To cultivate my garden or not

37chief · May 20, 2012

I planted my corn, and water mellons. Most came up good, and are growing like crazy. After the plants came up, we got a good rain. Now there is a crust on the ground. Should I leave it, or culitivate around the plants with my rototiller? Seams If I do I will be opening up the ground and losing the moisture. I don't water, so all they get is what is in the ground. When Dad farmed he would always cultivate the beans, and they did ok. What do you think? Stan

Bruce from Can. · May 20, 2012

work it

60 acre hillside · May 20, 2012

Yes cultivate the ground or apply mulch such as straw. A crust on the ground allows water to escape by capilarry action.

Greg1959 · May 20, 2012

I'm kinda in a pickle too! My ground is mostly clay and after tilling and planting seeds, after a rain or watering, the crust is about 1/4 to 1 inch thick. It is compacted dry clay and the sprouts can't push through to the surface. They just rot in the ground. What can I do to losen the dirt. I thought about adding sand to the soil after this crop.

Any ideas????

TomH in PA · May 20, 2012

Organic matter is best for loosening up the soil. Compost, manure, shredded leaves, lawn clippings - whatever you can get and as much as you can get.

OH - 961 · May 20, 2012

(quoted from post at 19:05:11 05/20/12) I'm kinda in a pickle too! My ground is mostly clay and after tilling and planting seeds, after a rain or watering, the crust is about 1/4 to 1 inch thick. It is compacted dry clay and the sprouts can't push through to the surface. They just rot in the ground. What can I do to losen the dirt. I thought about adding sand to the soil after this crop.

Any ideas????

Tried adding sand to mine - didn't do much for it. By the time you got enough to do any good it would have to be mostly sand.
Organic matter is best.

Myron

Geo-TH,In · May 20, 2012

This may sound crazy, but my dad would cultivate his corn when it was dry and dusty. He said the loose dry dirt on the top saved the moisture below. This would have been about 60 years ago.

Perhaps some old timer can comment on cultivating to save moisture. Or maybe this was just an old wise tail!

Eldo case · May 20, 2012

Yes till it. Dad always called that a dust mulch. It will hold the moisture.

Greg1959 · May 20, 2012

Thanks! I will try that.

Rusty wheel · May 20, 2012

If you just want to bust up the crust, try using a spiker or a rotary hoe, but be careful not to dig up the seeds.

TomA in CA · May 21, 2012

You definately have to break up that crust or it will dry out. A cultivator is best. try not to bring up too much moisture. Yes a dust mulch will conserve the moisture. You can even use a light harrow on most crops. For something that has not come up definately harrow.

36 Coupe · May 21, 2012

Buckwheat can be used to add organic matter to soils.It shades the weeds.When it flowers plow it under.I used to plant strips of buckwheat when the garden was bigger.Winter rye can be plowed under in the spring.Around here the rye should be planted by mid October.

SweetFeet · May 21, 2012

We added some sand initially - since it does not decompose. But we added ALOT of pete moss for organic matter and I add more every year. Also have added composted manure. And sometimes sprinkle grass clippings on the garden and till it into the soil.

To cultivate my garden or not

37chief

Well-known Member

Bruce from Can.

Well-known Member

60 acre hillside

Member

Greg1959

Well-known Member

TomH in PA

Well-known Member

OH - 961

Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

Eldo case

Member

Greg1959

Well-known Member

Rusty wheel

Well-known Member

TomA in CA

Member

36 Coupe

Well-known Member

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

Similar threads