4 Row Seeder - Why I Am Not Happy With It
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2017
- I bought a well made, very popular, $150, 4 row seeder and here are the reasons why I don't like it so far.
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Your favorite experimenting engineer here. First you are trying to use a mechanical system on a biological system. Here are some things to try:
Lubricate your seeder with graphite [That is scribble on its moving parts with a pencil].
Consider lubricating your seeds. Starch coatings, fine clay coatings, or gelletine coatings. Try the seeds at different levels of moisture. I have seen very fine seed placed in a gell and squirted into the bed.
What are the bristles in the seeder made of? Should the be softer or firmer? Would your home grown seed benefit from sifting? Many seeds in nature are barbed to take advantage of clinging to passing animals for transportation. This is the kind of seed that would benefit from a pre-planting treatment. Some seeds like to be frozen, or acid treated.
A funny story: Wanting to be green, a shirt company started using vegetable ivory for its buttons. Customers began complaining the buttons were falling off! The problem was the same biological/ technological interface. Washer/dryer processing produced cycles, which induced germaination cracking of the vegetable ivory [ really a nut shell] seed coat.
Hope this helps.
I have 5-row Varomorus seeder, got it at Amazon, it works like magic! It has bigger seeds bunkers, and bigger wheels, so it really easy to operate. Also it can be transformed into 4-row, 3-row or 2-row. Check it out it is not so expensive as this one.
When planting small seed I like to mix them with a large quantity of something like potting soil or sand, then mix thoroughly and then apply, does a good job of spreading the seed evenly
thanks for the review... looking forward to seeing how thing came up!
If you want to plant mixed, and you want to plant at least a 1/4 acre, use seed tape.
You can either buy it pre-made or you can make it yourself.
That way you are guaranteed correct spacing and you can include starter minerals in the tape.
it is helpful to use a fine tine leaf rake. I rake the bed and it pulls any "trash" off the surface and leaves behind a fine seed bed. some people then roll the bed but that depends on your soil type.
I know this a late reply but I have that exact seeder and it works great the trick is to till very fine and pack your beds before seeding. One problem I see you having is the wheels are not turning. This is because your dirt is to loose, run a roller over your beds or a piece of plywood and walk on it first before seeding. Hope this helps? Don't give up on the seeder they work!
Jang seeder for sure! Curtis Stone makes it look so easy but yes maby they are a bit expensive. Good investment tho! Nice to see Richards book placed in the backround :-) Thanks for the review!
I have never had good luck with that type of seeder. Will be nice to see how the rows look when they come up!
This seeder is intended for specific crops that are planted at close spacing. It requires proper soil preparation and appropriate crops. When used as it is intended, it is superior to even the Jang for planting small, closely spaced greens and root crops. I would recommend you look to the videos and books from Eliot Coleman to discover howe this tool is best employed.
William Paradis is
Hey Simeon, Consider rolling / lightly compacting the soil to get grip and the wheels This may also even the seed bed out more evenly and should help get a better seed distribution.. Also if the seed is an elongated seed perhaps try a slightly bigger Hole setting and then tighten down the brush slightly.
Thanks for simple machine
Never pulled the seeder? We always pushed it and it worked great and still does!
I have only used a Earthway Seeder and I really like that.
That is what I have used before. It works best with larger seeds, but still skips seeds and drops multiples. It is also mostly usable when buying seed in bulk, the hopper needs to be full. A small packet of seeds is not really enough to get them into the loading range.
On the other hand, it is a push deal. If you are not in a hurry, you can wiggle it side to side to get a missed seed in, or knock the extras out. I found it goes quick enough that that one row at a time is good enough, but with some ingenuity, it should be possible to combine more than one, to plant multiple rows at a time.
I have no affiliation, but just for reference: www.earthway-outlet.com/Earthway-Precision-Garden-Seeder.htm
I use the 4 row seeder and have great results. It does take a few minutes to get the brushes adjusted. Try cleaning the seed bar with a light oil and then make sure to get it all removed so the seeds don't stick. Cleaning the seed bar monthly should solve the problem.
I wonder if some talc/chalk would help with the wheels' lubrication, if oil isn't suitable? Also, there clearly isn't any traction in that loose soil - maybe water it earlier in the day? Else run it one-wheeled along a plank of wood..?
BTW - I love your reviews, great fun (for us...) and learning.
great boss, greetings kz coming listen to my brother, good health and success always my brother
It seems like a good concept. I think it would be difficult to keep the mechanics of it simple and allow different sized seeds.
