We have to weigh the squash so we know how much we harvested in this plot, and also so comparisons can be made with other harvests, be it past or future or other areas. This lets us know if we need to do something different, for example use more compost or maybe it's just not the right soil type for growing the crop. This is done for all the crops to see what does best where and with what amendments to the soil, such as compost.
We ended up with two pickup trucks full!
While we were harvesting the squash and pumpkins Mike and Masa were checking the wire worm traps that were in the corn plot. Wire worms are tough little larvae of the click beetle that like to eat the roots of grasses which corn belongs to, and they also like to burrow into potatoes. They are a real agricultural problem as there are no real good solutions to getting rid of them especially in certified organic farming.
Here Masa is digging up one of the traps,
and Masa with the trap. The trap is just a plant pot with soil and wheat seeds in it to attract the wire worms.
Breaking apart the soil looking for wire worms,
and finding them. Meanwhile,
Leanne and Mike are pulling the last of the pole beans and netting out of the field to let the plants dry out so it will be easier to get the plants and netting separated.
Masa is not the only one who found pests in the vegetable beds. Leanne found a young vole. They dig holes down into the soil and make their homes in among the crops and also at the base of fruit trees. Voles are a big pest problem here at the Orchard as they like to eat the vegetables and roots including the fruit trees' roots.
Back at the campus, we unloaded the pumpkins in the underground lockup.
These are Galeux d'Eysines pumpkins, they are a French heirloom variety that are salmon in colour with growths that look like warts. They are supposed to be good for making pies, and not sure if this is true, but the more warts the sweeter the pumpkin.
No comments:
Post a Comment