Plowing

[Goraidh (Jeff)]

Well, Jesse and I got garden #3 plowed today. Only the second time I've used the moldboard plow--I was a bit horrified with the results of the first time so didn't take a photo. But I did this time as I think we did fairly well. Thought I'd share with you guys. Jeff

[Scrivet]

Looks good from here.

I would of thought that the sickle mower drive shaft would have been in the way of flipping the drawbar around. You do take the plow off when you mow don't you?

[Eugene]

Looks good.

Was the soil wet/damp or a lot of clay? The slabs in the center.

[Goraidh (Jeff)]

Scrivet, I only keep the plow on when plowing, and no, the C22 driveshaft isn't affected at all by the reversed drawbar. I bought a bracket from TM that holds the C22 up and out of the way so that I can use the plow without having to remove the mower.

Eugene, the first time I plowed that plot it was all sod, so I plowed it shallow. This time I went deeper but was still plowing knotted up sod roots. I'll have to do it again, I suppose, then drag the disc harrow over it a few times. Luckly the corn and beans that are going in there have been started inside.

Thanks for your comments,
Jeff

[Eugene]

I would just disk harrow, then harrow and then plant. I wouldn't plow again until this fall.

Looking good for sod.

[Goraidh (Jeff)]

Eugene, What kind of harrow would would you run after the disc? Since I've only the disc I'd have to hunt around for a lender. Thanks, Jeff

[Matt Kirsch]

Dunno about Eugene, but I ended up having to pull my 6' drag (aka spring-toothed harrow) over my corn patch a few times to get it smoothed out.

An old box spring would work, or a steel gate panel. Doesn't have to be an actual harrow.

Don't feel bad about your plow job. My plow job was way worse. I was plowing sod way too deep.

[Eugene]

Let the sod dry out first. Disk harrow up and down the furrows first. Then across the furrows. This should level out the soil pretty good and break up most clods.

Agree with Matt. Something to level it out and break up the clods. Doesn't have to be an expensive piece of equipment. Section of chain link fence would work.

Peg toothed harrows can be obtained in the Midwest for very little money. Look around your local to see what farmers were using 50 years ago.

[Goraidh (Jeff)]

Thanks, Matt Eugene. Plowing and bed preparation is new to me, so all of your help is greatly appreciated. After these next couple days if rain I'll get out the disc harrow and I've some old chainlink fencing I'll use as a drag. Thanks again. Jeff

[Eugene]

University extension office and the Federal Gov ag offices in your county. You should visit these offices to see what type of information and help is available.

Most of the states have their extension offices on line - tons and tons of information there on all sorts of garden and farm related topics.

[Bill Hudson]

University extension office and the Federal Gov ag offices in your county. You should visit these offices to see what type of information and help is available.

Most of the states have their extension offices on line - tons and tons of information there on all sorts of garden and farm related topics.

Here is the contact information for your local Extension office:
Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties Office
24 Main St. Lisbon Falls, ME 04252-1505
Phone: (207) 353-5550 or
800-287-1458 (in Maine)
FAX: 1-866-500-9088
E-mail: andsag@umext.maine.edu

Office hours: weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bill

[Goraidh (Jeff)]

Thanks a lot, Bill. The extension is a wealth of information, as I've contacted them for soil samples and crop and pest questions but never land=working questions. I do appreciate this wonderful Cub community. Jeff