Tenured Student
Active Member
Native Hunter, I am glad to see you made the move over- looking forward to your updates!
Working at the Farm - Took a few I-Phone Pics
- Thread starter Native Hunter
- Start date
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone.
I don't have a big update. I have one more job for the year - fall plots. Don't really have much of that to do - just touch up one existing plot and put out a couple of small kill plots. I've already sprayed for those and will watch the weather for a time near September 1 that would look favorable.
I did want to show dogdoc how his grafts had grown. But bad news - the recent storm (or something) broke off the best ones I had. Actually I have one surviving graft now from the ones I attempted this spring. The pic of it is shown below. Next spring I will try again. The good news is that most of my apple grafts look excellent.
This is persimmon on one of the Wal Mart persimmons I set this spring. This variety is Morris Burton. The fruit is going to be massive. I also have lots of native persimmons this year - about half the size of MB.
This is how my clover and chicory plot has rebounded after being mowed 2 -3 weeks ago. But, I mowed it very high - probably 10 - 12 inches.
Got some good fruit ripening right now.
That's about it. I've got all my seed ready for planting except my grains. None of the stores here had anything except for some overpriced oats. I'm probably going heavier on wheat this year since my deer seem to love the mature heads.
Since I don't have much going on right now, I probably won't update again until planting time. Thanks everyone - hope you enjoy.
I don't have a big update. I have one more job for the year - fall plots. Don't really have much of that to do - just touch up one existing plot and put out a couple of small kill plots. I've already sprayed for those and will watch the weather for a time near September 1 that would look favorable.
I did want to show dogdoc how his grafts had grown. But bad news - the recent storm (or something) broke off the best ones I had. Actually I have one surviving graft now from the ones I attempted this spring. The pic of it is shown below. Next spring I will try again. The good news is that most of my apple grafts look excellent.
This is persimmon on one of the Wal Mart persimmons I set this spring. This variety is Morris Burton. The fruit is going to be massive. I also have lots of native persimmons this year - about half the size of MB.
This is how my clover and chicory plot has rebounded after being mowed 2 -3 weeks ago. But, I mowed it very high - probably 10 - 12 inches.
Got some good fruit ripening right now.
That's about it. I've got all my seed ready for planting except my grains. None of the stores here had anything except for some overpriced oats. I'm probably going heavier on wheat this year since my deer seem to love the mature heads.
Since I don't have much going on right now, I probably won't update again until planting time. Thanks everyone - hope you enjoy.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Todd, we have been good on rain for a while. It did get dry and hot at one point for about a 3 week period. I watered young trees set this spring during that time.
My best persimmon graft looked like it had literally been jerked out. The weeds were thick at the bottom of the tree and I didn't look to see it if was laying there. Another one that was doing great had been broken off. We have had some extreme storms, so that may have been the problem there.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thank you Brush.
Morris Burton originated in Indiana, so it should be no problem for your area or my area.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Yes, the bamboo sounds like a good idea. I can hardly wait to get started grafting again.
I also had some deer to stand up on their hind legs and clip some of my apple grafts, but most of them have survived.
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Apples are making me hungry. Mine are loaded but still 3 weeks out to ripen I think. I'm guessing you mowed the clover high to protect the chicory? Wasn't it you that did a thread on the other unnamed forum about different plants each week? I'm just saying….. sure was a good thread.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
That's right dogghr on the mowing high. My goal was to spread the mature red clover seed, stimulate some new growth in the red clover, but not hurt the chicory by mowing too low. Luckily I got some good rain, and it looks like the plan has worked pretty well. I think this plot can last a few more years, and I don't think it will need anything more this year.
I have another area of an older plot that needs some work. I sprayed in it today. I'm going to try and salvage the good areas of that plot and only replant where some smartweed had started getting strong.
Yes, I did have that thread with the different plants. I was posting a different one every week. But then went into an extremely busy time with my job and had to let it go. Maybe I can start it again someday. I still have all the pictures, and had plenty more plants that I had never got to.
Tenured Student
Active Member
NH- How are your strawberry bushes doing?
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
They are doing well. I think it must be built into the DNA of strawberry bush to take a lot of browsing and still survive. Of course, in some areas with extremely high deer numbers, I understand that it can essentially be wiped out.
Our deer numbers are not that high, but you will seldom see a SB that hasn't been browsed quite a bit. I mentioned on the old forum that there is one near my gate to the farm that came up volunteer a few years ago. I notice that bush every time I open the gate. I've had a camera at that location before and had many pictures of deer late at night walking down the chip and seal road to take a bite out of it.
There are also some that grow at the edge of my yard at home. Deer must come in the yard at night and browse those too, because it is very evident. They are definitely great browse plants and grow well in this area.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thanks Flyfixer. It seems like this has been a great fruit year for sure. I've good good crops at the farm and at home as well.
Yesterday, I overdid it a little. I ate 4 of these Priscilla Apples.
I've been feeling it a little today.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thanks TRF.
In the fall and winter it does seem to be the preferred bedding. In the summer time, I notice the deer coming out of my trees in the evenings. So during the summer it is used mostly for travel cover and browsing the forbs, but in fall and winter when the leaves come off, it quickly changes.
Last week I saw something pretty cool. I was driving up to my gate and caught a big doe crossing my neighbor's open field. I stopped the truck and for a second she just froze. She had a choice of turning around and going back toward the neighbors woods or going ahead to my switchgrass field. I wondered what she would do.
Suddenly she took off like a racehorse and headed for the switchgrass. When she got to it, instead of running straight into the grass, she leaped high like clearing a hurdle and when she came down, just disappeared for good.
I've seen that same thing happen a few times over the last three years. When they want to get hid fast, it seems they head for the tall grass. Makes sense to me, because it hides them quickly and there is less of a chance of getting an eye poked out by a limb.
The tall grass is also a preferred spot for the does during the chase phase of the rut. I've seen some great chases over the last few years.
TexOk
Active Member
Love all the fruit you've got going, hope my orchards look that good some day! I picked up a couple of the Walmart/Chestnut Hill Morris Burton persimmons earlier this year, in the seven gallon size. I was surprised that each of them put out at least a dozen persimmons this same year, and as you noted they are quite large too!
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
That's cook Tex. I didn't even see any in the seven gallon size. My guess is that you will get a lot of fruit quickly with those.
There were two reasons I wanted the Morris Burton. First, it is much earlier dropping than any other persimmons I have, and second, I had heard that it was one of the best eating persimmons. I've never been crazy about persimmons, but do like to eat a few.
