Kinda New Guy Introduction...

scott2013

Member
I’m Scott and I’ve been lurking around this site for a few months so I just wanted to introduce myself and show what I’ve been doing for the past few years. For some strange reason I decided I wanted to try my hand at gardening. I have 10 acres that was planted pines when I bought this place 7 years ago. I started year 1 by having the trees removed and the stumps dug out in the front ½ of the property. Over the next few years I did the same to the back ½. I’ve planted blueberries & blackberries in the front along with a few raised beds. In 2012 I had about 2 acres cleared and ready in the back so I planted tomatoes and bell peppers to see how things would grow. Well, the deer cleaned me out within the week so it was all stop for planting anything. I spent the rest of the year, and the 1st of 2013, clearing the remainder of the property and ended up with about 3.5 acres of cultivated land. From March of 2013 till March of this year I put an 8’ fence around the entire property to keep the deer out (it works well). I planted about an acre this spring; tomatoes, peas, butterbeans, okra, bell peppers, squash & green beans. Everything grew well except the tomatoes and the green beans. I sent another soil sample off (extension agent this time) and the ph was way low as was calcium. I turned the soil yesterday and today to prep for next spring (advice on here states that a poor job in the fall is better than a great job in the spring). I have a local guy coming out this week to put out lime according to the sample results. I also have a tunnel that I just completed 2 weeks ago and I’m going to put in some type of winter crop next week when I have some time. I do have 2 old tractors, a Ford 941 and an IH 140 (I have a 50 somethin’ year old buttocks that has a tendency to drag sometimes). I’ve got a lot to learn about farming/gardening and hopefully I’ll have something to share as I go.
Thanks for reading this long post,
Scott
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Your place is looking good. All crop land benefits from building organic matter in the soil and grass is the best builder there is, especially a grass that makes a dense root system such as rye grass. I would recommend planting a cover crop of rye grass and crimson clover when you put down your lime and follow with fertilizer to test when it is about 6 inches high. Rye grass is a 'mirrior' grass, meaning the roots get as long as the grass is high so if you let it grow and go to seed before plowing it in next spring you will get the maximum benefit. A few years of continuous cover crops and plowing your garden residue under will mellow out that red clay.
 
Looks like you are well on your way to having a good thing going. Its kinda hard to tell just from the pictures, but it does look to me like the soil could use a little building up. Composting, and following up with what your soil tests are telling you. Might be why certain things are not doing well. Spreading manure on it, if you have access to getting any, and working it in would probly do wonders.
 
Welcome aboard, LAA hit the nail on the head, where is your location? If you have time I would put some winter peas in with the cover crop mix as suggested.
 
Thanks for the feedback! I've been bringing in horse manure from a local stable and cutting it in. When I stopped by the stable to ask about the manure the owner was happy to give me all I wanted. He has a pile he started in the mid 90's where he was filling a drop off behind his barn. I bought a dump truck to haul it and move as much as I can when I can. I was planning on planting rye this winter. I'm located in Madison, Ga which is about 1 hour east of Atlanta. Here are a few pictures of the same area from last fall thru last spring.

Scott
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I have a nephew in Madison and have been through the area, but not recently. It looks like you got some of the better soil in the area and your plans for improving it sound good. The horse manure like you are getting is good for building up the soil,but horse manure is not very high in nitrogen. Put in on thick and it will help you. The last few years have been fairly wet, but be aware that the area, including SC where I live, sometimes has long dry spells.

KEH
 
Does anyone plant the giant radish in Ga. I have seen results here in central Illinois. Google giant radish.
 
I know the horse stuff doesn't have much in the way of nitrogen but it helps break up the clay. I've got to go by the chicken farm and see about some chicken stuff as well. The dairy farms use their stuff on the corn and sorghum for feed. I have a drilled deep well for drip irrigation that will take care of most everything except sweet corn. It can get so hot & dry around here for an extended periods that even the bermuda grass gives up. I looked up the giant radish but this year I'll stick to rye grass. Next year I might use turnips so I can eat a few and turn them under for green manure.

Thanks for the replys!

Scott
 
Be carefull with the poultry stuff. It is really hot and you can over do it. Probly won't have any problems the first time if your soils are low on nitragen to begin with, but if you keep putting it on over time, you could end up burning things up.
 

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