Vermont Growers Winter Meeting February 21 st, 2015

Vermont Growers Winter Meeting February 21 st, 2015 Speaker: Matthew DeBacco http://vermontgiants.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/vgpg.jpg.w300h259.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5125589283_fbb51273fc.jpg About Me Growing for the last 15 years Largest to date = 1,766.5 pounds (Current CT Record) Have grown for the last 2,100+ continuous days Have a Masters in Agronomy from Uconn Worked with farmers for nutrient management + disease diagnosis Currently High School Science Teacher http://web.uconn.edu/poultry/poultrypages/images/uconnlogo2.gif

Soil Nutrients and ph http://www.acresusa.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/900x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/7/1/7115.png http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/internet/fse_media/nrcs143_021766.jpg

Taking a Proper Soil Test The Lab is only as good as the sample you send them!

Soil Testing If you have already taken a soil test, what do all the numbers mean? Are these good numbers? What should I be looking for? The following numbers are approximations and ranges just so you know what you should be looking for.

Soil ph ph ~6.8 ph is involved in nutrient availability If you have a very low (typical) or high number certain nutrients will not be available to you growing pumpkin plant.

Organic Matter Organic Matter 6% to 9% Much higher and disease pressure will increase Add anything in the spring, make sure it is well composted Add fresh manure in the fall

Nitrogen Nitrogen (N): around 30ppm (parts per million) This nutrient is difficult to get a consistent test, so as long as you are close to the 20-40ppm range you should be fine. Fertilizing with Blood Meal and/or Fish will also add nitrogen June Nitrate Test should be utilized for this nutrient

Phosphorus Phosphorous (P): below 75 ppm if possible This will not readily leach out of your soil so if you add to much you are going to have to deal with it This can contaminate ground water if you over add High amounts can reduce mychorrizae effectiveness

Potassium (K): 400 ppm Potassium This nutrient should be applied in-season (not in the fall) since pumpkin plants consume high amounts of this nutrient.

Calcium Calcium (Ca): around 2,200 ppm Another nutrient pumpkins consume large amounts of. When you add lime you are adding Ca, but consider gypsum also to add even more Ca.

Two Types of Lime Calcitic: Can be harder to get and more expensive, but if your Magnesium level is already at optimum then it is recommended. Dolomitic: contains Magnesium (Mg) and should be used only if your Mg levels are low. (Below 300ppm)

Micronutrients Soil test results only provide a very basic indication To properly determine these a tissue test should be preformed https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/5/005/07f/0e5/1ce0eaa.jpg

Before you do a tissue test Make sure your soil is dialed in Otherwise it is a waste of time and money http://www.radiodramarevival.com/images/dialed-in-audio-drama-aural-stages.jpg http://9buz.com/content/uploads/images/august2014/young_adult_old_time_money_energy_comparison_2013-06-21.jpg

Micronutrients are like a spices In the right amount they are very beneficial If over added they can ruin an otherwise good dish

Proper Sampling Is Important

A little can go a long way In this area Copper is commonly low BioMin Copper (sold through Joel Holland) is the best material I have found Be carful, I added only 1oz per 1,000sq.ft. and it was the correct amount http://ep.yimg.com/ca/i/rosecare1_2258_293150

New Growers Best Bang for the Buck 1. Soil Test 2. Amendments to soil (compost / lime / nutrients) 3. Cold Frame 4. Basic spray products (Chlorathionil + Sevin) 5. Loop Hoe (for weeding) 6. Umbrella 7. Fence/Wind block 8. Drip Irrigation 9. Mist Blower 10.Weed block http://www.atcmag.com/v12n1/g10.jpg

Soil Test (Best $20 you can spend) This is what your pumpkin is going to be living in

Amendments Food for your pumpkin Type and amount should be based on your soil test and not what your friend says or did.

Cold Frame Protects your seedlings

Basic Spray Products Chlorothionil (fungal diseases) Sevin (insects)

Loop Hoe Makes weeding as efficient as possible

Umbrella Protects your initial pumpkin

Fence/Wind Block Can keep unwanted visitors out and can protect large pumpkin leaves from damage

Drip Irrigation Makes watering easy and can be put on a timer

Efficient coverage Mist Blower

Weed Block Roll it back as the plants grow

Compost Tea and Milk to Suppress Powdery Mildew on Pumpkins Matthew DeBacco

What is Compost Tea? Creating a biologically active liquid extract from a compost based substrate Allows for foliar applications Two main forms of production Aerated Fermented Photo taken by DeBacco http://www.peacefulmind.com/images/tea_wand.jpg

Compost Tea Recipe 1-gallon: Compost 50/50 mix (50% bacterial / 50% fungal) Neither contain any animal wastes, manures or kitchen waste products 1/3 cup: Humic acid 3 cup: Foods Containing: 80% organic and 20% natural minerals derived from sulfate of potashmagnesia, feather meal, soy meal, cottonseed meal, mycorrhizal fungii, kelp, and alfalfa meal) 28 gallons: of water http://www.acupuncture.com/images/recipe.gif

