If you want early crops from the vegetable garden or allotment you can’t put off turning over the soil any longer.
With the bitter weather having killed off many bugs and insects and all the moisture from the snow, the soil should be in excellent condition after the dry spell recently.
So here are five mid range cultivators to get things moving as Spring makes its presence felt.
German engineering: Einhell petrol garden tiller
Engineered in Germany this machine has six cultivator blades in tough steel which are powered by a 163 cc four-stroke engine and also has crop protection discs – you don’t want to dig out the crops later one when tilling between the rows.
It has a front transport wheel to help move it around. This wheel tilts up when the machine is in use.
The working width is 60 cm and it can till down to a depth of 23 cm – this is adjustable on the rear brake skid.
The handles are adjustable and as a safety device there is a deadman’s handle fitted which stops the engine when it is released.
This machine costs just £299.95, is delivered free the next working day and has a two year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Great machine: Al-Ko Cultivator
Four 30 cm diameter blades mean it can turn over even the most claggy soils, and again there is a deadman’s handle safety device and a safety gurard to stop the blades being engaged accidentally.
Crop protection discs stops you from tilling outside the row on which you are working.
There are three tilling depths which are easily adjusted and the working width is 50 cm.
The tiller costs £359, is delivered free the next working day and has a two year maker’s warranty.
Italian power: Bertolini front tine cultivator
The Bertolini BT190 Front-Tine Cultivator with Reverse Drive has a 182 cc Emak engine gives bags of power letting this machine tackle even the most claggy soils.
Handily there is a reverse gear fitted – everyone who uses an ordinary a tiller wishes they had a one of these from time to time. A rotor guard and rotor brake on the handlebar maximise safety for the user.
Working depth is 60 cm and a front transport wheel makes it easy to move from place to place.
Robustly made it also has a transmission guard to prolong the machine’s working life.
This cultivator is currently on sale for £429 a saving of over £250 on the maker’s recommended retail price.
There is a two year manufacturer’s guarantee and free delivery the next working day.
Hardest tasks: Ardisam Badger Petrol Cultivator
The Ardisam Earthquake Badger 650 Front-Tine Rototiller is built for really challenging soils.
A Briggs & Stratton 190 cc Quantum engine has torque control to provide the best power delivery to the tines and is easy to start thanks to electronic ignition and a decompression valve to give faster starting and less pulling on the starting rope.
Three tilling widths from 27 to 52 cm are easily adjustable. And to see just how effective this machine is see the video on our product page.
This machine costs £469 compared with the manufacturer’s recommended price of £522.88.
There is a two year maker’s warranty and free next working day delivery.
And finally a cultivator from one of Britain’s favourite brands.
Top brand: Mountfield Manow Petrol Cultivator
The power is transmitted via a fully enclosed gear box which needs no maintenance.
This cultivator has a working width of 54 cm and the height can be altered according to the job in hand.
Crop protection discs are fitted but can be removed when they’re not needed, like tilling large areas of unplanted land.
A transport wheel makes it easy to move around.
This one costs £529, £40 less than the maker’s recommended price, delivery is free within two to three days and there is a one year maker’s warranty.
These are just three machines from our expensive range of tillers and cultivators. For a fuller selection see these special pages on our site.
