This year's flax crop is retting in an inflatable kiddie pool that I got on clearance this same time last year. Last year's crop retted nicely in it. The pool made it through a year of storage in the garage without sustaining any leaky holes, so here we go again!
I saved the seeds from last year's flax crop so that I wouldn't have to buy seeds this year. All sources I can find sell coated seeds - the coating contains nasty chemicals that will protect the growing flax from disease, but I'd rather not use it.
The seeds sprouted really well, but this year's crop didn't get as tall as last year's. It could be for several reasons. One big one of which was that I didn't weed as often as I should have and there was a lot of grass in there with the flax.
At any rate, it's been pulled, dried and rippled, and is now retting. I don't think I'll get the 800 yards of spun flax that I got last year, but I'm hoping I'll get at least 500 yards. We'll see.
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2 comments:
hey, so great to find you! I am growing flax for linen in Vancouver- this is year two- and grew milkweed this year for fibre research- it doesn't grow here on its own, too wet in the winter- thrilled to find you retting on the same time as me- I did it by hanging this year, here is my recent post- and thanks for the milkweed tips- my homework next month... I am at http://sharonkallis.com/
Hi Sharon!
Hanging to rett sounds like a great idea. I'll have to give it a try in the future. You're doing such interesting things up there in Canada! I've been reading through your posts - so interesting! Thanks for sharing your link!
Linda
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