No cultipacker; how about a rake?

[Jmidjr]

We won't be planting our food plots for a while yet here in N FL, but prep is well underway. Late Sep to mid Oct we'll broadcast seed (blend of oats, turnips, and rape). But, I don't have a cultipacker, or a piece of chain link for that matter. How would it work to drag the landscape rake lightly over the plots? Anybody tried that?

I'm concerned it might drag seed "out of place" so to speak, and may not cover them effectively, or assure good soil contact. What are best alternatives?

 

[nspec]

Just went through the same predicament. I removed every other tine on my rake, spun it around, and towed it backwards. Worked very well in buckwheat.

 

[Jmidjr]

Towed it backward? Will it rotate 180, or did you have to rig something?

Thanks for the input. It's goods to know I'm not wasting my time (and money- this'll make some expensive venison! LOL)

 

[jdfire]

I did the same thing. Most will spin 180 degrees. Worked pretty well.

 

[MMagis]

A cultipacker and a drag are two very different things, and don't perform the same function. Nothing wrong with using a rake to help with seed/soil contact, but it won't function as a cultipacker at all. It also helps to know what you're planting. I think buckwheat will grow on a rock.

 

[Jmidjr]

Looks like the rake can be dragged backward; think that will be this years solution. Others in our club drag logs or chain link gates with success; the rake should do as well or better.

Of course I'm open to suggestions!

 

[nspec]

Yes, cultipacker is the best....also very expensive - even used. I'd love one, but I can't justify the cost to use it once a year. I tried dragging a fence section, tried a log, branches - all were not very good. My garden is 100 x 60, so there's not a ton of room. The rake worked the best for me. And yes, it rotates 180 degrees, which is how I tow it backwards. And yes, I still long for a cultipacker, but for now the rake will do.