Rain-Flo mulch layer

[hunterridgefarm]

Reyer Farms,

I had the same issues with Rain Flo on irrigation supplies. They were trying to sell me $3500 worth of supplies and I only needed $600 worth. After several calls of explaining what I had and what I needed it was always the same outcome. So I bought my supplies from Berry Hill this year. I will try Rain Flo again next year.

I have thought about running the hiller before the mulch layer to maybe give a firmer bed. Do you think this would help? I have a sandy loam soil but it firms up good.

 

[boomer613]

I really liked the mini rainflo. I almost bought one but the guy I talked to at rainflo was not very helpful or knowledgable. So me and my temper shopped elsewhere. I would buy rainflo hands down before the nolts. Neither machine is adjustable, very important when soil is not perfect. I would suggest also shopping kennco, they have a bedder that does 6" for smaller tractors. It is not a combo layer, but in hind sight I wish I would have bought bedder and separate layer. It is so much more flexible and you will get a better bed. One pass bedding gives loose sloppy beds unless you have ice cream dirt.

The rain-flo 2400 weighs about 1025 lbs, although this includes the shipping weight. The water tote is 50 gallons so you can add an additional 400 lbs. This should mae a better bed than the lighter brands. As for a separate bedder and layer, you can always run the mulch layer without the plastic and then make a separate run over the same bed with the plastic. This should give you a better bed if the soil is not in perfect condition and this should save you the cost of 2 different units. I only see the benefit of 2 units if you were going to make really high beds (8 plus inches)

 

[Reyer Farms]

Hunterridgefarms- the hillers will help. Hippers are even better. You want a larger rough bed so you can cut out your bed from inside. If you can get it to mellow and settle with good moisture content it will give a good firm bed with clean shape ready for planting. Firm bed is important when using water wheel. I get all my irrigation from Irrigation Mart in La.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Boomer- you are correct about pulling beds without plastic. It is kinda of a pain though, plus layers are designed to cut bed sides to tuck plastic. Combo units don't cut away, and on your 2nd or 3rd trip you don't have enough soil for covering. You must also remove covering discs or you won't have any soil.
Currently, I have to pull without plastic to lay out and then I go back and cover. I run a Buckeye bedder. If I had it do over again I would have bought two units. It give you better beds, in my eyes.



These was for greens this past fall. No plastic just drip. This spring I am planting early sweet corn on same beds. Be nice to have buckeyes raised bed cultivator.



Strawberries on plastic this year. 6" high beds. I want to modify bedder to do 8".

 

[boomer613]

Boomer- you are correct about pulling beds without plastic. It is kinda of a pain though, plus layers are designed to cut bed sides to tuck plastic. Combo units don't cut away, and on your 2nd or 3rd trip you don't have enough soil for covering. You must also remove covering discs or you won't have any soil.
Currently, I have to pull without plastic to lay out and then I go back and cover. I run a Buckeye bedder. If I had it do over again I would have bought two units. It give you better beds, in my eyes.

Just curious how it would work if you ran the mulch layer at a slightly shallow depth without plastic and then ran a second pass with the bedder at a deeper debt to get you more dirt to cover the plastic?

 

[Reyer Farms]

That can work. Still must take covering discs off. Be careful, my experience is shallow can bed better than deeper. If you go too deep the rippers dig and back end of layer will float causing loose bed. Too much soil in pan is almost as bad as too little. Layer needs to float with weight of layer on press pan.

 

[boomer613]

Thanks Jody for your insight.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Your very welcome. Maybe it can save you some frustration. I spent about 80 hrs assembling, planning, learning , and cussing. I had no one around to learn from and had never seen one in person until I unloaded mine. The books that buckeye has are great resources. I would never go back to planting on flat ground, raised beds and plastic really make a difference in yields. Good luck!

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Reyer, I have a few questions.

boomer, I am not trying to hi-jack your thread I am just one who seeks knowledge from those with more experience

Reyer, Do you use a fertilizer injector for the liquid fertilizer? If so did you make it or purchase one.

On the subject of increased harvest, I have read that you can get 4-5 times the yield on plastic. Plus the diseases are less due to the crop not being in contact with the dirt. Your experience.

This is my first year with the layer and I plan to plant the usual crops on it. But I also want to plant green beans, peas, and such. I have a special hand planter for plastic to plant these type seed. Do you grow this on plastic?

I had good success at the market last year and in order to increase my acreage planted this year I needed to use the plastic. Reasons are yield, more control over rain/drought, big savings on labor (weeding, hoeing, etc), and soil born disease.

I have a good friend that I rent another farm to. He farms around 800 acres and plants a lot of different things on plastic. It has helped me a lot and is willing to help once I start laying this year. But with my work schedule and him involved in planting and strawberries I am not sure we will be able to get together.

He does the strawberries on my other farm, couple of pics attached. So this is starting to get busy for him.

I appreciate any advise you can give on plasticulture.

David

 

[Reyer Farms]

I will be back later, and answer those questions. Heifers calving .....