Is it worth buying a mantis?

[darcyvuqua]

As the title says really turning beds i think maybe a problem for my legs so thinking of buying a mantis tiller/rotavator the one the leaflet shows that was included in this months mag!

Any views on this?
Turning beds to grow veg is a must so maybe this will be a good solution for me anyway.

[SarzWix]

Firstly, turning the beds isn't essential, if you mulch heavily and don't walk on the beds, yearly digging is largely unnecessary ... Take a look at the thread 'Supersprout's Allotment' on Growing Techniques.

Secondly, with the Mantis a lot of the work is actually holding it back, which I find means pressure on the knees... I'd see if you can borrow or hire something similar to see how you get on with it before you invest.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Sarz is correct. using a mantis is pretty hard work. The mantis is basically pulled back against the rotation of the rotors otherwise it would just skip off across the surface of the soil without digging in.

having said that, I wouldn't be without mine. It won't dig into compressed soil but I find that just breaking the soil by sticking in a fork and levering backwards is usually enough to encourage it to do its stuff.

I'm not a no dig believer but if it works for anyone that uses that method, that's what's important

Mine is the 2 stroke version - oil and petrol mix but there is a 4 stroke version available nowadays.

[SarzWix]

Ours is a 2-stroke as well, but really it's the OH's toy cos I find it easier to dig and rake rather than try to control the Mantis - it sets off my carpal tunnel and hurts my back

[Aberdeenplotter]

I can relate to back ache, loaded a skip with solidified bags of cement yesterday but no problems with my hands/fingers apart from screwing them on in the wrong order before typing. I'm told that surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is very effective Sarz. Is that being looked at for you?

[chris]

I have a tiller attachment for my strimmer power unit - have you thought about those, darcy? Smaller, and lighter. if i could get my strimmer power unit to stay on for more than 10 seconds without cutting out you could have a go to see if you like it !

[VirginVegGrower]

I can relate to back ache, loaded a skip with solidified bags of cement yesterday but no problems with my hands/fingers apart from screwing them on in the wrong order before typing. I'm told that surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is very effective Sarz. Is that being looked at for you?

Mr VVG had CTS surgery and has never looked back. I on the other hand(sorry ) have had all manner of issues with finger and wrist surgery, but CTS was not what I had. Three month full recovery period to factor in.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Ta VVG. I don't suffer from it thank goodness but if I did, I'd have to plan any op for my down season.

[mrbadexample]

I also have a 2-stroke Mantis (they only make the 4 stroke now) donated by the old fella. I have to say I love it. It can be hard work digging compacted soil, as it's quite "skippy" and can bounce a lot. However, if you're just going over a bed that's been done before, it's brilliant.

I chuck all the contents of my tubs and pots onto the raised bed, then blitz up with the Mantis. Just a couple of minutes and the whole lot's a fine tilth:



But the thing they're most useful for? Turning the compost! Just stick the thing in the top of your pile and it chops, churns and mixes. I've got the lawn aerator attachment for mine which I use for this, as it doesn't tangle so much on long stringy stuff (e.g. old rhubarb stalks), but if you chop this sort of thing before you put it on the heap it's not a problem.

Having said all that, they are expensive. Would I have bought one? Probably not. If mine broke, would I buy another? Probably. I'm used to having it now. They are good tools with good guarantees, and I've found the customer service to be very good. But beg, borrow or hire I think, rather than shell out for one. Of course, you can buy one, and if after a year you don't like it, you can send it back for a refund.

[zazen999]

See I just chuck my pots on the beds, leave for the winter and they break down easily with a hoe in the spring. Or I sieve the soil, and reuse the sievings for seed sowing. Saves a fortune.

Lets face it - if you want a mantis you'll get one. But you don't need one. Nature doesn't churn the soil up like that. Charles Dowding [also a man] gets by with no dig. You can too.

[Aberdeenplotter]

hmmm, a man can also get by without a woman but its so much nicer to have one

[zazen999]

Sigh.

So many retorts, not nearly enough time.

[VirginVegGrower]

hmmm, a man can also get by without a woman but its so much nicer to have one

I think it might go something like this ^^^ "the same could be said of a man, but they come in handy sometimes" - hard hat time

[Aberdeenplotter]

nah, leave the ard at orf. Some things just sometimes need to be said

[mrbadexample]

See I just chuck my pots on the beds, leave for the winter and they break down easily with a hoe in the spring.

Ahh, see, I get round to doing that in spring so need it sorting immediately.

Or I sieve the soil, and reuse the sievings for seed sowing. Saves a fortune.

And that's a damned fine idea, I must try that.