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections. As (still) expected, critics of the technology and animal welfare groups reacted angrily to the research, questioning the safety of milk from genetically modified animals and its effect on the cattle's health. IMHO, this is totally sick, and a bad idea.
Read the original article in this link.


#bone meal #bone meal benefits #bone meal uses
If you plant flowers or fruits in your homes or gardens and your plant is not showing any kind of growth, that is, flowers are not coming in the plant or new leaves are not coming out, then you can use this bonemeal. In which there are many nutrients which prove to be beneficial to give full growth to your plant, so let's know the complete information about this bonemeal.
What is bonemeal? bone meal in english
Bone meal, as the name suggests, is a powder of bones prepared by boiling and grinding the bones of many dead animals or birds to make fertilizer, which is used to increase the ability of many plants to flower or fruit. And this is done to give full growth of plants, so let us now know their benefits-
bone meal in english
Benefits of bonemeal | Benefits of Bonemeal :
Bonemeal is bone powder, due to which it contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium and protein, besides it contains very little amount of nitrogen, due to which its use is beneficial for the plant.
1. To strengthen the roots of the plant
There are many plants in which the roots become weak and break due to many reasons, due to which the plant also dies, but if you use bonemeal in such a plant, it increases the roots of your plant and strengthens it. very beneficial for your plant
2. To increase or increase the flowering of a plant
Even if your plant is not flowering or it is coming in very less quantity, then you can use this bonemill, this bonemill increases the ability of your plant to flower, so that your plant is full of flowers. Taxes come and flowers do not even break from the plant.
3. For new leaves and new stems
If new leaves or new branches of sticks are not coming in your plant, then you can use this bone mill in your plant, which will prove to be very beneficial for the growth of the leaves, stems and the whole plant.
4. To strengthen the stem of the plant
5. To remove insects or fungus
6. Keep Animals Away
If your plant is harmed by an animal like a dog or cat, you can still use it.
7. For full growth of the plant
How to use Bonemeal
You can use Bonemeal 3 times a month in winter season and between one and a half to 2 months in other seasons.
To put in the bonemeal plant, first bring bonemeal powder and sprinkle it in the amount of two to three spoons in the roots of the plant and then sprinkle water from above, now whenever you will sprinkle water in this way, then it will slowly- Slowly it will get into the roots and will give many benefits along with the strength of the roots of the plants.
where to buy bonemeal
To buy bonemeal, you can easily buy it in any seed shop or nursery, apart from this, you can also buy it online if you want.
What to do if Bonemill Powder is infested with Worms
If you have stored your bonemeal powder and got a worm in it, then do not panic, put some neem cake in it and leave it to dry in the sun for 1 day and now after that you can use bonemeal in plants.
Disadvantages of Bonemeal Fertilizer
How to Make Bonemeal Powder at Home
2. Wash all the under skins thoroughly and dry them in the sun for a day
3. After drying, make a fine powder by cutting it into small pieces and put it in your mixer machine.
4. Keep in mind that all the pieces should be finely powdered because if the piece remains then ants can get in it.
5. Your Bonemeal powder is ready to use once it is completely powdered
6. To use it, first by adding two to three spoons of eggs i.e. bonemeal powder to the soil near the roots of the plant and mix it.
7. Now sprinkle a light amount of water from above
8. Can put it once a month
9. If an ant comes after pouring this bone mill powder, then put neem oil in it, it will run away the letters.
10. This bonemeal powder also contains a good amount of calcium, phosphorus, potassium and protein, which is very beneficial for your plant.


The vet finally called this afternoon. I told him what all I had been doing with for Abraham. He said stop the worming. They are probably all dead by now. He said these worms feed on protein. So I need to give him some B Complex for a few days and no grains right now. Just hay and grass. Also something called Red Cell. I'll look for that tomorrow at Tractor Supply. Abraham seems to be doing better.
And I am supposed to bring in some manure in 2 weeks. I'll bring some from a few of the other sheep and some goats too. Just to see what I am dealing with here. But so far he's still alive so something worked.
I will get the other 2 rams probably next week.
Thanks for all the great advice and comments about Abraham. I am learning so much.


