This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, chickens, and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.
peas planted!
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Monday, November 24, 2014
little winter rye sprouts
I planted my winter rye seed really late (Nov 10) so I'm really happy to see it sprout.
I always turn manually. I hate tillers. I can't imagine what tillers do to earthworms and other soil organisms. I feel if I turn over big clumps of earth, then rake it flat that I am maintaining at least some of the soil structure. I think this is better than using a sharp blade and pureeing the soil.
Also, with raised beds, I think it would be hard to get a tiller in. Maybe not, I've never tried it.
How do you turn the winter crop over in your soil? Tiller? Manually? This is a raised bed, right?
ReplyDeleteI always turn manually. I hate tillers. I can't imagine what tillers do to earthworms and other soil organisms. I feel if I turn over big clumps of earth, then rake it flat that I am maintaining at least some of the soil structure. I think this is better than using a sharp blade and pureeing the soil.
ReplyDeleteAlso, with raised beds, I think it would be hard to get a tiller in. Maybe not, I've never tried it.
Thanks very nice blog!
ReplyDelete