Greenhouse Planting

Ken has been monitoring soil and air temperatures in both the greenhouses here. Although air temperatures had risen with longer and sunny days, the soil stayed too cold to plant.  Because there was water in the irrigation pond in the field last fall, he had fall planted some crops in the medium stationary tunnel.  Ken is watching for those plants to come up.

This week soil temps got warm enough in the mobile tunnel to plant.  Ken planted some root seeds on Thursday March 1st, and today he transplanted some seedlings.  He had help.   Our friend Loring has come from Arizona to visit.  When asked what he would like to do, he told us he would like to do what we do.  Ooh, be careful what you say!  He has helped butcher ten cockerels, plant seeds, and today he hauled water and he helped  Ken transplant.  

The soil in the mobile high tunnel is dry because the nearby irrigation pond dried up last season.  We hired a heavy equipment operator to dig the irrigation pond deeper, but he couldn't get here early enough for Ken to plant in fall.  Ken did water once, but it was too cold for plants at that point.  The soil is still dry.  Ken filled a tank in November and watered then, but as the water froze...  He  and Loring hauled out water for the plantings of both seeds and transplants by sled.

I walked down after I finished some tasks and got these photos.  

It was fun to see Loring, a mailman and actor and dapper guy,  dressed as a farmer!  He looked good in Ken's bibs.  Because he has done so many things - masonry work, etc, he could see what needed to be done and pitch in as needed.  Thank you. Loring!