Sevenleaves
Well-Known Member
You don't want slugs, they will eat leaves.
Maine Outdoor 2020 (first timer)
- Thread starter NewEnglandFarmer
- Start date
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
Slugs will eat everything... I've even had them eat my stems ... they are by far the worst enemy I have in outdoor growing. Since I added the nematodes early to the soil tho... I haven't had any problem
s with them as of yet. Beer works amazing tho
NewEnglandFarmer
Well-Known Member
Gulp.
OK, I guess it's war then. I'll pick up some cheap beer and set up a honeypot for them.
Today at lunch I went out and for the first time found a couple actually on the plants. I chucked them in the woods--maybe I should take the gloves off and slay them mercilessly. What nematodes are you using?
Is this their sh!t I saw on my stems? Noticed this today for the first time. I removed it, kind of dark brown/black gooey stuff. Thought it was worms at first but it doesn't appear to be alive:
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
Could be ...or caterpillar poo. Benificial nematodes...find them on amazon.
And yes...go to war! I hate them!
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
I just got the 30 dollar one and I fed 14 plants with that...no issues...not even aphids yet so it must be working.
OSBuds
Well-Known Member
Thank you for all of your informative posts @ RIU.org!
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
Hey no prob! Btw and this is kinda funny. One of the ways the nematodes kills the bugs is they go through the anus.... idk why that cracks me up
NewEnglandFarmer
Well-Known Member
Went slug hunting yesterday at dusk, probably removed about 4 dozen (fed 'em to the frogs down in the brook). Only saw 1 actually on a plant. Will put a beer "honeypot" out tonight. Gotta go pick up some Bud Light--not gonna waste my Peak Organic Lager!
Should I expect big-time vegetative growth throughout July? Just curious how big these gals are going to get. There should be plenty of room--they're 6 feet apart--but if they really go crazy they may start to touch each other. Does "the stretch" happen right before flowering, or is it the first stage of flowering?
I topped them for the second time last week, that really seemed to slow down the vertical growth but the lower branches are really bushing out. At some point should I start pruning lower branches? Maybe last week of July?
Is the strategy to "open things up" and maximize airflow just prior to flowering? I gather once they flower it's best to put away the pruning shears and let them do their thing for the rest of the season.
Should I expect big-time vegetative growth throughout July? Just curious how big these gals are going to get. There should be plenty of room--they're 6 feet apart--but if they really go crazy they may start to touch each other. Does "the stretch" happen right before flowering, or is it the first stage of flowering?
I topped them for the second time last week, that really seemed to slow down the vertical growth but the lower branches are really bushing out. At some point should I start pruning lower branches? Maybe last week of July?
Is the strategy to "open things up" and maximize airflow just prior to flowering? I gather once they flower it's best to put away the pruning shears and let them do their thing for the rest of the season.
Sevenleaves
Well-Known Member
They will start stretching just before and during flower. Sometimes you can see 4 or 5inches of growth in a day. Should be around August in Maine.
NewEnglandFarmer
Well-Known Member
Sounds dramatic. Excited to see the flowering. At that point you shouldn't be doing any cutting, correct?
Sevenleaves
Well-Known Member
I don't, but I don't top my plants either. I feel you get bigger bud not topping.
thumper60
Well-Known Member
No more topping in maine aug 1 the strains I grow have buds buy then very important to have early strains here if you dont have good bud set by mid aug most yrs you will miss prime harvest.
NewEnglandFarmer
Well-Known Member
Happy Independence Day everyone. Finishing Week 11 today. Overall things look good, but I have a couple questions for y'all.
But first, the big picture. A bit less vertical growth this week (4-8 inches, with some plants now over 4 feet tall), but we had a 3 day stretch of gray so I'm thinking that may account for it. Here's the whole gang:
First question: I'm seeing some new spots on some leaves, not a lot but would like to know what it is and whether they're trying to tell me something:
Is this some sort of deficiency? Pest? Tends to be lower down on the plant.
Second question: the Tomahawk has one lower branch that's growing quite a ways horizontally right above the ground. Should I clip this? Or get it some support? I've been planning on waiting until the end of the month to install some support but should I go ahead and do it now? Guessing on rainy days it may sag down and touch ground.
But first, the big picture. A bit less vertical growth this week (4-8 inches, with some plants now over 4 feet tall), but we had a 3 day stretch of gray so I'm thinking that may account for it. Here's the whole gang:
First question: I'm seeing some new spots on some leaves, not a lot but would like to know what it is and whether they're trying to tell me something:
Is this some sort of deficiency? Pest? Tends to be lower down on the plant.
