Japanese Black Pine longitudinal study; Collaborators needed

[mtarros]

I have put on some home made oil seed cakes, I used flax seed but I now have 20k of rapeseed to use.

[Grant Bowie]

I have put on some home made oil seed cakes, I used flax seed but I now have 20k of rapeseed to use.

OK,

What is the recipe?

It would be interesting to know what sort of NPK these would provide; but I don't know how you could find out.

Anyone got any idea?

Grant

[mtarros]

I got the recipe when I was in Japan, from Taisho-En.

It's just an oil seed meal - rapeseed/canola seed meal
10% bone meal
A bit of oil and water till you get a paste then just make balls and dry to a couple of weeks.

I did spend a day at Aichi-en and they use whole rapeseed and they just grind what they need, add fertiliser to the mix and into tea bags and ready for use no drying needed.

Also using whole seed you don't need to add oil to the mix.

Canola meal is NPK of 6-2-1 but I have used whole seed so it will be higher.
I also replaced the bone meal with 10% blood and bone and I added seasol to the water.

[mtarros]

The more free draining your soil is the more watering is needed and that also means you fertilise more as they slowly release when watering.

I always forget when to fertilise so I think using cakes or tea bags is the way to go, also it's almost impossible to over fertilise.

[Neli]

Thanks Grant will do as you said

[Grant Bowie]

A reminder for those of you participating in the trial to do the 3rd fortnightly fertilise ( or to fertilise at whatever rate you are doing) on the Pine no 1 and not on Pine no 2.

I would not yet expect to see any difference between no 1 and no2 yet; unless you are in more warmer parts of Australia and the ferts are starting to kick in and make a difference.

Grant

[Neli]

I have been fertilizing it weekly...with lighter doses.Will take pictures today.

[Grant Bowie]

Another reminder for those participating in the Pine Trials to keep up the fertilising of Pine no 1.

I got back from NZ late on Friday night and have fertilised the no 1 Pines early this morning.

Still no obvious difference between Pines no 1 and Pines no 2 at the moment colour or vigour wise. No obvious bud movement or swelling yet either; too cold here in Canberra yet.

I will start fertilising Pines no 2 in 2 to 4 weeks depending on how things go.

Grant

[Neli]

I dont see any difference yet also...I fertilized 2 days ago...but I suspect missed one week. I was in London...My workers said they fertilized but I dont trust them.

[Grant Bowie]

I dont see any difference yet also...I fertilized 2 days ago...but I suspect missed one week. I was in London...My workers said they fertilized but I dont trust them.

Yes its hard to get good staff.

Grant

[Ray M]

Hi Grant,
I fertilized the tree today. There is not a lot of difference between them. When I'm feeling better I will do some more photos.

Regards Ray

[Gerard]

It appears that I have some bud swelling has begun on my fertilised tree

[Grant Bowie]

It appears that I have some bud swelling has begun on my fertilised tree

Please note the date if you think swelling has commenced; and then again when it starts to elongate.

Cheers.

For anyone who still wants to participate in the trial and would like a copy of the trial spreadsheet please PM me with your email address.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

With spring approaching and movement starting; those participating in the trial please remember to note important dates as per spreadsheet.

Grant

[Neli]

No changes here yet