Been having some trouble with the plots and, ya know, desert like conditions this summer. Planted in late July right before a storm and pretty much didn't see any rain until last week! But the seeds seemed to have survived and are finally starting to show signs or progress.
Turned over this .75 acre clover plot and put down daikon radish and hybrid brassicas. Left about 1/5 of it with standing clover for critters to munch one whilst brassicas grow. Working pretty well too. A few more weeds than I would like to see but I didn't spray GLY this year as the clover had basically choked out all the weeds before planting. Not a big deal though. And a good bit of clover reseeded itself which is fine by me as I plan to frost seed it in Feb. anyhow.
This is our second plot which is about 1 acre now. It was half the size last year and what was planted did not grow as I had no clue what I was doing and didn't do much soil prep. This year it is looking much better with the old 1/2 planted in radish, dwarf essex rape, and buckwheat. The new 1/2 I opened up this year is all buckwheat and with no soil amendments or spray, simply brush hogging and tilling, I have a killer stand of BW coming up that the turkeys are loving. Plan on overseeding this 1/2 of plot with winter rye and clover in Sept. and mowing down BW, and the other 1/2 that has radish and rape I will overseed as well but won't mow. WR seems to grow on concrete so I'm not too worried about putting down thatch over top.
Deer and turkeys have been hammering both plots regularly. Can't wait for Sept 24!
Turned over this .75 acre clover plot and put down daikon radish and hybrid brassicas. Left about 1/5 of it with standing clover for critters to munch one whilst brassicas grow. Working pretty well too. A few more weeds than I would like to see but I didn't spray GLY this year as the clover had basically choked out all the weeds before planting. Not a big deal though. And a good bit of clover reseeded itself which is fine by me as I plan to frost seed it in Feb. anyhow.
This is our second plot which is about 1 acre now. It was half the size last year and what was planted did not grow as I had no clue what I was doing and didn't do much soil prep. This year it is looking much better with the old 1/2 planted in radish, dwarf essex rape, and buckwheat. The new 1/2 I opened up this year is all buckwheat and with no soil amendments or spray, simply brush hogging and tilling, I have a killer stand of BW coming up that the turkeys are loving. Plan on overseeding this 1/2 of plot with winter rye and clover in Sept. and mowing down BW, and the other 1/2 that has radish and rape I will overseed as well but won't mow. WR seems to grow on concrete so I'm not too worried about putting down thatch over top.
Deer and turkeys have been hammering both plots regularly. Can't wait for Sept 24!
