Hay-Hay R.U.M. saves the day

Frank Ruberto proudly displays his Casaba Melons

In the Riverina near Hay, there is some seriously competitive market-gardening going on. And it's all in the family!

The prominent fruit and wine growing Ruberto family are closely watching young Frank Ruberto's skills in the market-garden.

A regular supplier of quality produce to the Sydney and Melbourne markets, Frank is building quite a reputation on the family's 500 irrigated acres fronting the Murrumbidgee River at Hay.

A lot of people were curious as to how Frank was still picking his Casaba melons when powdery mildew had decimated most of the crop.

Frank takes up the story ... "We were three-quarters through picking the melons when the powdery mildew struck. I immediately sprayed with fungicide to control it... and then decided to add some R.U.M. to the mix on the last one and a half hectares."

R.U.M. was applied at rate of 4L/1000L water, and the dose repeated 10 days later. "Well, you can see the difference", Frank smiled.

"The heavier I put it on, the quicker the result. I can't do that with the other organics I use because they burn if applied too heavily. Now these plants are growing strongly again and I'm going to pick another 1,000 cases from this small area, which is very unusual for a second crop. And all for less than $50 worth of R.U.M.!"

"But Nitrogen on its own is useless... you need to have trace elements... and because R.U.M. has got the natural trace elements the uptake into the plant is really quick"