Myths exploded

[Nicos]

Me too...it gets Up to 40C on our patio in the shade .....and goodness knows how hot a droplet of water would get in full sun.
I'm sure the water drops would bake the leaves at that sort of temperature...ah well...looks like I'm just as confused as ever!!!!

[pigletwillie]

Water droplets can cause scorching but not always. It takes a combination of circumstances for it to happen. I have had it happen in the open and under glass but not under plastic as the sun is diffused more. If you have good soil full of compost and worms there is no need to water except for undercover, pots and the like. People water far more than needed as a general rule and that's no myth.

[Nicos]

They do indeed PW....causing root systems to be too shallow. Treat em mean and they will push a root system deeper and therefore be more drought tolerant.

[Bill HH]

If some practice can be neither proven or disproven then its effectiveness cant be particularly outstanding. In that case I think it is fair play to assume it might be myth and investigate it further. Why would anyone want to go on doing something that has not noticeable effect? Take planting leeks into holes (Puddleing in), I do it, but I have seen plenty of people who don't without any harm (soil in the centre of the plant) The seedling is so small at that stage that there is not room for soil to get in anyway. I will not be doing it this year. Its a myth.

[Alison]

If some practice can be neither proven or disproven then its effectiveness cant be particularly outstanding. In that case I think it is fair play to assume it might be myth and investigate it further. Why would anyone want to go on doing something that has not noticeable effect? Take planting leeks into holes (Puddleing in), I do it, but I have seen plenty of people who don't without any harm (soil in the centre of the plant) The seedling is so small at that stage that there is not room for soil to get in anyway. I will not be doing it this year. Its a myth.

It's not as simple as that though as there are so many more variables when you start looking at what other people do. Their soil may be different, likewise feeding regime, preparation, time of sowing, even selection of variety etc. I mean there is no control group. The little things may not make much difference but they all add up - interestingly enough this is the approach that's been taken by the British cycling team and it's shaved fractions of seconds off fir lots of reasons adding up to a winning team. I see growing like that, lots of little things that make up success rather than any miracle cures.


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[David.sturtz]

Rooting hormones were discovered in the 1930s by Dutch scientists. Today, the most common rooting hormone is a chemical called indole-3-butyric acid, or IEB. It is available in both liquid and powder forms. The most common product available in garden centers is the powdered rooting. It was at one time thought to be only a synthetic but later found to be produced by plants themselves As such, it is a naturally occurring hormone, but some outdated sources still list it as a synthetic

IBA is converted to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and it is in this form that the plant uses to grow roots. IAA is not used in rooting compound because it is less stable than IBA and tends to break down over time. Some manufacturers recommend against using rooting hormone on food plants because they are trying to defend themselves against possible lawsuits. At any rate, check the label cautions to make sure the variety you're using is safe for food plants. Also, do not dispose of excess rooting hormone in areas where it can contaminate water supplies or soil. It should be treated like any bioactive chemical and disposed of in a solid waste facility.
A second naturally occurring root growth hormone is Naphthoxyacetic acid and is sometimes used with IBA.

[Shadylane]

If some practice can be neither proven or disproven then its effectiveness cant be particularly outstanding. In that case I think it is fair play to assume it might be myth and investigate it further. Why would anyone want to go on doing something that has not noticeable effect? Take planting leeks into holes (Puddleing in), I do it, but I have seen plenty of people who don't without any harm (soil in the centre of the plant) The seedling is so small at that stage that there is not room for soil to get in anyway. I will not be doing it this year. Its a myth.

I think the point of puddling is to blanch the leek isn't it? You don't have to but it's just one method, so not really a myth. I do tend to get soil in the middle too- not sure how though. I've always assumed they grow taller if you dib them in - that might be a myth. Also the deeper they go the less chance they have of flopping I suppose. I think Twosheds plants them in modules of three or so them plants them out like that. Never tried it myself - maybe I will.

[Alison]

I think the point of puddling is to blanch the leek isn't it? You don't have to but it's just one method, so not really a myth. I do tend to get soil in the middle too- not sure how though. I've always assumed they grow taller if you dib them in - that might be a myth. Also the deeper they go the less chance they have of flopping I suppose. I think Twosheds plants them in modules of three or so them plants them out like that. Never tried it myself - maybe I will.

That's a good example of some things working for one person and not for another. In my soil the small clump method really doesn't work but it's not a myth if it works for Two Sheds.


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[Raybon]

Lunar planting.......not so daft when you consider phases of the moon control our tides, and behaviour of people.....hence old term not in general use :'lunatics'.

[pigletwillie]

I think the point of puddling is to blanch the leek isn't it? You don't have to but it's just one method, so not really a myth. I do tend to get soil in the middle too- not sure how though. I've always assumed they grow taller if you dib them in - that might be a myth. Also the deeper they go the less chance they have of flopping I suppose. I think Twosheds plants them in modules of three or so them plants them out like that. Never tried it myself - maybe I will.

If you plant them in a dibbed hole and water them in they probably wont need watering again as the roots and surrounding soil are well below the surface, the main reason though is that it gives you a longer blanched stem which after all is the bit we mainly want. So not really a myth, just very practical. I generally dib holes at least 6-8" long and get lovely long blanched stems. you can also do it with a cane and dib holes an inch apart to give you fabulous blanched baby leeks which look good at any dinner party tea.

[Bill HH]

You can still plant them deep without leaving the hole open, its the puddling in that I find slightly pointless, commercial growers don't do it.

[pigletwillie]

Can you imagine puddling in a 100 acre field Bill?? Watering in tends to back fill the hole anyway when done on an amateur scale so tis not left open. Horses for course though, both methods work, neither are a myth.

[Bill HH]

Can you imagine puddling in a 100 acre field Bill?? Watering in tends to back fill the hole anyway when done on an amateur scale so tis not left open. Horses for course though, both methods work, neither are a myth.

It is in my opinion a myth that puddling in does any good, and so a waste of time. If there was a reason or and advantage I would be all for it. You say both methods work, but I don't see puddling in does anything useful. Don't let me stop you faffing about pouring water down holes though.

[pigletwillie]

In your opinion indeed. I find it works better for me having tried both ways. It may be a myth for you but not me. Your opinion does not make puddling a myth to anybody other than yourself. There are several ways to skin a cat, and several to plant leeks. I grow ruddy good leeks, puddling works well for me.

[Shadylane]

It is in my opinion a myth that puddling in does any good, and so a waste of time. If there was a reason or and advantage I would be all for it. You say both methods work, but I don't see puddling in does anything useful. Don't let me stop you faffing about pouring water down holes though.

Don't you water your seedlings when you plant them out then? How is watering them different to puddling? The only difference with leeks is you don't back fill with soil, you let it do it on it's own over time, so actually saves time. How is this faffing?