HELM took an aerial video last week of an 11 acre sunflower plot we planted for a client on a farm outside of Standardsville. Usually as the end of January rolls around people are getting ready to put away their hunting gear and call it a year. In reality this is when the season starts, not when it ends.
January and February is the time to pull soil samples and begin putting together a planting timeline for the spring. Here at HELM we sit down and go over every plot we’ve planted and after reviewing its success we discuss how to continue building on that.
In terms of this field, our client had great hunts this fall and the field held birds through December. As a result, our main focus last week was pulling soil samples and checking pH and nutrient levels so we know what our lime and fertilizer application rates will be this spring.
Creating a sunflower plot is a great addition to any property, they provide a natural habitat for wildlife are a lot of fun.