Build your own dibble drum for marking transplant spacing

By Marcia Miquelon, Outreach Specialist
UW Madison Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits Project

Hand transplanting seedlings into the field can be tedious and time-consuming. Some growers lay a tape measure or knotted string on the planting bed to space transplants evenly. Others just estimate plant spacing with their eyes. Many growers then use a hand trowel to dig holes for the transplants. A rolling dibble marker, or dibble drum, is a tool that helps you transplant seedlings faster and more accurately. The hand-pulled tool rolls across the planting bed, punching or scooping transplant holes into the soil at regular intervals.

You walk down the path beside the prepared planting bed, pulling the dibble drum behind you by its handle. As it rolls along, "dibbles", or scoops which are screwed into a PVC drum at regular intervals, create indentations in the soil for transplants.

In loose soil, the dibble drum will dig holes but in heavy or compact soil it will mark locations for transplant holes. After rolling the dibble drum along your planting bed, plant transplants into the holes or scoop marked holes with a trowel. Using a dibble drum to space transplants lets you stand instead of stooping or kneeling to mark transplant spacing.

You can set out, plant and water in transplants 24% faster when using a dibble drum to space and dig holes, compared to visually estimating spacing and using a trowel. If you mark your planting bed with a dibble drum, you will ensure exact spacing of your transplants in a grid pattern, even when the task is performed by inexperienced workers. Consistent spacing makes weeding easier, since you can use a hand hoe or wheel hoe in two directions or use a mechanical cultivator. Accurate plant spacing will conserve bed space and maintain plant quality. Even experienced growers tend to overestimate plant spacing, which can waste productive land. If growers underestimate spacing, plants can be crowded and yield might suffer.

You can construct a rolling dibble marker from readily available hardware, lumber, and PVC pipe to fit your bed width and transplant spacing needs. Parts for the dibble drum will total approximately $100.

For more information or a construction diagram and parts list, contact the Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits Project at (608) 262-1054 or visit www.bse.wisc.edu/hfhp/.

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