Planting Chiles June 1, 2010

We've planted by hand with picks behind the tractor for many years now. (Previously we used the "ride on" transplanter but it only plants one row at a time and still takes two people: one riding and planting and another person fixing the mishaps).

Now that we have the picks, Pablo (or in this case, Kara), is on one side, me on the other and Wayne sleeping, I mean, driving the tractor. He had to get off and help sometimes; the big tractor can continue on its own with the extra "so slow creep" gear. But the tractor driver's main job is to turn around at the end of the rows.

The picks spear up slots on each side of the bed and if everything is going well: the soil is smooth, the plants pull out of their pots, you can get a rhythm, push the plant root ball right into the opening, protect its top for a bit as the soil drops over it, reach up for the next plant, step forward, put in in. And if there is a chance, it's nice to glance behind and see the new row of chiles forming "instantly."

Putting in plants is so much more rewarding than seeding; instant gratification but also instant worry for heavy winds, onslaught of bugs, etc.

At the end of each row, as Wayne turns around, there are pots to be stacked, flats to be gathered up, all the empty 6-packs. I love the feeling; the warmth of the soil enveloping the plant's root ball; these little plants I've been caring for every day for the past 10 weeks.

I worry about them off on their own in the wide open world of the field. The plants look nice this year. They grew well and hardened off nicely in the new greenhouse.