autumn cultivations

The sun is shining, but the air is cooler and summer coming to a close. The oilseed rape has been drilled and the plants are emerging so we're on the watch for pigeons that swoop in to feast on the young green plants. In the other fields, the golden yellow of the stubble has given way to brown as the soil is prepared for the next wheat crop.

Over the past few days, Lakes Field has been ploughed

Little Forest has been cultivated

Great Forest is rolled to break down the clods.

drilling wheat

The Ley was power harrowed in early September and left for the weather to break down to create a good seedbed but an unforseen hot, dry September made the lumps of dirt even harder. So, last week the field was rolled and then power harrowed again to break down the clods and over the weekend was drilled with wheat. The temperature was an unseasonable 27C and as you can see from the photos, it was a dry and dusty job. The field was then rolled again.

Meanwhile on Sunday the contractors moved in to clear the muck heap and spread the manure on Lakes Field. This morning the field was too tempting for Morris our fox terrier and he had a long and satisfying roll. He now smells very rural.

rolling, rolling, rolling ...

rolling in Great Forest

Big Blackley, Far Blackley, Gardners and Great Forest have been sown with oilseed rape and then the fields were rolled. This conserves the moisture in the seedbed, increases the soil to seed contact and slows down the progress of the slugs.