LYDIA WATCHES ME ( UNDER MY WATCHFUL EYE!)  CULTIVATE ONE OF THE RAISED BEDS WHERE THE SWEET PEAS WERE GROWING, AS I TURN-IN A GREEN MANURE CROP OF RYE WITH THE NEW BATTERY-POWERED CORDLESS CULTIVATOR BY TROY-BILT. NOW YOU CAN WIN ONE TOO -COMPLETELY FREE!

 I tested out this cultivator with a little scepticism, recently, roto-tilling has been scrutinized for ruining soil structure, destroying worms and networks of microbes, but in certain situations, tilling the soil is still necessary – for example, brand new garden beds with sod removed, clay soil which is dense and heavy requiring added organic material, or in my case, new raised beds that have the perfect blend of organic material, ( I’m not bragging, but a could of my beds are loose and deep with loamy compost, so a good tilling helps mix in a green manure or cover crop). This time I used composted hay – yes, I could use a pitch fork, but with a cover crop or green manure, a soil cultivator is essential. I have a giant- old fashioned rototiller( the big ‘ol Troy-Bilt model we have in the shed)but it is so heavy and powerful, that we only use it for corn and potatoes in the large vegetable garden out back. If you have raised beds,  a cultivator was never an option.

CHECK OUT THE WEEDS! REALLY, BY LATE AUGUST, I JUST ABOUT GIVE UP, AND ALLOW THE SQUASH AND PUMPKINS TO JUST TAKE OVER EVERYTHING!

 Now, with this battery powered model, raised bed gardeners have an easy option. First thing that I noticed, is that this device is light and easy to transport. I can lift it with one hand. Second, and this is important – it was easy assemble right-out-of-box, ( I’m not that handy with power-tools). Third, it is battery powered, so no gasoline, oil or electric cords. I would add that it may not be powerful enough to break sod, or till deeply, but given that few of us till in the same way we did 20 years ago, this is the perfect device – I will use it for weeding, as I can adjust the tines to cut only the surface of the soil, so next year, I will plant beans and potatoes in rows with just enough distance so that I can cultivate between the long rows. I probably won’t use this in my raised beds, but I will use it out back in our back 40, where I grow long rows of crops like peas, beans and potatoes. Hand weeds long rows is impractical given my schedule.

LYDIA AND FERGUS INSPECT THE BED LOOKING FOR – WELL, BONES, I GUESS.

I AM USING THE FRESHLY CULTIVATED BED AS A HOLDING BED FOR MY EXHIBITION CHRYSANTHEMUMS, AS I STAKE THEM. I HAVE BEEN NEGLECTING THEM, BUT I THINK I CAN STILL SAVE THEM WITH A LITTLE TLC. THESE WILL BE 5-6 FEET TALL BY NOVEMBER- EACH TRAINED TO THREE STEMS AND DISBUDDED TO ENCOURAGE LARGE FLOWERS FOR DISPLAY.

++++++++++++ CONGRATULATIONS++++++++++++++

To reader -EMILY from Elkins Ark.!! For winning the Troy-Bilt Cultivator!
Thanks for participating everyone!

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