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The Garden State

I have seen various prices online for mycorr but the shaping costs seem to negate any great deal you can get on price. Can you find mycorr at HD or Lowes or maybe Agway. Where is the cheapest you have found?

3/18/2009 7:59:10 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Tom's carrying a good brand, the Symbios by RTI for standable for 5#... he can get that in a flat rate box so shipping isn't bad. People are also indicating that should be enough for 5-10 plants, depending on how you use it....

3/18/2009 9:16:16 AM

Minnesota

Giant pumpkins use a specific kind of mycorr, Hollands land of giants (www.hollandsgiants.com) also sells it.

3/18/2009 9:32:50 AM

[email protected]

Be careful. Mycorhizzae is a living thing & has a shelf life. Cheap could mean dead.

3/18/2009 11:17:52 AM

Georgia

How long is the shelf life on Mycorhizzae?

3/18/2009 11:21:30 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

Looks like most packaging suggests using the mycorrhizae within 18-24 months. Even less if it's prepackaged in a soil mixture ready to use. I believe when it comes to myco pumpkins use only the Glomus species of the fungi.

3/18/2009 12:11:46 PM

Parker, Co

we have a giant pumpkin grower in Hilo? my sis lives in mt. view.....cindi glasier

3/18/2009 8:34:10 PM

[email protected]

Jason,

Usually a year depending on how the innoculant is grown, harvested, packaged, stored & sold. Look for expiration dates.

Mycorrhizal spores have a high survival rate. Non-spore propagules are not well protected (& aren't really viable propagules) so do do not enjoy such high survival rates. There's a lot to learn if you can invest the time.

Why expiration dates matter:

http://www.planthealthcare.com/UserFiles/File/TechnicalBulletins_HortTurf/Reading%20Labels%20-%20How%20to%20Recognize%20a%20Quality%20Product.pdf

This link explains the effect of natural & artificial light on spores:

http://www.planthealthcare.com/UserFiles/File/TechnicalBulletins_HortTurf/Commercially%20Significant%20Aspects%20of%20Spores%0of%20Mycorrhizal%20Fungi.pdf

Tips for buying, storing & using viable innoculants:

http://www.planthealthcare.com/UserFiles/File/TechnicalBulletins_HortTurf/Maintaining%20Viability%20of%20Biological%20Products.pdf

http://www.planthealthcare.com/UserFiles/File/TechnicalBulletins_HortTurf/Maintaining%20Viability%20of%20Biological%20Products.pdf

Effects of temperatue:

http://www.planthealthcare.com/UserFiles/File/TechnicalBulletins_HortTurf/PHC%20VAM%20Spore%20Viability%20-%20Temperature%20Trials.pdf

Some old spores do quite well if stored properly.

http://www.planthealthcare.com/UserFiles/File/TechnicalBulletins_HortTurf/VAM%20Fungi%20Spore%20Age%20Viability%20Test.pdf

3/18/2009 11:39:44 PM

Midway, UT

Great links Tremor. Thanks for sharing!

3/19/2009 12:48:22 AM

Georgia

Thanks Tremor...helpful as always.

3/19/2009 9:09:15 AM

huntsburg,ohio

from what i got out of the meeting the other day best if used in 3 to 4 months after its made.Jerry

3/19/2009 12:38:33 PM

[email protected]

I agree Jerry. Spores can never be too fresh but they can be too old.

3/19/2009 10:25:23 PM