Time to Put Down Plastic

[hunterridgefarm]

Ginseng does grow here but at a little higher elevation than I'm at. And I would need to hire an armed guard!!

 

[snowbelt geauga]

The Nolts and the Berry Hill mulch layers are the same. Nolts is about $300 cheaper.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

snowbelt,

It must be the BLACK deflectors on the back of mine that cost the extra $300 instead of the white ones on the Nolt

Actually Berryhill has one that is $1700.00 but will only handle 36' plastic

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you for the info. It sounds like something we will have to look into for next year. can you plant seeds with the plastic or will only existing plants work?

We are using soaker hoses that we bought at Sams Club. They are quite a bit cheaper then what they sell at Lowes and seem to be of pretty good quality. Karen is excited to be out in the garden weeding, but time is limited with work and her finishing up her PhD, so there is a lot of unknown in what will get done and how it ends up.

Please keep us updated on your progress. This is something that I'm very interested in and wanting to learn as much as possible.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Eddie,

You can seed through the plastic. You just punch a hole in it and put the seed in. I will be seeding in the plastic as well as transplants. I bought a hand seeder that I can adjust the depth, I will take a picture of it and post. the bottom is closed, once you poke it in the plastic you drop the seed in the top and rock it forward, the bottom opens up and drops the seed.

It will take a little longer to plant this way than the seeder I have for bare ground but it will be worth it in the long run.

If your weeds start taking over you can lay old news paper between the rows, wet them to hold them down then cover with straw or mulch to hold the weeds down. Don't use pine needles as they may leach in to the ground and lower your Ph. Most veggies like between 6-7ph.


This is the one I have: http://www.berryhilldrip.com/MGS-01...while-standing-up-through-plastic-mulch..html

 

[DFB]

For you smaller garden growers if your interested in using plastic layer and cant see the hefty investment of large sized equipment I cannot recommend enough to consider the smaller Holland units. I've been using one small scale commercial for years. Works great for laying down mulch with compact tractors and scuts and is also designed to bolt up to walk behind machines like the BCS and Troybuilt depending on the hitch configuration. Optional accessories include drip tape dispenser and dibble wheel hole punch


click soilworking/plastic mulchlayer

BCS Implements


Just a FYI nothing's totally weed free...weeds still grow up thru the planting holes!

But it sure helps

 

[Reyer Farms]

High tunnel production of crops have lead to many companies making mini layers. Some units are combo units others are two different pieces. Rainflo has a combo, Buckeye makes a whole line of smaller equipment for market growing, Kennco offers the family farm line.

 

[snowbelt geauga]

I ordered the Nolts rb448 layer which will lay 48" and 36" plastic. With a single drip tape attachment for $1690.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

That is a good price on the Nolts. Mine must be the same as it will do 36 or 48". I paid $1600 for slightly used with a roll of plastic and t tape. Plus $100.00 for diesel and lunch so you might as well say $1700.00.

But yours will be brand new with no dirt Take a picture when you get it!

 

[snowbelt geauga]

They told me it was 6 to7 weeks out 2weeks ago. I will post pictures if I can figure out how to do it.