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Cookie monster
We live in a country where the grey menace thrives outdoors around this time of year mainly due to our cool wet climate.
There's probably not one of us who have grown outdoors that has'nt suffered and lost plants and potential harvests because of the horrible grey plague.
While we cant do anything about the weather we can help our plants and give them a fighting chance by using anti-fungal agents ( non-systemic ), training, keeping our gardens clean and hygenic and by growing mould resistant strains.
Here's what I'm doing this year to help the plants out.
^ is a recipe for disaster for the following reasons.
1. the plant is too bushy, there is minimal airflow between the branches.
2.weeds and organic matter are surrounding he plant,when they die back in a month or so they will provide a great home for botrytis.
3.lower branches are too close to the soil and decomposing organic matter.
^ these pics are of the same plant after preventivate measure were taken.
Every weed and bit of organic matter was cleared and the soil was left bare,roots were removed and the soil was treated with Serenade in an attempt to kill any spores remaining.
The bare earth was then covered with weed control fabric and then covered with plastic sheeting.
Weed control fabric is pourous so the layer of plastic on top prevents rain from splashing the spores in the soil onto the plant.
lower branches were removed and the cuts were cleanes with hydrogen peroxide before using a sealing agent.
The plant was then trained to improve airflow between the branches.
The sun travels east to west so the brances that were shaded by the hedge were either removed or trained into a position where they will recieve more direct sunlight.
Plants will sway in the wind so just using rope/twine or coated wire will chaff the branches.
I use hemp twine treated with armillox and old bicycle inner tube to tie on to.
There is a bit of give in the rubber which will help in times of high winds and spores wont get a foothold on it's smooth surface nor will it chaff the branch.
I used bamboo stakes because of it's resistance to mould or rot and it's smooth surface will be washed clean in the rain.
Apart from that I'm using Mycostop and Serenade alternating on a weekly basis on the plant itself.
The plastic is given a daily wash with hydrogen peroxide,it breaks down quickly and wont harm the plant.
Another important thing to remember is to treat the plants surrounding your MJ plants with anti-fungal solutions, if it's not an eddible or smokable plant use a good strong systemic spray.
I hope this is of some help to you guys who brave the elements and try to grow outdoors.
Stay safe and happy all
There's probably not one of us who have grown outdoors that has'nt suffered and lost plants and potential harvests because of the horrible grey plague.
While we cant do anything about the weather we can help our plants and give them a fighting chance by using anti-fungal agents ( non-systemic ), training, keeping our gardens clean and hygenic and by growing mould resistant strains.
Here's what I'm doing this year to help the plants out.
^ is a recipe for disaster for the following reasons.
1. the plant is too bushy, there is minimal airflow between the branches.
2.weeds and organic matter are surrounding he plant,when they die back in a month or so they will provide a great home for botrytis.
3.lower branches are too close to the soil and decomposing organic matter.
^ these pics are of the same plant after preventivate measure were taken.
Every weed and bit of organic matter was cleared and the soil was left bare,roots were removed and the soil was treated with Serenade in an attempt to kill any spores remaining.
The bare earth was then covered with weed control fabric and then covered with plastic sheeting.
Weed control fabric is pourous so the layer of plastic on top prevents rain from splashing the spores in the soil onto the plant.
The sun travels east to west so the brances that were shaded by the hedge were either removed or trained into a position where they will recieve more direct sunlight.
I use hemp twine treated with armillox and old bicycle inner tube to tie on to.
There is a bit of give in the rubber which will help in times of high winds and spores wont get a foothold on it's smooth surface nor will it chaff the branch.
I used bamboo stakes because of it's resistance to mould or rot and it's smooth surface will be washed clean in the rain.
Apart from that I'm using Mycostop and Serenade alternating on a weekly basis on the plant itself.
The plastic is given a daily wash with hydrogen peroxide,it breaks down quickly and wont harm the plant.
Another important thing to remember is to treat the plants surrounding your MJ plants with anti-fungal solutions, if it's not an eddible or smokable plant use a good strong systemic spray.
I hope this is of some help to you guys who brave the elements and try to grow outdoors.
Stay safe and happy all
