As I visited two plots the other day, that's quite a few plants with at least three pics each, so I'm going to split this update into two sections to stop each post getting too lengthy.
First up is the bramble plot. I last visited just over a week ago, and will probably visit on a weekly basis from now on until harvest is finished. This will allow me to sort out any wind damage, and hopefully cut out any rot before it spreads too far.
Plot on arrival
The weather was amazing, like summer.. Often helps to foster a positive state of mind. Just as well really, as rot has started to take hold of several girls, including the Shaman which had a couple of dead branches a week ago. I did spot rot in the top bud last visit, and should have removed it then. A week later, and the entire top bud has rotted away. It seems though that, despite some visible damage to the stem lower down, that the rot has not really spread to other buds or branches, at least not yet. I may have caught the top bud just in time, well that's the hope anyway.
Here's the girl in question. Not looking too bad considering.
After removing the top bud and yellowing leaves
I'm a bit relieved that I didn't have to discard the whole plant. Not only because there's still a chance to harvest lower buds, but also as this girl is in a relatively exposed place on the south side of the plot, she is helping to shelter other plants behind her. If I'd removed her, they might have suffered similar damage, and maybe been less able to cope with it.
The other two Shaman are doing just fine. Nice and healthy, building buds up, all good so far. Some pics...
Moving along the plot in a kind of W pattern, just to the right of the damaged Shaman is the Triton Biscotto Lime clone/mum (a mum made from a clone). She hasn't missed a beat since I removed a broken branch last week. I'm pretty impressed so far, we'll see how she copes with the coming storms but promising up to this point.
To her right is the Super Kush mum, who has only really just started flowering. This girl has had a hard life to be fair, and it's pretty amazing she managed to bounce back so full of vitality. I've no idea if this individual is typical of this strain, but such hardiness means I'll have to keep some clones back for making hacks this winter for sure.
In the south east corner of the plot is the Joshua mum. Still flowering away, basking in the sunshine in this pic. Alas one lower bud had rotted over the past week, was swiftly removed and chucked. I checked all over the plant and no other obvious damage, but given how bushy she is perhaps there will be more to come. Still very pretty though.
Bud catching some rays
Another in the shade
Uh-oh, rot alert
Moving along the perimeter fence, just behind Joshua is the Sweet Afghani Delicious. Always been slightly pale this girl, but she seems to be getting on fine otherwise.
Slightly further north, is the first of three Guerrilla Gold Pie Fast. This girl was planted out in the earliest wave, and is therefore furthest along in flower. Unfortunately upon closer inspection, rot had started in the main cola. It looked possible to salvage something though, so after removing most of the top bud I put it in a paper bag and will perform surgery. Maybe wash what remains in H2O2 just in case too.
You can maybe just about make out some small patches of rot in these pics.
Kind of a pity really because she looks only a week or so off from finishing. Here she is after removing the top.
Moving along the first up stroke of our W, here are the other two GGPF. The first had been blown over a few weeks ago, almost horizontal when I found her, She's still not quite properly vertical. I shored up her stake in preparation for strong winds to come. Never looked super healthy since that happened, curled leaves and slow to flower. But she's doing alright.
The third GGPF has had a quieter life so far, and she's doing fine. Later plant out, but catching up quickly.
Continuing on to the west, behind the Shamans we have Kush Mintz at the edge of the plot. She's getting on well, early days maybe so not sure when she might finish.
Heading back northeastwards, a couple of tall girls, the BCN Critical XXL Fast. Both are doing fine, although a strong gust at some point over the past week had caused the taller of the two to lean over at a jaunty angle. I righted her and tied to a sturdier stake than the inadequate one she had before. Hopefully that will help when storms hit over the next couple of days...
The yellow leaf problem on the Criticals seems to have diminished. Regular feeds appear to be doing the trick. I removed some dead or crispy leaves from both. Otherwise they are both looking good.
In the northeast corner of the plot the Frisian Duck clone looks great, she's not the tallest but was plated out fairly late. Beautiful purple buds, almost black. Leaves are a little yellow around the edges, possibly she's hungry, but I'm now prepared to accept that this may also be fade as a consequence of getting further along in flower. I removed a fair few leaves which had gone completely yellow, and/or crispy.
This first pic was taken using the macro lens (forgot to switch). The next pic was taken using the standard lens. Somehow between the two, maybe we get a better impression of how this lovely plant actually looks...
Turning back west, along the northern perimeter are two Essex Gold. The first of these is pretty majestic, so I took a few pics as I like her. These were planted out in the first wave.
Unfortunately, the other Essex Gold has suffered pretty badly from rot. The entire top bud was destroyed, and had to be chucked. Hopefully I've caught this in time to stop it spreading. Came on very suddenly this, no real indication last visit just a week ago. Here she is the Sunday before last.
Yesterday, a sorry sight.
After removing the top cola.
I also got rid of quite a few yellow, dead or dying leaves from both girls. I hope the weather will spare them any further suffering.
Finally, two Citrus Burst in the northwest corner. These were later plant outs, so again early days, but looking good so far.
As well as removing dead or dying leaves from quite a few girls, they all got a handful of bonemeal, Flower Power root soak, and a bit of liquid seaweed too. Due to the fast draining, sandy soil at this plot the plants here need more feeding than elsewhere.
The weather is getting stormy this evening, with high winds and heavy rains forecast for the next couple of days. That may well finish a few girls off, but there's not much I can do so we'll see. Hopefully visiting a bit more often will mean I can intervene before mishaps become disasters...
Will update again probably at the weekend.
