Using the Rototiller in the Vegetable Garden
When it comes to creating and maintaining a healthy garden, proper soil preparation is crucial.
Every year at my farm, we spend a good amount of time preparing the soil for planting. This includes removing debris and old root systems, tilling the earth to break up large clods, adding organic and nutrient-rich compost, and then building raised, well-aerated beds. It is a tedious process, but well worth the effort for a successful gardening season.
Here are photos from the first part of our process - enjoy.
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- This is our Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine Tiller. Rototilling is one method of turning up the soil before planting the garden. We rototill the vegetable garden every year – regular tilling over time can improve soil structure.
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- On rear-tine tillers like this, wheels are standard operating equipment. This particular model has a 20-inch tilling width. Most tillers have an accelerator on or near the handle or on the engine.
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- This model also has four forward, one neutral and two reverse speeds.
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- Ryan starts tilling the beds on one side of the garden and goes counter-clockwise around and around the entire space.
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- The machine is set to till the soil at about six to eight inches deep. On some tillers, the speed of the rotating tines helps determine the speed of the machine.
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- As he moves, Ryan makes sure to overlap his passes slightly, so every bit of soil is covered. Tilling also helps to level the ground as it turns over the soil.
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- On the left is soil that hasn’t yet been tilled. On the right – beautiful nutrient-rich soil that has been overturned. If you are not sure what amendments your garden soil may need, test it. Kits are available at garden supply stores. Once you have the results, you’ll know how to amend it properly.
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- Here is Zoe working on the other side of the garden raking up any remnants of vegetables and other roots and vines. This makes it easier for the rototiller to do its job and prevents anything from getting caught in the tines.
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- We love using my All-Purpose Heavy Duty Garden Totes from my collection on QVC. These bags are so useful for so many tasks. They feature a polypropylene construction that carries up to 47-gallons or 930-pounds. They’re perfect for hauling organic debris to the compost pile.
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- Only rototill when the ground is moist, but not wet – the soil should still crumble when picked up.
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- It’s also a good idea to do this on a day with little or no wind, which could also slow down the task.
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- Once the soil is upturned, determine its condition – too much sand in the soil may make the soil too dry, and too much clay may make it too wet. The soil should be a good combination of earth, sand, and clay. My soil is very well balanced.
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- Here are my geese – one of my two Toulouse geese and three of my five Sebastopol geese. They are curious as ever hurrying over to see all the activity.
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- And of course, my two Pomeranian guard geese are never far behind – sounding their alarms that something is happening nearby.
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- Here is Ryan showing Gavin how it’s done – the machine needs a lot of control to maneuver it through the soil beds.
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- Zoe also takes a turn using the rototiller.
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- This vegetable garden is quite large, so it takes time to rototill the entire space, but it’s well worth the effort. One complete pass over this garden takes a couple of hours.
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- Ryan goes over the area very carefully. Here he is tilling the last stretch of soil.
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- Here is one side all done. Building up the soil is the most important part of preparing a garden for growing vegetables and flowers. A deep, organically rich soil will encourage and support the growth of healthy root systems.
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- And here is the other side. Next, we will add a generous amount of composted manure to the beds and then rototill the entire area again. Compost helps make the soil more absorbent and is a great way to add nutrients back into the earth. It is also a good way to ensure big, bountiful crops come summer. I can’t wait to start planting.
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