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Mass

I have crazy amounts of roots showing on surface. To light of watering bringing them to the top? Soil is pretty moist down quite a bit. I have been just runing dan micros a little mid day to cool off newer leaves. Nothing is flagging. I have run each zone 1/2 hr here and there. may be once a week. I have used a tablespoon or so of micro on every node. Tom's advanced fert program. Just havnt seen so many before. I subsoiled everything this year too. They should have no problem going down.

7/6/2012 7:25:44 PM

Massachusetts

pete, i had the same problem last year on the 1421 stelts, the roots around the main kept growing up around it, i tried to add soil over them, but they kept riseing, i'm not sure if was over watering , but when i removed the soaker hose that i had around the main, they seems to go back down, i think my problem was the plant was growing so fast that the small roots where looking for the easy water... just a thought, scott....

7/6/2012 8:01:42 PM

Western PA

We just recently got 2 inches of rain. I am guessing it may be a combination of the ground settling after the rain, and or the roots coming up to get oxygen if the soil is too wet.
Just my 2 cents.

7/6/2012 9:53:07 PM

East Jordan, MI

I've had this happen in the past as well, also mostly after heavy rains and the ground was too wet. I'm pretty sure they were coming up for air. They stopped coming up when the dirt was at a more normal moisture level and I covered them with mycorrhizae and drier dirt.

7/7/2012 2:24:10 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Yep, roots need oxygen and most of us tend to over water as it is. Too much soil moisture deprives roots of oxygen and retards their gas exchange capability, forcing them to the surface to "breathe" if you will.

You see this following a good rain as well, with the roots descending after the moisture level has decreased.

We've seen time and time again recommendations by some of the best growers out there posts which tell us that, if you take a handfull of soil and it clumps into a ball, it's too wet.

7/7/2012 2:41:10 AM

Mass

Great guys, thanks. I think with only a chance of showers this afternoon, sun for the next week, It should dry up nicely. I would have thought they were coming for easy water on top. I'll skip tea drench, and just do foliar this week, and throw some soil in there where I can.
Pete

7/7/2012 6:04:44 AM

East Jordan, MI

dont let it "dry up".

you want it moist, but not wet. If it gets too dry and you get a big rain followed by a hot day, you will get a growth surge and it could pop the kin.

An agronomist told me perfect soil is 50% dirt, 25% water and 25% air.

I grab a handful from about 5 or 6 inces down. If it will make a ball that crumbles apart when rubbed through your fingers it is about right for me. If it wont make a ball its too dry. If you cant break it up its too wet.

7/7/2012 7:24:33 AM

milford, CT,

Ken..Peaceful Vally sells a moisture meter that is very handy for determining the moisture content of the soil at 6-12 inches deep..dry on top does not always mean dry soil..
http://www.groworganic.com/growing-supplies/field-meter/soil-moisture-meter.html

7/7/2012 11:57:42 AM

Mass

Mark, Wrong Sweet. I have a $40 moisture meter. I calibrated it to what I thought was proper soil. Last time I stuck it in soil it didnt even move, a week before it did. I stuck it in water... Nothing.. I dont trust it, but will have to play with the adjustment screw and see if it works.. waste of money in my opinion. I like the soil feel test better.
Pete

7/7/2012 6:40:03 PM

Rhode Island

good answer country boy.
we have had those top feeler,white hairy looking roots on occasion.(especually after a down pour,etc)
if we can reach them we throw a little soil over top,if not?,because there are tons of other roots under the soils surface doing their jobs, we dont get to worried about them.
they may even grown back down into the soil eventually.
pap

7/9/2012 9:40:06 AM