The use of plastic mulch is a common practice for strawberry and vegetable growers, but there are two major problems with plastic mulch: it is expensive to install and at some point it has to be removed from the field. Several machines are available that help simplify the removal of the mulch.

Precision vertical plate seeders are available for planting many vegetable crops. These seeders use a vertical metal plate with the cells (holes) on the edge.

A standard sweep cultivator can do an excellent job of cultivating vegetable crops once the plants reach 4-6 inches, but it must run very slowly in small crops (1-2 inches) and has a tendency to throw soil over the crop plants. An alternative is a rotary tiller/cultivator.

A key component of a precision cultural system is precision bed shaping. A precisely shaped bed is essential to locate the crop row properly when planting and to provide a basis for guidance of subsequent operations.

Many years of testing at the LSU AgCenter have demonstrated that precision belt seeders deliver the best seed spacing uniformity of any type of vegetable seeder – if the seeds are spherical (round) or nearly so. Belt seeders are versatile and can meter a wide range of seed types and sizes.

All vegetable seeders require openers, coverers and presswheels to provide a furrow for the seeds and to then cover the seeds and assure proper soil contact. These devices must be matched to the soil type and condition for optimum germination and seedling vigor.

A seeder can be a tremendous aid in planting a vegetable garden. With it, you can stand and walk along the row pushing a seeder instead of having to make a furrow with a hoe, going back along the row bent over dropping seeds, and then covering and packing the row.

This article provides links to sources for plastic mulch lifters.

Most commercial vegetable growers apply granular fertilizer in a preplant operation, and many also make sidedress applications of granular fertilizer. An excellent way to apply granular materials in either a broadcast or banding mode is with a pendulum-action spreader.

Flame weed control can be an effective adjunct to cultivation for some vegetable crops and some weeds. Flame weed control fits especially well in organic operations.

When growing carrots for commercial production, it is helpful to run a knife in the soil beside the rows. This breaks up any soil compaction, allowing the carrot roots to grow straight.

The use of plastic mulch is a common practice for nearly all strawberry growers and most vegetable growers. Installing the mulch is easier than it used to be when mulch was installed by hand, but it can be challenging.

Cone guide wheels are the heart of a precision cultural system (PCS). Cone guide wheels allow an implement to follow along a shaped bed with no effort on the part of the tractor driver.

There is a wide range of seeder types and models available for direct seeding vegetable crops. Smaller growers typically use the less expensive seeders; larger growers can justify more expensive precision seeders.

Vacuum seeders are popular among larger commercial vegetable growers. They do a good job of singulating most vegetable seeds. They are especially useful for singulating the oddly shaped seeds that cause problems for most other types of seeders.

Studies in other states have suggested that cover crops, especially brassicas, can provide some of the benefits of a fumigant. A study was conducted at the Hammond Research Station to evaluate this concept.

Vegetable growers have many choices in tractors, ranging from older, smaller tractors to large, new tractors. Many are designed specifically for vegetable work.

A basic sweep cultivator can do an excellent job of cultivating vegetable crops but must be run slowly (1-2 mph) when the crop plants are small. A simple modification to a sweep cultivator allows high-speed cultivation of small vegetable crops.

Many growers pick up plastic mulch but several machines are available for this job. Work at the LSU AgCenter has demonstrated that, in some cases, plastic mulch can be picked up by a hay baler.