1-1/4-in Dia PVC Sch 40 Adapter
Used Over 1" PVC Coupling To Support and Rotate the 18" Stackable Planters
1/2 in. x 20 in. Support Pipe Conduit Stake
Mark off 12 inches in the 1/2" pipe and drive into the ground leaving 8 inches above ground. The 3/4" pipe will go over this afterwards to form a solid structure for your vertical tower. Then the PVC goes over the 3/4" pipe to raise the pots off the ground and rotate.
1/8-in x 50-ft Vinyl Micro Drip Tubing
1/8" Tubing, roll of 50 feet. This tubing is the standard for drip irrigation, used to transport water or nutrient solution from a main tube or manifold to a plant site, usually terminating in a drip emitter.
3-Valve Heavy Duty Preassembled Manifold
Hook up to your indoor/outdoor timer to control three stations. Includes Unions and a Cap too. Adding on is easy!
3/4 in. Schedule 40 PVC Coupling
Used To Connect 3/4" PVC Pipes and Allow 13" Stackable Planters To Rest On Top and Rotate
Basket Drip Stake w/Cage: Pack of 100
Mother Nature waters from the top, and so do these commercial quality drip stakes. By using these, you can run a top watering system that is virtually clog-free. Top watering also has the advantage of preventing fertilizer salt build up.
Sold in packs of 100
Heavy Duty Woven 3.2 oz Ground Cover
Heavy-duty woven 3.2-oz. polypropylene fabric
Resists tearing, puncturing and weed penetration
Approved for most government weed control applications
Ideal choice for greenhouses, outdoor displays and as a weed barrier for plantings without topical coverings
UV-stabilized fabric holds up in direct sunlight and is striped every 12in. to aid in plant alignment
Indoor/Outdoor 6-12 Station Smart WiFi Sprinkler System Controller
Wi-fi sprinkler timer combines the easiest to program timers on the market with the remote capabilities of wifi. Users can control the timer with their Android or iOS app, from their computer or at the timer with the familiar, intuitive interface that millions of customers have come to know. A perfect timer for new installations or for replacement applications, the wifi controller is available in 6 and 12 stations to cover most systems. It can function with our without wifi connectivity. It can be set to adjust watering based on local weather to avoid water waste and deliver the right amount of water or nutrients to your plants.
Mister on Barb (5-Pack)
Use to cool down plant foliage on a hot day. Place the misters on a separate water line running overhead.
Conserve water while enhancing your landscape with the DIG Fogger Mister. Made of durable, high-quality materials, this low volume emitter provides a fine, full circle mist spray. Threaded barb allows for quick and easy installation.


