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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Thursday, August 06, 2015
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MadMike
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Easthampton, MA
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Entry 23 of 25 |
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This photo shows what remained. Most growers would call it a season here, but I'm just crazy enough to keep going. :)
I figure it's a fresh start for the season. This year is definitely a learning year now, and this is a reboot to start again.
Lessons learned so far beyond SVB control:
Good wound care - This vine had a few tiny bad spots and I cut them out properly. No sulfur and they look great today. I have a battery powered fan, and powdered sulfur ordered.
Vine training - Ensure that the stem and secondariers are horizontal to the soil. Easier to check, cut, clean, etc.
Get a soil test - Still waiting for UMass, but important to know for balancing NPK. Worrying about deficiencies/excessive levels is an extra stress I don't need.
Train secondaries in straight line - My patch is oval so I've been winding them around, and by late season, and using tertiaries to fill, I had a knot-work going. How to step into the plant?? I will have difficulty doing that now of course, but next year...
Soil compaction - It was late when I started using 'stepping stones' for access. I really noticed areas that had compacted. A stress on the plant I don't need. Next year I will be developing 'walkways' for access.
Less grass mulch - I heard a grower say it ties up N. Not so. Research shows it's organics degrade quickly. In fact, t releases so much N that I had over-N symptoms all over the place, with no N fert. Largest leaves were over deepest grass mulch. Some leaves had diameters 2.5'+. Weak stems, flopping leaves, and more prone to PMD - saw a few spots appearing. So layers will be thin going forward.
So, with those lessons, let's see how August goes. ;) I'd be stoked to have a 50lb.+ 'kin now. Either way, I'm sure I'll learn more before the frost arrives.
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