Tractor implement question

Oldcountryboy · #1 09/14/08, 10:05 PM

What's the garden attachment called that lays down a sheet of plastic and has two disk on the sides that kicks dirt over on the edge of the plastic? Used for gardening. After the plastic is layed down you go along and punch holes in it and stick your plants in the holes.

Friday morning I stopped at a tractor dealership and questioned them about the implement and they said they've never heard of such a thing. I was wanting to check on prices and hope to acquire one before next garden season.

agmantoo · #2 09/14/08, 10:32 PM

http://www.fimaks.com/Products/mulchlayer.html
http://www.mechanicaltransplanter.com/layer.html

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...Kjq_S0Ag&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...15467873&hl=en

Windy in Kansas · #3 09/15/08, 10:27 AM

Poly mulch layers
http://www.mechanicaltransplanter.com/layer.html
http://www.buctraco.com/
http://www.transplanter.com/mulch.htm
http://www.marketfarm.com/

These poly mulch layerers fumigating, laying drip tubing, and laying mulch.

Others.

Three rows at a time.

mommagoose_99 · #4 09/15/08, 10:47 AM

We have a plastic layer that was given to us. Works great but you need a tractor that moves very slowly for it to work properly. We have a Ford Dexta that goes 2 miles per hour in second gear. It is excellant. We lay about 2,000 feet of plastic with drip irrigation, a season, in only a few hours. Try Robert Marvel, I think they sell them. Mine cost about $250 new but my friend moving South gave me his.
Linda

mommagoose_99 · #5 09/15/08, 10:54 AM

I plant about 4,000 cucumber plants a year in the thermally opaic plastic I lay with the plastic layer, usuing my index finger to punch the holes in the plastic and a bulb setter to make the hole in the dirt. I space the plants about 14 inches apart. I plant about a 1000 plants in 3 hours this way. Way cool.
Linda

Stephen in SOKY · #6 09/15/08, 11:44 AM

$250? This must be a typo, the used ones I find are more like $2500. Mommagoose, if $250 is correct, have you any ideas where I can find one? NY State is lovely this time of the year, I'll hit the road tomorrow morning!

mommagoose_99 · #7 09/15/08, 12:13 PM

I have had my plastic layer for 12 years but yes then they were way under $500. This one was made by an Amish company in Pennsylvania. I think it was in Marietta, Pa near Lancaster.Check out www.robertmarvel.com , I think they still sell them. The plastic layer I have was only 2-3 years old when my friend Gave it to me.
Linda

**Terri** · #8 09/15/08, 12:13 PM

This is a stupid question, but I can always ask.

Do you folks think that a lawn tractor would pull one of these? A regular tractor is not in the works at this time!!!!!!!!!!

mommagoose_99 · #9 09/15/08, 12:15 PM

I do not know why a person with welding knowlege couldn't make one themself. There isn't a lot to ours. All you would need is a picture and some measurements.

mommagoose_99 · #10 09/15/08, 12:21 PM

I do not think a lawn tractor would pull one. There is a lot of weight involved and you need a three point hitch to pull evenly. Go to www.robertmarvel.com. WE have the flat bed layer without the drip irrigation attachment. We just lay out the drip first and use it as a guide to lay the plastic

Stephen in SOKY · #11 09/15/08, 12:30 PM

Thanks Linda, $1600 new is better than the used prices I see here!

watcher · #12 09/15/08, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommagoose_99

I do not think a lawn tractor would pull one. There is a lot of weight involved and you need a three point hitch to pull evenly. Go to www.robertmarvel.com. WE have the flat bed layer without the drip irrigation attachment. We just lay out the drip first and use it as a guide to lay the plastic

Hum . .I have no use for one of these things but do you think a truck could pull one? I have seen attachments which is basically a 3 pt hitch on a trailer to move equipment. I don't know if it would work here or not.

Windy in Kansas · #13 09/15/08, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri

Do you folks think that a lawn tractor would pull one of these? A regular tractor is not in the works at this time!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose the one on page 8 of this PDF could be adapted or you could get one made to fit your tractor. NOTE that the one shown here does NOT put soil on the edge to hold the poly down. You would either have to pin it, add soil, or otherwise hold it from blowing in the wind.
http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/equipcatalog.pdf

From what others have said; the problem with building your own is not so much making the unit, but making one that works easily. I understand it is quite a job getting the roll tensioned correctly so that the poly is taut without being really really stretched or much too loose. Once set it should work about the same every year.

A couple of hilling discs or maybe even grain drill opening discs could be used to toss the dirt onto the edges. The spring devices on disc grain drills might even work well with wheels installed instead of discs in order to hold down edge of the plastic before it gets soil on it. Where is an old grain drill for parts when you need one?

In many areas where commercial vegetable production has never been in vogue equipment is not only hard to come by but is high in cost. A person could probably make money buying and hauling used equipment from one area where it is typically used to an area where it isn't.

Oldcountryboy · #14 09/20/08, 03:29 AM

Oh my gosh I'd forgotten I even asked about this equipment. Haven't been able to sleep tonight and was laying there thinking when all of a sudden it dawned on me that I had asked here. Had to get up and seek.

Yeap, that's what I'm looking for. This is how I want to plant my future gardens. I'm starting to get up there in age and all that weeding stuff is getting rougher. The local high school AG boys planted a garden this way and they had the best garden around.

Thanks everyone for the pictures and video's. They just made me want one even more.