Devonviolet Acres

[thistlebloom]

Devonviolet your wildflowers are beautiful, and your tractor is definitely the right color (says Janie).

 

[Carol Dee]

I've been wanting a tractor for a while now. But, we just can't afford one that is big enough, to do everything we want to do.

Someone told us not to buy a tractor with a mowing deck, because we could use theirs. That didn't pan out because he just wasn't ever available when we needed it.

So, we started looking for a "garden tractor", looking at many different brands, sizes & stores (including Craig's List) - new & used. Price was definitely a factor. We were looking at a 24 hp tractor. But, after considering all factors, we finally decided to moving up to a 26 hp tractor, so we could pull a disc harrow behind it. I was SOOOO envious, when Baymule "disc-ed" the pig pen, after they went to the butcher!

We ended up getting a Husqvarna 26 hp with a 54" mowing deck.

This is for @baymule . She asked to see photos of our new tractor.

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NICE very NICE

 

[Nyboy]

Red do you know at top of page on CL is a search, type in tractor and all ads will show up.

 

[Smart Red]

Thanks, yes I've been doing that (when I get the time).

 

[Devonviolet]

The Texas heat is keeping us indoors these days. Mornings are in the 80's with 90+ % humidity. As the sun dries things up, the temps soar into the high 90's/low 100's. We have had several heat index readings around 110-112°.

DH was out helping a friend brush hog our fence line, about 3 weeks ago. He was drinking water & finding shade as much as possible. When they were finished, I took them a gallon jug of ice water. I found DH non-responsive & having a heat stroke. I tried to take him down to the ground, but his knees buckled. He went down hard. I couldn't get him to respond, so I poured ice water over his head. That brought him to, but, it was another 30 minutes before I felt he was strong enough to go inside.

From what I have heard, once you have had a heat stroke, you are more susceptible. So, now we have a rule on the homestead. We go out, in the AM, to feed the animals and do a few yard tasks. But, we have to be back in no later than 9:00 AM.

Four to five in the afternoon, is the hottest time of the day here. So, we wait until the sun goes down - usually after 8:00 PM to feed the animals.

We only got our small (12X12') garden in this spring. Our plan was to find someone to plow up the grass for a bigger garden, since it was really hard on DH, to dig the small garden. However, finding good help, in these parts, is easier said, than done.

So, we didn't get any more done on our vegetable garden this year. We have given up on seriously planting vegetables this year. But are planning to get the garden ready after it starts cooling off in September. Then, we figure we can get the ground prepared and maybe get a Winter garden going, before it gets too cold to comfortably work outside. And we will be ready to get a Spring garden going a lot earlier next year.

As we thought about it, we realized it was probably a good thing that we didn't have any one plow the grass. The whole area we want for garden is Bermuda grass, which has a thick (4-6") mat of roots, once established. That needs to be killed off before plowing, or all the little pieces created, when plowed, will grow back.

After doing some research, I learned that a good way to kill off Bermuda is to put sheets of heavy duty clear/white plastic. Studies have shown that the clear is better than black. I'm guessing because it acts like a magnifying glass. The plastic needs to be left for a couple months, during the hottest part of the summer. This will allow the heat to go deep enough to kill off the roots, about 5-6" deep.

So, we bought a 100X10' roll of 6 mil white plastic, at Lowe's, for about $60. This coming week is supposed to be in the low 100's.

Yesterday morning, DH used the push mower to scalp the area. This morning, we got out early & rolled out two 30X10' lenghts, of the plastic, giving us a 20X30' garden to start. We used available wood, to weight it down, so it won't blow away.

Next year we figure we can expand on that, if we have the energy to plant more.

Here is what it looks like:

We plan to leave it until September. Since we can't find anyone to help us, I'm thinking we will rent a tractor, from the local equipment rental company, and plow it ourselves.

 

[Devonviolet]

Oh, I forgot something we DID get done in the garden, this Summer.

We planted four fruit trees:

Gala Apple
Fuji Apple
Royal Apricot
Redskin (Freestone) Peach

Last year we planted:
a couple Navaho Thornless Blackberries
a Brown Turkey Fig.

We also have Two citrus trees, that we planted in large pots, so we can bring them in during the cold Winter months:

Kafir Lime
Meyer Lemon.

I don't have any photos, of the fruit trees right now. But, will try to remember to get some when I go outside next time.

Here are some photos of the lime & lemon trees, from last Winter, in our office. The Lime is quite a bit bigger than the lemon.

They are bigger and fuller, now that we have them outside again. The lime is on the left and the lemon on the right. My Maine Coon cat, Porter liked sleeping in the pots. So, that is him in the lemon tree pot.

Here he is, yawning, when I took the shot.

Here is a lemon blossom. i found that when I fertilized the trees, in January, the lemon tree bloomed like crazy.

Here are a couple of the lemons, from the above blossoms.

As I said, the trees are nice and full now. So, I will take more photos when I'm outside next time.

 

[Smart Red]

You have a great start on your winter garden! Remember to leave a goodly space between your garden and that Bermuda grass outside so you can keep it out of the garden next growing season.

 

[Nyboy]

I ended up in ER one summer with dehydration, had to get IV fluids. The Dr told me best thing I could do is eat a banana every day durning summer. Hopefully your husband doesn't shares Bays dislike for them You lose a lot of potassium though sweat bananas help replace

 

[Smart Red]

Another thing to worry about. Spouse wouldn't know what to do if I passed out from the heat. I have never been a big drinker and had only about 24 ounces of fluid (all water) yesterday.

Not sure how to up that without some kind of timer to remind me. I just don't seem to get thirsty.

 

[Devonviolet]

You have a great start on your winter garden! Remember to leave a goodly space between your garden and that Bermuda grass outside so you can keep it out of the garden next growing season.

That's a really good point, Red! I'm thinking, skim off the grass and then a 12" length of plastic covered witha a good layer of mulch to hold it down.