TOPIC: The beginning of the Late Winter-Early Spring work

Hey Guys...

I would (think)... can't speak from experience on this yet... but I would think that the first 2-3 years would be when you would suffer the highest mortality rates, and then after that what is left, the mortality rates sould go way down after that.

I mean once it gets established, and grows some, and gets up into that decent sized 2 prong, or small 3 prong stage - you would think it would not be so fragile, would have gained some strength, stamina, disease resistance, etc...

Last Spring was only my second spring to see my plantings come up and I could see a reduction in numbers between first and second spring, but I still had really good stands in my beds. Anyway... soon I will get to see them for the 3rd spring and while I do expect a bit more thinning, I am sure hoping that after this year, the thinning rates will go on down some.

PS.. I am making a trip over to a neighboring county's Farmers Co-Op this morning to pick up 800 lbs of Gypsum. They went up on the price a bit on me.
In the two previous years it was 6.15 per 40lb bag... this year 6.50 per 40 lb bag.... But still I think that is a decent price.

Latt --- you mentioned not doing anything to yours & growing Wild Simulated... and the only thing that I do to mine other than plant the seeds, is put on a little Gypsum each spring. I don't do any spraying or anything else and I am only putting Gypsum on part of my plantings. The hollow that I planted where I am supplementing with Gypsum my Ca tested out at a bit below 1500 PPA so I am trying to give them a little help.

So far it seems to be working Ok.

I have a lot more planted on down that same hollow that is in much better location, there is wild growing there, and lots of maidenhair fern, and I don't put any gypsum on that part and they are doing just fine without it.

I have been putting a little Gypsum on my garden beds the past couple of springs and man it sure makes a nice difference in working up the soil. Instead of digging like (the mostly clay soil that it is)... it digs and turns more like sandy loam. And the boost on Ca has sure eliminated blossom end rot on my tomatoes, and made my garden seem to do a bit better over all.

Hope you all have a Great Day.

It's is looking like a real bueaty coming up here.

TNhunter

Fellows,
Thanks for the information.
I was able to get the Gypsum down today and we should get rain sometime during the night. Hopefully,I got that one at just the right time. I'll watch the weather for the next 8-10 days and try to get the fertilizer on just before it rains like I did the Gypsum. I just don't want the nitrogen to start the plants too early and get damaged by a late frost or freeze. I'd like to get that berry count over one thousand this coming season. Rootman, I hope you have a good berry set this season as well.
Hugh

Hey Guys...

I picked up a load of 800 lbs of Gypsum (20 - 40 lb bags) on Saturday...

I had some time on Saturday and on Monday (a paid holiday for me)... and got about 70% of my wild simulated beds a good application of Gypsum. I also put Gypsum on my garden beds, compost pile, and my ginseng seed producing bed.

It came a good rain Monday evening and night and washed that all in good.

It was good to get out and visit all of those wild sim plantings again and walk those hills, sweat a little, get out of breath a little....

I should be able to get the rest done this coming Saturday.

Starting to see those early sign of spring down here... buds swelling, dandelions and daffodils blooming.

In another 30 days I should have some 3 leafers up.

TNhunter

Tn,
I'm sure looking forward to spring also as I know everyone is. Your sunrise photos are beautiful and knowing the daylight hours are getting longer.
800 lbs. of gypsum will take awhile hand broadcasting but knowing the benefits helps ease the work, doesn't it? I planted 150 more roots in my seed producing, caged in area last year. I think that totals around 300 seed producing plants in it. I've got the ground loose as a goose with gypsum and good drainage. Can't hardly wait to see them coming up.
Tn, I hope everyone's hard work and patients pays off.
Best of luck.

rootman

rootman...

You are right about the days getting longer. When I first posted on the sunrise time it was 6:45... and now it is right around 6:30. Rising earlier and setting later... encouraging everything to wake up slowly.

It does take a while to put down that much gypsum, but it is not hard work at all compared to planting. I can cover a 250 sf bed in just a couple minutes.

Now when Cole is helping me, my 11 year old.. (he did a couple hours last Saturday)... it takes much longer but is worth the wait just to get him involved. I keep telling him that he needs to know where all this seng is just in case I leave this world.. he will be able to harvest it.

I learned one thing quick, don't let a 11 year old carry a bucket of gypsum in the woods.

They need to tote a bag instead (much harder to spill that way).



TNhunter

TN,
It's funny you said that. I don't need to let myself carry anything in a bucket either,lol!. The other day I was spilling stuff all over these hills! There will be a couple spots on those slopes that are REALLY potent.

Hillhopper

Aluminium sulfate, iron sulfate , peat moss mulch and any extra organic mulch will also help lower your pH. Aluminium would more than likely kill your trichoderma blend but the peat would be your best bet, it can have a pH as low as 4 plus the organic content increase.

guy