The plants are raised in a greenhouse from March until late April. The seeds are put into styrofoam trays which holds 244 plants and then put on a bed of water to float. The roots take up the water as the plant needs it. From time to time the plants are mown with a lawn mower-like contraption to stimulate the root system. If they weren't mowed the upper leaves would get all entwined and you would have trouble pulling them apart to get them planted in the ground.
We have 15 acres planted and have another 15 to go. Today they are on our farm so it was easy to run out and snap these photos.
Enjoy!
Preparing the plant trays, filling the fertilizer hopper, the water tank, and loading extras.
All set and ready to go to the field.
Do they look ready to you?
And they are off!
I live in far western Kentucky and
ReplyDeletehave rode the setter many times.
We have retired now, but in earlier
days, we raised tobacco. My nephews
raise 40 - 60 acres now.
fh.
What wonderful pics! Thanks for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteMicki
I'm from Eastern NC and during the summers my brothers use to "pull" tobacco...messy, nasty and pure "t" yuck!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in eastern KY (born in Berea) and used to have to help my Daddy plant our small plot with tobacco for a cash crop. Heeling the plants in one by one, topping the buds off, harvesting ... I remember it all. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've never see a plant setter at work. Thanks for the view!
:) Linda
Thearica I'm originally from Ky. too and one of my first jobs while going to school was working in tobacco.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting...I was raised on an Iowan farm so know about planting corn, beans, oats...but this is really different. Thanks for the education!
ReplyDeleteDo you raise the plants from seeds yourself or buy them from a greenhouse? Looks like beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteWow, 2 rows at once... Daddy's setter only did 1 row at a time... but was basicly like yours ;) but my uncles was a lot different - it only had 2 seats and they were just inches off the ground like a go cart sorta... and there was no wheel just two blades that plowed the ground open and they stuck them directly in themselves. I never got to set tobacco on that type of setter..
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed our supper the last night of the retreat ;) brought back a lot of memories growing up on a farm. I didnt' realize then when I was just 16 on the farm how much I'd appreciate it later on in life... but those were some great memories we made.
Now after seeing your photos I'm motivated to search and find some that I know my mom took... only 1 time do I remember her having the camera out in the field.. and it was when I was setting on the setter with an exboyfriend so I hope they are somewhere to be found still and not destroyed. I think it will be fun to see them... and I'll look for them when I go home to KY this summer. ;)
Love from Texas! ~bonnie
This was an interesting post. We live on the farm my hubby was raised on. Back then, they did dairy and potatoes (we're in northern Maine); now hubby has a hobby farm while working at a paper mill. We have beef, corn and pumpkins, besides the family garden. My husband would love to see this in action, just to learn something new about farms, plants, machinery. Share some more as the plants mature and how it's harvested etc.
ReplyDelete