I've been hanging out on the Ford boards for a while, and after reading a little decided I would post over here for some advice. I've been growing a small garden for a few years, with the last two focusing mainly on sweet corn. I have about 1.5ac that is cleared to work but have only been using a small corner of it. I have a good running Ford 8N and hopefully by spring an 850 that should also make a good worker. Plow, disc, one row cultivator, brush hog. This year my peaches and cream got off to a slow start but did ok in the end. After I mowed down the stalks and turned them under I disked the ground up for a few months and then planted Marshal Rye. I also tried plowing for the first time this year and lets just say that I haven't quite mastered it yet. I did however manage to turn under a little sod that I hope to plant this spring and approx. triple my planting space. I've been thinking I would like to try some field corn along with my sweet corn. I know I will need to plant at different times to avoid cross pollinating. I would like to be able to feed the chickens and my wife has been wanting a pig for several years now. I was thinking corn next year and pig the year following. Also I watched some youtube vids about making your own cornmeal.
Is there a variety of field corn that is suited for meal and feed? I've grown corn in the same spot for several years. Should I plant something different there this spring? I know ppl plant soy in rotation with corn but I honestly don't know what I would do with it. If I were to plant soy just to enrich the soil can I plow the seed under without too much volunteer action the following year? I don't mind using chem fertilizer, but I would like to do what I can to improve the soil. Possibly some other legume? I've also been wanting to plant some potatoes. Don't know how to work all that in.
I mostly do all of this as just a hobby. If I can turn around and give away some corn or maybe sell and ear or two then that's great, but I know what I'm doing is not terribly efficient. I'm probably gonna see about getting one of those push planters before spring if anyone has any input on that. Also keep in mind that I did not grow up with a family garden. No one taught me anything about keeping up a tractor or how or when to plant ect. There may be really basic points that I'm missing that I have just got away without knowing.
Is there a variety of field corn that is suited for meal and feed? I've grown corn in the same spot for several years. Should I plant something different there this spring? I know ppl plant soy in rotation with corn but I honestly don't know what I would do with it. If I were to plant soy just to enrich the soil can I plow the seed under without too much volunteer action the following year? I don't mind using chem fertilizer, but I would like to do what I can to improve the soil. Possibly some other legume? I've also been wanting to plant some potatoes. Don't know how to work all that in.
I mostly do all of this as just a hobby. If I can turn around and give away some corn or maybe sell and ear or two then that's great, but I know what I'm doing is not terribly efficient. I'm probably gonna see about getting one of those push planters before spring if anyone has any input on that. Also keep in mind that I did not grow up with a family garden. No one taught me anything about keeping up a tractor or how or when to plant ect. There may be really basic points that I'm missing that I have just got away without knowing.