I did not realize it had been so long since the last post. Since that last post we have subzero temperatures, alot of rain and warm temperatures. Lately I just finished pruning one raspberry field. I have also been evaluating the affect of the cold snap around Thanksgiving on our plants. Well, as they say, there is good news and bad news. First, the good news, Our main raspberry patch came throught the cold weather with flying colors and no sign of winter damage. I believe that the blueberries will be all right. The new blackberry plants and the blueberry plants in the nursery this fall are doing well and seemed to handle the cold well. We did cover them with a tarp before the cold weather got here. The fall-bearing raspberries are doing well, the cold does not bother them because we mow off the canes from last year and they produce berries on the new growth this year.
Now for the bad news. We will very few peaches this season. The cold weather killed most of the fruit buds as well as damaging some limbs. We will have to wait until spring to know how bad the trees themselves were hurt. This also happened to the plums and pluots. However they are hardier and they may produce a partial crop. The black berry flower buds were also damaged. Some blackberries can produce fruit from secondary buds on the branches if the primary buds are killed. I don't know if our variety will but that will make this year a learning experience. With our new raspberry planting the mice got in under the snow and girdled all the canes so we had to cut them off and so we will not pick a crop on the new planting this year.
One more bit of good news, a winter like this lets us know which varieties are not hardy enough for our winters. This will leads us to try alternatives to some of the less hardy varieties.
Winter work is right about on schedule. Starting next month we will be getting the first of the nursery stock we will be planting this year. Planting is always an exciting time. To be a part of the wonder of new life springing from the ground is one of the major reasons I love to farm. I will leave all of you who grow plants with this thought.
I farm the soil which yields my food.
I share creation.
Kings can do no more.
Chinese Proverb
Now for the bad news. We will very few peaches this season. The cold weather killed most of the fruit buds as well as damaging some limbs. We will have to wait until spring to know how bad the trees themselves were hurt. This also happened to the plums and pluots. However they are hardier and they may produce a partial crop. The black berry flower buds were also damaged. Some blackberries can produce fruit from secondary buds on the branches if the primary buds are killed. I don't know if our variety will but that will make this year a learning experience. With our new raspberry planting the mice got in under the snow and girdled all the canes so we had to cut them off and so we will not pick a crop on the new planting this year.
One more bit of good news, a winter like this lets us know which varieties are not hardy enough for our winters. This will leads us to try alternatives to some of the less hardy varieties.
Winter work is right about on schedule. Starting next month we will be getting the first of the nursery stock we will be planting this year. Planting is always an exciting time. To be a part of the wonder of new life springing from the ground is one of the major reasons I love to farm. I will leave all of you who grow plants with this thought.
I farm the soil which yields my food.
I share creation.
Kings can do no more.
Chinese Proverb
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