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Whidbey Island

At the Portland meeting I heard recommendations for foliar feeding the older vine leaves manganese and potassium. Does anyone do this? If so, how often? And most importantly, what concentration of these agents are used?
Thanks.

8/18/2018 11:55:51 PM

Whidbey Island

And a related question. What do people use for surfactant?

8/18/2018 11:58:38 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Yes, a lot of the guys do this to avoid the newer growth from robbing the older growth of these nutrients. These plants are pigs and will suck all the K out of the older growth to feed out front where the pumpkin and newer growth is. I do 4 tsp Mn. and 10 tsp potassium once a week and I hit the back of the plant twice with that same ratio.
I always try to stay under 600ppm's but I have been going a bit higher as the season is coming to a close.:)

I use " preference " as a surfactant but I'm sure any good surfactant will do the job.

8/19/2018 12:30:49 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Chris, are you talking 600 ppm for foliar?

8/19/2018 8:43:49 PM

Why manganese with the potassium ?

8/19/2018 8:51:31 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Spudder, that was my follow up question. Chris?

8/20/2018 12:22:15 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I found this statement online:

“Plants which produce fruit with a high concentration of carbohydrates require a great deal of potassium for carbohydrate transport into the fruit. The fruit functions as a storage organ for sugars, and consequently, also become a storage sink for potassium. High carbohydrate fruit such as tomatoes or potatoes need a generous supply of potassium to fill fruit.

Potassium is usually readily absorbed, but sometimes crops struggle picking up potassium from the soil.

This can be due to a variety of factors such as inadequate root systems, low soil microbiology, poor quality water, or even challenges with local geology and soil makeup. Potassium can easily become complexed when soil pHs are too high or calcium and phosphorus levels are too high.

We often observe situations in which the soil has generous supplies of potassium, yet the crop is not absorbing potassium to fulfill all of its needs.

With this analysis, we have been able to accurately observe a direct correlation between manganese availability and a crop’s ability to absorb potassium well.

When plants are provided with adequate levels of manganese, potassium absorption greatly increases, even with no additional applications of potassium.

When manganese levels increase, potassium levels increase, and usually calcium and magnesium increase as well, with not additional applications.”

8/20/2018 12:28:26 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Yes North shore, tissue tests is showing low still so hammer time! 600ppm's on mature leaves is fine in my patch.:)

I ran it by you know who and he said I could even go a bit higher.

8/20/2018 1:11:51 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Spudder, the only reason is tissue tests were showing low still. I'm doing my regular nutrient sprays then adding this one once a week.
I do a number of tissue tests a season to make sure of where I'm at before doing this.

Disease has me this year but still staying on things.;)

8/20/2018 1:15:23 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Chris.

8/20/2018 1:21:39 AM

Thanks to both of you.

8/20/2018 9:02:35 PM