[AT] OTnow vegetable farming

[Herbert Metz]

The Candy onions are great; I bought at least 150# over the past five or
six years.   They are a very mild onion, and last much longer than any
other sweet onion (still have a few left of the 40# bought at Portland last
August), we lost one or two of the 40#.
Herb

> [Original Message]
> From: H. L. Staples <hlstaples at mcloudteleco.com>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Date: 3/1/2008 10:03:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] OT good kids singing/ now bs
>
>  
>  
> >
> > We have Tomato, Eggplant, Okra and Pepper seeds planted in the
> > greenhouse.  Since we are not going to raise Potatoes, Onions and
Cabbage
> > this year the first thing we will plant in the field will be Sweet Corn,
> > later this month.  The ground isn't frozen but sure is muddy
> >
> >
> > Wish we had the Fair Tax.
>  
> ============================================
>  
> Yep
>  
> ============================================
>  
>  
>   Was the decision to not grow potatoes, onions and cabbage a way to
reduce
> Labor requirements? The onions you brought to Portland were extremely
> Attractive.
>   We don't dare plant sweet corn in the open until about the last week of
> April. Even then once in a while Jack Frost visits... Do you have to use
> Row covers?
> ======================================================================
>  
>  You are correct the decision to drop some of the crop items were labor
> related.  We are also dropping watermelons and cantaloupe, 
>  
> A friend is into onion growing and utilizing some of his peanut equipment
> and dryers to mechanize his operation. The plan is to buy Candy onions
from
> him.  Candy onions have been a starring item for us for several years. 
>  
> In addition to the items mentioned earlier Cucumbers both pickling and
> regular slicers and some varieties of summer squash will be seeded later
for
> transplanting. 
>  
> Last year we had our early planted corn wiped out by freezing weather.  We
> don't use row covers, probably should. Seldom do we have freeze damage on
> the corn planted in mid March to early April.  We are looking at
> transplanting some corn.  It is being done profitably in some areas,
> according to one of our grower magazines that was reporting research.  
>  
> We use wabble head sprinklers for frost protection on the strawberries. 
> Also we leave the old ferns on the Asparagus until the last minute keep
the
> ground from warming up when we have a few warm days in early March.
>  
> The Older and fatter I get the harder this farming becomes. All probably
> more than anyone wanted to know.
>  
>  
> H. L. Staples
> McLoud, Oklahoma
> USA
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