Small veggies? With the best equipment for Market Gardens, any vegetable gardening, no matter how small, can be made to fly. A market garden format, or so-called Market Gardens, is a demanding task that requires a lot of hard work, dedication and precision. To succeed in this industry, it is important to have the right tools and equipment to work efficiently and save time. This will leave you with more time to spend on the really exciting aspects of vegetable gardening, such as choosing varieties of your favorite vegetables, building a healthy humus layer, and joyfully harvesting your delicious vegetables. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the five best tools for efficient vegetable growing.

The 5 best tools for Market Gardens and a real successful vegetable gardening:

1. garden fork and broad fork

A garden fork is one of the most important tools for any gardener, also known as a “grelinette” or “broad fork” with 4 or more tines. It is used for digging around, loosening and aerating the soil. It can be used to loosen even a heavily compacted soil well without disturbing the soil structure. This tool is great for preparing the bed. Look for a broadfork with sturdy tines made of durable material and a comfortable handle that will allow you to work for long periods of time without tiring. A quality garden fork can help you work efficiently and save time and effort.

Broadfork with 4 tines (Terratools): https://terratools.ch/Broadfork-4-Zinken
Grelinette – Broadfork (Terratools): https://terratools.ch/Grelinette-Broadfork
Johnny’s 727 Broadfork: https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/bed-preparation-tools/broadforks/johnnys-727-broadfork-9338.html

 

2. hand sowing machine

A hand seeder with automatic metering by sowing rollers enables efficient sowing. The removable seeding elements allow flexible seeding of diverse crops and grain sizes. This can increase seeding precision and reduce costs, especially in bio-intensive farming, by containing seed wastage. Various options allow sowing of small-grain seed vegetable crops (onions, carrots, lettuce) but also larger grains such as corn. Manual but also motorized models are among the best equipment for Market Gardens and provide the perfect support for your operation.

Options also include row markers for single and double rows, different seeding widths for different bed sizes, opening discs for compacted soils, connection set for multiple hand seeders.

Hand seeder: https://aldinger-technik.de/products/terradonis-handsamaschine-jp1?_pos=1&_sid=14ec72942&_ss=r
Lehners seeder for pelleted seed and natural seed: http://saetechnik.de/en/home-2/
Hand-guided small seed drill for plant propagation & vegetable sowing: https://terratools.ch/Handgefuehrte-Kleinsaemaschine-K4-fuer-Pflanzenanzucht-Gemuesesaaten-Sembdner

3. seedling trays

Good seedling trays are an essential tool for a nursery, especially if you are growing your plants from seed. These trays come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can hold a significant number of seedlings. They are designed to provide adequate drainage and air circulation to prevent drying out, or fungal diseases and pests that attack young seedlings. Look for sturdy trays made of durable material that can withstand frequent use.

Plastic trays: https://aldinger-technik.de/products/terrateck-plastic-tray-pack-kunststoffwannen-25-stuck?_pos=1&_sid=07ee0129b&_ss=r
Save time seeding and planting with the “paper pot” method. www.paperpot-europe.com
Heating mats and growing pots: https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/seed-starting-supplies/

 

4. irrigation systems

A drip irrigation system is an essential tool for a nursery, especially in areas with limited water supplies. This system delivers water directly to plant roots, which helps conserve water and reduces weed growth. A drip irrigation system can be set up with a network of hoses, spray nozzles and timers. Look for a system that is easy to install and maintain and can withstand the elements. In addition, small sprinkler machines are best suited for diversified horticulture operations and for irrigating small plots in greenhouses or open fields.

The smallest irrigation machine available 25/50 meters: https://terratools.ch/Beregnungsmaschine-25-50-M-Bergener
Drip irrigation starter kit: https://biogartenversand.de/erden-anzucht/tropfbewsserung-starter-kit-unitechline/produkt?ccid=144

 

5. harvesting machines

Harvesting machines for semi-manual harvesting, such as the Quick-cut Greens Harvester, is a significant increase in efficiency on small and medium-sized farms. With it, cut lettuces, wild herbs and spinach reach the harvest boxes in no time.

Cut Lettuce Harvesting Machine Cordless Quick-cut Greens Harvester: https://terratools.ch/Schnittsalat-Ernte-Maschine-Akkubetrieb-Quick-cut-Greens-Harvester
Babyleaf and cut lettuce harvester “Farmers Friend”: https://aldinger-technik.de/products/terrateck-babyleaf-und-schnittsalat-erntemaschine-farmers-friend?_pos=1&_sid=b67c9eb05&_ss=r

Diverse vegetable growing is an industry that requires efficient “low-tech” tools and equipment. A high-quality garden fork or broad fork (so-called “broad forks” or “Grelinette”), robust seedling trays, cleverly designed irrigation systems and efficient harvesters for semi-manual harvesting in small-scale, bio-intensive cultivation are some of the most important tools in efficient vegetable cultivation. These will save you time and effort, help you work more efficiently, and ultimately increase yields and profits.

References and further information:

Market Garden tools from Germany: https://marketgarden.de/werkzeuge/

Terratools: https://terratools.ch/

Seeding technology: http://saetechnik.de/

Aldinger technology: https://aldinger-technik.de/

Permaculture Now (Mila Laager): https://www.permakultur-jetzt.ch/geraete-programme

Cultivation planning and seed requirement calculation in the vegetable cultivation planner by Rukola Soft UG: https://www.micro-farm-planner.com/de/manual-5/