Plow first or go right to tiller?

[Ugarte]

I have a L2501 and plan to prepare sections of a long-fallow farm field for a vegetable and flower garden. This field is presently mowed once a year, with a somewhat bumpy surface and, I think, a moderately rocky soil underneath. Do I need to invest in a one bottom plow or can I get away with breaking the sod with a 60 inch tiller (without breaking anything on the tractor or the tiller). Glad to take it slow (just a hobby).

Also, your opinion on a 60 inch tiller size for this tractor (HST, 19 PTO hp). Thanks.

 

[davesl708]

I use a 60" tiller to redo lawns. Breaking sod it will do but on a large scale it would be faster and easier on the tiller to plow first.
I have 16hp and it works on mine.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I would just use my tiller. I have a KK and love it. Pull it with mu 18.__ pto hp Massey. Ed

 

[wcampbell47]

If you are talking about a small garden project then just till. If it will be a big project plow first to make it easier on the tiller. Most PTO equipment lists the PTO hp recommended in the user guide. The 60 inch KK tiller listed on Northern Tools recommends a 25-40 HP tractor.

 

[npalen]

I tilled some sod today with the 60" KK on the Kubota B9200HSD. It was fairly dry on top so took two passes down to about as deep as would want to till. Left it like ready to plant garden which it will be.
I believe the B9200 is rated about 18 HP PTO with 22 HP engine. The hydrostat is certainly nice for tilling.

 

[motownbrowne]

If it's less than an acre I'd just use the tiller. No need to run out and buy a plow just for that.

 

[oosik]

I don't have a tiller. So I first plow then use the disk harrow. My sod, on any unbroken field, is so thick & heavy that using the plow first would almost be mandatory. Plowing will bring up all the hidden stuff - big rocks - that you really don't need to hit with a tiller.

 

[Ugarte]

Thanks everyone. I see the jury is decidedly still out. You have helped me determine that a 60" tiller is not unreasonable for this tractor (many here and elsewhere use one with the same or slightly less pto hp). I'll be watching closely on the plow question while I search CL for a good used one (very rare here in Maine so far).

 

[adimice]

I've been using a 7 shank spring loaded cultivator/ ripper. some times called a jitterbug. I'll rip the field in several directions, then get inthere with my 60" King Kutter pto rototiller. Does a great job.

 

[adimice]

Thanks everyone. I see the jury is decidedly still out. You have helped me determine that a 60" tiller is not unreasonable for this tractor (many here and elsewhere use one with the same or slightly less pto hp). I'll be watching closely on the plow question while I search CL for a good used one (very rare here in Maine so far).

Where are you in coastal Me. We lived in Bremen for several years