It has been several weeks now that we have been fighting against the Rutherglen Bug - some days we think we are on top of it all, and then another swarm hits and we end up with lots of damaged flowers again.
It is always a struggle in the farming industries, and we are so fortunate that the Gerberas do rally quickly, and soon are flowering again in a most beautiful way. We hope that by this coming weekend that things will be much better.
It is devastating though, and we often feel quite despaired about it all. I often think of farms whose crops or livestock are devastated by some incident and it takes another year or two to recover - and ofcourse you never do completely recover. You can't replace things immediately!
Showing posts with label rutherglen bug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rutherglen bug. Show all posts
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Now the bugs
Well, after several weeks of really high production, the bugs set in. Somewhere near the hothouse must be a host tree that the Rutherglen bug, and it has found it's way into the hothouse and despite the frequent spraying they have multiplied dramatically and damaged the flowers.
So one day perfect flowers, and the next damaged flowers. Dramatically. Production down 70%!
But that is life in the "farming" business. On Monday I picked out hundreds of damaged flowers which would never make their way to the markets. Picked and destroyed. And more spraying.
What a disappointment and we've learned that often when we are so high in spirits about something, that we are setting ourselves up for some drama. It seems to work all the time.
So one day perfect flowers, and the next damaged flowers. Dramatically. Production down 70%!
But that is life in the "farming" business. On Monday I picked out hundreds of damaged flowers which would never make their way to the markets. Picked and destroyed. And more spraying.
What a disappointment and we've learned that often when we are so high in spirits about something, that we are setting ourselves up for some drama. It seems to work all the time.
Monday, November 13, 2006
The flowers are blooming again!
Well, after the flushing through of fresh water the EC level of the run off water has reduced and the plants have flourished. We are picking massive quantities of flowers and the quality is excellent. Quite a change.
We are still having a little problem with mothers, and the Rutherglen bug hasn't completely gone, but there is a noticeable reduction in both.
My little green frog came out this morning. I'm sure there is more than one, but I only ever see one, and I "assume" that it is my one friendly frog who suns himself on one of the pink flowers.
We are still having a little problem with mothers, and the Rutherglen bug hasn't completely gone, but there is a noticeable reduction in both.
My little green frog came out this morning. I'm sure there is more than one, but I only ever see one, and I "assume" that it is my one friendly frog who suns himself on one of the pink flowers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
