There is only one way to describe the soil conditions right now and that would be simply perfect. It might be a few weeks late but finally after all this rain the ground has dried to the perfect consistency and moisture level.
As I was out checking my swarm traps and looking for swarms around my hives I stopped at one of the neighbors fields. He was out plowing while a hired guy followed behind with a disk rig. The ground felt like it had been tilled it was that fine. No clumps or clods and if there were they fell apart in your hand easily. It was like walking on six inches of foam rubber only without the bounce back I guess.
The last few hold out areas of my little one acre garden were just as perfect once I got tilling them today. About half the beans have sprouted and I finished planting all the tomatoes, peppers and about half the melons. Tomorrow should be the final touches except for an area I am leaving open for my tobacco plants I won't put out until Mid June. I am going to give the corn another week or so and if it doesn't sprout up I will replant. I also still need to finish tilling and planting the sunflower area which I will also be heavily fertilizing with manure this Summer. I figure if I over do it and burn up a Sunflower I won't stress on it too much.
The Varmint Rabbit-Cong have already begun their night time raids and nibbled a fair bit on a poor defenseless tomato plant last night. A one man listening post may be in order again before the week is out.
One more morning's worth of work on the garden and then it will be rush time to get the mowing out of the way before we get some more rain on Wednesday.
Things are looking good so far but my poor back and shoulders are killing me.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!
PP,
ReplyDeleteThe soil in the picture above looks perfect and ready for planting.
Varmint Rabbit - Cong has begun, oh no.....time for some rabbit hunting, maybe fill the freezer?
You have more work than I in the gardens, and on the property but I sure hear you when you talk about back and shoulders hurting. Ice pads not directly on the shoulders and back along with Aleve has made a world of difference for me. I went to bed with the several ice packs inside pillow cases and the next morning I felt a lot better.
The grass keeps growing like crazy, I cut half of the property last night, and need to cut the rest tomorrow morning before the rain. Then after the rain, it will be time again to start cutting the grass.
Sandy - And the next morning...you just ache all over lol.
DeleteThese wild rabbits around here are not something I would want to save this time of year. One look at the worms inside em this time of year and anyone would puke.
There are so many rabbits that even if I knock a few off more will move into their territory within a few weeks and we haven't even had the babies show up yet.
Have you thought about trapping them? Not saying you should, just wondering how effective it might be.
ReplyDeleteRuss - Nah. To much trouble for a rabbit. I prolly have another 100 or more of em waiting out in the hayfield and pasture ready to move in. For the moment they are really a bottomless reservoir and we haven't even seen the babies coming out yet.
DeleteAfter I posted, I remembered asking you the same thing last year. I think the cats get some of them. I did a more thorough job of fencing the larger section down low this year. We will se if that keeps the little ones out.
DeletePP - i am sooo glad that your garden is in such good shape - it's really looking good! i'm sorry that you have such problems with the Varmint-Cong. we have only a few rabbits that visit us here and because most of our land is covered in clover, we have no problems with them going after our beds and tires. have you thought of planting a ton of clover somewhere near your garden?
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
Kymber believe me they have more than enough to eat, they are simply destructive VERMIN!!!! They hop around all night nibbling here nibbling there, sampling this, trying that, chewing on my fruit trees..... Vermin. They must DIE!!!!
DeleteThat garden spot is beautiful! I am late with everything too because of the weather. I am going to be picking peas and beans in the hottest part of the year.
ReplyDeleteMB - Ya some stuff is going to be real late. I imagine my kale stuff will bolt but I just hope we don't go into another drought.
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