To become a good gardener, one must begin by learning as much as possible about the soil. Although one can garden successfully without knowing whether the soil is acid or alkaline, and how much potassium or phosphorus is present, you will be more successful when these facts are known. It is therefore necessary that before applying fertilisers, one should determine the soil's acidity or alkalinity.

One of the areas of our soil that very little attention is given to is the pH balance. This is a particularly important factor because it governs plant growth. It not only determines the chemical availability of vital nutrients to plants, but also what plants will grow well in a given soil. The pH scale ranges from 1-14, a pH reading of 7 is in the centre of the scale. When testing the soil all readings below 7.0 are acidic. Readings above 7.0 are alkaline. A pH level that is slightly acid to neutral ú between 6.0 to 7.0 is fine for most flower and vegetable gardens, because at that level the essential nutrients are most readily available. Most plants will tolerate a soil rich in organic matter.

Many times gardeners tend to fertilise plants without knowing what is the particular need. And because the plant is not in a soil where the pH is right, it is not able to absorb the vital minerals such as boron, copper, manganese and zinc.

Acid-loving plants, such as azaleas, which need plenty of iron for growth, thrive in acidic soil in which the nutrients are more readily available. On the other hand, phosphorus is the most important nutrient that is tied up in acid soil.

It is importamt to take a very close look at the plants to be fertilised to see if there are any deficiencies by looking at the leaves and to apply fertiliser that would remedy the deficiencies that exist.

The term pH refers to the amount of free hydrogen in the soil and the pH may be adjusted by the addition of either lime or sulphur. After such copious showers of rain recently, much of the nutrients in the soil, may have been washed out and therefore minerals and other food material that the plants require are depleted and the addition of fertilisers as a quick fix method becomes very necessary. Although it is approaching the period when plants go to rest, and are not actively growing it is very necessary that plants should be fertilised at this time. Care must therefore be taken in the application of inorganic fertilisers as any excess at this time could create burning or retard the absorption of the material that is intended to increase nutrients.

It is important to take a very close look at the plants to be fertilised to see if there are any deficiencies by looking at the leaves and to apply fertiliser that would remedy the deficiencies that exist. At this time calcium deficiency may become very obvious if the plants become weak and flabby, leaves become yellow, dry up and fall off. Lower leaves falling are normal. In such a case it's important that a fertiliser that is rich in organic matter be applied.

However at this time, depending on the amount of rainfall, it will be necessary over the next few days to apply an all-purpose fertiliser that will carry all the necessary nutrients, that plants would normally need when the soil is leached out. Therefore the application of water-soluble fertilisers could be very helpful at this time to replace whatever nutrient is lost.

Shaggy & Friends take a bow

Two-day Gathering of the Peacemaker in Negril

Patrons rang in the New Year with gusto at 11:59