Here's Looking at You!
In between cleaning and cooking... I browsed my seed catalogs... and made my decisions.
Though my garden is non-existent at this point in time... I will get my act together.
Even if it means calling in Vernon and his tractors to rip up the spot for me!
Back in the day, M. had a wonderful garden here. I think she was probably 85 or older before they seeded it to grass and she had to give up her garden. I usually FAIL at having a great garden... just one good enough. However, since I seem to have more time on my hands... and with Brandon coming home after graduation to help out even more around here, perhaps I will be able to keep up with it.
Time will tell.
The seed order will be going in soon.
I need your help though... I want a new rototiller. I'm tired of the humongous tank that has no reverse and runs only when you hold your mouth just right. You're my experts... so, what do you use?
Troy-built, Mantis, what?
What do you like and dislike about them?
Are they heavy?
Front tine or rear?
Thanks for your advice!
Rio had to follow me around like my dogs today... Here's looking at you, buddy boy!
****
February 20, 2011 Any Ideas
February 20, 2010 Spirit Wind (cool photos!)
February 20, 2009 My Desktop Background
February 20, 2008 Reflections and Shadows
Posted by Carol at 2/20/2012 11:10 PM 
Categories: Ranchlife, Wyoming, Horses, Garden
Tags: ranch Wyoming garden horses
Categories: Ranchlife, Wyoming, Horses, Garden
Tags: ranch Wyoming garden horses
Re: tiller question - Don't know if you're open to tweaking the way you've gardened for years, but I changed my style many years ago & love it! No Tiller needed. Raised garden beds. Just mulch really heavy with manure & straw or 'whatever' in the fall (about 8 in. deep). Then in the spring pull the mulch back, claw up the dirt a little & plant. The mulch turns into compost & feeds the plants. My mother is in her mid 60's & can easily manage her garden. I recommend the book 'The Vegetable Gardener's Bible' by Edward C. Smith. I have several beds - can send you pics if you want.
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I hear how people love their raised beds, but I've tilled my soil every spring, mixing in the mulch from the year before... and I just can't get my mind around running a tiller into the board edges! Dirt out here is not soft and loamy and I tend to haul in lots of "stuff" to build it up... which would seem to be more difficult in raised beds...
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The tiller itself doesn't make that much difference. Just make sure it doesn't have a Tecumseh engine. Everyone that I had with that engine didn't last. Ended up having to mount a Briggs & Stratton on my Troy-Bilt.
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Good to know, thanks!
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I went with the honda mini tiller. The mantis has a honda engine anyway. Love mine. Light weight. Can just lift it up when I get to the end of the row. It is a middle tine. My husband was shock the ground I was breaking with it. Arizona soil is cooked hard, believe me.
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I tend to like Honda engines...
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I have a mantis for small jobs, and bought a Husquvarna rear tine for larger jobs. It's the 14" one I think. LOVE it. If you're doing a smaller lot, look into buying/building some raised beds though. We do a large 'community' garden where I board my horse, but I do a small family one here, with raised beds. I tend to add another section each year or two as I can manage.
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I tend to have larger gardens (for canning) so I just can't see how a raised bed would work. It seems like a waste of space! How do you till close to the boards??
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For some reason I'm thinking you don't till raised beds, but I'm not a gardener, so I'm not sure.
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My soil would compact too much if I didn't till...
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Rear Tine
Troy-Bilts are OK
Tecumseh's are OK, as have a 25+ yr. old Ariens rear tine that still runs fine, as will as a 15 yr. old generator. Run carb out of gas -- intall gas shutoff if necesary -- never leave gas in carb over winter or will have to rebuild it.
Can't beat Honda engines -- always start & designed with a gas shutoff.
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Everett, thanks for your input! I'm still checking out Hondas...
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