AI BENEFITS FOR CATTLE.

RED ANGUS BULL



Just a quick answer to a quick question asked today. What are the advantages of AI

You can choose bulls from all over the world that will give you what you want in your herd.

Better protection against inherited defects brought on by in-breeding.

No need to keep a dangerous bull in your herd.

The ability to cross-breed your cattle.

More uniform calf crops.

Go well.

DIY FRUIT FARMING.

FRESH FRUIT

Had a visit in our little shop from a city farmer. He has bought a small farm (40 hectares) and has the money to develop it.

He has appointed a manager to develop the farm.

Here is the sadness. I asked him (knowing the piece of land he has bought) when do you start ripping?
Ripping he asks? We will just level the fields, mark out the orchards, dig holes, and plant.

Disaster!!!

Soil preparation is vital. It is not an optional extra. The best plant material, high quality water and the correct and best fertilizer will all come to nothing if you do not do proper soil preparation.

Good soil drainage is also essential for growing healthy, productive trees.

Every farmer owns a small fortune. He however started with a big fortune. What will completely erode your fortune is poor farming practises. Do not take short cuts.

My advice today, to our visitor, was do your homework.

TUNNELS TWO CROPS IN 12 MONTHS?

A local fruit farmer grows tomatoes under shade net once a year to fill up some dead time. He does well.

This morning the phone rang.

Foreigner, (a term used for folk not born and bread in our valley) I read your blog last night.

You say two crops in 13 months?........ He believes, "He who speaks first loses" thus the long silent pause.

I paused him back and low and behold he spoke first. Mind you if a short gruff  "two?" is speaking first then he spoke.

I put him out of his misery.

Planning, planning, planning. 

Let us use 3 tunnels.  One in full production, one coming into production, and one going out of production.

Growing your crop in pine wood shavings your crop will take about 6 months from seedling to final pick.

Then you need to strip and disinfect the tunnel.

Plant again and you are on your way.

"YOU SAID PLANNING"

Yes. You need to turn the tunnel around in two days.

This means, growing new seedlings in advance. About 4 weeks in summer and 6 weeks in winter.

Your new bags must be filled and disinfected in advance.

When the tunnel is ready, the bags need to be placed and all drips checked and connected.

Stripping, cleaning and disinfecting day 1. Preparing, placing, connecting day 2. Early the morning of day 3 you plant. It should not take you longer than an hour.

" THAT IS ONLY 12 MONTHS FOR TWO CROPS, YOU SAID 13 MONTHS ON YOUR BLOG"

Boet, you are a farmer. Leave some time for the ups and downs of the weather.

"Yes  thanks.  Better pop around today and collect some peaches". 

Thanks.

Enjoy the day.

WHICH TOMATOE MUST I PLANT?

My goodly neighbour, Justgivemethefacts has been back.

I have bought a tunnel. It does not fit into my garden. It is 10m wide, that's OK. It is to long and I will have to shorten it to 18m.

Do you need help? No. Just tell me what's the diffirance between determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes. 

A simple explanation neighbour? True to his nickname, Justgivemethefacts,  answered, yes.  

  Determinate tomatoes bear their crop all at once, while indeterminate tomatoes bear fruit over the course of a season. Indeterminate varieties grow longer vines.


Thanks.
Waite neighbour.
Justgivemethefacts paused with that, what now look on his face.

Done properly, indeterminate tomatoes will allow you to grow two full crops over a 13 month period and you could harvest 10 kg per plant. 

I could see the calculator working overtime in his brain. 

In your downsized tunnel that's about 400 plants twice in 13 months times 10kg per plant.

That's  400x2x10?

It was getting late and my dinner was waiting.

Yes.

I turned to go. What brand of seed must I use? Tomorrow  neighbour, tomorrow.

WHY HYDROPONICS.

My goodley retired neighbour was waiting for me when I arrived home today. I could see he was vexed with a question.

Why hydroponics? He is a man for few words. My nickname for him is, Justgivemethefacts.
These are the facts I gave him.

No soil is required.
Plants are irrigated automatically.
No water stress.
Nutrients are available at all times
Only soluble fertilizers are used.
Hydroponic fertilizer formulations contain a balanced nutrient content.
Soil borne diseases can be eliminated.
Higher yields.

DIY MUSING.

 The most important piece of equipment in any toolbox?

Safety goggles/glasses

 Find out if your toilet is leaking? 

 Add a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the water has turned red, water is seeping through from the tank, and you may need to check and change some cistern  parts .

Stripped a screw.

Take a drill and drill a small hole in the center of the stripped screw.

Take the end of a file that normally fits into a wood handle ( its square) and lightly tap it into the hole you drilled. Once it "bites" you might get lucky and it will back right out.

GERMINATING SEEDS FAST. Part 4

For the home gardener just about the same results can be achieved.

Take your left over plastic punnets you got when you purchased seedlings from the nursery. They may be 6,8 or 12 cavity trays.

Wash them. Fill with potting soil. Water lightly. Place your seeds on top. You can make a gentle indentation with the back of a pencil. Do not make a hole. Do not cover them.

Take a black rubbish/bin bag and place the tray in the bag. To keep the bag from touching the tray, blow it up. Now tie it closed. Place in a warm spot.

Remember your seeds will bake if they dry out or get to hot. Keep them moist. You can add a little water to the bag to maintain humidity.

Follow steps described in part 3.

Once you are ready to remove them from the black plastic bag, have a see through bag ready. Use a plastic translucent/transparent bag. Cover the seeds lightly with vermiculite.  Place the seedling tray inside.

To prevent the plastic toughing the seedlings, Blow the bag up. You can also use thin green shoots from a sapling to make a frame inside the bag. Be careful of sunburn.

When the seedlings are ready remove them and place them in a lightly shaded warm spot till you can pull a plug. Then plant.

Do not let the seedlings dry out at any stage. Remember the cavities are small and contain very little moisture.

Have Fun.