From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Just wondering if stored in the shed in freezing temps will do any harm? I think I read somewhere that this is not good. Just wondering if I wasted money? Thanks, Ray

2/11/2007 4:57:47 PM

Waquoit Mass

maybe ron will chime in hes the expert

2/11/2007 5:23:08 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Talked to the guy that sold me mine and he said they are spores so very difficult to kill until they become fungi.

From what I understand, don't worry about it.

2/11/2007 7:15:39 PM

[email protected]

We are the largest distributor for PHC in New England. I recently asked their R&D guys for their comments on this sometimes controversial subject. VAM is (supposed to be)prepared for sale with a small carefully engineered quantitiy of moisture to prolong the shelf life (to 2 years minimum). When this is the case, it is best to keep VAM stored above freezing temperatures as the tiny ice crystals can rupture some of the spores.

Being the techy I am I pressed them for percent mortality figures & was told they are too variable to publish.

How's that for a clear & concise answer? LOL

Bottom line: Keep it in a cool place above freezing if you can.

2/11/2007 9:41:33 PM

Montoursville, PA

My guy suggests loss begins as soon as they are produced and continues more per year as storage time is increased. Being pressed he said if he were growing he would buy short and get fresh every two years. He does not like freezing storage but also said others may disagree on that point. Mine from his source were three year old last year and produced great results. So maybe half are dead we stll only need one spore to contact one root to get the job done. Even if half were dead there must be a gazillion spores in a pinch placed in the potting hole.

2/11/2007 10:32:53 PM

[email protected]

So not knowing what is dead, and what is alive, my 2 pound bag of mycore plus that is in my shed is good or bad? Would it be harmful if I just plopped the entire bag as an overseed to the entire patch? What would it benefit, and what would it hurt?

2/11/2007 10:37:23 PM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

What about the stuff that is already in the ground? Does it die off? We freeze pretty hard here every year. I do plan on reapplying

2/12/2007 9:42:54 AM

Montoursville, PA

Rock............no harm that I could see. Nothing would be a guareenteed benefit euther since you really can not tell by looking at it. I know of no way the average guy could test it with any degree of success.

George.....It can not live with the specific host, in this case one of the Endo variety spores being hosted by the pummpkin root. The pumpkin is not hardy. the roots die off and rot in the soil. At the point were life no longer exists the spore would be what you had to count on. It appears that we do not know absolutely if freezing does or does not kill the spore in the ground. Until it is generally agreed that they are not hurt by freezing I shall continue to introduce new spores as part of spring planting each year.

2/12/2007 10:00:27 AM

Rhode Island

I would not store in freezing tempatures. id use it all in the same year for maximum effect.
Also
In my view once its in your soil its the same as any other organism living there.
When winter sets in they go into a hibernation state. The warm weather in spring brings them back to life, much in the same way disease remains dorment until such time as weather conditions are present that allow it to grow.

Im no exoert by any means but thats how i feel about the subject

pap

2/12/2007 12:31:52 PM

Montoursville, PA

Pap may be Ok with his comments where he lives. Those of us with hard deep winter freezes have a different situation wherein we know little as of this hour about freezing spores. My freeze up is at least two feet deep today. As you go North and West from here it only gets worse as far as freeze up is concerned.

2/12/2007 7:36:02 PM