Clearing land for a garden and orchard

[BCrouse]

Hey BC, did you get a soil test kit from Penn State yet? You might want to do that before you start planting. The last one I sent in came back telling me I needed 9000 pounds of lime per acre !!!!! Well it took some time but I got lime spread and man did it help,, I had a local guy that was buying lime in bulk get a few more tones and spread it for me. I dont have down what they called for but what I did do helped BUNCHES. Just a thought

I didnt go through PSU Extension. I picked up one of those home multi-test kits. I have a few areas to test for different things. Figured id give it a go first and a good experiment for the boys to help with. They are always excited to play in the dirt.

 

[skeets]

OUTSTANDING,, love them little guys every day, they grow way to fast, blink and like weeds they are up blink again and your a grand pap,

 

[BCrouse]

Some progress of land prep happened.

The wife is redoing the plans. I think were planting loads of wildflowers now and maybe rye. This all means im clearing more of the meadow and moving the orchard further up the hill.

Original orchard plot. Repurpose for family garden. Its was tilled once over roughly then back through half way with a deeper till. Still have half to finish.

My original garden plot. Looks like it will be getting wildflowers and/or rye

Got some more rough tilling done for the wildflower/rye/grass area.

Different angle of the same area.

 

[xmikew]

That garden plot looks pretty perfect! Nice work. What are you putting in the orchard?


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[BCrouse]

That garden plot looks pretty perfect! Nice work. What are you putting in the orchard?


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Apple, pear, peach and plum. I dont recall the exact kind (have it documented somewhere). They will all be dwarf and semi-dwarf. Looks like the orchard is going to get pushed back till fall planting time at this point. I need to clear more meadow. The Mrs wants "a field of wildflowers" so thats what is gonna happen. =]

 

[xmikew]

Apple, pear, peach and plum. I dont recall the exact kind (have it documented somewhere). They will all be dwarf and semi-dwarf. Looks like the orchard is going to get pushed back till fall planting time at this point. I need to clear more meadow. The Mrs wants "a field of wildflowers" so thats what is gonna happen. =]

Oh nice the bees will love it. Understand about the mrs! I tried to order pecan trees but too late so my pecan trees will have to wait. Then just some small fruit trees here and there.

How do you like that single row planter? Will be getting one as well. What kind is it?

Your place looks nice and peaceful.

 

[BCrouse]

Oh nice the bees will love it. Understand about the mrs! I tried to order pecan trees but too late so my pecan trees will have to wait. Then just some small fruit trees here and there.

How do you like that single row planter? Will be getting one as well. What kind is it?

Your place looks nice and peaceful.

Theres one small apple tree on the property now and a giant cherry tree that produces nickel sized cherries some years.


Im hoping the bees and butterflies like it. We have tons of milkweed here....and so far living here going on 3 years I've seen one Monarch. One. So I'm hoping to see more of them with a bunch more flowers too.

The planter is from Hoss. I think they bought the plans from the old Planet Jr single rows. I bought the one with the larger wheels as they're suppose to do better in soil thats got more debris and rocks, which mine has both. I planted rows of oat/field pea late last fall....a little too late but the planter worked pretty well as soon as I got the correct walking speed.

 

[xmikew]

Theres one small apple tree on the property now and a giant cherry tree that produces nickel sized cherries some years.


Im hoping the bees and butterflies like it. We have tons of milkweed here....and so far living here going on 3 years I've seen one Monarch. One. So I'm hoping to see more of them with a bunch more flowers too.

The planter is from Hoss. I think they bought the plans from the old Planet Jr single rows. I bought the one with the larger wheels as they're suppose to do better in soil thats got more debris and rocks, which mine has both. I planted rows of oat/field pea late last fall....a little too late but the planter worked pretty well as soon as I got the correct walking speed.

Hoss Hadn't heard of that one good to know! Thank you. Love photos of your work. Keep it up and I'll be following!

 

[BCrouse]

Some seeding occurred today.

Wildflowers
Rye
Field Pea/Oats
Sun Flowers


Wild flowers

Rye

Wildflowers/Sunflowers/FieldPea/Oats

It was a beautiful evening

 

[BCrouse]

Finally transplanted the strawberries that we grew in a big planter pot from tiny seedlings 3 years ago.

My "helpers" were so "helpful". [emoji26]

 

[skeets]

A word about straw berries, we did 150 plants one spring and they did well, next spring they didnt come p,freekin deer pulled them out ate roots and all,, same thing with my white grapes.. and the turkeys will like that when it starts up .. And a datter will help you, and put something in the freezer too,,, just something I heard the big kids talking about

 

[BCrouse]

A word about straw berries, we did 150 plants one spring and they did well, next spring they didnt come p,freekin deer pulled them out ate roots and all,, same thing with my white grapes.. and the turkeys will like that when it starts up .. And a datter will help you, and put something in the freezer too,,, just something I heard the big kids talking about

Thanks. These plants have been in the planter pot for awhile. I think we got 2 strawberries from them last year.....not a big loss if they don't make it. Gave me an activity to do with the boys.

 

[BCrouse]

The Rye is starting to sprout!

The rest of the seed needs more rain.....which we should get tonight through this weekend.

 

[BCrouse]

No movement on the wildflowers or sunflowers. The field pea and oats are starting to sprout now too

Rainy day stuff...

 

[CalicoJack]

Like seeing your progress. I too want to put in an orchard. I am starting with full mature trees that need to go first.

Funny seeing people say that they wish they had rocks. I HATE rocks!

Keep up the good work.

 

[BCrouse]

Like seeing your progress. I too want to put in an orchard. I am starting with full mature trees that need to go first.



Funny seeing people say that they wish they had rocks. I HATE rocks!



Keep up the good work.

Thanks. Im not sure how deep rooted fruit trees are. I grew up near orchards and would always seem at least one tree a year look like it was pushed over.

I know! Medium sized rocks are one thing.....small rocks that are impossible to mechanically pick up or move and large ones that you need an excavator to move are completely different. Still searching for a better way to get rid of all the baseball sized rocks and smaller without picking them by hand. They seem to evade the landscape rake.

 

[skeets]

Well shoot just mow there and that will find them and make little ones out of them lol. Just joking
I feel for you, I live up on a big sand stone ridge and the rocks have accounted for more than one shear pin, bent blade and tiller tine,
Maybe run your box blade around after you run the rake or a back blade angled that might at least push them over into a wind row for you and pick them up with the FEL,, just a thought

 

[BCrouse]

Well shoot just mow there and that will find them and make little ones out of them lol. Just joking
I feel for you, I live up on a big sand stone ridge and the rocks have accounted for more than one shear pin, bent blade and tiller tine,
Maybe run your box blade around after you run the rake or a back blade angled that might at least push them over into a wind row for you and pick them up with the FEL,, just a thought

Yah....mine are all granite or decomposing granite.

--edit--

I got distracted and posted then forgot about it.

I do not have a box blade. Still waiting on that one. Though since my driveway is paved, its kinda low on the list atm.

I was thinking more if a pine straw rake would get those rocks.....so many rocks...

 

[BCrouse]

Rye - sprouted
Oat/FieldPea - sprouted
Sunflowers - sprouted
Wildflowers - maybe? I don't know what the sprouts look like because it was numerous varieties. So might just be weeds.

All the strawberry plants are flowering. A good sign.





Just ordered a bunch more seed for veggies. We'll see how it goes.

 

[BCrouse]

Went over the unplanted section of field a bunch of times with the landscaper rake to try and get some of the rock out. So much rock. I think ill hit that section again with the tiller. See if I can put some of the smaller rocks under the soil.