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JUST COULD BE MOTHER NATURE is trying to make up for the long hard winter she dealt us. If these soaking rains and warm days continue, cattleman should be able to turn the cow herd out to summer pasture a week to two weeks early. Ned Johnson says that judging from the development of his apple blossoms the season is about 15 days farther advanced than normal. Many farmers like Ned view the early spring with mixed emotions. Thankful for early grass but concerned least a late freeze slips in and once again nips the fruit crop.
Vegetable gardens are beginning to spring to life. Green rows of peas and onion tips can be seen easily from the road. A closer look reveals lettuce, radishes, spinach, kale, turnips and beets peeping through. Creasy greens are showing yellow heads and turning tough and bitter, but the tasty tender asparagus tips are coming in. Another sure sign it is time for early gardening is the number of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower plants showing up at the local stores.
If you have had problems in getting a good stand of spinach or beets, try soaking the seed in water for several hours before planting. Also, some folks have problems getting tender seedlings like carrots, lettuce, kale, etc. to break through the hard crust that forms on the soil surface. If this is the case, try covering the seed with about a quarter of an inch of sand. Then walk down the row with one foot in front of the other until the sand and seed are pressed down firm. Believe you will be surprised at the good results.
MUSK, CURLED AND BULL THISTLES are growing actively. The leaves on the rossettes are raising up above the bluegrass and the center bud that forms the main stalk is breaking through. If you are planning on spraying your pastures for thistles, they should be sprayed within the next five to seven days. Most people don’t notice the thistles until its too‘late for effective control.
Hope to see you Saturday at the Old Dominion Point-to-point Races at Ben Venue.□
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