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Central Connecticut

If you had $200 to spend on (2) plants for a season how would you spend it? where do you get the most bang for your buck on the purchase of fertilizer, bug and disease prevention. There seem to be so many options these days and budget isn't very high. All opinions are welcome.

PS the suggestion of beer isn't necessary, that's already in the budget...

Thanks Chris

10/19/2010 10:31:24 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Soil Test, PM preventative.

10/19/2010 10:37:32 PM

Minnesota

fish emulsion seaweed, svb traps, mycorhizal, soil test and anything needed, manure compost, club membership.

10/19/2010 11:24:28 PM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA ([email protected])

Agee with Phil...Soil test, Myco fungi, soil ammendments, svb traps for my short list. My LONGER list will be based on how much honey-do items I can get completed over the winter!! Lol!! Good luck! Erik

10/19/2010 11:56:55 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Soil test ($32), myco (5#)[RTI Symbios], Merit (bayer tree and shrub style, a sprayable attach to garden hose thing, maybe Ortho instead), one pint of Daconil. Paint vapor respirator, and small pump up sprayer. Good pair of rubber gloves that go past mid lower arm. Good pair of goggles (eye protection from spray mist)

Compost should be cheap or free, so should sourcing some maple leaves, run them through your lawnmower and catch the chopup.

Stuff for building a spring hoop can be very cheap, providing fruit shade later in season can also be very cheap. One 20x25' of 4 mil clear plastic isn't unreasonable... or a new tarp to build a pumpkin shelter with. Other materials for building a hoop or putting up a windbreak can be done very inexpensively.

Joining a club is another well worth it. Friends, advice, and more. You are in Connecticut, there should be a few clubs nearby as well as other growers.

My first year I was very broke; some things you can buy as you need so spread the cost of what you need over a few months. Do soil test in fall to know what you need to do to the soil, and do again in spring as soon as you can dig. Merit (SVB and grub control), pump sprayer, respirator and chem gloves can wait a bit (have by June, most SVB dates are in June).

Fertilizer, Extreme Pumpkinstore has a soluable kelp powder that works well.

Spread your purchases out, this winter is a good time to buy a few things every month.

Some clubs do group purchases of various fertilizers and chemicals to bring the cost down. Check into that.

One thing worth the investment is mill fabric (IMO). It doesn't wear out and keeps mice and star moles from coming up from underneath fruit and helps with moisture drainage. Order it at least two weeks before you plan on setting fruit! It should arrive then as you are sorting out what to keep, what aborted, and you can still lift the fruit.

10/20/2010 2:25:15 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

soil test-1 gallon Neptunes-Bifen-Eagle-myco-humic acid

10/20/2010 1:47:23 PM

East Jordan, MI

I agree with orangeneck, that would be my top must haves, and should be within the budget you have expressed.

10/20/2010 7:46:18 PM

Bloomington, IN

Soil test, ammendments, insect and disease control, pump sprayer, anything more is just gravy.

10/20/2010 8:58:38 PM

Bloomington, IN

And a hoe for weed control if you don't already have one.

10/20/2010 9:01:28 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Bushwacker, listen to all the above. All great advice. Keeping the plant alive is #1 and you will have to control diseases like Powdery Mildew and pests like the Vine Borer. I don't care how good your soil is, but you can't grow with shriveled leaves and huge holes in the vine. Also, don't forget the biggest bang for your buck is free... the sun. Open your canopy for optimum light if you have plenty of trees around. I cut plenty of limbs last year, so get a saw if need be. Good luck.

Luke

10/20/2010 9:48:54 PM

Central Connecticut

Thanks for the feed back. I have played with the usual fertz and bug controls, but haven't used any of the myco or humic acids yet. I will look into it during the off season.

Chris

10/21/2010 8:10:44 AM