CARING FOR THE LAND
A small guide to getting the best results

WHY TILL THE SOIL

1. Preparing beds for sowing or transplanting plants in the vegetable plot or garden; this requires a very fine tilth and surface tilling only.
2. Breaking up uncultivated land: tilling uncultivated land to make it productive (deep tilling).
3. Digging in organic matter and fertilisers; mixing fertilisers and organic waste into the soil.
4. Removing weeds: hoeing or weeding to eliminate weeds.
5. Breaking up the surface crust (hoeing): this is done to eliminate weeds or to prevent evaporation from the lower layers.
6. Drill-digging and earthing-up: preparing drills for sowing (potatoes, asparagus, etc.) and earthing-up crops to protect and blanch them.

IN SPRING: Preparing the ground for sowing
Till the soil to obtain a very uniform bed (depth 10-15 cm) to create the ideal conditions for rooting and growing-on seedlings.

IN SUMMER: Tilling
It is important to keep the soil between the rows of plants weed-free during the growing season. So till on the surface only to eliminate weeds and keep the soil soft. This allows moisture and water to penetrate and restricts weed growth, ensuring peak yields from your crops.

IN AUTUMN: Fertilising
Harrow the plants still in the ground to chop them into small pieces so that they are buried in the earth: this ensures that the material breaks down quickly, adding more organic nutrients to the ground.

ALL YEAR AROUND:

Furrowing
This is done at different times of year to create drills for sowing or irrigation trenches.
There are two types of furrower, towed and adjustable or combined, fitted above the tiller instead of the cover and working together with it. With this method, the traction force of the machine's wheels is enhanced by the propulsive action of the tiller as it tills the land, and the machine travels well even over hard ground.

Earthing-up
Earthing-up is normally carried out with the adjustable furrower to "earth up" the soil around the plants; the procedure can also be used to lift potatoes.
Earthing-up is also carried out to blanch some vegetables such as salad, artichoke, etc..