Message Board - Cricket: Turfgrasses used on wickets in Scotland
4 Jun 2010 by Peter Leroy
I rarely ask but with such expertise here these days perhaps someone can offer some suggestions.
I'm trying to determine just which turfgrass type to use on a cricket pitch at 55 degrees N latitude, winter temperatures of minus 30 and obviously snow. The cricket season is relatively short at about 18 weeks.
I am well aware of the grasses used in southern England but was not so sure that the same types would be used in say Glasgow or Aberdeen.
If someone with experience at establishing cricket pitches in Scotland could offer ideas as to which grasses do best in cricket pitches it will be much appreciated.
4 Jun 2010 by Grassman2011
Kenny, your chance to inform us all.
4 Jun 2010 by Chris Thornton
Come on "Mario" where are you???
"He not busy being born is busy dying"
4 Jun 2010 by mario
I use, and have been using, Mascot R9 for the past 10 years here in Aberdeen.
Prior to it becoming what we now know as R9 it was trialled up and down the country. At my ground, at Sussex with Trailly and at the Cairngorm Mountain Railway.
In those days R9 was a three cultivar mix, it has had one added since, but in essence it's the same basic mixture.
Typically temperatures get down to minus 10 to 15 at some point during the Winter here with around seven hours of light during the day.
This year as last, we were at minus 22 and under snow for three weeks, frosts after that, then under snow for a further couple of weeks.
Apart from looking a bit sorry for itself, the sward survived with no disease, and after a wee application of carbohydrate in the form of brown beer, a little iron and potassium, it recovered well.
R9 was initially marketed as a seed mix which would withstand windchill especially on exposed or eastern venues such as I have here: the wind comes off the North Sea. It is not unusual to have a lovely day here, but the wind would cut you in two!!
Summing up - I have found R9 to be completely reliable at low temperatures and not prone to disease, but does like to be kept fed.
Hope this helps, Peter.
I know no boundaries.
4 Jun 2010 by David Greenshields
100% perennial ryegrass no question, but there are quite large differences between cultivars in terms of speed of establishment at different temperatures etc.
4 Jun 2010 by Peter Leroy
Ask and you shall receive..thank you mario as that is exactly the mix of information I was looking for.
Several grasses theoretically looked to be possible but I prefer to go with the advice of those with hands on experience.
As the project I am working on will, if successful, will be one of the first in my part of the world there is a lot riding on the outcome.
4 Jun 2010 by mario
Just as a comparison as to your location and mine, Peter, I'm at -
Lat: N 57 ° 7 ' 3 '' ( 57.118 ° )
Lon: W 2 ° 9 ' 53 '' ( -2.165 ° )
Elevation (ft): 50
I know no boundaries.
Back to Top - Go to Next Unread Message
This Message is closed, you may not post a reply at this time
