Crop Planting This Season

Farming is a seasonal activity, so with each season, farmers have to change their game. Not only do you have to take into account the soil, the seeds and the farm equipment, you also have to consider the climate. Plenty of information has to be factored into making a decision about what to plant this season. Since we at Atlantic Tractor like to help our patrons make the most of their land and farm equipment, we’ve compiled this guide about what you can plant in spring.

To get the best results, not only do you need the best information, you also need the best machines for the tasks! If you’re looking for farm equipment for sale in Maryland, Pennsylvania or Delaware, get in touch with our sales department for personalized help. We also have a robust parts and service department that’s always ready to fix your old farm equipment. 

Consider Your Land

One of the biggest factors in the kind of crops you can plant is, of course, the land you’ll be working on. For example, a small box garden will have different limitations from a big field. If you own a box garden, you can consider planting a variety of vegetables in rows or sections so you can enjoy different nutritious meals once summer rolls around. 

Bigger fields can be a bit trickier when it comes to deciding what to plant. You need to test the soil and see which crops are compatible or make the soil ready for your chosen crop by adding nutrients to it. Understanding the limitations of your workspace can play a big role in the crops you choose.

Your Experience

A lot depends on the crops themselves; some are very easy to grow while others need a lot of care. If you’re new to growing things, you should start with some of the simpler plants. These crops tend to flourish even if the weather strays a bit from its usual patterns. 

Once you’ve got a bit of experience under your belt, you can progress to harder-to-grow crops than can get you into a niche market. As you check out your options, see what’s involved in growing a particular crop and decide if you’re ready to try it out.

Crop Rotation

If you’ve got fields that have been growing the same crops years after year, you should know that that’s a bad move for your soil. The best kind of soil is the one that has a bunch of different nutrients. If you keep planting one crop, then it’ll lose some essential nutrients, which leaves your soil prone to erosion. 

Another negative impact of planting one crop repeatedly is that it gives certain pests and diseases time to settle in and start to thrive in a consistent environment. For a while, these problems were addressed by fallowing (not planting anything for a year to let the soil replenish itself) but if you can get the same result by just planting different crops, that might make more financial sense for you. 

The general idea is to change the crop family of a particular piece of land once every one to three years. The science behind crop rotation is definitely worth the read, but if you’re just looking for the breakdown of family rotation, follow the example below:

• Brassicas: kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts

• Potato family: tomatoes, peppers, potatoes

• Roots: carrots, celery, fennel

• Marrow and/or beetroot: cucumber, beets, squash spinach

• Legumes: beans, peas, cover crops (such as alfalfa)

Crop families take different nutrients from your soil and also facilitate replenishing other nutrients. So when you’re choosing crops, keep in mind their family, what effect they have on the soil and which crops would be best to follow with. This information will help you create your ideal crop rotation calendar. 

We hope this information comes in handy when you’re deciding what crops to plant! To find out more or if you want to check out quality farm equipment for sale in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, get in touch with us at Atlantic Tractor and we’ll show you our wide selection. We’re proud to be your local farm equipment dealer!