By Edwin Cooper
During the peak of vegetable and fruit harvesting, Ray and Virginia Akins may be seen sharing the bounty of their gardening with their many friends in and around Franklin.
Ray said, "My dad was a straw boss on the John Wall Ranch out of Brady. Times were tough then so we planted three to five acre gardens every year. We did about 600 cans of corn each year and grew sweet potatoes for ourselves and to feed the hogs. We trapped for hides to sell and ate those wild animals considered fit to eat, along with the goats, chickens and hogs we raised. About all we had to buy was salt and flour. Along with milk, cheese and honey from our bee hives we ate great.
Dad didn't want us to attend school because it interfered with our chores. Regardless I managed to graduate from Brady High School and then Southwest Texas in San Marcos where I met Virginia. It turned out that we both love gardening and plant every year.
I have been trading with M&M Farm Supply since early 1960. I had 13 cows then and bought 2:1 Meal (Salt and meal) from Pryse Metcalf. I always enjoyed discussing my ranching plans with Pryse. Today, Steve and Loren are my advisers along with other staff members. When Ruth Rinehart was at M&M she could answer any questions like Mary Stegall does today.
Through the years the store has enlarged, clothing items and the garden center have been added. I always get a friendly greeting when I stop by to visit or do business."
About five years ago Ray and Virginia gave me a tour of their garden. It had that professional care look about it, including stalks of okra some 10-12 feet in height. Ray explained, "Well, when the corn decides to quit producing it withers away. But not okra- it keeps on reaching for the sky, producing okra all the way."
Ray Adkins has had a remarkable career and many kinds of challenges since his early days on that ranch near Brady--the one where the family home was a small hay barn built of 1 x 12 inch planks, dirt floor and sheet iron windows.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Soil Preparation for Gardening
by Edwin Cooper
For successful gardening, your garden soil needs preparation and care so it will continue to grow quality plants over the summer. Otherwise weeds will take over along with invasions of obnoxious critters.
The additioon of organic matter will help the soil hold moisture, retain its nutritional values and remain workable. AgriLife Extension publications on gardening recommend that a 4" or slightly shallower layer of organic matter is beneficial, especially if added several months before planting either in spring or fall gardens. Organic matter should be added ever year, which releases its important trace elements for successful gardening.
When ready to plant, the garden should be thoroughly tilled--up to 8 inches and soil turned under. Then the soil should be pulled up and made into beds 8 to 10" high and allowed to settle for awhile. Water between the beds as needed after planting.
Planting time is now upon us. A huge shipment of vegetable and ornamental plants have just arrived at M&M Farm Supply. Also a variety of soil conditioners are on hand. Several items include Landscapers Pride Landscape Mix, a blend of soil conditioner, sphagnum, perlite and micro-nutrients. Another two include Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost and Fertilome Peat Moss. There are many more varieties of soil conditioners available.
In 1965 I planted a few tomatoes in a hastily constructed garden in our backyard in College Station. I used fresh sandy loam soil from nearby creek bank and a bit of commercial fertilizer. Those plants grew to the edge of our roof and heavy with tomatoes. Our neighbors tired of me bringing them buckets full.
The second year the plants barely grew to my chest and produced tomatoes both small and scarce. I learned commercial fertilizer needs a good partnership with organic soil conditioner.
For successful gardening, your garden soil needs preparation and care so it will continue to grow quality plants over the summer. Otherwise weeds will take over along with invasions of obnoxious critters.
The additioon of organic matter will help the soil hold moisture, retain its nutritional values and remain workable. AgriLife Extension publications on gardening recommend that a 4" or slightly shallower layer of organic matter is beneficial, especially if added several months before planting either in spring or fall gardens. Organic matter should be added ever year, which releases its important trace elements for successful gardening.
When ready to plant, the garden should be thoroughly tilled--up to 8 inches and soil turned under. Then the soil should be pulled up and made into beds 8 to 10" high and allowed to settle for awhile. Water between the beds as needed after planting.
Planting time is now upon us. A huge shipment of vegetable and ornamental plants have just arrived at M&M Farm Supply. Also a variety of soil conditioners are on hand. Several items include Landscapers Pride Landscape Mix, a blend of soil conditioner, sphagnum, perlite and micro-nutrients. Another two include Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost and Fertilome Peat Moss. There are many more varieties of soil conditioners available.
In 1965 I planted a few tomatoes in a hastily constructed garden in our backyard in College Station. I used fresh sandy loam soil from nearby creek bank and a bit of commercial fertilizer. Those plants grew to the edge of our roof and heavy with tomatoes. Our neighbors tired of me bringing them buckets full.
The second year the plants barely grew to my chest and produced tomatoes both small and scarce. I learned commercial fertilizer needs a good partnership with organic soil conditioner.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tomatoes by Edwin Cooper
Tomatoes
By Edwin Cooper
You probably know that tomatoes are the most popular edible garden plant grown in America. Though used as a vegetable, botanically it is a berry in the annual Nightshade family which also includes tobacoos, red peppers, potatoes, petunias and eggplants.
