FPJ STRATEGIES

STRAWBERRY IN MULTIPLE STAGES OF GROWTH

FPJ Strategies for Managing Multiple Growth Stages: Which FPJ Should I Spray?

Advanced FPJ Application Methods

THE ENGINE IN THE SOIL

Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is a food production system that works to mimic Nature. The inputs are used as growth signals, not fertilizer. 

For Biochemical Signaling Technology to work (BST, the weekly sprays), the Soil Foundation must be in place. KNF uses Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) to establish the Soil Foundation because it is the most effective method, though it is not the only way.

A driver needs a car with an engine. The Soil Foundation is the car, and the microbes are the engine that powers it.

The Soil Foundation needs to meet these criteria.

1. Local to area

2. Entire soil ecosystem

3. Sufficient concentration

Without these criteria, there is no engine to translate the signals from the FPJs into plant growth. In other words, it won’t really work. 

The information that follows is dependent on having a full ecology of soil biology, the Soil Foundation.

GIVE PLANTS WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO

In KNF, formulas are designed to guide plant growth, using Fermented Plant Juices (FPJ) as the active ingredient. Plants are lightly misted, no more than once per week. Leaf tip FPJs are used for vegetative growth, green fruit FPJs for fruit development, and so on.

The patterns are straightforward and easy to follow. Unless your plant lacks distinct growing phases. Some have vegetative growth, flowering, and fruit, all happening on the same plant at the same time.

How do you use Biochemical Signaling Technology (BST) when your plant is expressing two or more stages of growth? There are a few methods to approach this situation. 

SUGGESTED METHODS:

1. Sequential Application

Definition: FPJs are applied according to the crop's overall developmental progression.

Method:The entire plant receives a vegetative FPJ during vegetative growth, flowering FPJ during flowering, green fruit FPJ during fruit development, and ripe fruit FPJ during maturation.

Best suited for:

• Crops with clearly defined growth stages

• Young crops

• Large-scale production where simplicity is important

Guiding question:"What stage is the crop moving into?"

Caution: If you want to use this method on a plant expressing different phases of growth at the same time, test your plant on a small scale (a single plant, not a row or field) to ensure you are not causing unintended consequences.

While simply using the vegetative formula (some people refer to it as ‘maintenance solution,’ although there is no such thing) is usually benign, it can prevent a plant from moving into the cross-over and reproductive stages.

Reactions vary depending on crop, weather and climate, and the specific plant material used for the FPJ. Be mindful of your goals and remember it’s best to test any new method.

2. Pulsed Application

Definition: Different FPJs are alternated over time to support multiple growth activities occurring simultaneously.

Method:A grower rotates FPJs according to a schedule or observation. For example:

Week 1: Vegetative FPJ

Week 2: Flower FPJ

Week 3: Vegetative FPJ

Week 4: Green Fruit FPJ

The exact sequence depends on crop needs.

Best suited for:

• Long-season crops

• Indeterminate tomatoes

• Perennial crops carrying multiple growth stages simultaneously

Guiding question:"Which process needs support?" Keep in mind you are looking forward to what the crop is moving into, not where it is now. It may need to stay in the same growth stage, or it may need to move on to the next.

3. Dominant Phase Application

Definition: The FPJ is selected based on the plant's primary developmental activity.

Method:Even when multiple stages exist, the grower identifies the dominant energy demand and applies the FPJ associated with that stage.

For example, a tomato with some flowers but vigorous vegetative expansion would still receive a vegetative FPJ. Later in the season, the focus may switch to fruit development or ripening.

Best suited for:

• General field management

• Situations where one growth process clearly outweighs the others

Guiding question:"What should the plant be doing primarily?"

4. Directed Application

Definition: Different portions of the same plant receive different FPJs.

Method:The grower applies specific FPJs only to targeted plant parts while avoiding other areas.

Examples:

• Spray flowering branches with flower FPJ.

• Spray fruiting branches with green-fruit FPJ.

• Spray new vegetative shoots with vegetative FPJ.

Best suited for:

• High-value crops

• Small-scale production

• Experimental work

Guiding question:"Which part of the plant needs this signal?"

Caution:

Be careful when applying. Overspray can trigger unintended, long-lasting consequences. This may require a protective shield. It may also be best to spray different formulas on different days.

5. Outcome-Based Application

Definition: FPJs are selected according to the grower's objective rather than the plant's current stage.

Method:A grower intentionally applies an FPJ to encourage the next desired phase. This method most closely aligns with the basic method of following the Nutritive Cycle and giving them an FPJ from the soon-to-be apparent next stage.

Examples:

• Applying flower FPJ before flowering begins.

• Applying green-fruit FPJ before fruit set becomes dominant.

• Applying vegetative FPJ after harvest to rebuild growth.

Guiding question:"What do I want the plant to do next?"

Caution:

It is best to do a small test (a single plant, not an entire row or field). This is especially true during the reproductive stages. The hormones during all reproductive stages are powerful, tricky, and very plant-dependent. They can also be influenced by solar and lunar cycles (time of the year/season, and phase of the moon).

Read this article for more information.

https://www.fermentedfarm.com/post/plants-for-flower-set-in-knf-part-6

 STRATEGIES:

Have a plan for your approaches. If you are trying something new, test small first. Figure out what works best for you. Keep in mind you may have to adjust your strategies as seasons change, your needs change, and your weather patterns change. Different FPJ from different plants can have very different effects, especially during reproductive phases.

Plant-Centered Strategies

• Sequential Application

• Dominant Phase Application

Grower-Centered Strategies

• Pulsed Application

• Directed Application

• Outcome-Based Application