OF Dec Jan 2020

five to six inches deep. It prevents this
crusting and cracking from happening.”
As with any farming practice, improving
the soil is key. “Anything we can do
to improve soil quality is very important
for dry-farming,” Garrett said.
Growers can also use organic mulches
such as leaves, wood chips or straw.
There are two drawbacks to these deep
mulches: They cool the soil temperature.
This could inhibit the germination
of some direct-seeded crops such as
melons and squash, in which case a
transplant might work better. And the
mulch may attract pests such as slugs,
snails, mice and voles.
“We are looking into the benefits of
deep mulch. A lot of people are experimenting,”
Garrett said. “We’re just
starting to analyze the data for leaf
mulch.”
Growers and researchers look at a soil core sample (all photos by Amy Garrett, OSU.)
Plant Varieties
Some of the plants which have been
grown successfully with dry-farming
methods include drought-tolerant
varieties of dry beans, melons, potatoes,
squash – including winter squash and
zucchini – flour corn and tomatoes.
A good source for dry farm seed is Seed
rEvolution Now. Sundial Seed Company
is another source. Both companies
are located in California.
Garrett and others involved in Pacific
NW growing trials have shown success
with watermelon variety Christmas.
“It’s one of our favorites,” Garrett said,
adding that although some dry-farmed
watermelons tend to get mealy or pithy,
she’s never heard negative feedback
about Christmas, at least not as far as
taste. Oregon Coastal dry farm collaborators
didn’t have enough hot, sunny
summer days for Christmas to ripen in
the Astoria, Ore. area. Other dry farm
varieties that have proved themselves
worthy in taste and performance are
Dark Star zucchini and Stella Blue
winter squash.
Continued on Page 34
Builds Humus & Healthy Soil
Pacific Gro feeds soil microbes and helps establish a healthy fungal balance.
This produces soil that’s resilient and efficient at providing nutrients.
And it increases humus and soil organic matter.
Used as a foliar fertilizer — Pacific Gro’s salmon oil performs as a sticker
oil, and the amino acids chelate nutrients to facilitate absorption.
Provides calcium, salmon oil, amino acids and
crab and shrimp shell metabolites in a liquid foliar
and soil fertilizer.
O Helps microbes feed and defend the crop
O Builds healthy fungal populations
O Delivers plant-available calcium
Produced by Creative AG Products Inc.
www.pacificgro.com 503-867-4849
December/January 2020 www.organicfarmermag.com 33