In this area tomatoes frequently are planted in early March or slightly later depending on weather conditions. The fruit ripens in mid or late June if using young potted plants. Locally they are available at M&M Farm Supply and plants are now beginning to arrive. Seed packages also are available if desired.
Some of the popular varieties planted locally include Celebrity, Big Boy, Better Boy, Early Girl, Homestead, Roma and several varieties of cherry tomatoes. If you study the commercial photos of mature tomatoes you'll be tempted to buy them all.
Our experience planting a small garden at Camp Creek has been best with a sandy loam soil mixed with lots of cottonseed mulch. The soil needs to be tilled before planting which stimulates root growth. Tomatoes do their best planted in full sunlight when that is possible.
Young plants should be planted at the same depth as they were in their containers. Some however prefer to plant them horizontally covering all except the leaves. Adequate moisture always is critically important.
If you learn that a freeze will occur while your plants are still young, covering them with leaves or opened paper sacks usually will protect them through the bad spell. Sacks need to be secured with soil around the base to hold them in place.
Late meetings are held each night by deer, raccoons, squirrels and mockingbirds (among others) deciding how best to attack your tomatoes when they begin to ripen. I had to build a fence using cattle panels, chicken wire and small mesh wire to keep those critters under control. All except for the squirrels, which can penetrate any fence constructed by mankind. As Bernest Meadors advised me years ago, "Plant enough for yourself and them, too. Otherwise you'll go around mad as a hornet."
A plate of cold slices of Celebrity tomatoes tells me Bernest was right. Plant enough for everybody! Plant the varieties of your choice. Celebrity happens to be my favorite and is a highly productive variety.
By Edwin Cooper
You probably know that tomatoes are the most popular edible garden plant grown in America. Though used as a vegetable, botanically it is a berry in the annual Nightshade family which also includes tobacoos, red peppers, potatoes, petunias and eggplants.
In this area tomatoes frequently are planted in early March or slightly later depending on weather conditions. The fruit ripens in mid or late June if using young potted plants. Locally they are available at M&M Farm Supply and plants are now beginning to arrive. Seed packages also are available if desired.
Some of the popular varieties planted locally include Celebrity, Big Boy, Better Boy, Early Girl, Homestead, Roma and several varieties of cherry tomatoes. If you study the commercial photos of mature tomatoes you'll be tempted to buy them all.
Our experience planting a small garden at Camp Creek has been best with a sandy loam soil mixed with lots of cottonseed mulch. The soil needs to be tilled before planting which stimulates root growth. Tomatoes do their best planted in full sunlight when that is possible.
Young plants should be planted at the same depth as they were in their containers. Some however prefer to plant them horizontally covering all except the leaves. Adequate moisture always is critically important.
If you learn that a freeze will occur while your plants are still young, covering them with leaves or opened paper sacks usually will protect them through the bad spell. Sacks need to be secured with soil around the base to hold them in place.
Late meetings are held each night by deer, raccoons, squirrels and mockingbirds (among others) deciding how best to attack your tomatoes when they begin to ripen. I had to build a fence using cattle panels, chicken wire and small mesh wire to keep those critters under control. All except for the squirrels, which can penetrate any fence constructed by mankind. As Bernest Meadors advised me years ago, "Plant enough for yourself and them, too. Otherwise you'll go around mad as a hornet."
A plate of cold slices of Celebrity tomatoes tells me Bernest was right. Plant enough for everybody! Plant the varieties of your choice. Celebrity happens to be my favorite and is a highly productive variety.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Pre-emergents!
Christine's Corner:
Well it's warming up outside or at least for the moment it is...I'm sure we're due for another cold snap but until then we will sure enjoy the 70 degree weather we are having! February came quick and is going by fast and NOW is the time to be putting out pre-emergents! So I wanted to mention two of the products that we carry that need to be put out now! The first is Fertilome For All Seasons it is a great product that is ideal to put out in February before seeds start germinating, it will help you get control of grassy and broadleaf weeds and give your lawn a boost with its 16-0-8 fertilizer. It covers 5,000 sq ft and controls henbit, oxalis, chickweed, crabgrass, and several other weeds listed on its label. For best results it needs to be watered in.
The other product that you could put out now is called AMAZE it will prevent seed germination of those pesky grassy and broadleaf weeds. It's great to use in your yard and flower beds but not anywhere you plan to overseed b/c it will prevent good seeds from germinating as well. And it's not safe for vegetable gardens either. Probably one of the best reason to use it is to get control of sticker burrs. I know you're probably not thinking about sticker burrs right now because there not getting stuck to your pants legs or the bottoms of your flip-flops but NOW is the time to stop them. Once they are up there isn't a whole lot you can do about them (not really anything) so put out AMAZE now, again around Mother's Day and one more time around Labor Day and get control of those aweful sticker burrs! Just remember Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Labor Day for application times. Amaze has to be watered in either by rainfall or irrigation to activate it. A 10# bag will cover 4,000 sq ft and if you have a larger area to cover we do have a few products that work the same way but are for much larger areas: Pendulum and XL2G.
