Cultivator/tiller

[Amanda1]

Hello all

I've not been on here for a very, very long time - at least 18 months. At the ripe old age of 36 I have developed arthritis down my right side and now in my neck. I took last year off gardening but I'm determined to get back into this year and I've made a start. However, I think digging the veg plots is going to be a struggle so I've been considering buying a cultivator/tiller
(1300w, electric £99) to take the strain. BUT I don't know if it will do the job. I have heavy clay soil that has been improved over the past 5 years with compost/manure but it's still heavy. Can anyone give me any advice on whether a cultivator/tiller could be able to cope with this type of soil (without the need to dig it first which would defeat the object)? Thanks

[Kristen]

I have a Mantis which I am fond of.

I too am on heavy clay, improved over the last 4 or 5 years with manure. I have "lazy raised beds" - 4' wide, no retaining timber, but we never walk on the beds. The paths are 18" wide and all I did was dig the paths out one-spit deep and put that soil on the beds.

Nice thing about having ones own tiller is that you can use it when the weather is just right. In olden times I used to hire one, once a year, and the soil conditions were never "just right"

[Sylvan]

You may find, as it progresses, that the arthritis in your neck will affect one or both of your arms, which might make it difficult to use the tiller. (I reached the point where changing gear was extremely painful.)

Grumpy made me some 2' high raised beds because I can't often reach the ground these days and they have the advantage of not having to be dug.

Might that be the way to go?

[Aberdeenplotter]

You may find, as it progresses, that the arthritis in your neck will affect one or both of your arms, which might make it difficult to use the tiller. (I reached the point where changing gear was extremely painful.)

Grumpy made me some 2' high raised beds because I can't often reach the ground these days and they have the advantage of not having to be dug.

Might that be the way to go?

The small tillers like the mantis are excellent but they have a tendancy to pan the ground which affects drainage and the only way to sort that is then to double dig. So it's dig first and then use these small tillers to get the desired tilth. (will work fine in a deep bed though)

The mantis isn't a big heavy machine but it works by pulling backwards through the soil and it is quite heavy work and would definitely put a lot of strain on your shoulders.

In case you think I'm being negative, I think my mantis is a super piece of kit.

[Florence Fennel]

I'm sorry to hear that you're suffering with arthritis at such a young age Amanda. I would agree with Sylvan that maybe you should be considering high raised beds so as not to exacerbate your condition. I'm sure you would find digging even with a tiller, much too difficult. Good luck, whatever you decide.