The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: tizaala on April 26, 2013, 08:08:06 am

Title: First hay
Post by: tizaala on April 26, 2013, 08:08:06 am
A FB "friend " Living in the south of France posted yesterday that they had just finished cutting their first hay, .............we had a frost this morning  :rant: I don't think our grass will ever get going this year  :rant:
Title: Re: First hay
Post by: OhLaLa on April 26, 2013, 08:49:45 am
It was 22 deg in the shade here yesterday, sun cream went on the little people, and the sheep were panting.
 
The fields are hard enough to get the tractor on so the herbicide got sprayed. The local farmers have put their cows out to pasture and they are busy taking their ploughs from field to field. A sure sign that spring is finally here.
 
Good blossom on the trees too, so could be in for a good crop from the orchard. Which reminds me, I still have to sort out some decent cider barrels.
 
We cut extra hay last year and still ran out and had to buy in, so this year we are really going for it.
 
 :sunshine:   :relief:
Title: Re: First hay
Post by: plumseverywhere on April 26, 2013, 08:57:07 am
I can see dandelions in the fields so I know something is growing here but like you Tiz, not sure how long it will grow!
Blossom is in the plum orchard but if like last year we have a gust of a gale and then another frost late in, we'll lose the whole lot again. Typical if we do as this year we want to get  plum wine out to a vintner for sales.
Title: Re: First hay
Post by: loopylou on April 26, 2013, 01:42:37 pm
It is a bit concerning.  I was hoping for hay from my other filed for the horses but I might struggle even to get one cut at this rate.  I do hope the weather turns soon. :)
Title: Re: First hay
Post by: Roxy on April 26, 2013, 02:52:49 pm
Had a little rain overnight, and it seems to have made the field look greener (or is that wishful thinking!).  I peer at the ground every evening - not sure if I am expecting a miracle, and to see grass ....but so far I have seen some dock leaves, a nettle, and what looks suspiciously like the start of a ragwort plant. Never fed the ponies with hay this late before.  But looking round, our fields are better than some neighbours - theirs look black.
 
Think it will be a while before we can cut any hay round here.