Tiller 3pt Tiller or walk behind ?

[DuaneW]

I am looking at a 50" Kuhn tiller today, I like it because of the abiltiy to side shift. Figure I'll have the tiller longer than the tractor and the side shift allows you to offset the tiller to one side so you dont leave tracks tilling if tractor size grows. As far a tilling the garden, once planted, I don't put a tiller back in it, I cover with staw and hoe. Straw helps keep the weeds down, helps hold the moisture in and adds organanic matter back to the soil next year when I till it in. If your soil is managable, a good walk behind will work, my soil is so heavy ( white clay ) that I had about 8 hrs doing a 20' x 15' patch last year, still had spots where it was not deep enough, used a troybuilt pony.

DuaneW.

 

[WayneB]

I have a Howard rototiller and a Troybilt horse tiller. Actually I bought the Troybilt 29 years ago. Have replaced the engine (twice) and rebuilt the rear seals about two years ago. Still runs strong, but it is limited as to just what you can do and how quickly you can do it.

The Howard on the other hand is a major step up from the walk behind. I do about two acres of planting area every year so it has proven to be the way to go for us.

As for buying a 3pt hitch tiller to make a few flowerbeds and what have you it just might be over kill. Not sure the size of the beds or location, but I do know getting my tiller up close to the house just might create a problem or two.

You mentioned Black Berries. We grow and sell black berries. Not sure where your are located and what growing zone you in, but you might want to take a look at Nourse Farms (if you are in the eastern US)
Nourse Farms - Strawberry Plants, Blueberry Plants, Raspberry Plants for Home Gardeners and Commercial Growers - South Deerfield, MA

I buy all of my blackberry and raspberry plants from them and I have never had a single problem. We have the thorny variety of berries and it does take extra care in planting and spacing the plants, mainly for harvesting, but they are really great growers and produce large amounts of berries. we have Illini Hardy plants and the second year they were in most of the Brambles were reaching between 10 and 12 feet high. Turned out to be a bit of a challenge to just pick them. If you go with blackberries I would recommend no less that ten plants and to follow the recommended spacing when planting. Multiple rows is much better than one single long row.

This is another good bulletin from Ohio state that has good information on berry fruits and planting information. Brambles - Production Management and Marketing, Bulletin 782-99

Wayne

 

[woodyt]

Wayne, Thanks so much for those links on Blackberrys I appreciate it. I will need all the help I can muster. I live in upstate N.Y. , just south of Syracuse. We have a good amount of wild blackberrys, but I've always wanted to plant my own. I have also heard of Howard tillers and if I remember right they are a very good brand of tiller. If I can't find something in the paper this spring for a decent price, I just might take the advice from one of the members here and borrow one from my cousin. My flower beds won't be too large just something to spruce up the yard. I just love all this advice. I did want to mention that the Kuhn sounds like a nice tiller also.

 

[WayneB]

Tillers are a great tool, but they do take a beating so be prepared to buy repair and spare parts for which ever one you buy. The kuhn is a very nice tiller, but it is a heavy beast so make sure your tractor can handle the weight on the 3 pt hitch.

As for the blackberries there are many great places in New York to find the plants, suspect you can find a good outlet real close to Syracuse area. Here is a place in New York that you might contact
Awald Farms - Raspberries, Blueberries, Pumpkins, Nursery Stock Raspberry Plants and Blackberry Plants, U-Pick and more!

Just remember there are very few green thumbs, just brown knees.

Wayne

 

[Botabill]

How wide is it?
My 3 point tiller is 48'' wide.
I can haul the tilled up dirt away much faster with the 48'' fel on the BX23 than I can till it up with the 48'' tiller .
There is just no way a 16 to 24 inch wide walk behind tiller can keep up with the BX23.

Hey there Brown. The BX is a fine machine but it isn't the answer to all questions. Perhaps you should broaden your perspective.

 

[woodyt]

Just wanted to say thanks to all for their input, and a big thanks to Canoetrpr for copying his manual of my Blower for me. I appreciate all the help, everyone certainly gave me much to think about.