Muggy, almost rain, almost dry

Newly planted onion seedlings

 It is muggy today, and the mosquitoes are holding facilitated meetings to determine whether to attack in force or simply swoop in and carry away their victim for later munching.

The ground is a bit too wet to plant the onions.   Maybe will be dry enough this afternoon.

I put some seedlings for sale down by the road.  

We found out that ordering a new starter motor for the tractor, locally, would cost about $600, so George is looking into other options.   If we really get stuck, the local place says they can get a starter motor overnight.   We ordered a new ignition switch.

We want to get the existing starter motor rebuilt, but this is not a good time to pull it off the tractor, since we need the tractor.   George found some less expensive starter motors on line, which say they are for our model tractor, but the pictures look different.   So, we're on hold until the full maintenance manual we ordered comes in...expected June 11.  

In the mean time, we use the time tested method of crossing fingers the tractor will start.   So far, so good.   And...if the rain holds off, I can leave the seedlings out for awhile by the road.   And, if things dry out, I can plant the onions.  And, if it rains, I can grease the baler.   And, if the mosquitoes decide to carry me off, hiding in the garage with the baler would be good.

Note added in evening -- Cleared up nicely.  I got the baler greased (mostly) - George will help find the grease points I missed next rainy day.   Oh, I forgot to grease the kicker on the baler, but I'll get that in the next couple of days.   Planted seven boxes of onion seedlings.   Someone left us an extra $1 when they bought seedlings.  :)   Every bit helps.

Happiness is empty onion seedling boxes

Silence, hay season, and garden beds

Cucumber Seedlings

The University of Maine has already started haying its fields.   I still have to grease our hay baler, and George is going to work on the baler's clutch.    These things have to happen before we even take the baler out of the garage.

We've been waiting to turn over the vegetable plots.   Normally I try to do this around mid-May, then do it again around the end of May, then plant.  The gap between the first and second turning allows the winter rye, which has been turned under, to break down.   The second turning wipes out the sprouting weeds that thought they were about to take over the world.

Vegetable Bed #1

This year, we didn't do the "first" turning, because the ground never got dry enough.   So, yesterday, we went to do our one and only turning.   We use our one and only farm tractor, an old Agco Allis 5650.   This is the same tractor that we depend upon to get in the hay.   That would be during the hay season that has already started.

Vegetable Bed #2

George started up the tractor a few days ago, and moved it out of its winter storage space in the sheep barn.  He came in the house and happily announced that the tractor had "started right up". 

Yesterday, we moved the tractor over to the tiller and hooked it up.   I got up in the seat to start the engine.  Silence.   Not even a sputter or a click.

George determined that the problem was an electrical issue.  He checked the fuses and switches, and we pulled lots of things apart.  We couldn't find the problem, and that left the starter motor as a possible culprit.   This was late afternoon on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.  No way to get parts before Tuesday, and even then, might have to order them.

We both stayed calm, and kept nosing around the tractor.   We didn't get it started, but we were great.

The next morning, George climbed up on the tractor and started it.  Just like that.   George says that the brushes in the starter mower may be wearing out and just a bit of moisture, or maybe a shift in angle, got it started.   He is going to order a new starter motor and ignition switch.

We turned over the main vegetable beds today.   We always seem to be the last ones in the area to get our garden going, but we have big, flat, heavy clay beds that take a long time to dry out in the spring.   Last year I didn't get the garden in until the first week in June, but we still did fine.

Tomorrow if it doesn't rain and there is time...maybe I can start some new vegetable beds!  Go Agco Allis!

Another Vegetable Bed Picture

Seedlings

Broccoli seedlings in the greenhouse

I put up some new grow lights in the basement yesterday; we always seem to run short of space for seedlings.  We've been fiddling with the temperature in the small greenhouse, opening it up to cool during the day, and using the heater for warmth at night.

The broccoli seedlings growing in the basement and greenhouse were planted the same day, but look quite different, with the greenhouse plants looking happier.  It is quite a bit warmer in the greenhouse during the day, and there is more light.  But, the ones in the basement will be fine too, based on experience.

We'll need more seedlings each year, with the gradually expanding vegetable beds.  Also, I expect to have a few of the following seedlings for sale this year:  brocolli, onions, table tomatoes (red and yellow), heirloom tomatoes (a mix), maybe some Amish paste tomatoes, and cucumbers.

We also start various squash from seedlings, to give the squash a better chance against the bugs.  But, squash is easy to start from seed, so we only grow enough seedlings for the garden here.

Some people came by last year looking for seedlings for table tomatoes and cucumbers, so we are growing a few extra of those.   As usual, if they don't sell, we'll try to find room in the garden for them.

Last year, we ended up planting a lot of left-over broccoli seedlings.  But, I just cooked the last package of blanched summer broccoli from the freezer this week so, none of the broccoli went to waste!

And, now I know to plant lots of broccoli this year.   I like to make a big pile of broccoli with melted cheddar cheese on top for lunch in the winter.   I also use broccoli in beef stir fry, with onions from the cellar, although sometimes I substitute blanched and frozen string beans or carrots for the broccoli, for variety.  Yum.    The blanched and frozen vegetables taste better than the frozen vegetables from the store.   Not sure why, but they really do.

Onions seedlings in the greenhouse

April: seedlings and sinking

Last year, I tried using a small greenhouse on the property for some seedlings, but they didn't get enough light and did poorly.  I hadn't thought much more about using the greenhouse since.  Then, I read somewhere that one could add lights.  Not sure why it took me so long to figure this out.

Now we have some lights in the greenhouse, and I'm enjoying trying to figure out how to add more.   The onion seedlings have been moved there, and seem quite happy.  The broccoli seedlings may go out there soon too.

The tomatoes have been started.   The picture above is of some of the seedling flat labels that I've been making on the kitchen table.

On the "uh oh" side of things, our tiller is slowly sinking.   We parked it in a new location last winter, and put it up on blocks as usual.  Unfortunately, the ground has shifted with the frost, and gone soft, so that the tiller is sinking pretty dramatically, and turning over gradually.  I don't want to try to move it yet, given how soft the ground is so...I check it from time to time and worry over it.

Our old truck went in for inspection and needs LOTS of work.   If it isn't one thing, it is another.  Pretty labels though, huh?  Got to like those labels.   Lining them up gives me a sense of control.   :)

Later added note:  George came home toward the end of the day, and I asked him for a second opinion on the tiller.   He said he isn't worried.