[Sunflower watermelon cultivation and mulch sheet installation] Takada Akimitsu Farm [Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association]

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

On Thursday, March 27th, at Takada Akimitsu Farm, after snow removal work, the soil inside the greenhouse was tilled, mulch sheets were laid, and irrigation tubes were also laid inside the mulch sheets.

Tilling the soil in a greenhouse

The soil inside the greenhouse is plowed using a tractor to level it out.

ハウス内土壌の耕起
Tilling the soil inside the greenhouse

Drive carefully around the house

丁寧かつ慎重に運転
Drive carefully and cautiously

Well-cultivated soil

綺麗に耕された土壌
Well-cultivated soil

Installing pipes to connect to irrigation tubes

Installing pipes to supply water from the water source and connect it to the irrigation tubes (burying the pipes under the rails at the entrance to the greenhouse).

灌水チューブに繋げるパイプ設置作業
Installing pipes to connect to irrigation tubes
ハウス入り口のレールの下にパイプを埋め込む
Bury the pipe under the rail at the entrance to the house

Multi-sheet covering

The purpose of laying mulch sheets is to improve the soil's heat retention and moisture retention, prevent crop diseases and pests, and control weeds, thereby protecting vegetable cultivation and maintaining an environment in which vegetables can grow healthily.

Mulch spreading using a manual mulch spreader (manual mulcher)

The sheet is pressed down with wheels and covered with soil using a soil covering disk.

マルチシート張り
Multi-sheet covering

While laying the mulch sheet, lay the irrigation tube between the sheet and the soil.

マルチシートを張りながら中に灌水チューブを同時に敷設
While laying the mulch sheet, irrigation tubes were laid inside at the same time.
土壌との間に灌水チューブを敷設
Irrigation tubes are laid between the soil and the plant.

Together we breathe together, slowly and straight

二人の息を合わせて!
Let's both work together!

Maintenance at the end of installation

張り終わりの調整
Adjusting the end of tension

Mulcher installation work in the next house

マルチャー設置作業
Mulcher installation work

Multi-sheets, wheels, soil covering discs, Sumitubes, etc.

マルチシート、車輪、覆土ディスク、スミチューブなど
Multi-sheets, wheels, soil covering discs, Sumitubes, etc.

Irrigation tube

灌水チューブ
Irrigation tube

Automatic opening and closing device for greenhouses after covering with mulch sheets

Open and close your greenhouse using your smartphone.
When the temperature exceeds a certain level, the device uses sensors to read changes in temperature, humidity, and air pressure, and automatically opens and closes a section of the side of the greenhouse.

自動開閉装置をスマートフォンで操作する研修生の玉島さん
Trainee Tamashima operates the automatic opening and closing device with his smartphone
自動開閉装置が設置されたハウス
A house equipped with an automatic opening and closing device

Trainee Tomoyuki Tamashima

研修生の玉島朋之さん
Trainee Tomoyuki Tamashima

Tomoyuki Tamashima (45 years old), a native of Naganuma Town, became a trainee in April last year.
"Watermelon cultivation is very hard work, but when the watermelons bear fruit, I feel that it was worth the effort," says Tamashima.

All set

Mulch sheets have been laid out inside the greenhouse and we're all set!
Planting is scheduled to begin in early April!!!

定植を待つハウス。。。
A greenhouse waiting to be planted...

YouTube videos

Other photos

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Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi