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bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

In a few months we will be starting the 2012 growing season.
My question is...... What do you believe will be the most important new growing techniques in 2012?

2/6/2012 11:17:05 AM

Joliet, IL

I am not sure if this counts as techniques but I think with this above average warm winter it will mean a tough year for diseases in 2012. And if it is above average and hot like last year then the combo of high heat, high humidity and a higher concentration of disease pressure will be tough to battle. So the usage of biological products like rootshield and also use of innoculents like actinovate and biota maxx on a more frequent basis might help keep better control. With this higher disease and higher chances of vine rot/ stem rot chances, the ability to have good access to your main and continual inspection, doctoring, and fanning and healing will be needed to keep the ambilical cord in tact. Many growers in the midwest had to deal with disease pressure they have never had to normally face due to the higher temps that we a little farther south have to deal with on a more regular basis.

2/6/2012 11:47:59 AM

Glosta

Balance

2/6/2012 11:52:49 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

The weather ..... working in harmony with the weather....

2/6/2012 1:06:26 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If it's hot again and you are NOT used to it, it will take extra tenacity, perseverence, sweat, and staying on top of everything, especially if you have humidity!

2/7/2012 3:05:13 AM

Rhode Island

good commentary shazz
pap

2/7/2012 7:44:22 AM

Cameron

Shading. If we get another hot season, with high UV, then shading might just turn out to be your best friend.

Jane & Phil

2/7/2012 8:06:32 AM

Joliet, IL

Thanks Pap. Hopefully we will not see the intense high heat again, but here in Illinois last year and many others around the midwest had pumpkins shut down around day 30 and abort on a more frequent basis than I have ever heard of. I stole the silver back tarp idea from someone else's bag of tricks about 3 or 4 years ago.

http://www.tarps-togo.com/tarp-US-White-Silver-Heavy-Duty-Tarp-Size-8-feet-x-10-feet-Single.html?NO_COOKIE_WARNING=2&ti=02ce634dd7648b0bddb8aee7dfd54b8d

That is a weird looking link but just copy and paste the whole thing and it brings you to the ones I purchased and use that have and are durable and and not too bad for $12.80 for an 8 x 10 footer. just like for patios, the object is to deflect the heat. The darker colored blue tarps provide the shade but also attract heat. And last year I used small 10" fans aimed upward at the underside white color to never allow for stagnant trapped heat to settle around the kin. Anything to cool and microclimatize. I usually have an extension cord set and leading to each kin cause odds are I will be using it, so last year I tried the fan idea too and just left them running. A sheet in that kind of heat worked for many, but more than I have ever heard of before using just sheets had aborts at the 200 plus pound stage which is a rarity normally in my book.

2/7/2012 11:40:28 AM