plow and harrow vs tiller

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I hope to be planting corn and assorted vegetables in an area somwhere between 2-6 acres. Maybe start small and keep growing. What are some opinions on plow and disc harrow vs rototiller? I already own an allis hd-5 crawler (no pto or 3pt hitch) so I could get a trailer plow, I already have an old 10ft disc. Or am I beeing foolish with such a small area And should just get a wheeled tractor with a tiller? Some rocks, NH soil.
 
In my opinion, a rotary tiller leaves the soil too "fluffy" and causes it to dry out rapidly. Then, with our clay at least, when this loose soil gets rained on the resulting crust is very thick and hard which makes it difficult for seedlings to emerge. Plowing, disking, and harrowing leaves the soil in a more firm condition that seems to hold moisture against the seed better after planting and forms a less dense crust. A tiller definitely has it"s uses (I have one on my garden tractor that gets used occasionally) but for me pre-plant tillage isn"t one of them.
 
I would plow and disk the ground. We used a spring tooth harrow just before planting corn on the farm. We used a roller behind the harrow so it was nice and smooth. We were still using horses on the corn planter back in the 1940's.

I still plow my garden and I use a Troy Bilt tiller. I don't raise sweet corn or potatoes anymore. The garden isn't very big now. Hal
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I plow and disc then use my john deere corn planter. The rear press wheels with rubber inserts pack the ground just right.

corn comes right up,

I have had problems using a tractor tiller then planting the garden in that soil that is chopped up so fine.

as others have said, if it rains before it comes up, the beans break there necks trying to get through the soil crust.

I normally plant my garden beans, using a front tine tiller then earthway planter, again the front tine tiller does not break up the ground so fine for planting.
but after planting I love that rear tine tiller, it does a great job.
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I mold board plow then disc harrow and then planter for my corn,beans peas etc. works perfect. The part of the garden that I plant my small seeds in get's a pass with the front tine tiller then use a small earth way planter.

I use all 50's era Farmall Super C's w Fasthitch implements. With the exception of the tiller.

My buddy does a big garden with a 6' 3ph tiller an it takes several hours to till. Point is a tiller is a lot slower than plowing and discing.
 

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