Happy Gardening and come by and see us!
Well it's warming up outside or at least for the moment it is...I'm sure we're due for another cold snap but until then we will sure enjoy the 70 degree weather we are having! February came quick and is going by fast and NOW is the time to be putting out pre-emergents! So I wanted to mention two of the products that we carry that need to be put out now! The first is Fertilome For All Seasons it is a great product that is ideal to put out in February before seeds start germinating, it will help you get control of grassy and broadleaf weeds and give your lawn a boost with its 16-0-8 fertilizer. It covers 5,000 sq ft and controls henbit, oxalis, chickweed, crabgrass, and several other weeds listed on its label. For best results it needs to be watered in.
The other product that you could put out now is called AMAZE it will prevent seed germination of those pesky grassy and broadleaf weeds. It's great to use in your yard and flower beds but not anywhere you plan to overseed b/c it will prevent good seeds from germinating as well. And it's not safe for vegetable gardens either. Probably one of the best reason to use it is to get control of sticker burrs. I know you're probably not thinking about sticker burrs right now because there not getting stuck to your pants legs or the bottoms of your flip-flops but NOW is the time to stop them. Once they are up there isn't a whole lot you can do about them (not really anything) so put out AMAZE now, again around Mother's Day and one more time around Labor Day and get control of those aweful sticker burrs! Just remember Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Labor Day for application times. Amaze has to be watered in either by rainfall or irrigation to activate it. A 10# bag will cover 4,000 sq ft and if you have a larger area to cover we do have a few products that work the same way but are for much larger areas: Pendulum and XL2G.
Happy Gardening and come by and see us!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Start getting ready...Spring is coming!
Christine's Corner:
Spring is coming, Spring is coming (clicking my heels together like Dorothy on Wizard of OZ), as I write this it is currently about 22 degrees in Cameron...brrrrrrr cold! I know with it being as cold as it is, it's hard to think about Spring or working outside or planting a garden but Spring will be here soon. There are two things that you need to consider planting soon, first is seed pototoes. I've heard a lot of "old timers" with way more experience than me say to plant potatoes around Valentine's Day or President's Day, so now would be a good time to purchase them. You need to give them time to grow good "eyes" before you plant them. After you purchase them you cut them, dust them with sulfur and put them in a dark, dry spot until its time to plant and the "eyes" have developed well. The other thing to consider is onions, plant them now and by early June you should have some nice size bulbs to harvest and enjoy! Since I'm no expert I found some great websites to refer to:
This first one has some great general gardening advice and guidelines for all vegetables...
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/guides/E-502_home_vegetable_guide.pdf
This one has some great information on seed potatoes and onions...
http://www.plantanswers.com/calvin/VegetableGarden.htm
And this one answers all sorts of questions you may have about pototoes...
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/vegetables/potato.html
Happy Gardening and stay warm!
Spring is coming, Spring is coming (clicking my heels together like Dorothy on Wizard of OZ), as I write this it is currently about 22 degrees in Cameron...brrrrrrr cold! I know with it being as cold as it is, it's hard to think about Spring or working outside or planting a garden but Spring will be here soon. There are two things that you need to consider planting soon, first is seed pototoes. I've heard a lot of "old timers" with way more experience than me say to plant potatoes around Valentine's Day or President's Day, so now would be a good time to purchase them. You need to give them time to grow good "eyes" before you plant them. After you purchase them you cut them, dust them with sulfur and put them in a dark, dry spot until its time to plant and the "eyes" have developed well. The other thing to consider is onions, plant them now and by early June you should have some nice size bulbs to harvest and enjoy! Since I'm no expert I found some great websites to refer to:
This first one has some great general gardening advice and guidelines for all vegetables...
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/guides/E-502_home_vegetable_guide.pdf
This one has some great information on seed potatoes and onions...
http://www.plantanswers.com/calvin/VegetableGarden.htm
And this one answers all sorts of questions you may have about pototoes...
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/vegetables/potato.html
Happy Gardening and stay warm!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Bagworms!
Christine's Corner:
Bagworms are a common problem in both evergreen and deciduous trees. Some of evergreens that are commonly attacked are cedar, pine, arborvitae (thuja), and junipers.
Bagworms are a common problem in both evergreen and deciduous trees. Some of evergreens that are commonly attacked are cedar, pine, arborvitae (thuja), and junipers.Some great products to use to control them are:
#1: Fertilome - Borer, Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar & Leafminer Spray - Spinosad product
#2 Thuricide Concentrate or Dipel Dust - Bt products (Bacillus thuringiensis) only kills worms
#3 Cyonara Lawn & Garden Ready-to-spray or Concentrate
#4 Bifen I/T
#5 Hi-Yield 38 Plus Turf, Termite, & Ornamental Insect control - Permethrin product
Boot Scootin' thru Summer with M&M!
30% off
Men's Justin
Aged Bark Lacer
#794 Work Boot
July 6- July 9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
