Week 20 Progress Report: stretch has slowed way down this week on the Chinook Haze and Copper Chem; Tomahawk budlets developing fastest with crystals now visible (trichomes?). Cherry Wine is close behind and Orange Blossom Special right there too. Copper Chem slowly developing its flowers and Chinook Haze still lagging but getting closer.
Had the first good soaking rain we've had in a long time yesterday (remnants of Laura), 2 inches fell at a nice steady rate for about 5-6 hours. Plants will love it--drying out nicely today on a crisp sunny dry breeze out of the northwest (classic New England fall weather--glorious).
Here's the garden this morning (Chinook Haze is closing in on 10 feet, others are 8-9):
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Chinook:
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Orange Blossom Special:
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Copper Chem:
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Tomahawk:
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Cherry Wine:
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Noticed these brown leaf tips on the Tomahawk--this is the only spot. Normal? Is it trying to tell me anything?
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Tomahawk is also the only one with more than 1-2 yellowing leaves. Maybe that's because it seems to be the furthest along in the flowering process. Normal and I should just relax, or does it want something?
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One more question: no sign of caterpillars, except yesterday I found a very tiny one and it seemed like it was dead. It's been 10 days since I last sprayed Bt, thinking I should do another application this week though. I'm thinking of adding some potassium bicarbonate to the solution (the directions on the Bt say it's fine to mix as long as the product you're mixing with doesn't say not to). From what I understand this will make the foliage and buds slightly more alkaline and less hospitable to botrytis and PM. Any reason not do do this? Anybody have experience trying this?
It's exciting to see these flowers coming along but as they get bigger and thicker, and the weather turns cooler and potentially wetter, I'm nervous about bud rot.
Happy gardening everyone! Hope's the weather's as beautiful where you are as it is here today.