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Grittyville, WA

I had roots extending 20 ft from the base of my biggest plant last year. So would it be ideal to prep the ground 20-25 ft in all directions from the base of the plant? And if the plant doesnt extend backwards this far should the extra ground behind/in back of the plant be mulched or planted in a cover crop like clover?

7/5/2019 3:06:26 PM

Kamloops bc canada

Hi mate. Im only a week grower with this being my third year growing ag. I only have 150sf amended for each plant. By july my vines are well out over grass. I believe this and not soil testing holds back my kins
To around 400lb size. Next year i hope to increase patch size for each plant. And look into soil testing. Looking at other growers diaries tells me ive underestimated the potential of the ag plant.

7/5/2019 10:15:41 PM

Grittyville, WA

Well, I'm there with ya. Investing in some tests and prepping a larger area. I always underestimate them in the early spring I think 'this is a lot of space' but I do need to think bigger.

7/6/2019 2:00:25 AM

Kamloops bc canada

Wife is away for the week. Maybe i can dig up more lawn lol.

7/7/2019 12:05:08 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Since your plants root out at each leaf node, prepare all of the soil that will be covered with vines. If your vine roots have to compete with grass and compacted soil, you are really hurting your potential. It wouldn't hurt to add a little extra slow release fertilizer like Osmocote in the area around the planting site, since that will have roots in it longer and will have a longer demand on nutrients. Or you can do like a lot of growers do, fertilize everything the same and then add supplemental feedings as needed through the growing season.

9/24/2019 1:25:37 PM

Grittyville, WA

I am probably way short on fertilizer and way long on pests compared to the top growers... Thanks Iowa.

Maybe next year I'll do better.

9/26/2019 6:31:08 PM

North Of The Border

I totally agree with Iowegian on this. It is best to fertilize the whole plant. Often is better to make sure that the fertilizer you use does not burn the side vines that you bury if they touch. I would suggest using high amounts of organic certs for the whole patch and adding in a smaller ammount of chemical certs.

1/18/2020 6:48:51 AM

North Of The Border

Sorry chemical certs not certs.

1/18/2020 6:49:16 AM