| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 11:14:22 AM
What do you use in between your rows? We are using a hand hoe, and doing the weeding on my hands and knees. We really need a tiller to go between rows. A small, thin one. Would you care to share make/model/style that you like to use the most, and one that would be a good buy?
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 09:56:31 AM
I am planting really close this year. Carrots between the tomatoes and peppers. I am hoping to have minimal weeds but will mulch with cut grass around the plants as we get it. Underneath the cateloupe and watermelon is going to be straw to help keep away ground rot.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| SarAvery |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 09:47:49 AM
I use straw in between rows too! It really does work and just gets tilled in at the end of the season. Kristina- have you checked out freecycle or craigslist for a used tiller?
Farmgirl #3137 |
| chickenmom |
Posted - Jun 05 2011 : 5:38:42 PM
We have a small Honda tiller. Similar to the Mantis. It's a tank, but easy to use and light enough for me to pick up and carry around. We had a 15 x 30 garden at our last house and used it to dig the entire thing. Here we have Johnson grass which is a little harder to dig, roots tend to get tangled, and have to stop and pull them off now and then, but still works. My sister got one so she could use it for flower beds etc. they ended up getting rid of there full size tiller and just using this one. Once dug I usually use mulch, grass clippings too. Google Ruth Stout for some great info on the use of deep mulching. If we ever go back to a big garden, that's probably what I'll do, right now I just have raised beds, so not enough garden for her idea. Good luck!
Toni |
| SheilaC |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 6:51:15 PM
we're with Krystle--got a free nonworking little old "Green Thumb" tiller that my husband got working--we'll try that this year :) free is good!
http://troutwife.blogspot.com/
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 5:39:39 PM
I have done straw mulch and will likely do that again this year. I just have the big tiller..and a grubhoe that I use otherwize..ugh.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 11:47:28 AM
Thank you for the tips on the newspapers. I just looked at prices for the tiller - YIKES! $299.00. I'm thinking newspaper. I may just do a portion to show my hubby how well it will work.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| CMac |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 8:47:44 PM
I am trying the newspaper and mulch process in half my garden this year. When we move back in I'm going to use the boxes to finish the rest. Should have enough cardboard for several years! I'm using newspaper and grass clippings to mulch my beans and tomatoes. So far so good!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| Tammyb |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 8:31:13 PM
Just start saving paper a couple of months before planting season starts. But not the colored print only the news print.
Tammyb
sisterchick 541
Live to leave a legacy
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| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 12:46:28 PM
Tammy, I was thinking about doing that in my garden this year too except we found a free tiller and we will just be using that, it is a smaller old one from Massey-Ferguson. I never knew they made tillers back in the day :)
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 05:38:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Tammyb
I guess I must cheat .... in between the rows in my garden I place newspaper then lay straw on top of that to keep the weeds down. This is how my grannie did it and it does work. We have a larger tiller for working up the garden but other than that it is me and my paper/straw! After growing season it gets tilled under along with some horse pooie :0
Tammyb
Live to leave a legacy
We had planned to do the newspapers this year, but my husband back out on it. He said we didn't have enough newspaper to do it. 
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| Tammyb |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 05:04:50 AM
I guess I must cheat .... in between the rows in my garden I place newspaper then lay straw on top of that to keep the weeds down. This is how my grannie did it and it does work. We have a larger tiller for working up the garden but other than that it is me and my paper/straw! After growing season it gets tilled under along with some horse pooie :0
Tammyb
Live to leave a legacy
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| CMac |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 5:39:25 PM
I have a small mantis too. It works well for previously tilled soil or an established garden. Not so well in an area with lots of roots, small or large. The little roots get tangled around the tines and jam it. That said, I love it for my existing garden.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| embchicken |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 5:31:15 PM
I have the small mantis and it is terrific!
~ Elaine
Farmgirl sister #2822
"Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things." ~Saki
http://embchicken.blogspot.com
http://gusandtrudy.blogspot.com |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 2:54:18 PM
Mantis is the best for small areas, just love mine, and its 20 yrs old and runs like new...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 12:28:35 PM
Thank you Angela. My husband mentioned the Mantis, but I wanted to see what you all liked, what was worth the money etc.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| natesgirl |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 12:06:05 PM
I have a mantis tiller, the smaller one they sell.
It works very well and I have needed repairs on it a few times due to the heavy clay soil I have, but the warranty has made it sooooo cheap and great!
I would recommend this because they have the best warranty, much longer and more coverage than any of the others.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
