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48 - CAPE-GAZETTE, Friday,
Soil
Continued from page 46
soil by the decomposing mulch."
Natural organic fertilizers,
which come from biological mate-
rials, provide organic matter as
well as nutrients to soil, including
the nitrogen lost to decomposing
mulch.
April 14 -April 20, 2000
and phosphorus. University ex-
tension laboratories will test soil
for a small fee and may provide a
more extensive analysis and rec-
ommendations.
A soil's pH can change over
time and should be checked every
three to four years.
Proper pH
The most important thing to do
when you begin gardening is to
test and then amend the soil to
bring it up to the proper pH level.
A soil's pH value indicates the
acid or alkaline level and can af-
fect the availability of some nutri-
ents to plants. The ideal pH level
for fertile soil is 7.0, which is con-
sidered neutral. For most edible
plants, a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 is
good.
Amendments can be added to
bring the soil closer to neutral, but
organic matter, especially com-
post, tends to neutralize soil over
time.
To test the PH of your soil, use a
do-it-yourself pH kit available at
garden centers, or send a soil sam-
ple to your local county extension
agent. Home kits also ma3; test
fertility by measuring the relative
amount of nitrogen, potassium
Asparagus
Continued from page 45
which is nothing more than green
asparagus grown in the dark. You
can duplicate this expensive gour-
met treat by mounding soil care-
fully over the spears as they grow
emerge in the spring. Or you can
cover them with flower pots or
bushel baskets. While more deli-
cate and tender than green or pur-
ple asparagus, white asparagus
lacks chlorophyll and is much less
nutritious.
There is also a Taiwanese tech-
nique where you let three stalks
grow unharvested from each
crown in the spring. Let these
grow into ferns and harvest only
the other spears as they emerge.
Because the plant is being nour-
ished by these three ferns you can
continue to harvest spears right
through midsummer.
You can even trick asparagus
into producing a fall rather than a
spring crop. Simply let the aspara-
gus grow without harvesting until
about eight weeks before your
first frost. Then cut down the tall
ferns. New shoots will emerge and
you will have a fall harvest. This
takes a lot of energy out of the
plants so mark which ones you
have forced this way and give
them a rest by not cutting them
next season. Cut asparagus just
below the soil line being careful
not to injure the crowns. Steam or
pan saut6 asparagus, add the
spears to omelets or-just serve
with butter or Hollandaise sauce.
Paul Barbano writes about gar-
dening and farming from his home
in Rehoboth Beach. Address
questions or comments to him c/o
the Cape Gazette.
What is NPK?
On packages of fertilizer you'll
find the N-P-K ratio - nitrogen
(N), phosphorus (P) and potassi-
um (K).
Potassium also is referred to as
potash - K is its chemical symbol.
N-P-K is the amount of macro nu-
trients in the fertilizer by weight.
It's guaranteed by law.
For example: If the N is 6, the
product contains 6 percent nitro-
gen by weight.
Nitrogen is vital.for healthy leaf
and stem growth. It is the promi-
nent nutrient in fertilizers de-
signed to stimulate foliage
growth. It promotes quick growth
and dark green foliage. Too much
nitrogen can cause plants to be-
come leggy. Too little will stunt
growth.
Another nitrogen feature to
watch for in fertilizers is the
amount of slo- release or water-
insoluble nitrogen. These two
sources of nitrogen are available
to the plant over a longer period
of time than those in water-solu-
ble forms.
Phosphorus (P) promotes
strong root growth and aids flow-
ering, fruit and seed production.
This nutrient is especially impor-
tant to vegetable gardens, fruit
trees, bulbs and newly planted
bare root plants.
Phosphorus must be placed near
the roots where the plant can use
it.
Potassium (K) is a word derived
from potash (chemical symbol K).
In the past, this nutrient was ap-
plied to gardens in the form of
wood ashes. It is necessary for
flower and fruit production. It al-
so is responsible for healthy
growth, resistance to disease and
cold, and aids plants in utilizing
other nutrients.
This article was prepared by the
Article Resource Association.
Nutrient
Continued from page 47
"We've had some critical ques-
tions during those talks, but only
from a few individuals, not the
majority. I think I know farmers
real well, and I think they'll accept
the nutrient management program
once ifs explained to them."
Rep. George Carey, R-Milford,
vice-chair of the House Agricul-
ture Committee, said he finds no
reason to complain over the com-
mission's progress.
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) last year approved
rules requiring Delaware to better
regulate its nutrient-rich manure
handling, which the EPA has iden-
tified as a major non-point source
of nutrient overload in many
Delaware waterways. The EPA
has given Delaware until 2003 to
begin implementing a mandatory
nutrient management plan or face
federal mandates to address the
problem.
The commission report states it
will comply with the EPA dead-
line for the start of nutrient man-
agement plan implementation by
Jan. 1, 2003.
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Open Space Conservation:
• Sustainable Development for Sussex County
f you want your community to take control of its
destiny and ensure that new development creates
more livable communities in the process, this
seminar might be dght for you.
Communities across Delaware are realizing that they can conserve their
special open spaces and natural resources at the same #me they achieve
their development objectives. The tools? Conservation zoning and
conservation subdivision design.
FEATURED TOPICS & PRESENTERS INCLUDE:
WELCOMING COMMENTS:
Growth & Development in Sussex Co.
Hon. Ruth Ann Minner Lt. Goz of DE
Hart. Rnley B. Jones
President Sussex County Council
Hon. George H. P. Smith Mayor#Lewes
SETTING THE STAGE:
Growth & Devol in Sussex Co.
Mr. David S. Hugo, Director
Office # State P/ann/no Coord/net/on
CONSERVATION DESIGN:
Techniques & Pdnciples
Mr. Randall Arendt
Community Planner
LOCAL REACTION:
Mr. Lawrence Lank, Director
Sussex co/Pmg zom
Ms. Pat Campbell-White
Broker, ReMax Rea/ty Group
Mr. Michael Lynn, Pres.
RDM Deve/ot
Monday, April 24 • 11:30 am -6 pm Harbor Room, Virden Center
University of Delaware College of Marine Studies, Lewes Campus
A $15 registration fee includes: Buffet lunch, Refreshment break,
Post-seminar reception and Seminar materials.
CALL TODAY TO REGISTER (302) 645-4346
(Please make check payable to: University of Delaware)
. Sussex ComewationOistdct
*Department : Resouroesand Environmental
SEMINAR SUPPORTERS:
. University of Delaware Delaware
Cooperative F..xtenston Service
• Sussex County Association of Towns
Nationally recognized land-use planner and site designer,
Randall Arendt is the principle speaker for the seminar which will
focus on methods and techniques for designing residential
developments in harmony with the natural landscape. Mr.
Arendt has planned "conservation subdivisions" for clients in 16
states that have been viewed as wln-win propositions, benefiting
both the environment and the economy. He has written five
books and numerous articles and reports on conservation
planning and landscape design, including Designing Open
Space Developments in Sussex County, Delaware: A Practical
Handbook for Those Involved in Land Development published
recently by the Sussex Conservation District.
Randall Arendt,
Pdnciple Speaker