Weigh the seeds before and after then weigh 25 seed to see how many you planted. If the seed doesn't drop go to the next size hole. Better 2 seeds then none.
Good luck. I feel your frustration.
Hello Simon, I hope that I am spelling that right. Great videos and production value. I noticed in the video when you were testing the seeder and adjustment knob that you were rotating the tool opposite of how it would rotate when rolled over your fields. Maybe it would work better if you tried rotating the tool the opposite direction as you did in the video. Thanks again for the tremendous videos.
I noticed that too when he was testing it over the paper. He was turning the wheel backwards.
In the stage of designing a single row drill seeder for my mini tractor and undecided on the loading/depositing system. For use with corn for now but for later use with ground nut, long beans and canola. Thanks for your views on this type of seeder. I feel that the way it loads and deposit seeds is unsatisfactory as well as the fact that it gets stuck in such ideal conditions. Cheers!
I'm actually pretty impressed by this and other garden seeders. definitely not perfect but pretty good considering how intricate placing such small seeds is. I do think the soil needs to be a bit firmer then when planting by hand.
One thing that I see is that you would need different wheel diameters or different shafts to get the seeds set farther apart.
wider ( or closer) hole spacing on the center shaft does the same thing.
yea, as has been commented already, make sure you have a little bit of a gap between the wheels and the body/chambers. You just need like a millimeter of play. I've also started lubricating the shaft with a pencil, since oil would make seeds stick. This is my favorite seeder for baby salad greens. Lays a "carpet" in a way that an earthway just can't. I like the earthway for wider spaced crops, though.
How did it seed, I didn't see an updated video showing how it did?
I think it's quite obvious, the seed bed needs to be a lot firmer for the wheels to obtain a better bite in the soil .I also think the manufacturers mount the axle through nylon bushes,and bigger wheels matched with longer seed tubes .This is only constructive criticism of course.
Regards.
Just by the sound that it makes when you use it, bushings or bearings would make it operate smoother if the dirt didn't mess them up. As far as the seed size selection, looks like you're stuck. Good luck and I hope things turn out good for you.
I've no experience with such a seeder so nothing to add in that regard but I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment with it after the joy of purchasing it and the anticipation of using it, which must be very frustrating. I therefore sincerely hope others can provide some good advice on how to improve your experience with it.
use it as a back scratcher.
You might be able to fasten small pieces of wood to each of the wheel spikes to get it to turn better in the soft dirt.
I just got a single and 5 row seeder combo for around $100 on eBay from Ukraine. They use individual plastic wheels for seeds rather than a single large shaft - i believe allowing you to seed two different seeds types at once.
Does it work
Eliot Coleman has been using it for many many years with great success so it cant be so bad. Anyway, I use a Jang seeder and just love it, I highly recommend it!
Coleman calls it the four row pinpoint seeder. I think that is was designed for sowing mache in greenhouses. Clean the soil of debree, compact it with a roller and then try it again. And use a much much longer shaft!
Curtis Stone uses the Jang and the Earthway seeder, there's several videos where he talks about them.
I would use a graphite powder to lubricate the wheels. It's not wet or sticky so dirt and dust won't stick to it and cause more issues.
That Jang seeder looks a lot like the old "Planet Jr. ' seeders. They were fantastic for seeding in rows. You could get different plates for all kinds of different size seeds. I'm pretty sure they don't make them any more.
Pretty cool idea, especially for planting small seeds like carrots. I always waste a lot of seed. If the thing would only work!! Seems a bit painful that you would have to adjust it for every different sizes of seeds.
I love your humility with this unit. I have no experience to offer advice on using it. That said, as others have mentioned, it appears to be intended as a micro version of macro farming where all beds would be of the same variety or seed size. I applaud your "test" of this product, which has it's effective application, but I believe you may be attempting to force it to accomplish something it was not intended to perform.
I failed to mention that it may not be designed to accommodate what I would agree is a good practice of companion planting. As you have noted, you would like to plant different seeds adjacent to another, maybe you are on to something here to develop yourself?
I think that it is the seeder not you. best wishes, thanks for sharing this. God bless you and your family.
Nice review. A couple things though.
1. Do you pull or push the seeder? Or does it matter?
2. I would figure the brush would definitely have correlation to the use of the seeder if stationary(attached to the hopper).
