How do you plant through black plastic?

[jflournoy]

In past years when we only had 2 dozen or so tomato plants I would take a utility knife, cut a circle in the black plastic where each plant would go, then take a trowel and dig and cover back up by hand. This year, planting 300+ plants, I'd like to find a way that is a little quicker and more efficient, maybe some sort of tool that can cut/punch through the plastic and make the size hole I need to then just stuff the plant in there and go to the next?

Any ideas?

[dustdevil]

Some people cut an X and pull back the flaps to plant.

[jflournoy]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Some people cut an X and pull back the flaps to plant.

Maybe take a can, mount a pipe flange on the bottom, and add a piece of pipe that you hit with a hammer. Sharpen the edges of the cutting end of the can. You could put a pipe T in the pipe with a short piece and add handles to allow you to push down with your foot.

You could even modify a two handled hole digger.

Someone suggested that I take a "D" handle garden implement, cut the implement off the wooden handle, cut an angle on one end of the wooden handle (so it will go in the ground easier), plunge or pound it to desired depth, then use the "D" part of the handle as leverage to do one "turn" once in the soil, I guess to open up the hole a little better, then pour a little water in the hole, then push the plant down in there tight, no need to cover back up with dirt. How does that method sound to you? I'm having a hard time finding a "D" handled implement that isn't pretty short, haven't found any longer handled ones.

[aclum]

Hi,

I read somewhere in regard to silver plastic mulch, that in large fields they quickly made holes in the mulch for planting using a propane blow torch! (The comment gave me the idea of using a fine-tipped soldering iron to randomly poke drainage/breathability holes in the silver plastic mulch I'm using). I'll see if I can find the link to the article later.

However, I don't know if this would work on the type of black plastic mulch you're using. If you're thinking about trying it, test a small piece first to make sure you don't end up starting a horrible fire or end up being overcome by fumes or something. If you have a soil tamper thing (unlikely, but who knows??), you could burn your hole, then set the soil tamper on top to make sure any lingering burn is smothered out while you move on to burn out the next hole - and repeat going "down the line."

For actual planting, I've found that a regular bulb planter (like a slightly tapered open-at-both-ends "can" with a D-handle) twisted into properly damp soil will remove a plug of soil almost the exact size and shape of a 16-20 oz. solo-type cup that many of us use for seedlings. The properly moist soil plug will remain in the bulb planter while you dump the transplant out of the solo cup and plop it into your planting hole. Then you can shake or push out the soil from the bulb planter to finish up the job.

BTW, for my own garden with less than 75 plants that I plant out over time, I just use scissors or a utility knife to cut an X in the silver plastic mulch.

Anne

[rags57078]

why not just cut a slot then take a spade jab in the earth and tip it forward and plant in the crack you just made , water and move on

[Cole_Robbie]

I turn the drip line on until I can feel the wet spots through the plastic. Then the plants' root balls will squish down easily into the mud. I have not found any tool that is easier than doing it by hand. Tools only work in fairly dry dirt, and the plants need to be watered quickly anyway.

[jflournoy]

Originally Posted by rags57078

why not just cut a slot then take a spade jab in the earth and tip it forward and plant in the crack you just made , water and move on

Or maybe a spud bar?

[MrBig46]

Originally Posted by jflournoy

In past years when we only had 2 dozen or so tomato plants I would take a utility knife, cut a circle in the black plastic where each plant would go, then take a trowel and dig and cover back up by hand. This year, planting 300+ plants, I'd like to find a way that is a little quicker and more efficient, maybe some sort of tool that can cut/punch through the plastic and make the size hole I need to then just stuff the plant in there and go to the next?

Any ideas?

Black foil to fold into accordion (the entire length by spacing of plants), then fold width (in the same way) and by the scissors to cut the corner (quarter circle).
Vladimír

[Chucker]

Originally Posted by MrBig46

Black foil to fold into accordion (the entire length by spacing of plants), then fold width (in the same way) and by the scissors to cut the corner (quarter circle).
Vladimír

I like this idea a lot.

[MrBig46]

Originally Posted by MrBig46

Black foil to fold into accordion (the entire length by spacing of plants), then fold width (in the same way) and by the scissors to cut the corner (quarter circle).
Vladimír

Just a few pictures to supplement.
Vladimír

[FarmerShawn]

I'm planning on using plastic mulch with lots of tomatoes and other things this year as well, so I am very interested in all ideas that come up. I have used a bulb planter to make my holes before, the kind that's about the length of a garden fork or short handled shovel, so I can stand up and go down the row making holes, then go back and put in the transplants. I was hoping I would perhaps just sharpen the bulb planter and proceed as usual.


There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

[Cole_Robbie]

I have found that it is important to get the drip line in the exact center of the ridge and keep it in a straight line, so that I always know where it is and don't jab it with a tool. Even with a dull tool that won't cut the line, it still catches and pulls it, which is a pain.

I want to try planting beans through the plastic this year. I'm thinking I can just jab a pvc pipe through and then drop the seed. I will plant in dry dirt so it won't clog the pipe, then turn the drip line on afterward.

The hard part about standardizing techniques is that, like with gardening in general, everyone has different soil. One tool might be great for someone, but clog up and be worthless for someone else, because their soil is heavier.

[rags57078]

a spud bar should work also , there is a lot of good tips posted

[albfet]

i use a plastic mulch who is very thin (0.03 mm) and it can be punched with the finger! But for the kind of mulch plastic you are usig maybe the tool Anne said before who work with propane is the right one to do the job very quickly

[jflournoy]

Originally Posted by FarmerShawn

I'm planning on using plastic mulch with lots of tomatoes and other things this year as well, so I am very interested in all ideas that come up. I have used a bulb planter to make my holes before, the kind that's about the length of a garden fork or short handled shovel, so I can stand up and go down the row making holes, then go back and put in the transplants. I was hoping I would perhaps just sharpen the bulb planter and proceed as usual.

A bulb planter had actually crossed my mind, although I have never used one so I didn't know exactly how they work. From the way you describe it, that might be the ticket.

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I want to try planting beans through the plastic this year. I'm thinking I can just jab a pvc pipe through and then drop the seed. I will plant in dry dirt so it won't clog the pipe, then turn the drip line on afterward.

I'm not planting any beans or other small direct-seeded items this year, but that is an interesting idea that I will have to keep in mind for the future.

Originally Posted by aclum

Hi,

For actual planting, I've found that a regular bulb planter (like a slightly tapered open-at-both-ends "can" with a D-handle) twisted into properly damp soil will remove a plug of soil almost the exact size and shape of a 16-20 oz. solo-type cup that many of us use for seedlings. The properly moist soil plug will remain in the bulb planter while you dump the transplant out of the solo cup and plop it into your planting hole. Then you can shake or push out the soil from the bulb planter to finish up the job.

BTW, for my own garden with less than 75 plants that I plant out over time, I just use scissors or a utility knife to cut an X in the silver plastic mulch.

Anne

I think I need to go find a long-handled bulb planter at one of my local home improvement stores this week and give this a try with some practice plants. Sounding rather interesting. Does Menard's or Lowe's carry something like that?