[Market-farming] Bringing ground back into production

Fellenz fellenz at fltg.net
Fri Feb 1 11:41:53 EST 2008


Andrew R. King wrote:
> How are you going to handle the weeds?
>
> Andy King
> Sunflower King's Farm
> PA Zone 6


Good question.  I'm a day late and dollar short coming to this party.  
Ideally, I should have started working this plot last year to start 
addressing the weed issue.  My plan right now for the portion I am 
thinking of putting into corn and squash is as follows:

 > Work up ground early in season once ground is dry enough to get on 
(probably late April or early May).
 > Rework once first flush of weeds germinates
 > Come back for a third pass and fit field for planting in late May.  
Plant corn between Memorial Day and first week of June  (My sweet corn 
goes to my CSA.  I usually plant to get 2-3 weeks of corn during the 
season and later tnan surrounding corn to get my plot a little out of 
synch with neighbors - it seems to help a little with insect control). 
 > Transplant squash out during the first or second week of June
 > Mulch the heck out of the squash.  I have mulched heavily the past 
few years and it really seems to help with weed suppression.  
Alternately, I may consider plastic mulch, but for the amount of squash 
I plan to put in it seems like plastic will be more bother than its 
worth, especially since I do not have a plastic layer and would need to 
try to find one to rent. 
 > Cultivate corn through-out season, hope and pray that the weather 
cooperates and it is dry enough to cultivate when needed and wet enough 
at other times so that the corn grows well. 

The other issue I need to work through is a mismatch between tractors 
and implements.  All of my tractors are 40hp and under and my implements 
are appropriate for <1acre plantings of a range of vegetables.  The 
owner of the ground I will start to use doesn't have a tractor, but has 
offered the use of a 4 bottom plow, ~12'disk and ~12' cultipacker/harrow 
which are all too big for my tractor.   So another task in the next few 
months is to look for either a larger tractor or some implements which 
will work with my 40hp tractor on a larger planting. 

Andy





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