Rain-Flo mulch layer

[boomer613]

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

David

No, not at all. Ask Jody all the questions you need. I'm learning too and he has a lot of good knowledge.

 

[DFB]

I don't know what types of ground you guys have but what is most important before you even lay that first piece of plastic is the condition of the soil. Moisture content...too wet or too dry will have a big impact on the quality of the final bed. Obviously a rock free sandy loam is like the best soil you could wish for and anybody that works a soil with a high clay content knows you need to hit just right or you end up bunch of lumpy clods on your hands. I don't know how many times I wished I had two tractors so not have to switch equipment if I needed to use my tiller again. With a decent moisture content and the smoother the soil tilth the better it shape the soil and get the plastic to pull tight and smooth across the surface and bury the edges tight. Any big rocks either under the plastic or that get caught along the outsides edges of the plastic will disrupt a smooth operation since it is kind of a one shot deal to get it down right unless you like hand bedding the missed spots or ripping it back out and starting over gets expensive there. If a plastic isn't tight to the surface or the edges buried good high winds can get under it either thru the open planting slits or a loose edge and lift it up enough to tear it loose. Having a assistant or two following helps a lot the operator can keep looking forward helps to stay straight and if a problem arises (they can alert you really not much problem stopping and starting again) and straighten it out plus they can bed in your start and finish so the operator can stay on the tractor. The layer I use doesn't have a shaper pan but the resulting bed is usually higher than the track on either side. I always like to press down the soil tight with my tractor wheel getting as close to edge of the bedded plastic as I can

 

[boomer613]

DFB, Thanks for the tip. What type of layer do you have?

 

[DFB]

Holland Transplanter built it uses 2 ft wide plastic.

We had this one too

Mulch layer: Holland Transplanter - YouTube

 

[DFB]

Also had the 1265 transplanter and a lifter I think it was from Mechanical Transplanter don't quite remember now. MT model 90 is pretty similar mulch layer. Weren't to many to chose from back when.

Next purchase of film I believe I am going to go biodegradable. Dubois has some good choices if I don't have to rip it out and get rid of it, all the better for me.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

DFB,

I have the sandy loam soil, no rocks, so it should form good. When you say "get the tire close to the edge to help pack", I assume you are talking about the second row? How close are your rows for say, tomatoes, peppers, cukes, squash, around 3 foot?

boomer, I make you a deal, come to western NC end of March/first of April and we will lay my rows. Then if I get everything planted I come down and help you, if I get time:thumbsup:.

No...wait... forget that statement, you are a little further South, so you will plant before me...

 

[DFB]

You can put your rows any spacing you want if you have the room. Do you figure want to drive or cultivate between the plastic with your tractor. For me the optimum would be rows about 6ft apart on center being the 2 ft. plastic is tucked about 4" on either side. Then my 50" tiller would easily go between and a 4 ft wide harvest wagon and or ATV too. For years I did a much tighter spacing to get more on less land leaving only little more than an R4 tire width between rows and would keep it clean between rows with walk behind tiller. A bit more work but I was ok with it. Obviously the more spread out you get the more expenses you can incur with your plastic, irrigation lines, etc. Or you could lay down a series of tighter spaced rows like maybe 4 at a time then leave a wider space for harvest or spray equipment then 4 more that way no matter which side your on you have only at most two rows to cross to spray or drop off what u pick.

You know I often tell my boss at the orchard farm you have to work smarter not harder. You know what he says back? "I don't have to...I have the Mexicans.

 

[boomer613]

boomer, I make you a deal, come to western NC end of March/first of April and we will lay my rows. Then if I get everything planted I come down and help you, if I get time:thumbsup:.

No...wait... forget that statement, you are a little further South, so you will plant before me...

I probably do not live too far from you so I might make the trip. I am about 30 miles from the Tennessee border - near the Huntsville AL area. Our soil is loamy clay - about 25% sand and the rest clay. I have very little rocks in my fields. Not really sure how well veggies will grow in it as my wife been planting in large raise beds. I do have a few acres of fruit trees and berries which do well in our soil. Anxious to get started.

 

[Reyer Farms]

I'm back, busy day. I use a mazzei injector. It's nothing fancy, syphon type. I do not plant peas on plastic. There is not enough margin here for the added expense. I plant and over spray with premergence and stay out of field until harvest. After harvest hogs come in and clean up.
Strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, okra, squash, and some onions go on plastic here. I'm experimenting with sweet corn on raised bed this year.
I have experienced greater yields on plastic each season. You really can manage your resources better, plant less and expect more.
Your strawberry fields look good. Is the date correct on picture? I'm guessing, but the bedding was done with a Reddick? Almost CAT yella color.
My bedder has tuck wheels and press wheels at the rear. I lay off rows one right after the next, pulling outside last tire track. Do any of y'all leap frog or skip one to pull common furrows? Instead of 1234 it would be 1324.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Yes disease is lessened with plastic. Pest can be too , silver mulch is supposed to deter aphids. I use black and ipm. I also like to skip a row with tomatoes. I till the tractor width skip and it lets air circulate better and helps keep plants drier and I feel helps lessen problems.
Moisture management- plants seem to be the most dehydrated in the morning, bed moisture is highest in middle of day. When heat is high moisture starts to come up and evaporate. Plastic stops this. We used an tensiometer or irrometer our first year. It's pretty neat.
There is no way I would want to go back and plant tomatoes on bare ground.