Patience, Patience, Patience

by | Apr 5, 2013 | Market News

The first day of baseball is here yet the snow is still piled high at the end of my driveway.  When are you going to get into the field?  That is a familiar question that seems to be asked quite a bit.  My response is always “when the soil is ready”. Last year we were two weeks ahead of normal planting time. This year we will most likely be two weeks behind, no worries, we learn to adjust and make it work.  Patience, we must exhibit patience and stay out of the field or garden until things are dry enough so we do not pack down the soil.  What we could use is a nice two inch rain to draw the frost out of the ground and improve our sub-soil moisture to ensure great seed emergence when we do get in to plant. 

One of the most common mistakes that occur in the spring is pulling the trigger too early and causing compaction that inhibits the root structure of the plant to drive deep into the soil.  Did you know that in a corn plant the roots can reach as deep as five feet beneath the soil?  If soil compaction occurs at the time of planting the root structure tends to go more horizontal instead of vertical, thus the plants mineral uptake is limited to the top 6-12 inches of the soil.  Why does this matter?  The development of the plant becomes unstable in many respects.  Most of the potassium and phosphorous uptake occurs from secondary roots thus creating a stronger plant that can ward off wind (which creates lodging).  Brace roots (roots at the base of the plant) are much stronger and better developed which helps alleviate lodging.  These all play the role of a better more uniform product when it comes time to harvest the corn. 

Remember, it is the little things that add up.  You do enough small things right and the reward of having a nice, marketable crop comes tenfold.  Have patience my friend, it is a virtue.

News

Related posts

Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

We are now accepting applications for the 2023 season! We’re looking for a variety of talented employees that are highly motivated, have good people skills, are willing to learn and contribute to the overall success of Pahl’s.

read more
Sustainable Vs. Organic

Sustainable Vs. Organic

There have been a lot of questions on whether or not our produce grown at Pahl Farms is grown organically. We are always more than happy to answer any questions you have about our practices. Our goal is to provide the safest and highest quality of produce possible for our customers.

read more

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

783,618 Spambots Blocked by Simple Comments

Pahl's Loyaty Program
Become a Member Now!

 

Earn Dollar Rewards with Every Purchase, Learn About Upcoming Events and Sales, Member-Only Discounts .

 

Learn More

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop