Issue 60

February 2016

Now that the temperatures are warming up a little, it's a great time to start planning for spring! Is your equipment ready? Take stock of your equipment this month, so you're all set.

If you haven't seen the new Kubota RTV-X1140 and New Commercial Walk Behind Mowers come by and check them out. For more details, see below.

Planning your spring fertilizer program? Confused by all the nutrient names and symbols? Take a look at part one of our series, Navigating the Necessary Nutrients Needed for Plant and Crop Growth in this month's Chewin' the Cud.

Get ready to plant! Take a look at the February Gardening Guide for details.

Finally, check out the February Activities and Events to see what's going on around the state.

Come See the Newly Designed

Kubota RTV-X1140

The RTV-X1140 4-seater is packed with great features, like independent 4 wheel suspension, 4WD and a diesel engine.
It's Kubota's most versatile utility vehicle yet!

Come by and check it out today!

Used Products and Specials

Check out all the great deals at cahabatractor.com.
Hurry in for the best selection!

Get this and other great buys in our Used Products!

Kubota L3010 $11,900
4WD with Front Loader and 5' Bush Hog Cutter

Grab these Specials today!

All New Kubota Commercial Walk Behind Mowers with 36", 48" or 52" cut

Starting as low as $3,599

Shop now for the best selection on
Used and Special-priced equipment!

Chewin' the Cud: The Cahaba Tractor Corner

Navigating the Necessary Nutrients
Needed for Plant & Crop Growth

Lately, with temperatures climbing up one day and down the next, it's hard to tell if you need a jacket and gloves or t-shirt and shorts. However, something you can count on is spring planting season. Hot or cold, rain or shine, it'll be here before you know it.

So, where do you start? How about plant nutrition? While weather is very important to good crop growth and production, proper plant nutrition is essential to growth and survival. There are sixteen plant food nutrients that are essential for proper crop development. Since these nutrients are needed in different amounts, they are grouped into three categories: primary (macro) nutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients.

Determining the correct amount and proportion of nutrients needed to add to the soil can best be done with a soil test. Since soil nutrient levels vary from year to year and even within fields, developing a regular soil fertility management program is important to good crop production. It also takes the guesswork out of fertilizer application.

Soluble nutrients in fertilizers are readily available to plants, whereas organic matter (compost, manure, bone and blood meal) must break down before nutrients can be fully utilized. A combination of both produces the best results in releasing a steady flow of readily accessible nutrients to plants.

Another measurement for nutrient levels can be done through plant tissue analysis. This helps in evaluating the effectiveness of a fertilizer management program and to diagnose crop nutrition production problems.

A strong and productive crop depends on a good foundation of nutrients. Proper planning and testing now will pay off greatly in the months to come.

**Next month's article: Understanding Fertilizers

We're ready to help you get prepared for spring! Call or come see us for assistance with your present equipment or test out the newest products. Whatever you need, we're here to serve you.

Sincerely,

Cahaba Tractor Co.

2411 Hwy. 31 South

Pelham, AL 35124

(205) 663-1470

Why settle for less

when you can have

the best?

At Cahaba Tractor,

we make work seem like play!

Here's
Mud

Your

Eye

Another Dozen Roses?

A man walks into a flower shop and tells the florist, "I'd like some flowers please."

"Certainly, sir," she replies. "What did you have in mind?"

He glances around the room, shrugs and says, "Well I'm not sure, I uh, I uh, I uh..."

Seeing his hesitation, the florist grins and says, "Perhaps I could help. What exactly have you done?"

--Anonymous

February
Gardening Guide

Fruits and Nuts:

Planting season continues for dormant trees. Begin fertilizing fruit trees. Apply half the fertilizer recommended for grapes now; apply the other half after fruit sets. Continue dormant pruning and grafting. Begin strawberry plantings.

Vegetable Seed:

Plant hardy vegetables, root crops, roots and tubers, collards, salsify and swiss chard. Add tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts to cold frames. Follow the AL Vegetable Garden Planting Chart for planting dates.

Vegetable Plants:

Plant cabbage, onions, lettuce, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Annuals and Perennials:

Re-plant early plantings of hardy annuals. Begin preparing beds for summer annuals.

Bulbs:

Plant cannas, amaryllis, gladiolus and zephyranthes in south Alabama. Delay planting for a few weeks in north Alabama.

Roses:

Prune hybrid tea roses in south Alabama. Delay pruning for a few more weeks in north Alabama. Continue planting.

Shrubs:

Planting season continues. Graft camellias in central and south Alabama. Before new growth begins, prune and spray all shrubs with a fungicide. Do not prune early-blooming shrubs; buds might be removed.

Lawns:

Test soil now, before setting up fertility program.

Miscellaneous:

*Fertilize house plants this month.

*A rose bush or potted plant make a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift.

The gardening guide is based upon the USDA hardiness zones for Alabama.

The state zones are:

North Alabama - 7a

Birmingham area - 7b

South Alabama - 8a

Mobile area - 8b

For more gardening info, visit:

Alabama Cooperative Extension System.