May 2009 Diary
The 10 hectares of DK Cabernet that we are growing as a seed crop on behalf of United Oilseeds has continued to perform well and has filled out very nicely since my last diary instalment.
The crop has received a full programme of inputs and treatments to help it on its way, including a couple of applications of nitrogen as well as the usual array of trace elements, insecticides and fungicides.
|
Inputs |
Date |
Application rate |
|
Nitrogen fertiliser |
31 March 2009 |
60 kg/ha |
|
Caramba – growth regulator Contest – pollen beetle insecticide Boron – trace element |
2 April 2009 |
0.5 l/ha 60 g/ha 1.0 l/ha |
|
Nitrogen fertiliser |
20 April 2009 |
63 kg/ha |
|
Priori Xtra – Sclerotinia and Alternaria fungicide |
23 April 2009 |
0.6 l/ha |
|
Filan – Sclerotinia and Alternaria fungicide Magnor – trace elements Contest – pollen beetle insecticide |
13 May 2009 |
0.25 l/ha 0.75 l/ha 133 g/ha |
Earlier in the year the crop was looking a little backward and we were worried that it might not perform as well as hoped. The crop was sown later than usual and didn't have much time to establish prior to the onset of winter, but is has actually developed into a very good looking crop.
The crop has grown at an average of about 40 plants per square metre. This is probably slighter thinner than anticipated, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing - the thinner plant population has allowed plenty of room for branching, good thick stems and plenty of seed pods.
Hopefully this summer will be a little drier than last year and we will be able to harvest a high yielding crop in perfect conditions - we'll have to wait and see how things develop!