The Official Farming Thread...

[jblnut]

Got the rock bucket back together and got back after it today! So far Pops and I have around 400 acres picked since last week Friday. He runs an S185 with a Virnig rock bucket.

 

[jakethesnake]

Garlic Harvest 2023, halfway done and we’re already running out of drying area. This wet weather is sub optimal so we’ll have to move these again and separate em a bit. 2/3 weeks and we’ll be all cured.
View attachment 382515View attachment 382516
It’s almost too ready but I’ve only found a few split bulbs here and there so we’re just in time. We chopped some tops off to cut back on the moisture and help them dry.

@karrl. What do I need to do here. Obviously weed them a bit more but I think they look good just not sure what garlic like??

 

[jakethesnake]

@nbbt What about garlic you grow some too
How do I care for it now. When do I harvest. I remember something about clipping the plant back or something?

 

[jakethesnake]

Those are Italian red garlic. No clue. Found them on Etsy last fall

 

[nbbt]

@nbbt What about garlic you grow some too
How do I care for it now. When do I harvest. I remember something about clipping the plant back or something?

I usually keep a light layer of straw (no seeds heads) around then to help keep the weeds knocked down. Depending on how much compost you have added to the plot, makes a difference on if you might do some early season fertilizing.

I usually add some ( light amounts side dressing) 10-54-10 heavy phosphate (Think Bloom Plus for flowers) fertilizer, as it should help with cloves development. Same fert's that work well for onions seem to do good with garlic for our area.

Harvest could be anytime from mid-July to late August. I usually harvest a few at a time after some of the lower leaves start to brown. Sometimes I'll do a finger dig on one side of the stalk down to the bulb to figure if it has developed satisfactory. Stop digging if you find roots they are always below the bulb.

 

[Wilhelm]

Yay!
My Wild duck is nesting.
I just got bitten and wing slapped getting some more eggs under her.

 

[Bill G]

Anyone run one of these?

 

[hacskaroly]

Obviously weed them a bit more but I think they look good just not sure what garlic like??

How do I care for it now. When do I harvest. I remember something about clipping the plant back or something?

Your garlic is looking good, not much in the way of weeds, I have had worse. Like it was mentioned, straw around them helps out. I think it is a bit early to start pulling them. I think we pulled ours in August/September of last year and had them drying in the car port. As they produce scapes (the curley-qs on top), you can cut those off and use them like green onions for cooking/eating.

 

[jakethesnake]

Anyone run one of these?

View attachment 457729

Nah they weren’t popular here on the east coast. That looks bout like a 9500 machine

 

[jakethesnake]

Thank you fellas for the garlic pointers. I mulched hard with shredded cardboard but I’ve been hoeing around lately (get it??)

 

[Bill G]

Nah they weren’t popular here on the east coast. That looks bout like a 9500 machine

That is just a pic I "stole" from a tractor group. I am not sure where it was taken but I am betting in Canada or at least the northern USA. No one her would every have one due to their limited capabilities. I believe @jblnut would be a good source of info on them.

 

[Bill G]

Thank you fellas for the garlic pointers. I mulched hard with shredded cardboard but I’ve been hoeing around lately (get it??)

A man would not be a man if he did not (or at least think about) doing that from time to time.

Last evening a gentleman phoned about some new Stihl saws I am selling. His area code was from northern Illinois but it turned out he was south of me. He said he was from a town I had probably never heard of, Avon. I chuckled and said, that is funny I, not only have I heard of it I taught Agriculture, Industrial Arts, and Basic Science there 30 years ago. While I was there, there was a cute, fiery red-head single teacher. I often wondered what ever happened with her. When he came up this morning to trade saws I intended on seeing if he knew as he and her would be the same age. He brought his wife and I just could not bring myself to ask him in front of her. I might text him this evening and see.