3. Don't be afraid to experiment. :D
I'm not a farmer, I'm just trying to make sense for the use-case scenario.
Cheers.
The seeder looks good in theory but in reality there are a few issues it seems, If the wheels aren't turning due to lack of traction when you're only using one hopper and one brush they'll never turn when you increase resistance by having all 4 brushes in contact with the axle.
file or cut a small groove in the middle of the brush so a single seed can clear the brush and out the bottom.I wasn't shure what the brush was made of.
Yes I believe you are supposed to push it. When you pull it the way it is held, pulls it off the soil. If pushed would push into the ground giving the wheels the grip they need to turn.
could you use this with the back to Eden garden.?
Try using Jang seeders, JP1-6. I plant 3 acres with it. You can have multiple sizes of seed up to 6 rows of different crops. Bit expansive for small farms.
the jp 1 seeder runs about 400. And as you step up it become more.
Here in Canada it cost about $500 for single row JP1 to $2500 for 6 row JP6 seeder. Plus a roller cost $35. An investment about $700 gives you a great set of rollers and JP1 is well worth it. We can seed about quarter acre of 11 different crops in about 2 hours using JP1 and set of 8 seed rollers.
How about Silicone spray at the wheel contact points?
Have you seen on UA-cam Modiant Solutions looks like could possibly be a multi seeder with the different sizes each hole haven’t been able to try it but looks like what you saying not working with that model
that's like a 50 50 deal with that seeder. it seems to work ok.
How do you handel the Slugs if you got any? Your vids are great, really appriciated.
Try by burying a small bowl and pour your beer in there. I believed the smell of beer will attract them to it and will drown.
Pouring beer in a hole in the ground is never a good idea.
3d Print it! And add your good ideas to a new design!
I would say that if you have the opportunity to return it, definitely take that route. I can hear the way the shaft is turning, and it's binding because there are no bearings, or bushings, it is just riding on the thin edges of the sheet metal. Combine that with a little bit of dirt and it's just going to jam up every time in my opinion. It would have been a better design if it had a large set of wheels for it to ride on that turned the shaft. I do know of one that is supposed to be quite good, but I can't recall what the name of it is. I will look it up and leave a reply in case you're interested.
Hoss Tools Garden Seeder is the one I was looking at a few years ago, just never could justify spending the $310 U.S. for it with my small garden. From what I remember reading, these are supposed to be very good. hosstools.com/product/hoss-garden-seeder/
Just out of curiosity...did the directions mention whether to pull it or to push it? Seems like it would be easier to push it forward like a lawnmower and walk with a wide stance to not step on the seeds....maybe?
it must be pulled in order for the seed to pass under the brush
I think it needs a little more design improvement. I saw that Richard Perkins (Also in Sweden) recommends johnnys 6 row seeder- says it's fast and easy. It is twice the cost though. It's design looks a lot more intricate but maybe that's the best option?
Maybe try (if you have one) rolling with a compacting roller prior to seeding. This may give the earth enough compaction to grab the spiked wheels. I wonder why the mfgr didn't implement some sort of plastic bushing for the axle to spin in. A clean plastic bushing should allow free spin. Also, a uniform metal axle and hole should also spin free. Is the earth that loose or is there some drag in the spin?
listen to me simeon! get the jang seeder, designed in north korea for peasant communist farmers that have no engine powered mechanized equipment, who rely on the seeder for their very lives! Jang seeder is great because it has a sprocket/gear system that allows you to hone your spacing however you wish, and it has different seed rollers for different sized seeds. They cost about 400 us dollars, and the rollers are like 20-30 us dollars each. It works pretty well in beds that aren't perfectly smooth/flat/packed. It places the seeds very accurately. It also has a disc seed hole furrower attachment option if you are working in seriously rough conditions. It does one row at a time, but at the scale you and I are gardening it's enough. If you're serious, you can gang up 3-6 of them together and really plant some seeds swiftly! A pass on my 80 foot beds takes about 30 seconds, so I can do a 5 row bed of carrots in about 3 or 4 mins, not a big deal timewise. Jang doesn't work as good for peas or beens (larger seeds) but it is the best for the difficult to plant smaller seed crops like radishes, cabbage, onions, carrots, lettuce, dill, etc. If you want peas and beans just get an earthway seeder for 100 bucks, or get the hoss tools seeder for 200 bucks. they use a flat disc plate system that works better for these big seeds.
the shaft wheels are to tight against the body. I made the same mistake.
different size seeds can be planted at the same time by adjusting brush pressures with a little practice.
