How to Grow More Vegetables

that is used to make a hole in the ;at soil with a forward
motion and covers the seeding with a backward motion).
Even with the pro3ciency of such a skill, the dibble
board is faster. Also, often the mini-farm may be utilizing
newly skilled labor, apprentices, etc. This dibble board
really helps to improve eCciency and get the spacing
correct (to have consistent numbers in ;ats, maximize
growth, and have uniform transplants).
The key to eAectively using this tool is to have the
proper ;at soil, soil moisture, and correctly sized
seedlings. The seedlings should have only two leaves and
have no more than a few simple branched roots oA the
main root when they are placed in this soil. If they are
too big they simply will not 3t in. If they are too small
they slide down the dibble hole, making it diCcult to
maintain the proper depth of the seedling. Flat soil can
be used. Moisture should be suCcient to allow good
penetration of the dibbles into the soil, but not enough
moisture to stick to the dibbles or too little, which causes
the walls of the dibble hole to cave in when the dibble is
removed. If you get the moisture just right, it is a dream
to use. When the process is working perfectly, the small
plants can be set against the side of the dibble hole at
the right depth (static attraction of the soil, water, and
root keep the plant in place). When all the seedlings are
in place, a bump to the side of the ;at will settle the ;at
soil around the seedlings. A good watering afterward
will provide the needed root-to-soil contact. You can
really make time when it all works together!