Myth-Busters Challenge - Biota Max vs. MycoGrow - Confirmed!

[rnewste]

In early October, I planted Oregon Giant Snow Peas in two adjacent EarthTainers to grow over the Winter. I wanted to evaluate the effect of comparing Biota Max versus MycoGrow with no other variables.



On October 23, I inoculated the 'Tainer on the left with MycoGrow, and the 'Tainer on the right with Biota Max. Here they are on December 15:



Note that the 'Tainer with MycoGrow took an early lead in growth.

However, the Biota Max inoculated 'Tainer eventually caught up and surpassed the MycoGrow 'Tainer:



Production also appears better from the Biota Max:



Average Snow Pea size has run about 4 inches:



So, my conclusion is in a head-to-head trial, Biota Max beat out MycoGrow. Again, not a statistically conclusive study, but it is an interesting comparison.

As both MycoGrow and Biota Max cost about $6.00 delivered, I recommend doing a 50% / 50% blend of both products as there are ingredients in each that are unique.

Raybo

[amideutch]

Good stuff Ray. Couldn't agree more on the 50/50 blend and would also reccomend adding Actinovate to the mix. Ami

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by amideutch

Good stuff Ray. Couldn't agree more on the 50/50 blend and would also recommend adding Actinovate to the mix. Ami

Agreed. I am planning on the MycoGrow / Biota Max inoculation about 3 weeks after initial plant-out, then doing an Actinovate treatment 3 weeks hence.

BTW, I planted out a Black & Brown Boar, Pink Boar, and NARX today, as they simply outgrew their inside InnTainers and had to go out. They are each over 4 feet tall as of now. I know it is VERY early for N. California, but I've got 18 inch tall back-ups of each, if we get hit by a freeze.

Raybo

[Stepheninky]

Originally Posted by amideutch

Good stuff Ray. Couldn't agree more on the 50/50 blend and would also reccomend adding Actinovate to the mix. Ami

Would not the Myco grow soluble work like the Actinovate as part of its formula is the same bacteria in Actinovate?

[amideutch]

Would not the Myco grow soluble work like the Actinovate as part of its formula is the same bacteria in Actinovate?

Same bacteria but a different strain. Ami

[fortyonenorth]

Ray/Ami - How are the MycoGrow and BiotaMax applied? Is it a one-time soil drench after transplant; a periodic applications throughout the growing season; or ???

[creister]

I was also wondering if you (Ray) apply any mycos at transplant time. I think it was Ami that dipped the root balls at transplant time?

[amideutch]

As I grow my seedlings in Dot Pots/Cow Pots I just dip them in a water bath that has had Actinovate, Biota Max and Mycogrow soluable added to it. Remove, drain and plant. You can do the same with seedlings grown in plastic pots also. Dip them in the solution, remove and allow excess to drain back into the bucket, remove plant from plastic pot and plant. Ami

[dipchip2000]

Raybo

Isnt there a fertilizer or NPK amount that will damage or kill soil bacterias when applied after the Biotamax? I remember reading somewhere on here about what not to use after treating with Mycorra or Biotamax. I forgot to remember what it was or where that post was located. Can you advise??

ron

[Wargamer777]

Originally Posted by amideutch

As I grow my seedlings in Dot Pots/Cow Pots I just dip them in a water bath that has had Actinovate, Biota Max and Mycogrow soluable added to it. Remove, drain and plant. You can do the same with seedlings grown in plastic pots also. Dip them in the solution, remove and allow excess to drain back into the bucket, remove plant from plastic pot and plant. Ami

Ami,

Do you use any when you pot up from seedlings to a 4' pot? Or do you wait and use the solutions when you transplant outside?

[Suze]

I'm in! Ordered both products last week, and delivery was prompt for both of them - 3 days or so.

I ordered the Biota Max from the site Ray mentioned earlier in the thread for the cheaper price, btw:

If you go to the Biotamax.com site, it is priced at $7.88. If however, you go to the biggertomatoes.com site, it is priced at $5.85:

http://biggertomatoes.com/GrowBigger.html

[rnewste]

Suze,

Great! Are you planning on mixing in Actinovate as well as per Ami's routine? It would be interesting (if you have lots of garden space) to run some trials of the two mycos, then some plants treated with all three, etc. Have fun!!

Raybo

[Suze]

Ray,

I use Actinovate from the very beginning on my seedlings - I even add some when I soak down the seed starting mix. I don't use every single time I water (as that would be a waste of product) but I do add some to the water every second or third watering.

Testimonial alert - year before last, I had a bad experience with 4-5 flats of my seedlings having some damping off problems. Got a bad/old bag of seed starting mix. I'd already been reading about Actinovate, but had never used it before. Actinovate reversed the damage and about 98% of those seedlings in the flats lived and thrived, even though several already had mild girdling at stem level. I did set aside about 10 control seedlings that didn't get treated (and all eventually died.) Since then, I just use it from the get-go when starting seed, good stuff.

Found out that year it also works wonders on turf.

So anyway, all my seedlings are already inoculated with Actinovate.

[creister]

I believe that you do not want your percentage of phosphours, the P of NPK, to be above 3-4 percent.

[rnewste]

dipchip,

If you are using Tomato-tone (3-4-6) or Foliage Pro (9-3-6) things should be fine.

I am sure Ami's "dip method" is more precise than my (lazy) method of simply doing a single soil drench 3 weeks after plant-out, so if you really want to do it right, follow Ami's process.

Raybo