National Vegetable Society
"Advancing the culture, study and improvement of vegetables"
The Curse of Clubroot by Professor Geoff Dixon, GreenGene International
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Tomato Yellow Peach
This year I tried the "Heritage" tomatoes offered as plants. Not all the plants supplied survived and grew but of those that did one cultivar, Yellow Peach, seemed to me to be outstanding.
"Eat - up Your Greens!" was Grandma's clarion advice. Science is now showing the depth of her wisdom.
Broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, and cauliflower (the brassicas) are prime sources of chemicals that when taken over time reduce the likelihood of contracting cancers and coronary diseases.
Science not infrequently vindicates such established folk remedies. This has happened with clubroot, know as the curse of most brassicas. Since the early 1900s the high calcium, slow release nitrogen fertiliser called Perlka™ has been used world - wide by professional growers to alleviate clubroot. The basis for Perlka's properties is being steadily revealed by science.
"What is Clubroot?"
Clubroot disease appears on brassicas as swollen, malformed roots that are incapable of supplying the growing plant with nutrients and water from the soil. As a result the plants are small, unthrifty, often bluish - green and frequently die early. The disease results from invasion of the roots by a minute microbe known to science by the wonderful name of Plasmodiophora brassicae. Tiny resting spores of this microbe lie dormant in the soil until their germination is stimulated by the presence of brassicas. When a host is planted they invade the roots causing it to produce huge quantities of hormones. As a result the roots swell and fail to function correctly.
"How Can Perlka™ Help?"
The clubroot microbe thrives in acidic (pH below 7.0), moist soil. Perlka™ contains calcium, carbon and nitrogen fused at temperatures greater than 1,000 oC into a fertiliser, calcium cyanamide. In the soil Perlka™ slowly and steadily releases its calcium and nitrogen. Calcium from Perlka™ raises soil pH in a similar manner to lime (calcium carbonate). Nitrogen from Perlka™ stimulates brassica growth and vigour and this will compliment other techniques used to grow Show quality vegetables. Additionally, Perlka™ has intrinsic fertilising properties capable of encouraging soil microbes that are antagonistic to P. brassica diminishing its abilities to colonise and thrive in brassica roots and stimulating innate disease resistance in the host. Maximum effect is obtained from P erlka™ by applying 7 to 10 days before sowing or transplanting.
"What Else Can Perlka™ do?"
Because Perlka™ encourages beneficial soil microbes it is an excellent additive to composts that accelerates the breakdown of organic matter into humus. Returning this to your soil improves its drainage and in turn this helps defeat the 'Curse of Clubroot'.
"Where is Perlka™ Available?"
Perlka™ becomes available in 1.5kg bags for domestic use in 2006. Wrights Horticulture Ltd. of Ipswich, Suffolk are distributing Perlka™ ;Telephone number 01473 - 830081.
Remember to READ THE LABEL on the bag and FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS in order to gain maximum benefit from Perlka™.
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