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My Way - by Derek L. Telford |
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Mid Season
- May to August |
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Welcome sunshine at end of May
requires giving plenty of ventilation and space between plants. This
space will be increased each week as each plant will be removed for the
taking of cuttings and the removal of bud stems, which have fallen from
removed buds. When early buds are removed they leave small stems
that will rot when they drop off. |
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Supporting canes in place
before the end of May in order to avoid root damage later on. As the
plants elongate they would topple over without these canes. |
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Buds are nipped off each week
until 5 weeks before the show. |
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It is never too early to
commence forming a plant for exhibition. This green cane was placed
on the opposite side of the bud to pull one of the three basal shoots into
place in order to space them all at 120º apart - for 360º viewing.
This is in late May, the bud was to be removed. |
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With bud removed. |
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Cane inserted - the synthetic
dark string is tied in such a manner that the side shoots and growing tips
are not trapped. A check on the ties should be made every week from
now on. Note the multitude of side shoots on George McCormick.
Hessian or raffia ties are hygroscopic and cause rot when they get wet. |
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Three canes in position. Top view of plant showing canes
sloping outwards. |
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Three litre pot showing cane
inserted behind the bud which will flower in the direction in which the
leaves are pointing. It is essential to support the stem and also to
avoid spearing the tuber when inserting the cane. Surplus side
shoots and basal shoots are removed for cuttings. |
