Start May soil cultivation with rotary mower

Press, 15 May 1981, Page 10

Start May soil cultivation with rotary mower

Gardening

by

M. Lusty

At this time of the year there is usually comparatively little growing in the vegetable garden. This is the period when green manure crops are grown, or existing garden crop residues are dug into the soil. The purpose is generally two fold, — one, to build up the organic matter content of the soil, and to give the area a rest from constant cropping. The ideal tool for turning over soil is a good sharp

spade which allows the inversion of a full spit depth (250-300 mm burying all surface material in the process, so that a well completed plot shows nothing but “good old dirt.” This system is not seen now to anything like the extent that it once was when many gardeners took as much pride in the art of digging as did the ploughman with his horses. These days mechanical aids, such as the rotary hoe, are often more

evident. They make for easier work, but are not always the best method, especially when constantly repeated in the same piece of ground. One piece of equipment which has been found particularly useful in preparing ground covered in reasonably high vegetation for final work with a spade or rotary hoe, is the rotary mower. This type of mower, when used without the catcher but

with a side delivery plate attached, can be used to cut down the unwanted growth. This can then be easily turned under with either spade, plough or rotary hoe. Useful green manure crops which take but ten to fifteen or so weeks to reach the stage when they can be turned under include rye, oats, lupins, peas, and vetches. Legumes such as peas and lupins are particularly good as green manure because

they are able to fix their own nitrogen thus providing additional soil enrichment when dug in. Some form of organic matter whether animal manure, crop residues, or compost, should always be added to the vegetable growing area if for no other reason than to maintain the fertility and structure of the soil. In the . long run it will not only benefit the crops but also help to retain rfioisture and improve the friability.