Okay I have a small farm tractor my husband bought me a few years ago. It has a Roto-Tiller on it. I used to hoe out my rows by hand. Then I had a gas push tiller that I used to Till out my rows. So of course I am getting older 50 this year so my DH bought me this tractor. The problem is I cannot get my rows straight and I am a perfectionist when it comes to my garden. I got out there this morning and cranked up the old tractor roto tillered out my garden and got upset because no matter how I tried my rows would not come out straight. I started getting a kink in my neck from backing up so much and pulling forward. Anyways any of you girls have your own garden tractor. If so I would try any suggestions or advice you might have. Hum!!! I do love my tractor!!
I am sorry but I had to laugh at this....what is wrong with crooked rows...will the plants grow crooked in crooked rows?! :) I too have one of those small tillers that I love but like you it has a mind of its own & takes me for a ride everytime....But I am at the age (52) that I don't care if the rows are crooked or straight I am just thankful I am not out there with a shovel trying to do it .....like i did before this nifty little tiller came into my life. i guess you could just till up the whole area then make your rows after its all done using string & sticks to get the rows straight...but me I would say a crooked garden is a good garden & you will have a fun time with the story....Michele'
I till up the whole area first and then go back and mark my rows with stakes and string. I do this not so much because crooked rows are unsightly but because that way I can till between the rows all season long instead of weeding. If that is your aim, be sure to measure enough space between the rows for the tiller to fit and leave enough space on the ends to turn the tractor.
I just want to say I was not laughing at you I just found it so cute....but I do realize for a veggie garden crooked rows would be awful to try & weed.... I did share this cute idea with some others about having crooked row herb & flower gardens with some of the hens & I think you have started something wonderful & didn't even know it.....Michele'
Okay Michele, I have to laugh also. Because I went out this morning and tried again. I made it even worse. I really need to get my potatoes in the ground so I went ahead anyways and planted them. I stood back looking at the garden and said oh well the plants will still grow no matter what the rows look like. I think my Dh made me paranoid about it because last year every time I would be on the tractor he would watch me. Then he would get on the tractor and redo the whole garden for me. I asked him why he did that and he said because your rows are crooked. So this year I have been tilling up my garden whenever he has left for work. So as not to be watched as if I am doing something wrong. And Sheri I like your way of thinking. I am going to try that so as not to have so much weeding! Happy Gardening everyone!!
Good for you!!! I think its funny that hubby feels the need to go right behind you with the tractor & fix your rows.....bless your heart for putting up with him & his tractor :)....my husband knows if he gets near any of the gardens its off with his head...years ago he & a friend decided to go out & weed my garden...they took out my giant sunflowers, bush beans...even the carrot tops...can you tell they lived in the city....what took me weeks to do they destroyed in 2 hours while I was at work so I told him after I calmed down that he was never ever to touch an area I have dug up...even if its just a pile of dirt he is to leave it alone....everything else is fair game...& I got him a riding lawnmower last year so he is happy to drive that & mow the regular lawn.....Michele'
Things grow just as well in crooked rows as straight! My grandpa told me that years ago. I was planting oats at the time, but the same applies to the garden as well!
Michele
HollyG
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Holly
Hamburg
Arkansas
USA
214 Posts
Posted - Mar 01 2011 : 09:05:48 AM
Okay - I'm laughing too. I don't even HAVE a garden yet, but I immediately thought of how cool it would be to have wavy rows. Do it intentionally! I think there are many things to learn from what we call "mistakes" sometimes. I've found the very best things sometimes come from accidents!
Crooked Rows!
Posted - Feb 25 2011 : 06:33:05 AM
