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Campbell Family Farm

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Commenced:	01/06/2013
Submitted:	05/07/2013
Last updated:	07/10/2015
Location:	3130 Chuckwagon Rd, Luling, Texas, US
Phone:	5126365014
Website:	https://www.facebook.com/CampbellFamilyFarm
Climate zone:	Warm Temperate

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Campbell Family Farm

Luling, US

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Summer Plant Test Plots

Project: Campbell Family Farm

Posted by Jason Campbell over 10 years ago

As we are in our first year of ownership of the land, we are strictly following the Permaculture principal of Observation.

As we are in our first year of ownership of the land, we are following the Permaculture principal of Observation. We are identifying and researching elements to be placed into the farm enviroment and testing each element for acceptance based on specifically identified criteria.

We researched hundreds of plant varieties of things we like to grow and eat. Our criteria for selection were as follows: 1) Plant variety has to be both heat (110 F'/ 44 C') and drought tolerant with a low water requirement. 2) Plant variety has to be suited for slightly acidic soil (ph 6.1 - 6.5). 3) Plant variety has to be able resist fungus and bug damage (both products of the humid and hot Gulf Coast climate).

For the Grass Trial we selected a Prairie Grass blend with Buffalo Grass and Indian Bunch Grass mixed. Planted in late May per the packaging. Unfortunately the central Texas May was bone dry this year and the grass seed didn’t germinate until mid-June when we finally got some rain. By then much of the seed had burned up in the hot Texas summer heat. Native Coastal Bermuda outperformed the buffalo grass that did survive as of July 31st, 2014.

Bracho Mustard: Planted in mid-May. Sprouted quickly with very little water. Died off within 1 week in the Texas summer sun. Will test again for Texas fall weather compatibility but will not plant again for the summer.

Sorghum, Mennonite Heirloom variety. We were looking for an heirloom grain variety to both feed our chickens and to use the cane as carbon in composting after season. We were NOT disappointed in this hardy variety. The crop flourished well in the hot summer sun with very little water. This heirloom variety surpassed our expectations.

Pumpkin, Connecticut Field heirloom. Planted in mid-June in direct full sun. Sprouted quickly with very little water. 98% Died off within 1 week in the Texas summer. Intensive water requirement. Exposed sand get super-hot in the summer, so this plant additionally suffered radiated heat damage and would severely wilt several hours after being watered. Vine boring Beetles finished off what survived the Texas summer.

Watermelon. Charleston Gray. Planted in mid-May. Sprouted quickly with very little water. 100% Died off within 1 week in the Texas summer sun. Will test again next year perhaps in partially shaded plots between swales.

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