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New blog post out today. mark krasnow gives the low down on the down low - talking grapevine rootstocks. Rootstocks are a critical consideration when developing a new vineyard or replanting an old one. You only have one chance to get it right, so it's important to have a plan and understand what your rootstock choice brings to the table. 📸 credit: Shaffer et al. 2004 (ref in blog) https://lnkd.in/gp83UVKs

The first edition of WinePress (1990?) has an article by me describing the performance of various rootstocks. Of course this was based on the international literature, and predominantly (or exclusively?) non-irrigated vineyards. In 1991, shortly after Phylloxera was found on the Wairau Plains, a rootstock trial was established at Rapaura using 6 rootstocks. after 5 years AXR1 (note at this time there was considerable discussion in California about this rootstock with its vinifera parentage), died. However, the remaining five stocks were monitored for 16 years and reported in Acta Hort 1115 (2016). A copy is available if you send your email. Further replicated Sauvignon blanc trials have been established by MAF (~1992) on the Stoneleigh vineyard, PFR on Jacksons Road (~2018) and Pinot noir in Waipara (~1995). Unfortunately, a lack of industry funding means that data collection has stopped. Pity.

It can be difficult to identify fungi but one way to do so is by looking at the spore color. Spores are tiny but a mushroom’s gills are designed to pack as many in as possible. The best way to see a mushroom’s spore color is to place the mushroom in question on a plain white sheet of paper and cover it with a bowl to see the color of the spores as they collect on the paper. Pholiota velaglutinosa (pictured here) has brown spores. Another helpful clue for confirming Pholiota velaglutinosa, also known as the slimy-veiled Pholiota, is the thick slimy coat on the reddish brown cap when it's fresh. Learn more about the fungi of the forest: https://bit.ly/3WW2hji

Heard it on Grapevine: https://lnkd.in/denBkHDz

How to Grow Curry Leaves from Seed in Containers Full guide : https://lnkd.in/gU4whYrV

Heard it on Grapevine: https://lnkd.in/dt2Js9DQ

Round tomatoes without the calyx are undesirable in the process of variety selection. Calyx: It is the green outer part of the flower, consisting of several small leaves called sepals. Its main function is to protect the inner parts of the flower, such as the petals, during the early stages of development. When the flower turns into a fruit, the calyx often remains at the base of the fruit, as seen in tomatoes or strawberries."

Volvariella bombycina, also known as the silky sheath, silky rosegill, silver-silk straw mushroom, or tree mushroom. It is a species of edible mushroom in the family Pluteaceae. It is an uncommon but widespread species, having been reported from Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. The mushroom grows singly or in clusters, often appearing in old knotholes and wounds in elms and maples. The fruit body (mushroom) begins developing in a thin, egg-like sac. This ruptures and the stem expands quickly, leaving the sac at the base of the stem as a volva. The cap, which can attain a diameter of up to 20 centimetres (8 inches), is white to slightly yellowish and covered with silky hairs. On the underside of the cap are closely spaced gills, free from attachment to the stem, and initially white before turning pink as the spores mature.

Heard it on Grapevine: https://lnkd.in/dh6DUgC9

Did you know? Jerky, one of the oldest forms of food preservation, has been around for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations. It was a crucial method for preserving meat without refrigeration. The term 'jerky' originates from the Quechua word 'ch'arki', meaning dried, salted meat. Talk about a tasty piece of history!