Small Garden Recommendations

[crashz]

I need help with a little dilema. My family would like to put a small garden together (25 x 25 or maybe a little bigger) in an area that once had a garden about 10 years ago. Its lawn covered now so it needs to be tilled. I was hoping to rent a small tiller for my tractor, but the local dealer/rental outfit doesn't have one availble. I could easily do it with a walk behind, but they are scarce right now too.

Is there another implement that would work to turn over and break up the sod? Would a middle buster work for this?

Thanks in advance!
Leo

 

[RobJ]

I'd strip the sod off and wait for a walk behind. At 25x25 you could almost do it by hand in an hour or little more!! Good for the heart!!

 

[crashz]

Hmm... Thats a good idea, Rob. I've been under the impression that I should till the sod into the soil and break it up until its really fine. But without the sod, I could just break it up with a pitch fork.

 

[Charlesaf3]

good excuse to buy a rototiller 3pt! People say good things about the king kutter

 

[RobJ]

good excuse to buy a rototiller 3pt! People say good things about the king kutter

Not arguing with this...but it's a 300x300 garden!!! In inches!!

BTW talking about gardens...Monday we ate some corn I planted this year, cucumbers, potatos, bell pepper and a tomato.

 

[crashz]

Yeah - its way to small to justify purchasing a tiller. And I wouldn't have any other use for it. In fact its really too small to till with a tractor, but I will use any excuse I can to run mine.

If I can get a walk behind tiller, should I be tilling the sod under?

 

[Luremaker]

...BTW talking about gardens...Monday we ate some corn I planted this year, cucumbers, potatos, bell pepper and a tomato.

Your already eating what you've planted and here I am waiting for frost free nights so that I can acutally plant the seed I want to plant.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Hey, I'm about to use the tractor to till a 20x15 garden!

 

[RobJ]

If I can get a walk behind tiller, should I be tilling the sod under?

I wouldn't, more work for sure to strip the sod off. But if you take an inch or so under the sod you might also get rid of some dormant seeds lying there. Might help some anyway.

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[RobJ]

If I can get a walk behind tiller, should I be tilling the sod under?

I wouldn't, more work for sure to strip the sod off. But if you take an inch or so under the sod you might also get rid of some dormant seeds lying there. Might help some anyway. Looks like you have a FEL...easy work with that.

Good Luck,
Rob