As we near planting, it is more vital than ever that the vineyard soil is well prepared. Queue the Sumo: a brilliant 3-part machine which ploughs, presses and rolls the earth. But what does all this mean and how does it help the vineyard?

The Sumo is a heavy piece of kit pulled by a large tractor. On the back it has 3 elements to it: 1: plough-like tines, 2: rotating serrated disks and, at the very back, 3: heavy rolls. The tractor pulls this machine along the field. As it does so, 3 steps occur all at once; the tines plough up the ground, the disks cut through the large slabs of earth which have been ploughed up, and finally the rolls press and crumble these clods of earth onto a finer texture.

The aim is to create a ‘fine tilth’ on the top 45cm of the soil. In other words, the top layer of soil needs to be as crumbly and fine as possible. While the sumo ploughs, cultivates and breaks up the soil initially, we will need to cultivate it further to achieve the finest of tilths which we require.

That being said, the Sumo has taken a job which would usually take 2-3 pieces of machinery and therefore plenty more diesel and time, and rolled it into 1 super-efficient machine. It has done an excellent job in our preparations.

This is the first time we are seeing the soil turned and cultivated since we drilled (planted) our Rye cover crop (the details of which you can read about here). The result of allowing the Rye to aerate and work the soil for us has been evident. The soil is moist and there is a boost in worm population who are happily breaking down the earth; a great way to improve soil health.

All of these elements add up to a great final push in our soil preparations before planting.