January 24, 2013

Transplanting the Currants


Many locals that hike the beautiful trails at Indian Valley stop by the farm this time of year to ask what exactly it is that we're up to during these bitter winter months. What could possibly be growing? We don't blame them, if you walk by our gates this time of year, it's easy to notice the towering brittle remains of lush plants that colored the farm so beautifully earlier in the season. But the truth we tell them, is that under all of that brown, our farm is still thriving this time of year, and there is so much to be done.

Some perennials have life cycles that depend on a dormant period induced by winter's cold, sort of like the way we depend on a good night's sleep. The plants may look withered and bare, but winter is a critical season for root development, and is therefore an excellent time to transplant perennials in the garden. This week the organic farming class gathered on the farm to perform a monumental task that required not only the strength of a dozen people to be completed, but also this season of dormancy.

This spring, the farm will undergo a number of exciting layout changes to accomodate more vegetable beds, so we're lucky to have students participate in helping us move some things around. First on the list? Our three year old vigorous currant plants. There are twelve of them, and they've been "asleep" for months. Our farm staff and instructors decided to first prune, and then several days later, transplant all twelve currant plants to our upper C block where they will thrive alongside pear trees forming the start of a gorgeous food forest. First things first, the currants had to be carefully moved to their new homes and then fed well upon arrival. 

One group of students systematically dug up every plant, while another prepared holes for them in their future beds. The red currants were moved first, followed by the white, and finally the black currants.


Large holes were dug to accomodate each of the heavy root systems that were still locked into large clumps of soil. Currants are heavy feeders, or "hogs" as instructor Wendy Johnson likes to call them, so before placing the plant into the hole, several shovel fulls of sifted compost were added. In addition to the compost, we added a few handfuls of mineral amendments to the hole, and a few more to any exposed roots on the plant. A mixture of gypsum, calphos, kelp meal, and worm castings is the perfect recipe for strong, healthy currants. 





Once the hole is prepared, the heavy uprooted currant plant is placed back into the earth and any gaps are filled in with more compost. Students were told to press their feet lightly on the soil around the new planting to help settle everything into place. Voila! A healthy, gorgeous row of currants.   


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