Hard packed Soil from rototilling.

[Brown Thumb]

Since Baccy don't grow deep, I was wondering if hard packed soil under the tilling made a difference. I know its got a main vein going down tho.
I missed a ripper list yr. on craigslist but I tried to put the plastic mulch down today and got
rained out again.
I felt down in a couple of rows and it is hard as a Rock down there about 12 inches.

 

[Chicken]

Luckily I don't have those issues..in my area my spot is sand..we haven't had no rain in such a long time..today as I was taking my area for weed barrier mat...it was as if I was taking the desert...and I've removed my fall garden completely from that area so I haven't run my irrigation in a while.

 

[Chicken]

Raking...not taking..damn spell.check..

 

[Brown Thumb]

Raking...not taking..damn spell.check..

I hate when that happens, We Try Tho.

 

[deluxestogie]

If the hard packed layer has a high clay content, then it may present a problem during heavy rains, and lead to root drowning. Dig a hole through the tilled layer, down to the packed layer, then pour a gallon of water into it. This will tell you if the water will percolate through that layer.

As far as tobacco roots are concerned, I have seldom seen the primary roots go down more than about 1 foot. With ample spacing, most of the roots seem to stay in the upper 8 to 10 inches. (In a pot, they go deeper, since there is much less lateral space.)

Bob

 

[BigBonner]

When I plow my fields I only plow around 10 inches deep .
In most field that I know of there is what is called a hard pan . This is a thin layer soil at around 18 to 20 inches deep that we bust up with a sub soiler .
This layer will heal itself back over in time but by busting it up it allows the soil to drain excess water .

 

[Knucklehead]

I planted Tillage Radish this past winter as a cover crop. Give it a Google. Roots grow up to 30" deep and there's a ton of green compost. They winter kill after about the second hard freeze. GMAC turned me on to them and they did great. My father tilled the patch for a garden this year. Said it was easy to till even dry.

 

[Smokin Harley]

I actually considered planting annual rye for a winter cover crop,like cheap contractor stuff . quick/easy to germinate ,kills off at first or second hard frost. Should provide some soil structure the following year...what do you think?

 

[Brown Thumb]

I going to try Bobs Idea, Kinda of like a septic system Test.

 

[Brown Thumb]

Good flow, filled the tube last night and the water was gone in a few minutes, I did it again today and it drained no problem.
Me and my helper dug down to the hard packed dirt then hammered the pipe in 6 inches.

 

[deluxestogie]

Good flow...gone in a few minutes

Sounds like you're good.

Bob