2004-04-28 - 8:30 a.m.
Things are starting to move quickly here at the farm. The tomato plants are growing like crazy. I've already put the cages on them and some are already showing some bloom buds. The sweet corn has already come up and I should be able to plow it for the first time later this week. Today we are going to put the squash plants in the ground and later this week we'll put in the first watermelon plants.
I've started thinning the fruit trees in the orchard. The apples and pears set well this year and most will require some thinning. The blackberries are about to bloom and the muscadines have leafed out and are starting to grow.
Sue moved the baby chicks to the shop over a week ago and they are doing their best to stink the place up. They are growing at a phenomenal pace and will soon be too big for that brooder and will move to the next size one. The brooder has a heater in it. You start out with the thermostat set at 95* and drop the temperature 5* per week to get them used to the outside. When they are fully feathered they will be ready to put in the chicken house. Till then I'll have to put up with smelling them.
The roses are starting to bloom and I think we'll try to sell some early ones this year. The varities we planted are supposed to be resistant to blackspot which devestates nost roses if you don't keep them sprayed religiously. So far they have lived up to their billing and last year we had no problem with blackspot and so far none this year.
