Tiller Tiller for Gardening (Walk behind vs. PTO)

[Ed of all trades]

We wore out an Arens rear tine over the years and when we got the Massey we got a 60" KK and are so glad we did. It is much better at working in cover crops and mulch. One year we mulched oak leaves and then bagged them and dumped them on the garden about a foot deep, the first pass with the KK and I could still not see any dirt, a couple more passes and we left them for a while. mid winter I tilled once more and we had wonderful black dirt instead of light color dirt. I could not have done that with a rear tine. We are adding veg. matter every year and the gardens get better every year. Buy a KK or = and you wont regret it. I just planted a 20' x 40' pea patch and the soil was partly frozen, it was 16 deg. here last night and I could not have worked it up today with a rear tine.

 

[timinsanborn]

for many years i tilled my garden with a troybilt tiller, then 3 years ago i bought my tractor and 60" 3 point tiller for it .i have not regreted it once.
for spring set up or taking down in the fall what once took 4-6 hours is now done in an hour,the big 3 point tiller makes quick easy work of the garden.
then i use the troybilt in between the rows to keep the weeds down. hope this helps and good luck with y

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I have both the PTO tiller and the Troy horse. I plant about 2-3 acres of produce and use both. However I also have turning plow, disc, and one row cultivator. Depending on time and the condition of the soil I may only use the plow and disc before planting. Both have a need in my operation. I will run the cultivators for weeds until the plants are too high, then use the troy horse between rows. I used this method for many years until I bought the PTO tiller.

Since this is your "first" family size garden you could put the garden in this year with the equipment you have. Use the money for the tiller to maybe help with irrigation or fencing if needed to keep deer, rabbit, etc out of your garden. Also this being the first family size garden you could also decide it will be your last, depending on how much help you have.:thumbsup:

Just another option to think about. The PTO tiller is nice but $1800-2000 is nice to have for extra things you may need for the garden this year.

 

[wcampbell47]

Well I lot of us that are 65 try to act 35 - I have a picture to prove it. If you are 35 and in good shape and want to prove something then stick with the walk behind. If you are closer to retirement age and don't want to go to the house too tired to eat supper or go boot scootn with the honey then go for the PTO tiller. The older you get the more you will realize how smart you were in getting the tiller. I have had my 48" PTO tiller since 2008 and don't own a walk behind. You can take some of the time you save with the PTO tiller and go till a neighbors garden. Mine are more than willing to buy me a tank of fuel to do so.

 

[oldballs]

I don't know about the OP, but you guys are talking me into that PTO tiller......at 80 years old, maybe it ain't too late.:drink:

 

[Ted Summey]

I bought my PTO tiller and new tractor when I was 49 so that I hopefully will make it to 80 or better. If both last for me like the tractors my FIL bought (1962 and 1972) then I can give them to my children when I am 90. He would be 92 now - may he rest in peace.

 

[rmk700]

My pto tiller takes me about 3 minutes vs 1 hr with the walk behind. It's just a 15' X 15' garden.

 

[Ted Summey]

Rmk700 - there's nothing like having plenty of machine to do a big job like that:laughing:! No reason to mess around if you don't have too:laughing:

 

[traveling fisher]

You could try by renting a PTO tiller and then make your decision. Seems like a good idea to try before buying.

 

[Bartcephus]

I am amazed at how much "better" the tractor PTO tiller seems to prepare the soil and leave the bed. Perhaps I overtill a bit, but the garden just looks so nice and clean after it is tilled up with the tractor.... no foot prints .... until I start planting. The ease of use of the tractor PTO tiller is so awesome that you don't mind having to climb down to hook up the PTO shaft or 3PH. Certainly easier than pulling the starter rope on a 5hp Briggs and Stratton or bigger engine. And with my tiller, a 60" Howse unit, tilling up a 60" path at a time compared to the 24" width of the walk behind is simply breathtaking.

That said, with a tractor drawn PTO powered tiller, expect your garden to grow, both in length and width. You will not regret spending the extra money on the tiller, and if it wasn't for the tiller, I wouldn't enjoy gardening near as much. I still have my middlebuster, and disk harrow. and use them for food plots where I am not going in and out for a harvest of veggies. A walk behind tiller is nice to keep the weeds down between rows, but if I can get out there a little each week, I don't even need to do that as my Curvex Hoe, all nice and sharp, cleans up the rows pretty darn good. If I ever miss a week though.... whew....

I have a pending offer on a new homestead. Hopefully going from 0.5 acres with a 1110 acre farm/hunting lease 8 miles away to a 10 acre homestead.... can't wait to get all my toys in one spot and plot my shop out on some new turf. It is messing up with my gardening. But a neighbor and I went in together to build a greenhouse a couple of weeks ago... we should have a good start on some plants. My 60" Howse PTO Tiller will prepare another garden area.... right in my own backyard.