MAUI GROWER'S SECRET OBSERVATION GUIDE

Reports From Users                      Revised: Spring 2010

The following Grower's Secret benefits have been shown in actual experimentation and crop testing.  If no source is shown, the source is various farmers on Hawaii and in several mainland states.

1. Increased Yield
   1. Arugula
   2. Blackberry:  Farmers in Oregon, United AgriProducts Northwest Testing
   3. Broccoli:  Kula farmers
   4. Citrus:  Haiku farmers
   5. Coffee:  Kona, Hawaii farmers, University of Hawaii
   6. Douglas Fir Biomass:  University of Idaho Dept. of Forestry (15% height increase in 30 days)
   7. Flowers (Roses, Impatiens):  Maui Farmers (Increase in size)
   8. Fruits (Mango, Papayas, Citrus and Guava)
   9. Garbanzo Beans:  University of  Idaho Field Test (Seed treated with Grower's Secret resulted in 24% increase in yield)
   10. Grape harvest at Seavey Winery, California — 1 fl. Oz./acre = 1080 lbs of grapes increase/acre in Phyloxera-infested grapes.
   11. Green Crops (Parsley, Lettuce, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Green Onions, Asparagus, Leafy Greens):  Oahu & Maui farmers
   12. Kula Onions:  on Maui Farms (77% increase in growth)
   13. Leeks & Leafy Vegetables:  Pennsylvania State University Department of Horticulture
   14. Lettuces (Brune D'Hiver, Red Sails, Green Wave, Endive, Red Romaine, Plato II Romaine, Green Romaine, Pirat, Thai):  Kula Vegetable Farmer
   15. Mizuna
   16. Poha Berries
   17. Radish
   18. Root crops:  (Beets — Yellow & Red, Onions, Radishes, Turnips)
   19. Spinach (Amaranth — Red Spinach,  Broad Leaf Green Spinach)
   20. Taro:  University of Hawaii, Maui farmers (2-3x root mass increase)
   21. Tomatoes:  Kula Farmer (15% increase in yield with 8 oz per acre usage)
   22. Tuberose:  Oahu Farmer (300 acres) increased number of shoots & flowers
   23. Turnips:  University of Hawaii Agriculture Extension - Maui
   24. Young Greens:  Kula farmers (94% increase in growth)
2. Shortens Crop Cycle — Less Pesticide Usage
   1. Celery:  Normally 12 weeks crop cycle, now  8 weeks with Grower's Secret treated at 2 oz per acre in 125 gallon water/fertilizers (Kula Farmer)
   2. Cilantro:  Saves 3 weeks of growing time if transplants and ground drenched in 2 drops per gallon of water at time of planting with fertilizers (Kula Farmer)
   3. Daikon:  Saved several weeks in growth
   4. Romaine Lettuce:  Normally 8 week crop cycle, reduced to 6 weeks when treated with Grower's Secret at 2 oz per acre in 250 gallon water/fertilizers (Kula Farmer)
   5. Young Greens:  Saves 2½ weeks if transplants and ground are drenched (Kula Farmer)
   6. Round Onions:  Saved several weeks and increased size of bulbs
3. Promote Recovery Or Rejuvenation Of Distressed Plants From The Following Conditions:
1. Late Frost Damage:  Oregon, United AgriProducts Northwest
2. Fungal Root Rot Infestation:  Oregon, United AgriProducts Northwest
3. Root Knot Infestation (Coffee Trees):  Kona, University of Hawaii Nematologists
4. Phyloxera Infestation in vineyards:  Seavey Winery, California
5. Root Knot Infestation (String Beans):  Hawaii Farmers
6. Insect Crop Defoliation (Turnips / Caterpillars):  University of Hawaii Agriculture Extension
7. Chemical Defoliation (Roses):  University of Hawaii Agriculture Extension
8. Old Flower Crops produced another flower crop:  Kula Flower farmers
9. Old Citrus and Papaya Trees recovered:  Hawaii farmers
10. Ratoon Pineapple Plant Recovery:  Maui Pineapple Company potted Ratoon Plants, farmer, gardener
11. Old Asparagus Clumps:  Maui Grower
12. Dying Potted Palms:  Maui Grower
13. Sunflower plants produced new flowers after seed harvest:  Maui Farmer
14. Dying Heliconias:  Recovered and grew to twice the size:  Flower Farmer
15. Flood Damage to Parsley:  Kula Farmer
16. Ginger Plants Recovered one week after application:  Flower Farmer
4. General Growth Enhancer
   1. Reduce crop cycle time for vegetables (Lettuce, Parsley)
   2. Support to a more robust life stage (Douglas Fir seedling data)
   3. Increases bulb development (Onion Farmers)
   4. Increase Orchid growth (Maui Orchid Society President)
   5. Increases seedling growth
   6. Shorten time to flowering (Pineapples)
   7. More uniform crop growth (Onions, Pineapples, Turfgrass)
   8. Increase stolon growth, faster coverage (Turfgrass)
