Leaves turning yellow

[WishboneBrewery]

On my fuggle which has lots of hops on and my Challenger that only has a hand full I'm getting a load of yellowing leaves this week.
Is it the time of year or did they get a little dried out, I've tried not to over-water as they are in pots but usually water them every other day when the weather is dry.

any idea?

[crafty john]

Have you been feeding them

[WishboneBrewery]

Not recently, and I've fed them sparingly as I didn't want to over-do it.

[crafty john]

All plants need more food when they are producing their crop, try feeding them and remove any leaves that look like they are dying this will ensure that the plant doesn't waste valuable energy trying to feed dead leaves.

[WishboneBrewery]

will do

[MartialAnt]

For flowering & fruiting plants you need an NPK Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) mix ratio of 2/2/4. This will also keep your leaves green & healthy looking. The leaves are food stores for the plant. When they turn yellow then that means the plant has used up its food. When in fruit/bloom it will use up its food stores quicker meaning it needs more plant nutrients Obviously its an outdoor grow so the light spectrum has changed from blue to red due to time of year which makes the plant put all its effort into the fruit. But if you was doing an indoor grow you might want to start using something like Vitalink plant food.

Why dont you make some worm tea next year & feed your growing plants with it up until they start to flower. Growth will be farkin amazing. Full of nitrogen. And you cant overdose the plant with it.

[MartialAnt]

And steer clear of miracle grow. Its full of metal elements which isnt as good for plants as other plant foods.

[WishboneBrewery]

Whats "Worm tea" ? isn't that cruel?
Things to do for next year anyway, hope the plants survive the winter in their pots.

[MartialAnt]

Do a google on how to make worm tea. Ive been listening to growing podcasts for the past year, 85 episodes in total & i learned from there. You can search iTunes for 'the grow report'.
I think my hop cuttings have thoroughly enjoyed being fed worm tea.

[MartialAnt]

A little tip if you suffer from fungal gnats. There them fecking little annoying barstards that hang around plants in pots. The reason for them is over watering. They attack the roots feasting on the chlorophyll which the plant needs to grow.
So, and this is so simple. Bollox to buying bug killing stuff from garden centres / hydro shops. Put a layer of building sand, about a centimetre to an inch on top of the soil. When the gnats hatch they climb to the surface but get cut to shreds burrowing through the sand. They will also get cut to shreds trying to get down to the soil.

Also a 60/40 soil/perlite mix helps water drainage so water doesnt get held in the pot.

Want to know how to treat powdery mildew without having to buy any special sprays?

[WishboneBrewery]

well go on then, while you're on a roll

[Garth]

yeah, while you're on it, martial-Titchmarsh-ant

[MartialAnt]

Im too pissed to go into an essay so ive googled a little piece for you's to read. But i did hear it from Zandor of The Grow Report first.

Got Powdery Mildew? Get Milk!

by Arzeena Hamir

Less than 3 years ago, researchers in South America discovered a new alternative to controlling powdery mildew. Wagner Bettiol, a scientist from Brazil, found that weekly sprays of milk controlled powdery mildew in zucchini just as effectively as synthetic fungicides such as fenarimol or benomyl. Not only was milk found to be effective at controlling the disease, it also acted as a foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant's immune system.

Powdery mildew in the cucurbit family is caused by the organism Sphaerotheca fuliginea. It is a serious disease that occurs worldwide. For decades, organic gardeners had to rely on making a spray from baking soda to control the disease. Now, instead of measuring out the baking soda and combining it with a surfactant (a "sticking" substance) of either oil or soap, gardeners need only head for their refrigerators.

In his experiments with zucchini plants, Bettiol found that a weekly spray of milk at a concentration of at least 10% (1 part milk to 9 parts water) significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew infection on the plants by 90%. While some gardeners may be tempted to increase the concentration of milk for more control, Bettiol found that once concentrations rose above 30%, an innoccuous fungus began to grow on the plants.

How does milk control powdery mildew?

Scientist aren't 100% sure how milk works to control this disease. It seems that milk is a natural germicide. In addition, it contains several naturally occurring salts and amino acids that are taken up by the plant. From previous experiments using sodium bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, and other salts, researchers have found that the disease is sensitive to these salts. It is possible then, that milk boosts the plant's immune system to prevent the disease.

Milk used around the world

The benefits of using milk to control powdery mildew haven't been isolated to Brazil. Melon growers in New Zealand are saving thousands of dollars every year by spraying their crops with milk instead of synthetic fungicides. The melon growers in New Zealand have been so successful that the wine industry is taking notice and beginning experiments using milk to control powdery mildew in grapes.

What kind of milk should be used?

In Bettiol's original experiment, fresh milk was used, straight from the cow. However, this is obviously not feasible to most home gardeners. The research work in New Zealand actually found that using skim milk was just as effective. Not only was it cheaper, but the fact that the milk had no fat content meant that there was less chance of any odours.

[WishboneBrewery]

in't Milk great