Turkey Red in Spring

I put in a tiny test plot of Wisconsin No 2 in on March 30.  I mostly did this because I need a good photo of young red stems.  I'm also going to be watching the other heritage, spring varieties for signs of colored stems at emergence.

Spring 2018 has been cold, but not as wet as previous years.  I'm hopeful that I can get the big fields of Red Fife and Marquis planted soon.  The ground does not have much moisture in it.  If the sun will just come out, I think I can go work up the Hy 38 field and get it planted.

This has been the best year ever for maple syrup on the farm.  I've made 2.5 gallons over three batches, which is plenty more than I need.  I'll be giving some away, and using it to make cookies.  The syrup is also fairly light colored.  This photo is from the last batch, and it's not that dark.  The last syrup of the season is usually quite dark.

Rosie loves to hang her tongue out!

Spring Test Plot

I planted five varieties of spring wheat in the test plot today.  The ground was very good, at least in the high spots towards the center of the garden.  This is the earliest I have ever planted wheat and I'm curious to see how it goes.  The historic information I have about growing spring wheat in Wisconsin said that early plantings can be very good.

I put the Java towards the South end of the established winter wheat test plot, in 9 rows.  The plot size was 62" x 120", for approx 53 grams of seed.

I put one row of Red Fife at the very south end of the plot, as a control.  This seed came off my 2017 Hy 38 field.

The Haynes Bluestem was not going to fit at the South end, since it gets wetter there.  So I improvised a patch to the West of the garlic, which was clean vegetable ground from last year.  115 grams total of Haynes Bluestem went in.

I had three new samples from the USDA to plant, which I put in tiny squares just South of the Haynes planting.

Dakota is a selection of Haynes Bluestem, which I am planting as a control.

Early Red Fife is a selection of Red Fife that Saunders made in 1905.  I am hoping to grow this out and make it my primary Red Fife offering in the future.  My hypothesis is that it will be more pure and correct than the Red Fife I have now.

Purplestraw is the forunner of all kinds of bluestems, as well as other major North American wheat.  I'm excited to see how it grows.