Rototilling the Vegetable Garden for Planting
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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- During the cold season, my chickens, Guinea fowl, and geese are given access to the vegetable gardens. Not only do they provide a tremendous nitrogen source to the area, they are helpful in turning the soil, eliminating weeds, and creating compost in place. Now that it is April, it’s time to amend the soil, and get the garden beds in shape for planting.
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- Here, Brian sprinkles fertilizer all over the space. Fertilizer replaces lost nutrients, so levels are acceptable for healthy growth. I always use organic additives. Organic triple super phosphate fertilizer is 100-percent natural and organic. It can be directly blended with compost or soil to promote vigorous roots and increase fruiting.
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- Triple superphosphate is a soluble phosphate fertilizer containing about 20-percent total phosphorous, 13 to 15 percent calcium, and a maximum of 4-percent residual phosphoric acid.
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- It’s good to apply triple superphosphate at the start of the main growing season when soil phosphorus levels are low and immediate responses are expected.
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- Once the soil is fertilized, it’s ready for rototilling. The purpose of tilling is to mix organic matter into the soil, help control weeds, break up crusted soil, and loosen the earth for planting. You do not need to till or break up the soil very deep – less than a foot is fine.
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- Right before rototilling, it’s a good idea to rake 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. We love using my All-Purpose Heavy Duty Garden Totes from my collection on Amazon. 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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- And this is our Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine Tiller. We rototill the vegetable garden every year – regular tilling over time can improve soil structure.
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- This model has four forward, one neutral and two reverse speeds for easy use.
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- Phurba 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 Phurba moves, he 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. Phurba is also wearing proper safety gear – long pants, closed shoes, and head and face protection.
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- Only rototill when the ground is moist, but not wet – the soil should still crumble when picked up. 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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- On the left is nutrient-rich soil that has been tilled. On the right, soil that Phurba still has to go over. 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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- The vegetable gardens are 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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- 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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- Next, Phurba moves onto the adjacent garden and continues the same process, overlapping as he goes.
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- The machine needs a lot of control to maneuver it through the soil, so Phurba goes slowly to make sure every bit of the soil is turned.
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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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- Here, one can see where Phurba is in the process – the outer areas are done, while the centers are not.
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- And here it is all complete. 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. Next, we will create the beds, and add a generous amount of composted manure. Compost helps make the soil more absorbent and is a good way to ensure big, bountiful crops come summer. Ryan and I have already discussed our plans for this year’s garden configuration – you’ll love our ideas. I can’t wait to start planting.
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