He can cover 1 to 2 acres per hour, depending on weed pressure. Crops jump ahead of weeds when the pre-plant tillage, flaming and dry surface soil steps combine as intended. Holding the Alloway vegetable cultivator in place are the same bed-hugging guidance wheels he used on the planter. To cultivate the outside edges of the bed, he uses a pair of curved banana knives per side. One runs deep, one shallow.
Basket rollers on the back of the unit lightly pack the soil on bed tops to curb moisture loss.
At first pass, when the disks are set only 2 inches apart straddling the rows, he travels 1.5 to 2 mph. At second cultivation he pulls the disks further apart to accommodate crop growth and runs 3 to 4 mph. Minor adjustment as crops develop take relatively little time once row-width and depth settings are fixed. Then you end up looking for those parts when you should be out in the field. With five toolbars ready to go when conditions are just right, our operations are much more timely.