Seed Starting
Pelleted seed changes handling as well as sowing size
Pelleted seed is easier to handle, but the coating changes what careful sowing looks like. Pay attention to moisture, the packet instructions and storage age.
SOIL · CROPS · FARM PRACTICE
Good growing starts below the surface.
A practical agriculture journal about soil, water and the observations that help growers make better decisions.
Begin with the soil →
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Soil and growing systems
A cover crop needs an exit plan before it gets a sowing date
A cover crop needs an exit plan as well as a sowing date. Match termination timing, tools and residue handling to the crop that follows.
Crop observation
Leaf-edge droplets can be guttation rather than dew
Droplets at leaf tips may come from guttation rather than condensed dew. Learn what to observe before interpreting the water as a disease or a watering instruction.
Growing Vegetables
Day length helps decide which onion varieties will bulb in your garden
Onions use day length as a signal to form bulbs. Match the variety to your growing region before blaming fertiliser for a disappointing harvest.
Fruit Growing
Winter chill requirements help explain a fruit tree’s uneven spring
A fruit tree’s chilling requirement concerns dormancy, not simply frost survival. Match the cultivar and the local chill model before choosing a tree.
Soil & Roots
Reading soil resistance without blaming every hard patch on compaction
A soil penetrometer measures resistance under particular conditions. Learn why moisture, depth and repeated observations matter before deciding a field is compacted.