fallow containers between grow cycles

[chappie]

If one is running "no till" recycled organic living soil in containers, but is going to shut down the garden for a bit, how to best care for the containers and the microherd? Are they fine just hanging out in the dark for a few months, mulched and kept slightly moist, or is it more important that a cover crop be actively grown? If they just going to be set on "idle" for a bit, any prepping or precautions to take?

 

[aridbud]

I let my areas fallow, then grow peas to reintroduce nitrogen.

Or....I cover for winter, add manure and compost to the pile as I'm working the soil....and rotate what I grow in them.

 

[chappie]

I'm talking specifically about indoor containers. Will they suffer being in the dark for many weeks/ a couple months? Cover crop will obviously not grow in these conditions, and commercial soil seems just fine as it sits in warehouses, but it is not "living" per se. Maybe to put it another way, how to best "pause" a ROLS garden, so that when the light comes back on and plants are added, it is in optimum condition?

 

[Swollencalyx]

I take about 3 months off a year and store my recycled soil in a 32g trash can. I usually amend at that time with castings, compost and meals. Whatever I feel might be lacking. Then just put a lid on it. When I can get back to it I find that the richer soil tends to be at the bottom.

Cheers

 

[Swollencalyx]

I take about 3 months off a year and store my recycled soil in a 32g trash can. I usually amend at that time with castings, compost and meals. Whatever I feel might be lacking. Then just put a lid on it. When I can get back to it I find that the richer soil tends to be at the bottom.

Cheers

I do pretty much the same. Also My outdoor pile gets tarped but treated as such. Let the soil speak to you. Follow your nose and you will see.

 

[Coba]

re-amending will be necessary ... but, no your living soil will not flourish in the dark, empty space your "lights out" will create.

 

[Coba]

"how to best care for the containers and the microherd? "


treat your soil like mothernature would.

 

[The Dragon]

.

 

[FatherEarth]

Test your soil, amend accordingly, add microbes via however you wish ,keep the soil warm and feed a healthy microbe booster or molasses once a week. Id give them a regular day cycle even if its just a reg light bulb and be sure and keep the room warm.

 

[Sat X RB]

Hello, I 'm new to this Forum but not, as you can see, to the Site.

My situation is outdoors in a dry eucalypt forest where I must grow in containers to insulate from trees around sucking up moisture and nutrients; and to avoid termites.

Seems to me that the most effective way for me to fallow is by removing my soil from the containers so it is in contact with Earth ... so as to allow soil organisms and worms to recycle my soil for me ... as far as that is possible given my location, climate and fallow-time available ...
So during fallow I need to keep this soil moist ... and of course I will need to add a new batch of manures ...

That doing this will see the soil much healthier than had it been left to fallow in-container without Earth contact.

I 'm wondering how much sense this makes to other recyclers/organic growers ... ?

Cheers!

 

[Coba]

Based on tips I've received in the past from making compost in direct contact with the Earth, you want to do it on top or around an already established and flourishing micro ecosystem.

say, underneath an old growth tree for instance. where the rhizosphere's micro-flora and fauna are well established and will migrate into your soil.

 

[ct guy2]

I would just keep it evenly moist and hit it with some compost tea and nutrients prior to re-planting. I don't see any real issues with that.