Second question: the Tomahawk has one lower branch that's growing quite a ways horizontally right above the ground. Should I clip this? Or get it some support? I've been planning on waiting until the end of the month to install some support but should I go ahead and do it now? Guessing on rainy days it may sag down and touch ground.
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
Mine almost triple in size in the month of july
NewEnglandFarmer
Well-Known Member
Gulp. If that happens here I'm looking at 12-footers. Hard to imagine. I guess the rate of growth must increase exponentially as leaf surface increases. What's your feeding regiment toward the end of July and how much watering (assuming a week with no rain)?
Seawood
Well-Known Member
Don’t use GG as a reference...she defies what is “normal growth”. Will take you a few more years to keep up to that lady!
Your plants look hungry. You’re showing early stage deficiency and I’d bet cal mag. Not bugs. Are you feeding them? I know you’re doing organics so I can’t help you with that but the spotted and light green leaves are signs they need some food. I’m trimming mine up a bit tomorrow. Cutting all the low, in the dirt, branches and thinning out the middle of the plants. I’ll do another trim before flower end of July. I hate cutting branches and have had some lowers really put out some good bud. It’s a judgment call. If the branch is growing well and getting lots of light, keep it. Lots of theories on lollipopping and cutting lower branches to improve the top bud sites. Urban legend or legit? Find me an unbiased, scientific answer and I’ll buy in. It’s too condition-specific...especially outdoors. At the end of the day, do what you feel is right and enjoy the fruits of your labour! There’s no definitive wrong or right, within reason. If you tried to follow all the nonsense on the internet about growing weed, you wouldn’t even start. Way too much bullshit and as they say “bro science”.
Your plants look hungry. You’re showing early stage deficiency and I’d bet cal mag. Not bugs. Are you feeding them? I know you’re doing organics so I can’t help you with that but the spotted and light green leaves are signs they need some food. I’m trimming mine up a bit tomorrow. Cutting all the low, in the dirt, branches and thinning out the middle of the plants. I’ll do another trim before flower end of July. I hate cutting branches and have had some lowers really put out some good bud. It’s a judgment call. If the branch is growing well and getting lots of light, keep it. Lots of theories on lollipopping and cutting lower branches to improve the top bud sites. Urban legend or legit? Find me an unbiased, scientific answer and I’ll buy in. It’s too condition-specific...especially outdoors. At the end of the day, do what you feel is right and enjoy the fruits of your labour! There’s no definitive wrong or right, within reason. If you tried to follow all the nonsense on the internet about growing weed, you wouldn’t even start. Way too much bullshit and as they say “bro science”.
NewEnglandFarmer
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your recommendation--they do seem a little bit "pale" in color and I figured they were trying to tell me something. My first thought was more nitrogen but you may be right about calcium and magnesium.
As far as feeding, they're in mostly composted cow manure from an organic farm plus native soil amended based on my soil test (amendments included magnesium), but I get that these girls need additional snacks. Right after they went into the ground (4 weeks ago) I topdressed with Coast of Maine Stonington plant food (5-2-4 plus calcium, sulphur, and magnesium). I've been doing compost tea (compost plus a little Stonington), root drench plus foliar spray about once a week. They're overdue--I skipped last week because I topdressed with kelp meal and we had a bunch of rain.
I'll hit 'em with compost tea this morning and maybe topdress again with that plant food later this week. I looked at that classic poster showing leaf appearance and the effects of deficiencies/excess of various minerals, it says mag deficiency will present as yellowing leaves with green veins, not sure I'm seeing that exactly but not ruling it out. GG mentioned epsom salts, so maybe I should add a little bit to the tea. How much do you use and how often?
I'm in the learning curve...no question. But I don't want to panic and start throwing all kinds of stuff at them willy-nilly. Thanks again for the advice, I appreciate it.
As far as feeding, they're in mostly composted cow manure from an organic farm plus native soil amended based on my soil test (amendments included magnesium), but I get that these girls need additional snacks. Right after they went into the ground (4 weeks ago) I topdressed with Coast of Maine Stonington plant food (5-2-4 plus calcium, sulphur, and magnesium). I've been doing compost tea (compost plus a little Stonington), root drench plus foliar spray about once a week. They're overdue--I skipped last week because I topdressed with kelp meal and we had a bunch of rain.
I'll hit 'em with compost tea this morning and maybe topdress again with that plant food later this week. I looked at that classic poster showing leaf appearance and the effects of deficiencies/excess of various minerals, it says mag deficiency will present as yellowing leaves with green veins, not sure I'm seeing that exactly but not ruling it out. GG mentioned epsom salts, so maybe I should add a little bit to the tea. How much do you use and how often?
I'm in the learning curve...no question. But I don't want to panic and start throwing all kinds of stuff at them willy-nilly. Thanks again for the advice, I appreciate it.