Maybe someone can help.

[bridgehouse]

As some of you may know I am recovering from a broken femer and at the moment I am on sticks .....so I can;t dig my plot, and the weeds have taken hold.
Now what I was wondering should I buy a Mantis tiller to get my plot up to scratch, and would a lady of mature years manage one of these, any addvice would be welcome .thank you
   June.

[bridgehouse]

[aj]

My advice would be to put cardboard over the plot, weigh down with bricks, stones, spadefulls of mud, plastic milk cartons refilled with water etc. Then plant through potatoes, squashes, beans etc.

Much easier than tilling and having to deal with more weeds once the roots all re-grow.

[Ellen K]

I'm 50 and not that fit but still reasonably strong.  I've found the Mantis tiller isn't that easy to use though it is light.  You have to get the technique which I never did but you are walking backwards while you use it and it didn't half make my back ache.

With a healing femur, I don't think you should be using one.

Can you cover your plot with old carpet or something to keep the weeds down while you are recoving?  It is a lot of carpet but perhaps neighbours can loan some and between you all you can do it.

On out site, the council will rotovate your whole plot for a fee, just under £40.  If you have the dosh, something like covering your plot for 6/8 weeks then having it rotavated may be an option.
 
And it would give you more time to recover, it's supposed to need 6 months isn't it?  It is all very well for people to say "focus on getting well" but the cabin fever can drive you mad.  Still, focus on getting well  :)

[tomatoada]

I have a Mantis 4 stroke which I manage on my well dug areas.  I have beds marked out which are not walked on so the soil is loose.   I rotavate the weeds in before  planting but  hand weed afterwards.  
Do you know anyone with a Mantis?  Where abouts are you?
May I ask how you broke femur?   Hope you get OK soon.

[bridgehouse]

Thank you all for your advice I will think about it [I have plenty of time.Lol]
Hi Tomatoada I had a fall just before Christmas, what good timing that was.
   June.

[grannyjanny]

Do you have annual or perennial weeds. I would be tempted to have a load of well rotted manure over the beds apart from the root one. Do you have access to any. Then you could leave it until you're ready to plant & plant through it. Have a look  at Charles Dowding's site. Good luck. Hope you're back on you feet.

[tomatoada]

Hi again,  I asked where you where  because if you were near me or fancied a day out I would show you how I cope with my Mantis.   I have used it once this year already.   There is a nack to using it.   I don't walk backwards with mine. It is a lot of money to spend if you don't manage to use it.

[SMP1704]

Sorry to hear about your injury.  A mantis is a great investment for land that is already well dug.  As others have said there is a 'knack' - to me it's the same technique for vacuuming ::) back and forth.  I believe that the 4 stroke is much easier to start than the 2 stroke, but I really would recommend having a go before committing to a purchase - although with a 12 month money back guarantee, perhaps you don't have much to lose!
Good luck

[jimtheworzel]

i have a small honda tiller like the mantis, and have trouble uesing it due to walking problems, but other plotters offer to help me out to get my plot ready for spring planting.

jimtheworzel.

[bridgehouse]

Thanks for all the tips and advice
Tomataoda I live in a place called Shirley, about six miles from Birmingham.
I was wondering if anyone has a Mantis on my allotment site, perhaps if so perhaps they would let me have a demo. I have not seen anyone using one,  but I may put a little note on the notice board , I will also think of all the things that have been said on the posts.
    June.

[louise stella]

I'd go down the cardboard route if I were you!  I dug half my very overgrown plot at weeded it by hand and the other half I covered with cardboard and planted through it.  Five years on the "cardboard" side is still the less weedy side! 
You can mulch on top with whatever you can get hold of and it can look tidy as well!
Good luck!

[bridgehouse]

Thank you I have a lot to think about.
    June.

[bridgehouse]

Good moring everyone
Up date to my problem ,well another allotment holder is going to dig my plot for me , so now I will not be left behind  a man called Tom who does odd jobs on our site is doing it, he also has his own plot, so he will be busy
I am so pleased how things are turning out.
    Have a good day everyone.
   June.

[saddad]

Can you send him down when he's finished... my ribs are still giving me jip...
been back for stronger painkillers... I now have Tietze's (?sp) Syndrome... damage of the cartilege (?sp) where the ribs join the sternum....  >:(
As apparently it's "not unusual" I've taken to calling it Tom Jones Syndrome...  ;D

[bridgehouse]

Oh poor you I hope you feel better soon.
    June.

[grannyjanny]

Saddad I wonder if comfrey oil might help with the healing process.

[saddad]

Well... I know it's dialect name was knitbone where I was brought up... and it was still used on animals. Where would I find that?  :-\

[manicscousers]

my mum in law gets hers from the health shop, Saddad, she used it on her broken hip, swears by it   :)

[grannyjanny]

Thanks Manic. I've only just seen this.

[Alimo]

Yes - my friend swears by it - her son managed to break his arm a few times  ::)
falling out of trees.. hey ho boys will be boys, but he healed very quickly. 

And saddad - I read that you had Turetts - was expecting you to start swearing all over the board !

Alison