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Show Millard County Progress Annual Farm Supplement Friday, April 17, 1981 Page 5 Bioclimatology of Peas By E. Arlo Richardson Utah Department of Agriculture State Colimatologist One of the earliest crops that can be planted In the garden is peas. Garden peas, in comparison to many other plants, are quite insensitive to cold temperatures and planting them early will give them a chance to mature before the hot temperatures of summer reduce their productivity. Peas can be scattered over the planting area when the soil Is still too wet to work. Each pea can then be pushed into the wet soil to the depth of an inch, where It will germinate and grow as the temperature of the soil climbs above 40 degrees F. Such a method of planting avoids the detrimental effects of working the soil while it is too wet, but yet allows early germination of the crop. Peas will germinate and grow whenever the temperature of the soil exceeds 40 degrees; but as and the season progresses to the exceed temperatures begin upper 70's, production and quality of most varieties of peas begins to suffer. Especially in northern Utah, the duration of the spring season is relatively short. Many gardeners have been heard to comment that If you blink your eyes you will miss spring in Cache Valley. This normal short duration of the spring season means that early planting of peas is usually essential for the best quality crop. If, as occasionally happens in Utah's higher northern valleys, snow is still covering the soil; it can be easily removed by the simple action of sprinkling some wood ashes from the fireplace or stove, some cinders from the furnace, or a little dry soil over the top of the snowpack which is covering the garden fea. The darkening of the snow will speed up melting and even all w earlier drying of the garden soil during most springs. As has been emphasized before, it is important not to work the soil too soon. Soil scientists emphasize that many of Utah's soils will suffer seriously from plowing or cultivating when the soil is too wet. A simple test for soil readiness, recommended by some scientists is to squeeze a handful of soil. If the soil remains in a moist ball, or especially if water can be forced out, it is still too wet to work. If the soil crumbles like a piece of cake, then it is ready to work. However, as has been indicated earlier, the seeds can be carefully forced into the soil without disturbing appreciably the soil structure and the benefits of an early planting achieved. The spacing of the peas in the planted area varies with the variety and with the gardener. Some gardeners, who are planting varieties that do not grow very tall, simply broadcast the seeds over the desired area and allow the vines to support each other. Others prefer to plant In rows and will plant two rows close together so that, again, the pea vines will support each other as they grow. Still others place strings, chicken wire, old limbs or poles to support the vines of the taller growing varieties. If successive harvests are desired, these can be made at the desired intervals up to about two months before the maximum temperatures in your area climb structure. Beets are one variety of early vegetables which can be transplanted from the green house without major detrimental effects. If planted in peat pots, however, others have been successfully transplanted as long as the roots are not disturbed too greatly. soil Again in review, peas will grow whenever the soil temperature exceeds 40 degrees, the optimum temperature for their best growth is in the low 70s and when the temperatures exceed the mid 80's, quality and production suffer. While these temperatures vary a little with each individual variety, these values can be used as a guide for planning purposes. If you have a question on the time in occur your temperatures contact your may you locality, county agent or the Office of the State Climatologist for Aim for Efficient Cooling of Milk Milk not properly cooled in the dairy bulk tank can cost money through reduced fat test, Dr. Don W. Thomas, Utah State UniversExtension health ity dairy specialist, tells dairymen. the refrigeration system isn't working as it should, the milk may freeze or churn, resulting in clumping of fat particles. The fat test may be 0.2 percent or more lower than what would be a true test, he explained. Because refrigeration systems cease to operate properly long before they completely break down, this malfunction may be happening with a number of older If bulk tanks, yet the dairymen may not be aware of it, Dr. Thomas . said. He advises dairymen, Check your bulk tanks to be sure they cool to 40 degrees F. or below within one hour of milking. He notes that a lot of dairymen are putting in heat exchangers. These aid in the of milk rather than cooling dissipating the heat into the air. It is important to check the compressor and the heat exchanger to see that they are doing today their jobs in the milk cooling down adequately," the Extension said. "The milk specialist temperature should not get above 45 degrees F. when you mix milk. Most equipment has gauges to check temperature. The most modern systems have a continually running graph that allows one to see what the milk temperature in the bulk tank had been at any time, Dr. Thomas indicated. He urges measures to help the compressor function efficiently. Allow adequate air circulation around it, frequently use a broom to remove dust and dirt from the cooling fins, ask for a service call occasionally from the equipment supplier. It can pay dividends in more efficient cooling of milk. SPECIAL PRICES into the80's. According to bulletin EC 313 of . the extension service, some of the varieties which do well in Utah are Early Frosty, Lincoln, Perfec-- . ted Freezer, (Edible Podded) Dwarf Grey Sugar, Mammoth Melting Sugar and Sugar Snap (a new snap pea). The estimated days to maturity of these varieties range from about 64 to 70 days. Most varieties of peas average in the upper ,60s. There are several other vegetable varieties which are also frost hardy and can be planted early in the season. Among these are beets, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, set onions, radishes, and spinach. Most of these vegetable varieties, however, cannot be planted until the soil is dry enough to be worked without destruction of the ON 1980 & 1981 MODELS for the SPRING SPREE NO FARM SHOULD BE WITHOUT ONE OR TWO INS YOUR INDEPENDENT AGENT Serving your insurance needs for FARM PACKAGES MOTORCYCLES AUTOS COMMERCIAL PACKAGES SPECIAL COVERAGES Homeowners Lite. Health Motorcycles. Farm Packages. Commercial Packages Special Coverages 70 mpg FARM Aufo FAST. FRIENDLY. EFFICIENT SERVICE Polices issued promptly Fast and efficient claims service LET US SAVE YOU MONEY 1 CALL FOR A PRICE QUOTE 743-698- R& R 188 N. 400 W. Ti N. Mam. Fillmore Services YAMAHA lit ii ih kum Uin tin v n hull! FILLMORE, UTAH |