Anyone who travels by train or car from Paris towards the Loire valley or Brittany will pass though the region of the Beauce, thousands and thousands of acres of flat, arable land that stretches for miles and could be described as France’s breadbasket. The farmers of wheat and other cereals who are lucky enough to have land in this area are among the wealthiest of their profession. A lot of their harvest is exported and contributes positively to France’s trade and current account balances. These are definitely not the French farmers who sometimes use their tractors to disrupt traffic on major roads or dump tons of potatoes or manure in front of government buildings. One of the reasons for their success is the high yields enabled by the spraying of powerful herbicides and pesticides on their crops. The same is true for sugar beet farmers and, to a lesser extent, many others.
It has been known for some time that residues of these chemicals can be found in foodstuffs and urine samples. Environmental activists have long denounced their widespread use and beekeepers consider neonicotinoid pesticides in particular responsible for abnormally high bee mortality in recent years. Public debate has now crystallised around glyphosate, the chemical compound used in Monsanto’s famous herbicide, Roundup. As glyphosate’s licence for use throughout the European Union is due for renewal by December 15 of this year, the debate has become increasingly heated and no fewer than eight expert and ministerial meetings in Brussels have been unable to attain the necessary majority for renewal. The European Commission’s initial proposal was to renew the licence for ten years, reduced to five after an outcry from the European Parliament. France, through its Minister for Ecological Transition (and telenvironmentalist in a previous life) Nicolas Hulot, has refused to concede more than three years and is thought to favour the gradual phasing out of the product altogether rather than renewing the licence and facing the same battle three years hence.
Somewhat concealed under the manoeuvrings of the Commission, clearly influenced by Monsanto’s lobbying, the European Parliament which has banned the company’s representatives from entering its premises and environmentalists of all persuasions, the underlying issue is the future shape of the European Union’s model of agriculture. And as France is one of the EU’s largest countries and a major producer and exporter of agricultural produce, its stance will have a big impact. An additional twist to the plot is that the German chemical concern, Bayer, launched a takeover bid for Monsanto in September 2016, so the position of Germany, still embroiled in coalition negotiations to form the next government, is likely to tip the balance one way or the other.
Like most people, I have no way of knowing what claims and counterclaims about glyphosate are accurate. A specialist body of the World Health Organisation has concluded from its studies that it is carcinogenic for humans. Other studies claim that it is not, although doubts have been cast on their design and conclusions. Common sense however would I think conclude that spraying large quantities of strong chemicals on crops of all kinds, even if they are not a direct cause of cancer, is not exactly conducive to good health. On holiday in Alsace a few years ago, I remember walking though some vineyards, seeing a large tank of liquid that was undoubtedly being sprayed on the vines and coming away with my eyes stinging so badly, that I had to go straight to the nearest pharmacy and ask for something to relieve the pain. The pharmacist made no comment on the reasons I gave for seeking his help, but with the help of an over-the-counter ocular formula my eyes were back to normal by the end of the evening. I couldn’t help wondering though whether the chemical sprayed on the vines, whatever it was, would not leave a residue in the grapes and the wine that would be made from them. Not too many months later, my ex-wife’s basset hound, a middle-aged dog normally in good health, died in obvious pain a few days after lapping from what looked like a puddle of rainwater at the edge of a cultivated field. The vet was unable, or perhaps unwilling, to say what he had died of, but my suspicion is that he had slurped up some nasty and poisonous chemical, washed off the crops by rain.
All in all, I can’t help feeling that environmental activists should be taken seriously when they call for a complete overhaul of France’s agricultural model. There are signs that farmers are starting to listen, under pressure mainly from consumers who are increasingly keen to buy organic produce (See: “Food glorious food”- September 18th). In one of those schizophrenic episodes to which the EU authorities are prone, European subsidies are earmarked for farmers who convert to organic farming methods although, for the time being, reports suggest that they are insufficient in France and being paid out very slowly by the French government. Personally I look forward to being able to eat bread and drink wine that is certified free of chemical residues – and too bad for wine growers in Alsace or wheat farmers in the Beauce. They are likely to protest loudly, lobby hard and do their best to procrastinate but I’m confident they won’t go out of business!


In order to continue our assistance in combating the rapid deforestation occurring in Uganda and to provide more sources of food, IHA is providing five tree and plant seedlings to families in its micro loan program. Approximately 700 seedlings; banana, neem, mango, paya, have been donated so far and IHA hopes to provide approximately 2000. Please help us to achieve this goal!
2016 – IHA reinitiated a tree program by facilitating the planting of approximately 200 trees at three primary schools in the West Nile region. A number of the trees planted before didn’t survive a drought. Various types of trees were then chosen, including banana varieties (matooke, sweet), other fruits (mangoes, jack fruit, avocado), and hard wood varieties (grivaria, teak, and ficus).
Every tree starts small!
Past environmental projects of note:
Conservation Program During the spring 2013 humanitarian trip, IHA volunteers met with 15 members of the Buyaga community and discussed a project in which families would plant five trees periodically, when they collect firewood. Two weeks later, some 60 community members met with a Uganda forest ranger to discuss the project. A Forest Keepers Association was formalized.


Full July Hay Moon
The wheel of the year rolls on to the Full Moon in July. This moon is sometimes called the hay moon. Fields are fragrant with the first cut. Barns and lofts fill with fresh baled timothy and alfalfa in preparation for the long winter months to come. Also called the Thunder Moon, the strong sun and humid days can rouse up the thunder beings to let go a deluge on the land.
The gardens are growing strong now. The goddess Pomona walks among us as the melons, corn and beans ripen. Purple cone-flower welcome the gentle touch of butterflies. Hollyhock and day lilies are in full bloom. Blueberries and raspberries are ready for picking.
The full moon in Capricorn invites our spirits to rise to the occasion and explore our boundaries. Can we go a little farther? Can we try a little more? The summer season is at its height. Enjoy the blessings of a cool swim in a lake. Merge with the water, sun and wind. Feel the forces of nature all around. Be with them and remember we all come from the same good old mother Earth. Cherish her everyday.
- Posted in: Wheel of the Year


