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Post by indianamike on Apr 16, 2015 9:04:32 GMT -5
Hey guys, thought we might start a thread to show off our "field" preparations for the year. I officially got started last night and got the plowing done! I have 4 patches this year, up from 2 last year, and here are some pics from the adventure! My plowing rig. MF 65 with a Dearborn 2 bottom. This is the first patch, and was there although smaller when we bought this place This is the second patch that I opened up a couple years ago This is a new patch I opened up behind the barn, will get more shade than the rest, maybe I can put things there that don't like the heat so much. Last but not least this is the spot that I have been working to clear of trees for the past 2 years. Its got a bunch of roots left over so I get to pick out the big ones before I can plant. This is up on a well-drained ridge behind the house. Alright, who's next?
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Post by richardw on Apr 16, 2015 14:40:41 GMT -5
Interesting looking loam soil you've got
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Post by philagardener on Apr 16, 2015 19:26:18 GMT -5
Nice rig!
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Post by indianamike on Apr 17, 2015 8:35:24 GMT -5
Yeah the dirt is a bit of a challenge to work, as i grew up on sandy soil. It will get super sticky when saturated, and then as it dries out if you haven't worked it up, it will be hard like stone! If you can get it broken up loose, it works nicely and the plants seem to love it, but I probably need to add some OM to it to loosen it up. We have a yard waste recycle center in town that you can go get as much decomposed OM as you want for free, just need to get a few pickup loads and add it in!
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 17, 2015 16:15:20 GMT -5
tractor envy .....
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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 18, 2015 14:56:19 GMT -5
Tractor envy, big time! Soil envy, too. Looks like you don't have a lot of rock. Alas, my rig is so small by comparison... My fields are prepared in January and February. They are already planted. Winter greens are starting to bolt. TPS potatoes are looking good. Corn has had spotty germination, which may have to do with some clogged irrigation lines. But the beans are doing well. We took down the chicken wire fence, which sagged, and put up rabbit fencing this year. Here are the bush, half runner, and pole beans: And the Lima beans: Sort of unsightly, but I'm experimenting with carboard as mulch this year. There's finally been enough rain that grass is actually growing.
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Post by richardw on Apr 18, 2015 15:18:31 GMT -5
Cardboard works well if you dont get too much wind,i use rocks to hold mine down.
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Post by oldmobie on Apr 18, 2015 15:49:42 GMT -5
I'm experimenting with carboard as mulch this year. We've used it for years, or feedsacks or multiple layers of paper. That's our real weed barrier. We cover it with straw or wood chips usually. That makes it look nice and keeps it from blowing away. The cardboard or paper lets us get away with a thinner layer of chips or straw.
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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 18, 2015 15:53:30 GMT -5
oldmobie I was thinking about covering the cardboard with used shredded pine bedding as I clean out the chicken coops. I'm assuming not too much nitrogen will leach through the cardboard.
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Post by oldmobie on Apr 18, 2015 17:54:07 GMT -5
oldmobie I was thinking about covering the cardboard with used shredded pine bedding as I clean out the chicken coops. I'm assuming not too much nitrogen will leach through the cardboard. Considering your background, I won't try to tell you the factors that depends on. (You probably know more of 'em than I do.) I think it could work in your water situation, you can probably control the leaching, somewhat. Will your irrigation be UNDER the cardboard?
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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 18, 2015 18:38:08 GMT -5
No, but the cardboard will be sort of sloping away from the furrows. I also might wait until the beans start blooming to add the bedding, then perhaps any stray nitrogen will help with flowering rather than contributing to leaves.
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Post by steev on Apr 19, 2015 20:53:29 GMT -5
I'd think the nitrogen would speed decomposition of the cardboard.
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Post by oldmobie on Apr 20, 2015 9:07:53 GMT -5
I'd think the nitrogen would speed decomposition of the cardboard. Or for that matter, extra "browns" like clean wood chips, leaves, newspapers, or MORE cardboard could slow it. Could also tie up some of the nitrogen for a while, keeping it from burning the beans. PS: The oldest garden, where we've done this for ~5 years, has some of our softest, blackest soil. (Though that doesn't go very deep yet, maybe 2"- 4".
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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 20, 2015 16:07:40 GMT -5
oldmobie I'm not too worried about the beans getting burned, more worried about them putting on more leaf than pod. There is no newspaper where I live, we don't own a chipper shredder (yet), and as it is I make a three hour round trip to get the cardboard from a recycling center that seems reluctant to part with much of it. The most plentiful thing I have is used shredded pine chicken bedding. I have noticed anywhere we've left cardboard to decompose the next season the soil under it is fabulous and full of earthworms. I suppose I could just use rocks like richardw to weight it down.
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Post by oldmobie on Apr 20, 2015 17:44:43 GMT -5
oldmobie I'm not too worried about the beans getting burned, more worried about them putting on more leaf than pod. There is no newspaper where I live, we don't own a chipper shredder (yet), and as it is I make a three hour round trip to get the cardboard from a recycling center that seems reluctant to part with much of it. The most plentiful thing I have is used shredded pine chicken bedding. I have noticed anywhere we've left cardboard to decompose the next season the soil under it is fabulous and full of earthworms. I suppose I could just use rocks like richardw to weight it down. It'd be tempting to try your first idea, at least in a well defined test area. If it works, you have new knowledge to share, as well as an easy method that utilizes stuff you have on hand. We save all our cardboard that's of any decent size. Pizza boxes, (keep an eye on any dogs) cereal boxes, soda cases, shipping boxes, small appliance boxes. Most businesses around here bale theirs to recycle. Makes you miss the days you could score a refridgerator or dishwasher box behind the appliance store.
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