___________________
O_peration
Avoid
Making
Footprints
When making final tilling or cultivating passes
through the garden, try to walk on the side
of
the tiJler
where you will be on as-yet untilled soil.
Don't
leave
footprints as shown in Photo 4-20.
Eliminating footprints means more than just a good
appearance in your garden. The lack
of
footprints
aids in preventing soil erosion and keeps weed seeds
from being "replanted"
in
the newly tilled soil. Soil
that hasn't been compacted by footprints is also easier
for plant roots to grow in.
Photo 4-20:
Avoid
leaving footprints.
0000
Cultivating
If
you plan carefully before planting, you can leave
enough room between plant rows for later cultivating
with the tiller. That will eliminate hand-weeding or
hoeing chores during the growing season!
The tiller hood is
22-Yz"
across. Allow for that
width between rows plus additional room for plant
growth (particularly bushy crops like beans, tomatoes,
peas, etc.) See Figure 4-21.
0000
00>00
Power
Composting
For a garden to be bountiful, the soil must be re-
plenished regularly. Harvested produce removes ni-
trogen, phosphorous, and potassium from the soil -
these plant nutrients must be replaced.
An easy and effective way to do this is to use your
tiller to chop, blend, and turn under all kinds
of
or-
ganic matter (crop residues, leaves, grass clippings,
etc.). This material decomposes during the off-season
and releases nutrients into the soil. See Photo 4-22.
When power composting with your tiller, adjust the
depth regulator to the deepest setting possible (move
it up so one
of
the bottommost notches
is
engaged)
without causing the engine to labor or the tiller to jump
ahead. Till under crop residues as soon as possible
after crop harvesting, as they'll till under more easily
when green. Use the HIGH belt range and SLOW
Wheel Speed Lever position when power composting.
If
necessary, move the belt to
LOW
range to slow
down the tine speed.
35
Figure 4-21:
Allow
sufficient room between rows
for
cultivating.
Last, plant a cover crop to protect the soil during the
non-growing season. Then, in the Spring, the cover
crop can be tilled under a few weeks prior to planting,
providing more organic matter to help feed the soil.
Photo 4-22:
After
harvesting produce,
till
under
crop residues to
add
nutrients to the soil.
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