In my last post I talked about London’s thriving biotechnology sector. Now, I’d like to talk about one of London’s other economic strengths, and arguably a more widely recognized one – agriculture and food production.
London is geographically blessed in just about every way that matters to the food supply chain. When it comes to growing and producing food, processing it, distributing it, and finally, consuming it, London has everything it takes to be a hub for fresh, delicious Ontario food.
First, we have the farmland. Although most Londoners live in urban areas, London is actually over 40% rural. As The London Plan reminds us, about 90% of the land London annexed in 1993 is Class 1 agricultural land. Only 0.5% of land in Canada is Class 1 agricultural land, which means our ability to grow high-quality produce is valuable.
London is also well-positioned for food processing and food distribution. Dr. Oetker chose London for its new plant because of our skilled workforce and easy access to key markets(as well as some help from the province). We have the right people for the job. More than 6 000 Londoners are employed in the food and beverage processing sector. We’re also conveniently located on two 400-series highways, close to two of the county’s busiest border crossings, and within a day’s drive of 150 million consumers.
Finally, Londoners have a keen interest in consuming food that is locally grown or locally produced. Londoners flock to food-related festivals whenever given the chance. We have an expanding network of farmers’ markets. We have spots like the Western Fair Farmers’ Market that also acts as a start-up space and incubator for new food businesses. We also have three new craft breweries that have opened in London in the past year.
Londoners know instinctively that growing, processing, distributing, and celebrating food are things we do well. Along with medicine and other biotechnology, this is a sector London’s next council should focus on nurturing. We must also make sure that message gets out far beyond our city boundaries, so that other potential Dr. Oetkers know about our advantages. Let’s show the world all of the delicious things London has to offer!


While I was getting ready to wash the rice, I accidentally dropped the bowl of rice on the floor. I was shocked. I’ve never done this before even as a boy helping my mom cook rice. There was rice everywhere – by the fridge, the stove – all within a 5 ft radius. It took awhile to scoop up everything. And in the process I picked up a bunch of dirt with the rice. I had to wash the rice many times before I was satisfied all the dirt was gone.
While I was washing the rice and picking out all the pieces of dirt, I remembered bits and pieces of stories about rice as I was growing up. We were told to finish our rice because we were lucky to have lots of rice to eat. I heard about starving kids that didn’t have any rice. I was told my future wife would be beautiful if I ate all my rice. There were also stories about how hard planting rice was. The farmers worked so hard and we shouldn’t waste rice. It was back breaking work. At school, we even learned a song about planting rice.
Planting rice is never fun
Bent from morn till the set of sun,
Cannot stand and cannot sit,
Cannot rest for a little bit.
Planting rice is no fun
Bent from morn till set of sun,
Cannot stand, cannot sit,
Cannot rest a little bit.
Oh, come friends and let us homeward take our way,
Now we rest until the dawn is gray,
Sleep, welcome sleep, we need to keep us strong
Morn brings another workday long.
Oh, my back is like to break,
Oh, my bones with the damp still ache,
And my legs are numb and set
For their long soaking on the wet.
It is hard to be so poor
And such sorrow and pain endure,
You must move your arms about,
Or you’ll find you must go without.
photo credit: Brad Collins
I didn’t know this until a few months ago but apparently the sun’s reflection from the water makes it even more difficult for the farmers. It was so strange that one little incident triggered so many memories.


