May 2024 – BGI, Chesham Demonstrator Hub Update
BGI Site Plan
Early summer has been a busy one at the BGI Demonstrator Hub. There has been lots of planting, lots of gapping up and the more established plots are growing well. Weeds and pests have been managed as well.
Crop Diaries
Click on the titles below to find out how each of the crops are progressing.
Alder
- The SRF alder is in full leaf now and looking good.
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- Alder at BGI Demonstrator Hub, May 2024
Black Locust
- The SRF black locust ‘Turbo’ is in various stages of growth and some problems have been noticed during inspections. There is a lack of growth on some plants which may be due to slug damage. Slugs have been particularly problematic this year due to the wet conditions and so much rain. This area was waterlogged for 2 months earlier in the year. Silvanus Forestry have been consulted and have advised us to keep an eye on them over the next month and report back.
- The SRF black locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’ plants have mixed growth so far. Some are in full leaf, others are in bud and some are still dormant.
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- Black Locust leafing up
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- Black Locust Turbo planted 2023, slug damage
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- Slug on Black Locust ‘Turbo’ planted last year
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- Dying black locust Turbo – why?
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- Dying Black locust at the top – Turbo planted 2023
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- Black Locust Turbo shooting
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- Black Locust Turbo later shooting than others
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- Waterlogged holes in Turbo Black Locust Plot
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- Waterlogged holes – Black Locust plot – not good
Eucalyptus
- The SRF Eucalyptus is looking great and has been gapped up with 4 new trees.
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- Eucalyptus E.Nitens looking healthy
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- Eucalyptus plot looking good
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- Mowing the grass at BGI Hub between the Eucalyptus plot
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- Grass Cutting at BGI Hub in between the Eucalyptus plot
Poplar
- The SRF poplar is now in full leaf.
Miscanthus
- The 0.5 ha Miscanthus giganteus is shooting up again and is about 4-6 inches high now.
- The 0.5 ha Miscanthus Athena™ plot was planted on 2/5/2024 and was already shooting up by 28/5/2024. The rhizomes for planting were in better condition than last year and had lots of soil around their roots. Great care was taken to ensure the rhizomes were deep enough in the soil and planted from top to bottom and not across the 0.5 ha plot this time. When completed the plot was rolled immediately that afternoon.
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- Miscanthus Athena shooting up just a few weeks after planing
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- Miscanthus Athena Rhizomes ready for planting.
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- Ploughed and ready to plant Miscanthus Athena
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- Getting ready to plant Miscanthus Athena rhizomes
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- Rolled immediately after planting Miscanthus Athena rhizomes
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- Ploughed and ready for planting Miscanthus Athena rhizomes. Ploughed up and down rather than across this time
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- Miscanthus rhizomes ready for planting, looking healthier, lots of soil left on too.
Willow
- The 0.5 ha SRC willow is in leaf and growing tall, over 6ft.
- We have noticed that some of the willow species are either being attacked or not growing as well as others.
- Willow for gapping up arriving 5/6/24. It will require a team effort to plant over 2000 rods!
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- Willow at BGI Hub
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- Willow at BGI Hub
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- 2 species of Ladybirds on Willow
Sida
- More sida was planted on 02/05/2024
- Mature sida is yellowing – possibly due to lack of nitrogen.
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- Waiting for Sida to be replanted at BGI
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- Ops Manager at BGI Hub on his knees planting the young Sida
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- Sida 6 days after planting
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- Using Auger to plant sida at BGI Demonstrator Hub
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- Digging holes with auger for sida planting
Reed Canary Grass
- The reed canary grass seed was broadcast on 02/05/2024 and was already germinating and visible on 28/05/2024.
Silphium
- The Silphium was sown on 02/05/224.
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- Broadcasting Silphium seeds
Plans and Actions
- The automatic weather station has been upgraded with a new data logger.
- We have completed the spraying of weeds around the willow.
- The newly planted sida was initially watered by hand until we had some significant rainfall.
Gallery