Yea, I think this might be your problem, or at least one that some viewers are probably having. Leave a little wheel gap, and with a firm/slightly moist seedbed this thing should be rollin' smooth. Have had one for 7 years, still going strong.
Simeon, we also have the same seeder and this is our first year using it. I have similar frustrations but I am hoping that we are just getting used to the product and that our luck will improve. It seeded Radishes well but they were a bit too thick. Our baby greens which is the biggest reason we got it are pretty sparse which is disappointing. I haven't given up completely but it is frustrating...
I will also tell you that making sure there is space between the wheel and the frame of the seeder helps it turn. But even keeping that in mind we had issues and had to turn the wheel manually just like you.
+Tony Barlow thanks. Glad I am not the only one. Maybe we will get the hang of it...
I find it difficult to understand why you must ask for feedback on a polite level. I haven't read the comments at length but it's obvious the some comments must be downright ignorant and obtuse.
That is just pathetic. Someone who is as nice as you and your family shouldn't have to worry about nasty, rude, obnoxious commenters. I guess the saying is true,"Everybody has one, some people are one."
As far as the seeder, if I can't get the technique for some tool, I move on with an alternative solution. There are so many gadgets & gizmos out there must be something that will perform. Peace be with you✌
If you read the instructions it is designed to be pulled.
hand sewn is best
Har en 1radiga, driver en liten "cutris stone-stil" småbruk i grästorp. Är inte alls nöjd med den men använder den andra säsongen. Börjat spara till en jang och papperpot.
It looks like it should work. Perhaps it's just a matter of getting used to it...
could hear squeaking.
Lube baby.
After seeing this, I think a one-row seeder would be more efficient
👍👍
That appears to be a Chinese copy seed planter ?
Those wheels are not rolling right. Not sure if you have to prep the ground differently or if the wheel is new and need lubercation or just rotated until it is loose. Not having the flexability to plant two different sized seeds close together is a bumber. That is a common and important use of space. Looking forward to seeing how you work this out.
Send it to the Wood-Mizer......
Johnny's Seed Company here in the US are experts on seeder type questions and support...suggest you Google their support line...they might be able to help.
Some companies don't ship overseas. I believed he tried them per previous vlog.
Linda Readman they ship to New Zealand.
Send you video to the leverancier and ask what you do wrong.
I think the seeder looks too delicate to work well. I have seen old fashioned single row planters that had much larger diameter single wheels that looked like they would work better.
Don't pull it push it
Simeon, I am not at all impressed with the seeder. Without some kind of lubrication, I don't see how it will spin very well on metal to metal contact. Lubrication is just going to clog up the wheels even more. That is a catch 22. I just don't see that working at all without some kind of bearing that helps the wheels move in dirt. As you showed the hit or miss method of dropping seeds is not in your best interest. more so with the smaller seeds. The only ways you can tell if you are putting down seed is 1. The level of seed goes down consistently, and 2. waiting for the seeds to grow a little. Neither method is going to give you much in the way of information right away. I am sorry but I would give the seeder a thumbs down.
Thanks for you video though, and keep up the awesome work.
I'm wondering why you are pulling the seeder behind you instead of pushing it in front of you? If you were to push it, you would be able to put more pressure on the wheels to keep them turning. That way you have less bending & back pain. You will also be able to see where you are going & if the seeds are actually coming out. You might want to try this approach as what you are doing does not seem to work so well. God bless you.
I have one of these seeders and the design is meant for pulling not pushing the seeder.
Bumper, Man. Doesn't say much for the people that posted those online reviews. Maybe you got a Monday product?
um maybe push instead of pull seems strange that you have to walk backwards
I have no experience with it either, sorry not much help.
not sure if it matters but looks like your spinning as if you were pulling it backwards. Im no expert , should work the same in either one would think ...
No comment
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Your going backwards try forward
that sucks
I think it has no future
try pushing it
The little *plows* for each dispenser are directional. Pushing will fill them with soil.
I think you are rotating the drive wheel the wrong direction. Try pushing instead of pulling.
Then the soil would go up the shoots and compact into the axle so you would get no seeds at all.
Thunder Ridge Homestead the brushes will only work as intended in one direction. pulling it.
so it is junk
Stop making excuses for a seeder that just isn't working as it should.
I can tell you one thing, you paid too much for it.
Try pushing it away from your body, not towards you.