International Soil and Water Conservation Research (Elsevier)
International Soil and Water Conservation Research (ISWCR), the official journal of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC), is a multidisciplinary journal for soil and water conservation research, practice, policy, and perspectives. This journal aims to disseminate new knowledge and promote the practice of soil and water conservation.
The scope of this journal includes innovative ideas and approaches, results and new data in soil erosion research, preventive and restorative soil conservation strategies, and related soil and water resource conservation research. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary work focusing on monitoring methods, soil erosion models, development and application of soil and water conservation measures and evaluation of their effects, maintenance, and improvement of soil quality, and watershed management related to soil loss and/or water quality/quantity protection.
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.
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Summer is coming. Now's the time to get your buffalo turf ready for the heat. Temperatures can climb during the summer in Australia. If you're not prepared, your buffalo turf can struggle to stay healthy. Luckily, buffalo turf is pretty low-maintenance. If you're not sure how to care for your turf this summer, read the information provided here.
Strengthen the Root System
When it comes to maintaining a healthy lawn, you want to start with a healthy root system. You might think that you need to give your buffalo turf a lot of extra water during the summer months. But, that's not actually the case. In fact, watering your turf too much can damage the roots. That's because the extra water stops your roots from developing a resistance to heat. A healthy root system can retain more moisture. That's why you should try to water your turf a couple of times a week during the summer. If you see your turf wilting, add an extra water cycle during the week.
Control the Weed Growth
If you want to keep your buffalo turf healthy this summer, be sure to control the weed growth. Weeds aren't only unsightly, they're also harmful. In fact, weeds can soak up the water that your turf needs for healthy growth. Also, as weeds spread, their roots can choke out your turf roofs. To protect your buffalo turf, eliminate weeds before they get a chance to take over.
Check for Turf Damage
Now that summer is almost here, it's a good time to start tracking turf damage. If you see areas that are turning brown or that feel like straw, you'll need to take steps to repair the damage. One way to do that is to replace damaged turf. You can do that by cutting out the damaged portion and replacing it with healthy turf. If you're not sure how to do that, you can hire a lawn care service.
Track Pest Activities
Pests can get pretty active during the summer. This is especially true with regard to your turf. Unfortunately, pest infestations can kill your turf. If you're not sure how to identify pest problems, watch the birds. If the birds seem attached to your turf, there's a good chance you have a pest problem. Now's the time to hire a lawn care service. They can eliminate the pest problem, and help your turf stay healthy this summer.
For more info about buffalo turf, contact a local company.Share
26 September 2022
I have a pretty successful local startup but I know that I could do even better if I expanded my business to a larger market. Unfortunately no matter how protiable a local small business is, no bank will lend me enough money for an international expansion. That's why I am preparing to pitch my business to equity investors and potential joint venture partners. Having a strong pitch will help maximise my chances of success. My blog has some of my work on improving my pitch and should be useful to anyone who is looking to pitch their business to investors.


Below is a simple vegetable companion planting guide explaining why some plants help each other and others have the opposite effect. You can also download the document by clicking Allotment Heaven Companion Planting Guide. Read on below the images for more information on companion planting.
Although there's evidence of companion planting being used for over a millennium in different regions of the world, for most vegetable growers it's the Three Sisters technique of native American Indians originating before the 15th century that most comes to mind. Corn planted would provide a trellis for beans, the beans in return fixing nitrogen in the soil. The trio would be completed by the addition of squash, which by covering the ground surpressed weeds and retained moisture in the ground.
What are the main benefits one plant can give to another? It's one or more of the following...
- Increasing nutrients,
- Helping with pest control, or
- Increasing the chances of pollination


Hi! Simply click below and type your query.
Our experts will reply you very soon.
At Oscar Agro Foods, we initiated into the Indian market with the primary purpose of delivering best quality Indian whole and grounded spices, brown coconut, pulses, parboiled rices, fresh vegetables, wheat flours and dry fruits products.
We are newly established in Kollam,Kerala In the year 2022 and is stepping forward in delivering the freshest collection of spices, coconut and other food products that are known for their quality and taste. Our company leads the supply chain of all the above-cited products since its inauguration.
We have been able to create a brand value in the market, because of our reliable delivery, quality-assured food products, responsive customer care services and unpaired excellence. The products offered by us are all grown naturally without the help of harmful fertilisers and toxic chemicals, to retain their authenticity, flavour and aroma. Our team of efficient members satisfy the demands of multiple industries across the world such as food and beverages, personal care, health and cosmetics with our top-notch products.
Choose Kolams Most Reliable Manufacturer of Spices, Coconut, Vegetables and pulse Products
For the cultivation of the best pulses, paddy, coconuts, whole spices and wheat plants that can offer the best standards of food production, we always assign the farmers who are highly capable of maintaining all the modern scientific farming strategies. This ensures the nutrients are well-retained in every product. Each of our products are properly packed so they can offer a lengthy shelf-life.
Below are the points that make Oscar Agro Foods the best supplier of food items,we have mentioned in the above paragraph.
Hence contact Oscar Agro Foods to get the best spices, fresh vegetables and other food products with the best offers and discounts.
|Nature of Business||Manufacturer, Supplier & Exporter|
|Number of Employees||20|
|Name of Founder||Mr. Salim Jahufar|
|Legal Status of Firm||Individual (Sole proprietorship)|
Oscar Agro Foods
KC 1349, Oscar Agro Foods, Chathinamkulam, Chandanathope, Kollam, Kerala - 691014, India
Mobile : +91-9037335001, +91-9447154723
Call Us : 08048773508
E-mail : firstname.lastname@example.org


