Growing Better Cucurbits, Melon, Squash
Improving Fruit Quality
Blossom End Rot, misshapen fruit and other common disorders are caused by poor cell division when the fruit is developing (when 0-4 mm in size). Following this stage the cells size, and as the size increases the problems become visible.
The best approach is to combine calcium application with a growth stimulant to increase cell division. InCa combines both calcium and stimulants utilising CaT Technology and can be applied when the fruit is small to eliminate quality problems.
Improving Roots
If plants are growing on salty or high sodium soils, or trees are subject to soil-borne disease such as Phytophera, Verticillium, Erwinia, and Rhizoctonia then it is likely that the crop is experiencing root decline. The root system can be reinvigorated using PiNT Calcium that will improve root growth and health, and suppress sodium uptake. Improving root health is also beneficial in reducing nematode attack.
Setting more Flowers
Flowering causes a major change in the hormone balance of the plant. If the plant encounters stress conditions during this time the plant will abort flowers. Speedo Balance can prevent flower abortion by maintaining a favourable balance during flowering – this will result in higher set and retention of flowers.
Increasing female buds
Application of InCa can increase the proportion of female buds. This will increase the number of fruiting points and fruiting buds on the plant.
Holding and sizing more fruit
Fruit Drop - When fruit is developing the quality is adversely affected if conditions lead to rapid shoot growth. This rapid shoot development acts as a sink for food, and ‘robs’ the fruit of food leading to uneven sizing, and fruit abortion. Speedo Saxon encourages the sugars made in the leaves to move to the fruit, and boosts root growth
Improving Maturity
Many growers supply large quantities of late season potassium in order to improve quality and give early maturity of the crop. This can also have the effect of cutting the life of the crop by bringing forward senescence.
PiNT Potassium can supply the potassium the crop needs for maturation and quality, whilst at the same time boosting root growth to delay the onset of senescence. This has the effect of allowing the crop to produce for longer, without delaying maturity. The effect can be further increased by application of Speedo Balance during periods of excess shoot growth – this will give a more even size distribution.
Improving growth in temperature extremes
During cool or hot temperatures the crops ability to synthesise growth hormones declines disproportionately to give a slow-down in development, and often a quality reduction. Normal balance can be restored by application of InCa to give improved growth and quality during temperature extremes which discourages shoot proliferation. These products create larger, more evenly sized fruit, and can reduce fruit drop.
Extending Shelf Life
Shelf life of fruit is controlled by ethylene, which encourages the breakdown of compounds that bind together the cells in the fruit, and weakens cell walls. Shelf life is usually controlled post harvest by limiting ethylene production using chilling, or controlled atmosphere storage.
By loading the fruits cells with calcium using InCa or PiNT Calcium the cells in the fruit become less susceptible to ethylene following harvest – thus increasing shelf-life and improving other quality aspects.
Rates and Recommendations for Cucumber, Gherkin, Melon & Squash:
PiNT Calcium
Soil application – Up to 300l/Ha/season split into applications of 10-30L.
Foliar application – 5-10L/Ha or 1% spray solution (spray to run off).
Timing: Soil -15-20 day intervals from 4 leaf stage. Foliar – spray after each flowering.
PiNT Potassium
Soil application – Up to 100l/Ha/season split into applications of 25-50L.
Foliar application – 5-10L/Ha or 1% spray solution (spray to run off).
Timing: 15-20 day intervals from second flowering.
Speedo Balance
Application Rate – 5 L/Ha.
Timing: To improve colour and size apply 3-4 weeks prior to harvest.
Speedo Saxon
Application Rate – Foliar – 2-3L/Ha in minimum 100 litres of water. Alternatively use a 0.5% spray solution and spray until run-off. Avoid spraying in direct sun.
Timing: After each flowering and again 3 weeks after last flowering.
InCa
Application Rate – 1L/Ha either as a foliar spray (minimum 100L water spray volume) or through drip irrigation or fertigation systems.
Timing: For temperature stress - apply at 20 day intervals during periods of extreme high and or low temperatures.
For fruit quality foliar apply 1 week after each flowering to reduce physiological disorders.