Prior to application Enhancers Seaweed (0.5 oz per gallon) Liquid Kelp LC-10 + 7 (0.5 oz per gallon) Humic acid + micronutrients LC-12 (0.5 oz. per gallon) 12% Humic acid http://lilithsapothecary.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/048seaweed_468x313.jpg http://www.zsqts.com.cn/product-photo/2009-05-08/d918704cc4627cae653c50644df8aa32/leonardite-humic-acid-powder.jpg

Actively Aerated Brewer (ACT) Actively Aerated- brew time (24-hr.) where air is actively added to the water during the entire brewing process Photo taken by DeBacco

Non-aerated Compost Tea (NCT) Non-aerated- Same ingredients as the ACT except the contents were allowed to sit in a pail for 6-8 days. http://www.capcityequipment.com/miscinventorypics/0082-bucket5gal.jpg

Pumpkin Enemy #1 Powdery Mildew Very common Fungus that is transported by wind Can greatly reduce yields http://tastykeish.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/public-enemies-johnny-depp1.jpg

2008 Treatments ACT = Aerated Compost Tea NCT = Non-aerated Compost Tea ACT + Milk = aerated tea applied earlier in the week followed by an independent application of milk later in the week NCT + Milk = same protocol as aerated tea Chemical = Chlorothalonil (Storrs only) No Chemical at Windsor due to drift concern http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/election2008_button19.jpg

7/29/2008 7/31/2008 8/2/2008 8/4/2008 8/6/2008 8/8/2008 8/10/2008 8/12/2008 8/14/2008 8/16/2008 8/18/2008 8/20/2008 8/22/2008 8/24/2008 8/26/2008 8/28/2008 8/30/2008 9/1/2008 % Powdery Mildew Windsor, CT 2008 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 ACT (a) NCT (b) NCT + Milk (bc) ACT + Milk (c) Date of Observation

2009 Treatments Control = No Treatment ACT = Aerated Compost Tea NCT = Non-aerated Compost Tea Milk = 40% whole milk : 60% water Chemical = Chlorothalonil + Myclobutanil (Windsor)

In the following pictures Can you see the difference? August 26 th, 2009 http://www.northrup.org/photos/cardinal/low/male-and-female-cardinal.jpg

No-Treatment Control Photo by DeBacco

Aerated Compost Tea (ACT) Photo by DeBacco

Non-aerated Compost Tea (NCT) Photo by DeBacco

40% Milk : 60% Water Photo by DeBacco

Chemical control Photo by DeBacco

% Powdery Mildew Windsor, CT 2009 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Control (a) ACT (a) NCT (a) Milk (b) Chemical (c) Date of Observation

% Powdery Mildew Windsor, CT 2009 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Control (a) ACT (a) NCT (a) Milk (b) Chemical (c) Date of Observation

Field Trials Under Glass http://backyardneighbor.typepad.com/backyard_neighbor/images/2008/06/29/lemon_creme_cake_under_glass.jpg

Clean Section Table Ace (Acorn squash) was the selected species because of its compact growth habit Photo by DeBacco

High Disease Pressure Section Ring of powdery mildew infected plants surrounded the bench with 4-week old trial plants in the middle for equal opportunity of infection. Photo by DeBacco

No-treatment Control Photo by DeBacco

Aerated Compost Tea (ACT) & No Treatment Photos by DeBacco

Non-aerated Compost Tea (NCT) & No Treatment Photos by DeBacco

Chlorothalonil & No Treatment Photos by DeBacco

Photos by DeBacco 40% Milk & No Treatment

Colonies (count) The data were analyzed in PROC MIXED as a randomized complete block design. Mean comparisons were performed using a LSD test P<0.05. The results are expressed as the means of the colony counts. Values are means of four replications. 120 100 Treatments in a Greenhouse Environment A 80 60 40 B B 20 C C 0 Control ACT NCT Chemical Milk Treatments

Different, but the same? If both compost teas offer the same result Is it the biology being brewed? or Are the additives added immediately before application having the greatest effect on the powdery mildew? http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/composition/15659443/view/1/producttypecolor/176/type/png/width/378/height/378/coal-same-same-but-different-2-2c-neu-men_design.png

http://www.realorganicskin.com/enhance_cover.jpg Tea Enhancers Same methods used as the previous trial http://boatinglocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/rockweed.jpg http://goorganicgardening.com/wp-content/uploads/nitro_humic_acid.jpg

Colonies (count) The data were analyzed in PROC MIXED (SAS, 9.2) as a randomized complete block design. Mean comparisons were performed using a LSD test P<0.05. The results are expressed as the means of the colony counts. Values are means of five replications. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Compost Tea Enhancing Products Applied Alone A AB BC Control Humic Acid Humic Acid + Seaweed BCD Treatment CD Seaweed Milk Chemical D

Putting it all together! Field + Greenhouse = Conclusions Field Trials: Only milk and chemical treatments controlled powdery mildew Greenhouse Trials: Milk and additives provided better control than compost teas. Maybe the active ingredient in compost teas is the additives?