The Best Organic Start for Your Garden
Certified Organic Plants Shipped Directly to Your Door
Our mission is to provide superior quality certified organic vegetable, herb, and grafted heirloom tomato transplants to support your gardening success. Our non-GMO certified organic plants reflect the knowledge and commitment of our experienced team of growers. Order your plants today and get started growing your own fresh, flavorful vegetables, herbs, and tomatoes!
Strawberry Plants Coming This Fall!
Three varieties of certified organic strawberry plants and other fall season vegetable offerings will be available soon!


THE FARMGROWING & HARVESTING
The Process of Growing & Harvesting
The sweet potato season never ends! That is what all sweet potato farmers say due to it taking 12-13 months to market a seasons harvest. This statement has truth to it, but we can simplify the process into stages.
Seed and Plant Growing (Bedding)
It all begins in the fall, prior to spring planting. The seed potatoes (also called seed but not really a seed) must be saved during the previous year’s harvest either by our farm or one of our certified seed growers. We use these “seeds” to generate the plants (sometimes called shoots or slips) for the next year’s crop planting. These seeds are stored in heated buildings, usually until early March. The seed potatoes are then removed from storage and placed by machine into 36” rows and covered with 2” of dirt and plastic. The plastic allows the seed potato to sprout. Once the sprouts have pressed through the dirt, the plastic is removed, allowing the sprouts to grow into slips. The slips are nurtured and trimmed for weeks allowing them grow to a consistent 13” height. At this time the plants are all hand cut just above ground level and placed in boxes to be transported to the planters. The plants are normally cut 36 hours in advance to planting. This ensures a vigorous plant. Normal plant populations range from 12,000-16,000 plants per acre, depending upon plant spacing and variety. Our average hand cutting is almost 40,000,000 plants per year!
Once the plants are cut and placed in boxes, they are loaded the next morning and placed near the planters. Planting usually begins at 12 noon. Our philosophy is to cut plants in the morning and then plant in the afternoon. It affords the plants 6 extra hours of stress relief from the hot Mississippi summer sun, thus generating a better yielding and better looking sweet potato. The planters are 8 row machines with 2 seats per row. This allows two people to share the responsibility of hand placing the plants into the revolving arms of the planters. This process usually begins round early to mid May and extends into mid to late June. Once planting is complete, the cultivation and crop growth monitoring takes place.
Sweet potato harvest usually begins mid to late August and extends until late October to early November. It usually takes a sweet potato 90 to 120 days to mature to marketable yield levels depending upon weather and variety. The harvest is still done mostly by hand. The vines of the sweet potatoes are mowed with a flail mower a few days in advance of harvest. This allows the tender skin to toughen. Following vine cutting, the diggers are moved in. These are small, 4 row chain machines pulled behind tractors that go underneath the ground and turn the sweet potatoes onto the top of the ground. The diggers are followed by H2A contract workers to hand grade and select the potatoes to go into storage as process or fresh market grades. This is a very labor intensive operation requiring large amounts of people and machinery. Once graded and placed in crates, the sweet potatoes are transported by truck to our long term storage facilities.


Randy Gilliam appointed to Board of Directors for District 2
Marion County native Randy Gilliam of the Sweedens Cove community was recently appointed to fill the District 2 board position left vacant with the passing of Richard Barnes.
Gilliam works a row-crop farming operation with his father, Dewey, and his son, Stanton. They carry on the tradition of farming started when the first of their line settled in the Battlecreek area in 1836. Gilliam is also a building contractor working mostly on commercial facilities. Gilliam and wife, Celena have three grown children — Stanton, Preston and Erica — and four grandchildren. Gilliam also serves on the board of Marion County Farm Bureau. “I am enjoying learning about the electric utility industry,” Gilliam said. “This is a great bunch of people to work with. I look forward to being a part of the exciting times to come.”