Eliot Coleman's 6-Step Bed Preparation Method
Firm, seeder-ready beds give seed good contact with the soil, which leads to quicker, more even emergence, better root growth and stronger plants.
1 • Loosen the soil deeply |
2 • Work the topsoil to a fine tilth |
3 • Level the surface |
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Use a broadfork to loosen soil while keeping its structure intact and leaving buried weed seed where it is. |
Blend in compost and fertilizer and chop up old crop roots with a shallow power tiller such as the Tilther. |
Use a bed preparation rake to shape a fine, even seedbed for precision seeding. |
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Broadfork
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Shallow tiller
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4 • Firm the seedbed |
5 • Prepare a stale
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6 • Mark planting rows |
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A smooth, firm surface is ideal for direct sowing. |
Let weeds sprout for a few days, flame them, and then sow. |
Mark rows for accurate, even and efficient spacing. |
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Seedbed roller
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Flame weeder
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Row marker
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Transplanting?
Snap-in dibbles for a seedbed roller mark planting holes at consistent spacing.
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They simply press into place. |
They mark holes through plastic mulch as easily as in bare soil. |
Look for different sizes to match your spacing needs. |
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Dibble inserts
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