Autumn growers check list

As cooler days arrive and the strength of the sun fades, the mellow weeks ahead are a good time to reflect and take stock of the past season and plan for the months ahead – says ICL Technical Area Sales Manager, Jason Colin.

For many nurseries, early autumn is a good time to reflect on how the business has performed; to assess and compare sales to previous seasons, repot stock to carry through the winter and take steps to minimise pest and disease pressures for next season.

Growing media for autumn and beyond

There is still time to make last-minute tweaks to your bespoke peat-reduced or peat-free growing media mixes for autumn crops or for repotting stock. For instance, whether growing in Levington Advance, Levington Advance Sustain or growing media from another manufacturer, how about trying our latest 5^th generation Osmocote 5 programmed controlled release fertiliser premixed into your growing media? Or, for Levington Advance customers, perhaps trialling our new Fibagro Advance Fine woodfibre (0-10mm), which is particularly suited to bedding or as a substitute to reduce coir usage?

Turning to pests and diseases, to provide protection for your plants from a wide range of root diseases, there is the option to incorporate the bio-fungicide Prestop in your mix.  And, as part of your vine weevil control IPM programme, you can opt to premix the efficacious bioinsecticide Lalguard M52 GR into your growing media. This is proving to be a great tool to help combat black vine weevil damage.

If you are interested in any of these options, please contact your local technical sales manager who will be happy to advise.

Last window for vine weevil nematodes

Did you know, at ICL we supply Vine Weevil Seeka CT (cold tolerant) nematodes – which provide effective control of the larvae down as low as 5ºC?  To protect your crops from these pernicious grubs this winter, you must get your nematode order in soon.  The window for effective control generally closes towards the end of October – depending on your geographical location.

Top Tip! To optimise nematode effectiveness, apply with Transporter – our revolutionary penetrant formulation that aids their dispersion within the growing media.

Routine maintenance and hygiene

Autumn is the time to clear away debris; clean / disinfect plant holding areas; flush out irrigation pipes; and clean spray nozzles. To thoroughly clean out tanks, and pesticide spraying equipment, I would recommend using SpOtless. Our highly formulated cleaning and decontamination agent is especially effective at cleaning sticky formulations.

Cleaning greenhouse glass and polytunnels in autumn will pay dividends – helping to optimise sunlight through the darker months ahead.  Removing shade netting, and where appropriate boosting ventilation by opening vents, will help prevent diseases and reduce pathogen pressure next season.

To repot, or not to repot?

Now is a good time to decide which plants to repot and overwinter, and which need to be binned.

If repotting, it’s a good idea to use an effective weed suppressant pot topper. ICL has recently launched its new high-performance Fibagro Advance Pot Topper FT.  Manufactured from FSC-certified woodfibre and employing innovative Fusion Technology (FT), once watered, it provides a moisture-retentive layer which blocks out light.  Effectively suppressing weeds and liverworts, it doesn’t compromise water, nutrient or even nematode penetration.

Alternatively, you may want to incorporate Fibagro Advance Pot Topper FT in your spring potting schedule.  Effective suppression means weeds don’t use up vital nutrients, while you also benefit from savings in labour, due to less weeding pre-sales.

So, all in all, plenty to be thinking about.

Please contact your local ICL Technical Area Sales Manager for further information and advice.