The Cook wrote:

On Mon, 15 May 2006 23:20:28 -0400, "D.Reid"
wrote:


"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...

wrote:

Howdy!


An acre, which, if I'm not mistaken, is 220' x 220', contains 44,000
square feet. Therefore, one acre in corn is 44,000 plants! Is this
about right?

43560 square feet.


If even approximately correct, it would appear that hand harvesting a
single acre of corn would be a daunting challenge for two people who
are not mechanized beyond the aforesaid dinky Cub tractor.

I will genuinely appreciate some of the experienced souls in here
providing me a reality check on what our realistic goals should be.
Since our entire 13 acres is already cleared and is all sand, we
thought a reasonable long term goal would be to plant 3 acres each
season, then move over. Thus, every fourth year we'd come back to the
original plot.

Without asking you to ..er.. "take us to raise" would you please orient
us? If it's to point us to a book or a web site that's more than fine.
In fact, I just ordered "5 acres and independence" but it hasn't
arrived in the mail yet. It may very well have the answers I'm
seeking.

Finally, and on the assumption we plant a manageable size, can corn be
intercropped with peanuts? I do not think our soil is ideal for corn
since it is somewhat shy of humus. But I'll wager peanuts would grow
like the dickens.

Any other suggestions you care to toss out, especially as to companion
planting, will be greatly appreciated.




Why not *watermelons* and peanuts?

Or plant something perennial, like blackberries?

Bob

Actually...after further thought, I'd bet Strawberries would be a good "Cash
Crop"...cultivated under black plastic...Hmmmm...big $$$ in Strawberries.
They ...could...if worked right...be perrinial.
Dave


Strawberries are not that carefree. Around here the commercial
strawberry farmers replace their fields every year since the berries
are susceptible to various diseases, especially if the beds are not
kept clean. And they do not use the runners for the next year. They
purchase plants.

Another side, strawberries have been prolific and maintenance free here.
They are almost like weeds! I dug them out of one spot to put them in
a raised bed. They have taken over the raised bed and then some as well
as re-established themselves where I dug them from initially. I do
nothing to them other than pick the berries, toss in a little
fertilizer, and cuss them when they spred. This is my fourth year doing
it this way. The bed is already flowering profusely so there should be
plenty of berries. These are June bearers if that makes any difference.

--

Garden Gnome
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