Central MD update
Hello All. Time for me to stop lurking in the background and let you
know what's up in the Susa's Patch.
I have the 771 Rockwell in plot #2. It's main was terminated today at
22 ft, secondaries on the first couple of vines were terminated at about
21 ft. There are currently 20 fruits in age from 10 days to "newborn"
on this plant. 5 currently on the main vine starting at about 12 ft
out. I've only had one abort from the main vine so far.
The 815 Checkon is also doing quite well, has filled out just about the
same space as the 771, but with fewer fruits set. Only have 3 on the
main and 12 total. Culling needs to start shortly on both plants...
All vines are covered with and mulched between with mushroom soil.
Both plants are doing better than any others I've had to this point, but
I have lost some foliage to heat damage. I'm not using misting or
overhead watering this year to help keep the plants disease free-I just
couldn't keep the plants healthy regardless of the spray regimen. I am
using floating row cover 6ft wide x 10 ft long elevated above the last
10 feet of the main vines and have not lost any leaves/vine ends under
this "Rube Goldberg" shade setup. The soaker hoses (300 ft each plant)
seem to be doing their job efficiently too.
As far as pests go, we've been mostly pest free in the AG's with just 1
cuke beetle and 2 squash bugs found and killed by hand. (3 whistle pigs
have also fallen) I'm rotating Asana, Thiodan and sevin for the insects
and Daconil is being rotated with mancozeb for PM/DM.
Great luck to all this year!!!
Bill Susa (hoping to duck the stoms this evening)
Jefferson, MD
3rd yr/Zn 6b
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