Rain-Flo mulch layer

[boomer613]

Does anyone own a Rain-Flo plastic mulch layer? I am thinking about purchasing the 2400 mini model.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I did look at it but found this one from Berry Hill Irrigation. http://www.berryhilldrip.com/Mulch-Layers/

It will handle the 48" plastic.

Couple bought it and only used it for about 10 rows of strawberries one season.

I have not tried it yet but it should work fine his tractor was the same size as mine.

I think the 2400 from Rain Flo has the water tote on the front to add weight??

 

[boomer613]

I have seen the red one on berry hill before. I think it is only for flat beds. The rain-flo 2400, 2550,2600 has the ability for making raised beds. The 2400 model can make 5" bed which is perfect for my 40 HP tractor. The rain-flo 2550 and 2600 requires a heavier tractor with more HP.

 

[snowbelt geauga]

Nolt,s Produce supply in Leola,PA has the same layers as berry hill a lot cheaper. Going to buy a RB448 raised bed mulch layer from Nolt,s this spring. If spring ever gets here!

 

[boomer613]

Irrigation-mart has the Nolt RB448 for $1850.

 

[snowbelt geauga]

From Nolts it is 1535 plus another 155 for the drip tape layer.

 

[boomer613]

From Nolts it is 1535 plus another 155 for the drip tape layer.

Didn't realize you could buy directly from Nolts. Great deal but I still leaning towards the Rain-flo 2400. Several places offer it for $2395. The rain-flo products look better and heavier made. The 2400 model has a water tank for added weight so the beds are more properly formed and compacted. The higher model has a seat for added weight. This added weight makes a difference from what I am told.

Are you choosing Nolts due to the value?

 

[snowbelt geauga]

Talked to a few people that have them or used them and they didn't have anything bad to say. The Nolts weighs about 800lbs. I plan on buying a Nolts this spring. To use on an acre of vegetables.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I have seen the red one on berry hill before. I think it is only for flat beds. The rain-flo 2400, 2550,2600 has the ability for making raised beds. The 2400 model can make 5" bed which is perfect for my 40 HP tractor. The rain-flo 2550 and 2600 requires a heavier tractor with more HP.

The one from Berry Hill make a 4" raised bed.

 

[Reyer Farms]

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.

 

[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 .....