Have a few DF vines in my backyard, seems this year the actual opening of the flowers is taking longer from when the buds first appear.
Last year, around this time my 1st flush was 13 days from bud to flower.
This year, around this time is 19 days from bud to flower.
Out of approx. 20 something buds, only 3 have opened this morning with the rest looking like they are about to flower, where I can actually see the white flower sitting under the green 'bud' petals. I can only presume this is due to the lack of rainfall/humidity this year.
Has anyone else experienced this due to the lack of moisture in the air?
For anyone interested, I have only the 'white' variety producing where my 'red' variety fruit should be ready for next season. Earlier this year I changed all my watering to drippers only, removed all sprinklers to save on my tank water where the savings are very noticeable. My vine supports are 90mm PVC drainage pipe wrapped in Jute which allows the vine feeder to reach out and hold onto very easily, and also pierce/grow thru the Jute material, purchased from Bunnings for around $14 per roll.
I also have 2 drippers fixed atop each support pole which allows the tank water to then dribble down and completely soak the Jute wrapping, thereby feeding all the vines feeders. I have also experimented with the actual support structure where I built a 'shelf' styled apparatus originally to help support the heavy vines. Earlier last year (2019) I went the more traditional way of allowing the vines to grow up then hang over as most others do, just to see if there is any improvement in actual fruit production.
So it seems that even tho my DF vines are pampered top and bottom regards water feeding, the recent drop in humidity from this terrible drought season has some effect, ie moisture in the air.
On another note, my heart felt condolences to all those affected by the bushfires, and a heart felt shout out to all whom are doing their utmost to help. Col.
Last year, around this time my 1st flush was 13 days from bud to flower.
This year, around this time is 19 days from bud to flower.
Out of approx. 20 something buds, only 3 have opened this morning with the rest looking like they are about to flower, where I can actually see the white flower sitting under the green 'bud' petals. I can only presume this is due to the lack of rainfall/humidity this year.
Has anyone else experienced this due to the lack of moisture in the air?
For anyone interested, I have only the 'white' variety producing where my 'red' variety fruit should be ready for next season. Earlier this year I changed all my watering to drippers only, removed all sprinklers to save on my tank water where the savings are very noticeable. My vine supports are 90mm PVC drainage pipe wrapped in Jute which allows the vine feeder to reach out and hold onto very easily, and also pierce/grow thru the Jute material, purchased from Bunnings for around $14 per roll.
I also have 2 drippers fixed atop each support pole which allows the tank water to then dribble down and completely soak the Jute wrapping, thereby feeding all the vines feeders. I have also experimented with the actual support structure where I built a 'shelf' styled apparatus originally to help support the heavy vines. Earlier last year (2019) I went the more traditional way of allowing the vines to grow up then hang over as most others do, just to see if there is any improvement in actual fruit production.
So it seems that even tho my DF vines are pampered top and bottom regards water feeding, the recent drop in humidity from this terrible drought season has some effect, ie moisture in the air.
On another note, my heart felt condolences to all those affected by the bushfires, and a heart felt shout out to all whom are doing their utmost to help. Col.