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Weather
Apr 4, 2024 13:44:12 GMT -6
Post by benmnwi on Apr 4, 2024 13:44:12 GMT -6
We were lucky to catch a much needed 2"+ of rain equivalent a little over a week ago, and another 3/4" this week. That was enough to get a normally free flowing creek by my house to start moving again after being dry since last fall.
I haven't been back to south place since the recent rainfall events, but that area is right on the edge of the severe drought category on that drought map. I'm really hoping for some slow and steady spring rains to fill my new ponds there without eroding the exposed dirt. We will see if that happens.
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Weather
Apr 4, 2024 16:41:30 GMT -6
via mobile
Foggy likes this
Post by Sandbur on Apr 4, 2024 16:41:30 GMT -6
I cleaned up a bunch of dead/down trees from the last few wind storms that were blocking some "sidewalks" today. I checked on a couple plots to see if they were snow free yet. Where the snow has melted, the soil is already dry as a bone. I have a plot I call the "creek plot" since it's close to the ditch/creek on my place. Most springs I don't dare take the ATV through there due to sloppy soil. I drove all around today without making a rut. I hope the forecasted rain on Sunday pans out. Still "moderate drought" here. It's been like that since early last summer. As far as what I've seen in my little corner of the world, last growing season was much drier than the "historic" drought of '21. I planted one apple tree and the only moisture seems to be in the top few inches.
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Post by biglakebass on Apr 5, 2024 20:27:15 GMT -6
Not exactly weather.... Need weather for tapping trees... tapped my first tree a few weeks back. A large birch. Didnt get shit for over 2 weeks. In the last few days I got a gallon of sap. No fucking clue what I will do with it. LOLL I just feel successful that it worked!!!!
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Weather
Apr 5, 2024 20:31:03 GMT -6
Post by smsmith on Apr 5, 2024 20:31:03 GMT -6
Not exactly weather.... Need weather for tapping trees... tapped my first tree a few weeks back. A large birch. Didnt get shit for over 2 weeks. In the last few days I got a gallon of sap. No fucking clue what I will do with it. LOLL I just feel successful that it worked!!!! Birch beer? We saw a number of folks up north with signs for birch syrup. I've never tried it, but it can't be terrible?
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Post by benmnwi on Apr 5, 2024 21:38:25 GMT -6
I’ve heard Birch sap starts flowing when maple sap is finished. I have a couple nice birch in my yard, but Im tired of syrup making once maple season is done.
Collect the birch sap for a week and keep it cold outside or in the fridge. I boil my maple sap outside using stainless steel rectangle buffet pans from Amazon. Boil it down over a fire until it hits the temp listed for birch sap and see how it tastes.
I’d be interested to hear what you think as I’ve never tried it.
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Post by biglakebass on Apr 6, 2024 14:05:55 GMT -6
The guy that taps down the street said he drinks birch sap(water basically). Straight up. I tried ot. Its not bad at all. It honestly tasted like water
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Post by smsmith on Apr 10, 2024 15:08:20 GMT -6
The bee guys dropped off hives today. The earliest I've seen by about a month
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Post by Reagan on Apr 14, 2024 0:59:33 GMT -6
Found this crab last year. It had a few apples just under golf ball size. I considered grafting it but it looks like a good pollinator. I’m going to let it do its own thing for now. Bees were all over it today. Thought I’d make some MN guys jealous with my weather. ps 4.5 inches of rain in the last 2 weeks.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 14, 2024 7:14:17 GMT -6
Found this crab last year. It had a few apples just under golf ball size. I considered grafting it but it looks like a good pollinator. I’m going to let it do its own thing for now. Bees were all over it today. Thought I’d make some MN guys jealous with my weather. ps 4.5 inches of rain in the last 2 weeks. In my world, a golf ball sized crab for deer is ideal. I have seen larger apples on the ground with a bite out of them, but does and fawns head to the golf ball sized fruit, put the hole thing in their mouth, and chew it up. I would suggest watching it for drop time. If drop time doesn’t fit your preference, then graft.
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Post by Reagan on Apr 14, 2024 8:37:21 GMT -6
It only had a couple apples last year. I think they drop early like August?? I’m fine with that. It’s up hill from my new orchard. If they hit this tree early it will train them for my later varieties.
They may have been a little smaller than a golf ball but big enough for deer.
I found it last year when it bloomed. I cleaned up some competition and it seems to have responded with a lot more blooms.
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Post by smsmith on Apr 16, 2024 11:34:43 GMT -6
Rain gauge has maybe .3" so far, seems like it should be more than that. I'll check it for a Crack when the rain is done. I was really hoping for an inch plus
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Weather
Apr 16, 2024 20:07:15 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Apr 16, 2024 20:07:15 GMT -6
This week is the driest stretch since last November. It’s rained almost every week since last July. I’m spreading seed this week. I’m guessing the rain will stop now and we will have a dry spell.
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Weather
Apr 16, 2024 20:09:08 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Apr 16, 2024 20:09:08 GMT -6
It only had a couple apples last year. I think they drop early like August?? I’m fine with that. It’s up hill from my new orchard. If they hit this tree early it will train them for my later varieties. They may have been a little smaller than a golf ball but big enough for deer. I found it last year when it bloomed. I cleaned up some competition and it seems to have responded with a lot more blooms. Nice tree Reagan. It should have a lot more apples this year if you don’t get a late frost. Is that one you cleared around and opened it up last year?
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Post by biglakebass on Apr 16, 2024 20:13:14 GMT -6
1.5 here in Big Lake today! Wish I got the fertilizer on the yard.
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Post by smsmith on Apr 16, 2024 20:21:46 GMT -6
Our rain gauge is definitely cracked, time for a new one. East neighbor says 1.5", that sounds about right for an all day light rain
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