Talk to me about "dry farming"

[Cole_Robbie]

The Chinese varieties I have tried all seem to demand being dry-farmed. When I put them on the drip irrigation with the rest of my plants, they split and crack too much.

Tomato plants in my area grow in May and June, then begin to bear in July. Last year, we had no rain at all in June, after a wet May, and the tilled garden tomatoes were excellent, especially Big Beef. That was perfect weather.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

The Chinese varieties I have tried all seem to demand being dry-farmed. When I put them on the drip irrigation with the rest of my plants, they split and crack too much.

Tomato plants in my area grow in May and June, then begin to bear in July. Last year, we had no rain at all in June, after a wet May, and the tilled garden tomatoes were excellent, especially Big Beef. That was perfect weather.

The place I used to live had a good thick layer of sandy loam on top of a very thick layer of grey potters clay.
I never had to water during a normal year way up until June and them very little.
Sandy loam is very good at keeping moisture from evaporating and clay is very good at holding moisture if it has that layer of sand or sandy loam on top.
Worth

[clkeiper]

Originally Posted by Worth1

The place I used to live had a good thick layer of sandy loam on top of a very thick layer of grey potters clay.
I never had to water during a normal year way up until June and them very little.
Sandy loam is very good at keeping moisture from evaporating and clay is very good at holding moisture if it has that layer of sand or sandy loam on top.
Worth

then I am thinking this is pretty much out for me. I have sand and shale, and rocks and boulders on occasion, but not clay. that was what I was wanting to know... where and how is it done. thanks Worth. I guess that means all of our farm fields are dry farmed. what grows grows and what dies from lack of moisture is beyond dryfarming. give me two miles and there is never a need of water. it is a swamp down there. back in the 1800's they lost a few trains in a derailment.... never to be recovered.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

then I am thinking this is pretty much out for me. I have sand and shale, and rocks and boulders on occasion, but not clay. that was what I was wanting to know... where and how is it done. thanks Worth. I guess that means all of our farm fields are dry farmed. what grows grows and what dies from lack of moisture is beyond dryfarming. give me two miles and there is never a need of water. it is a swamp down there. back in the 1800's they lost a few trains in a derailment.... never to be recovered.

Out in Bend Texas not to be confused with Big Bend in many places they have nothing but sand and grow some stuff like peanuts that way.
But you have to pick your crops carefully.
My cousins live on the river so they run big Detroit pumps day and night.