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Buffalo, New York

Once plants are transplanted into patch......how long should you wait until starting to use:

1. Spray Fertilizers?
2. Spray Inpesticides?
3. Spray Disease Control Products?

Thanks.....

5/8/2009 1:25:35 AM

Pennsylvania

Once in the patch I usually give my plants all their fertilizers half strength for about a week so they can acclimate, then I give them everything full strength.

5/8/2009 3:09:36 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Depends if you're in a hoop or not. A lot of things will fry your tender plant in the confines of a hoop or closed shelter.

If using half strength organic (kelp) or compost tea, a drink after the first week.

Try to avoid spraying anything else until you open the hoop/remove the hoop. Plants in the first 6-10 leaves stage (don't count the cots) are very tender.

You want to control stuff, but there's nothing like feeling bad and kicking yourself for frying a plant for spraying something.

5/8/2009 7:29:45 AM

[email protected]

Okie is right, I don't use any insect products until the hoop houses come off and the first sign of cucumber betteles show up in June. If I use any fertilizers, it's usually liquid seaweed and fish emulsion at half strenght. I usually mix mine in a bucket and fill with water, then pour around the plant. That way I'm careful not to burn the plant. I did what Okie is talking about in burning early leaves, it's easy to do. Just watch for signs of cucumber beetles early in June, til then easy on the products.

5/8/2009 8:00:32 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I sprinkle garlic powder on and around my plant immediately after setting them in the ground. In 2006 I nearly lost all of my plants to cucumber beetles in the very first day. Garlic powder repells them and does not harm the plants.

5/8/2009 8:56:54 AM

valparaiso, in

Iowegian,
Do you mean regular old garlic powder, and not garlic barrier?

5/8/2009 10:00:05 PM

Jefferson Me

Iowegian, I had the same problem the 1st year I tried to grow one of these plants.I put the seedling into the ground in early AM. It had it's first true leaf started and was starting it's second. When I got home in the afternoon all that was left were the veins of the leaves.Cuc beetles wiped it out.I just looked through last years diary and the first arrival of them in my patch was June 9th.

5/9/2009 8:44:00 AM

Hot West Tennessee

Cuke beetles attacked my plants the next day .
Sprayed garlic barrier, danged if you do danged it you don't I say.

5/9/2009 2:24:49 PM

Joliet, IL

ferts...nothing until the plants starts vining. enough goodies are already in the soil. i also want the roots to grow out aggressively searching for nutrients early on. once the inital root system is set and i know they can keep up with the foliage growth...bam! 1/2 strength first on initial drenches or foliar.

insecticides. first merit drench about 5-15 and second one about 7-15. contact spray with demand cs/talstar one rotation starting last week of may.

fungicides. clearys/eagle rotation starting about the middle of june

5/9/2009 2:43:59 PM