Crop report Nr.IV - July 2005 (Saaz area)

1. Basic weather conditions datas

temperature °C

(2005-2004)"

rainfalls mm

July has been for 1 C higher than long-term average in temperature mainly due to extremely high temperatures at the end of the month. The rainfalls was higher than long-term average for 63 mm. Huge thunderstorm destroyed hopgardens in Saaz and a little bit Auscha areas in the night 29.7.- 30.7. There felt down about 80 ha of hop constructions in Saaz area and another 8 ha in Auscha area.

2. Vegetation development

The growth of the sideroots has continued even during first half of the month , that is why the most of the hopgardens reached the top of construction or are even over the top.The blossom of the hops was remarked already at the beginning of the month- Saaz variety and about the middle of July was all hopgardens in blossom. Hybrid varieties as Sladek or Premiant started with blossom in second half of the month. The flowers start in height of the plant about 2 metres and are well-placed around whole habitus of the plant, what gives requirement of the good crop. The alpha acids content is not possible to guess yet but due to the enough moisture we can estimate it roughly on the level of last crop. We expect the start of the harvest about 18.8.-20.8. 2005.

3. Treatment of the hops

There was found aphids in some hopgardens at the beginning of the month ( migrantes alatae ). It was nessesary to use Confidor 70 WG, somewhere even Karate Zeon 5 CS in 0,04% concentration.

Red spider has been found in a lot of hopgardens during last days of July. That is why the using of Ortus 5 SC and Omite 30W in concentrations according pesticides regulations was recommended. Due to high air moisture and quiet often rainfalls is nessesary to watch continually the opportunnity of appearance of downy mildew.

Although the above mentioned problems was noticed, we can still evaluate the hops and its health as good.