   9. Increase general tree growth (Mangoes, Guava, Papayas)
5. Increase Survival Rate
   1. Vegetable Transplants (Lettuces — Brune D'Hiver, Red Sails, Green Wave,  Endive, Red Romaine, Plato II Romaine, Green Romaine,  Pirat, Thai):  Kula Vegetable Farmer
   2. Spinach (Amaranth - Red Spinach,  Broad Leaf Green Spinach):  Kula Farmers
   3. Mizuna transplants:  Kula Farmers
   4. Arugula transplants:  Kula Farmers
   5. Root crops (Beets — Yellow & Red, Onions, Radishes, Turnips) 
   6. Tree Seedlings:  University of Idaho
   7. Direct seeding in Treated Soils
   8. Fruit Tree Transplant Aid
   9. Prolong life of cut flowers
6. Enhance Nutrient Uptake
   1. Increases fertilizer consumption
   2. 3X more total root length in 60 days after application (Pineapples)
   3. Can be mixed and applied with liquid fertilizers
   4. Dryable onto Granular Fertilizers
7. Improve Overall Plant Vitality And Vigor
   1. Increase in Leaf size (Lettuce, Leafy Vegetables)
   2. Increase girth (Pineapples)
   3. Increase foliage (Lettuce, Parsley, Heliconias, Gingers)
   4. Increase branching (Coffee, Grapes)
   5. Increase in fruit size (Mangoes, Guava, Berries)
   6. Increase in fruit yield (Mangoes, Coffee, Citrus, Grapes)
   7. Increase in fruit quality (Papaya, Grapes, Blackberries, Mangoes)
   8. Increase in Flowers (Impatiens, bromeliads, roses, ginger)
   9. Increase greeness of leaves (Bok Choy, Celery)
8. Improve Quality
   1. Increases Sugar Content (Kula Onions increased bric content)
   2. Sweeter Oranges
   3. Papaya  and Mango fruit quality increased — sweeter and larger
9. Improved Weather Resistance
1. Longer and robust root system prevents vegetable seedling washouts in heavy rains — Kula Vegetable Farmer
2. Rain flooded fields resulted in mud-covered Chinese Parsley that still grew (normally would die)
10. Improve Insect Resistance
1. Reduces Phyloxera Damage — Grapes in California
2. Reduces Nematode Damage — Root knot on Kona Coffee, Beans and Parsley
11. Reduces Incidence Of Disease
1. Less Bacterial bulb rot in round Onions — Kula Onion Farmers
2. Less fungal leaf spots — Orchid grower
3. Recovery from Root Rot Fungus infestation — United AgriProducts Northwest
4. Recovery from Nematode Infestation — University of Hawaii, Farmers
12. Seed Germination
1. Increases the germination rate of old seeds or difficult to germinate seeds: Fukuda Seed Store, Oahu Northshore Organic Market
2. Shortens sprout manufacturing by three days — normally takes 10 days — Fukuda Seed Store
3. Increased germination of Togan Seeds with soil drench — Grower
4. Increased Garbanzo Bean Germination in field study — Univ. of Idaho
13. Maintenance of Production
1. Under severe nematode pressure, 10,000 nematode per gram, still able to produce high quality and quantity crop of Parsley — Kula Farmer
14. Largest & Fastest Growth With Plant Growth EnhancerTreatment
1. Treated grapes have the largest leaves seen (Seavey Winery)
2. Longest roots seen (Parsley Farmer)
3. Fastest growing Heliconia seen (Hana Flower Farmer)
4. Largest Berries seen (Oregon Berry Farmer)
5. Fastest growing vegetables (Broccoli, Radish, Beans) (Vegetable Farmers)
6. Fastest growing Guava tree (Hana Guava grower)
15. Cost Effectiveness
1. Dilution of 1:8,000 in water for woody plants (one ounce in 60 gallons water)
2. Weaker version for vegetable and flowers, dilute 1:16,000. (one ounce in 125 gallons of water)
3. Depending on the crop and dilution rates, four applications per year for fruit trees or monthly applications for vegetable and flowers.
4. Shortens Crop cycles:  e.g. shortens Celery crop cycle by four weeks
16. Product Safety
1. No caution or warning required on label.
2. Nontoxic according to Acute Oral Toxicity Test
3. Classified as “Not a pesticide” by EPA
4. Exceeds USDA Phytosanitary Requirements
17. Drawbacks
1. Will stop grass from growing at 1:3000 dilution, do not use concentrations stronger than 1:1000 concentrations without first testing.
2. After application, fertilizers must be applied due to increase in root mass. Root zone becomes depleted of nutrients in 15-30 days.
3. If applied as a boom spray application, application will trigger weeds to grow as well. Drip irrigation is better.
4. Light foliage spray will not be effective, stem and roots must be wetted.

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