Growing Potato's - 2011

Here's where the potato garden will be. It's been plowed, and disk ed, and is ready for the potato seed in a couple of weeks. The will be 16 rows in this plot. 12 of them will be be Norland Red (100 lbs of seed), and Burbank Russet (50 lbs if seed). Each row will be approx. 100' long. The remaining rows 4 rows will be peas, spinach, onions, and broccoli. The broccoli is new this year. I think it will grow well in the cool climate. I leave 4' between each row so they can be cultivated, and hilled with a small tractor. It also help to keep the ground from being depleted from nutrients. I try and keep things organic, and natural. : ) Gardening is like a science experiment seeing what will grow, and how to improve the quality, and harvest from year too year. I learn new things each season.

Garden Tractor Disk Harrow - Complete

Here's the finished disk harrow for the little tractor. It works great. I plowed the potato garden with a turn plow about three weeks ago. With the disks angled it moves a lot more dirt than I thought it would. It easily took care of leveling out the hills left by the plow, and cleaned up all the small weeds. In the photo's you can see I have the concave side of the disk towards the center and they are nearly straight in effort to level out the dirt. With the weight on they dig in 5-6"s. AH

Garden - Young Plants

It's been a little over two weeks since my last post on the seedlings, now young plants. I have transplanted most everything into there own containers. There are sill a few that I planted later that need to me moved. I as you can see by the photos everything is growing like crazy. The light and stand seems to be working out well. I hope to move the plants outside by Mother's Day. They will have to be hardened before then. The weather here is still to cold for them to send anytime outside. We are having a cold, wet spring here. Last Saturday we had a little sunshine, my grand daughter help me plant a row of onions, and some sunflower seeds.

Onions Sets

We'll be growing a few onions this year. In past years I normally plant about 75 onions which last us through the winter. This year I had my source for potato seed get me a bag of onions sets. Now based on what they have cost in years past I was think a few of hundred which was fine since I was sharing with a couple of other gardeners. They put the bag in the back of the jeep for me. It wasn't until I got home I realized that I had some 3,000 baby onions. Everyone I know will be growing onions.

Garden - Seedlings

Most of the seeds have germinated and the seedlings are looking good. Got them all moved under the light today. I planted a few more seeds until I used up the potting soil. I would rather have to many plants, than not enough.

Cucumbers - planted 4 seeds 3/22 - 4 seedlings 4/3

- planted 2 seeds 4/3
Zucchini - planted 2 seeds 3/22 - 2 seedlings 4/3

-planted 2 seeds 4/3

Yellow squash - 2 seeds 3/22 - 2 seedlings 4/3

Broccoli - planted 20 seeds 3/22 - 20 seedlings 4/3

- planted 12 seeds 4/3

Brussels Sprouts - 10 seeds 3/22 - 10 seedlings 4/3

Tomato's Big Beef - planted 10 seeds 3/22 - 8 seedlings 4/3

Cherry Tomato F-100 Supersweets - planted 8 seeds - 6 seedlings 4/3

Green Bell peppers - planted 10 seeds 3/22 - 0 seedlings 4/3

- planted 4 seeds 4/3

Peppers can take up to 20 days to germinate.

Garden Tractor Disk Harrow - Progress 5

I had a little time this evening to work on the harrow. I got the braces done that will hold the disks angle in place. Just a few things left to do. 1) Replace the wood blocks, 2) Finish welding, The pieces I added today are just tacked in place, 3) Proper nuts, and bolts, 4) Clean up the surfaces, and give it a good coat of enamel paint. We had more snow here this week, most of it melted today. The potato patch, and garden spot in Idaho are still under a couple feet of snow.

Garden - Starting Seeds Indoors

I started some seeds this week. I have tomato big beef and Ssuper sweet 100s. I have never tried to grow tomato's indoors before so, we'll see if I can do it successfully. I mixed the potting soil in a bucket with water and let it set overnight. It should be moist, but not wet. I use plastic or foam cups to get them going. I compact the soil so it's nice a firm and then use a pen to make a hole the desired depth. I use a golf T for tiny seeds like broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts. I also punch a few holes in the bottom of each cup so excess water can drain off. For now I have them on the kitchen table. It's warm by the window and light isn't needed for germination but, warmth is. I also, planted zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, and cucumbers.

Garden Tractor Disk Harrow - Progress 4

More progress on the harrow. I made a couple of changes. The tool bar is now hinged to the tongue so it will pivot. I tried to keep the design as simple as possible. This will allow the disks to be angled upward for hilling (see the last photo). I found a video of a similar setup on a larger tractor. It does a nice job of hilling potato's. Since I have a smaller Garden Tractor I drive between rows rather than over the top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJXs9iODXQg

Changes for the Disks Harrow

I have been incredibly busy. But, have managed to get a little done. Starting planting seeds inside yesterday. I'll try and get more details up tomorrow. I have also been giving the disk harrow a little re-think. I may make some changes. I might have the opportunity to pick up a 60's Allis-Chalmers garden tractor. In doing a little research on the said tractor, I found a picture of the disk harrow made for the early Simplicity, and Allis-Chalmers garden tractors.The design has given me something to think about.

This design uses the same disks gangs as I have. It is built not only to adjust the angle of the disks to the ground. But allows the tool bar to be tilted forward. This would allow the outer disks to ride higher and the inside disks to dig in. A set up like this would be very desirable for hilling potato's when the plants are larger, and making raised beds. I have everything I need to make the change. But, I'll think about it for a couple of days. I hope to have time on Saturday to work on it. AH

Wheel Hoe - Finished

Here's the finished Wheel Hoe. I'll give myself a pat on the back for this one. It looks great. I'm looking forward using it. I think it will save a lot of time. Oh! Look the snow is gone. Temps in the 50's today. :)