To use rototiller or not?

[kosby]

I have about 1.5 acres I want to turn into a garden and have an interest in buying a rototiller but wonder if it is what I need vs discs and a middlebuster. My tractor is a Kubota B2320dt and the ground here (central Kentucky) in my area has an awful lot of rock under the soil, many call it slate but it is looks like what we used to call shell rock... for the most part, the stuff will peel apart like a deck of cards. Will a rototiller work in this type soil or would I be better off using discs? Thanks for your input.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You can't till or disc rock and have a garden. You have to have dirt. In my part of Ky we have red clay/dirt and lots of limestone. Can't have a garden where it's solid or 75% limestone nor can you with slate rock. You can dig out ditches and fill with dirt or have raised beds filled with dirt. Rock won't break up to make dirt. Now if your talking about dirt with lots of rock in it, then a boxblade will tear up the dirt and scoop up the rocks to be dumped over in the corner of your field which is why you see the stone walls around alot of land in Ky. Course they were picked up by hand a hundred years ago after a horse drawn plow brought them to the top. You may try a middle buster or plow to see if that's what you have before buying a tiller to pulverise the dirt for planting. Tillers don't like base ball or bigger size rocks of any type.

 

[BigD23]

IMHO, 1.5 acres that hasn't been turned, is quite a bit to attack with a 4' (guessing) rototiller...I'm sure you'll hear lots of different ideas...Good luck.

Don

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much in agreement with JT. A middle buster doesn't cost much or you may be able to rent one and then you will know what you have.

 

[sweettractors]

I have about 1.5 acres I want to turn into a garden and have an interest in buying a rototiller but wonder if it is what I need vs discs and a middlebuster. My tractor is a Kubota B2320dt and the ground here (central Kentucky) in my area has an awful lot of rock under the soil, many call it slate but it is looks like what we used to call shell rock... for the most part, the stuff will peel apart like a deck of cards. Will a rototiller work in this type soil or would I be better off using discs? Thanks for your input.

Is it possible to pick out a garden spot in the 1.5 acre that does not have the rock problem? Ken Sweet

 

[bp fick]

Agreed. Hold off on that roto tiller, which is a big ticket.

First run over some or most the ground, in 10' apart stripes, some field test of the ground with a middle buster. Less than 150 dollars and an easy re-coup of that, should you wish to re-sell for some reason.

A middle buster will plunge an easy 8"-10" if you have soil. If virtually all you have is shelf rock, slate, etc, you will find out quickly.

Here is a photo of "virgin" soil I plowed up last year with a middle buster. Obviously, a different kind of soil. Frankly, the $1500 + a tiller would have cost me went to other projects and implements. The tiller is fine implement, but they are expensive. Too expensive to ruin. Find out what you have there first. Good advice given by others.

 

[funwithahoe]

Agreed. Hold off on that roto tiller, which is a big ticket.

First run over some or most the ground, in 10' apart stripes, some field test of the ground with a middle buster. Less than 150 dollars and an easy re-coup of that, should you wish to re-sell for some reason.

A middle buster will plunge an easy 8"-10" if you have soil. If virtually all you have is shelf rock, slate, etc, you will find out quickly.

Here is a photo of "virgin" soil I plowed up last year with a middle buster. Obviously, a different kind of soil. Frankly, the $1500 + a tiller would have cost me went to other projects and implements. The tiller is fine implement, but they are expensive. Too expensive to ruin. Find out what you have there first. Good advice given by others.

Heck of a big garden - I am jealous that you don't need a fence. If the deer were and more assertive here they would steal the seeds right after I put them in the ground - No need to give me any hope they eat everything off as soon as it comes up so I will be doing a fence next year.

 

[bp fick]

Heck of a big garden - I am jealous that you don't need a fence. If the deer were and more assertive here they would steal the seeds right after I put them in the ground - No need to give me any hope they eat everything off as soon as it comes up so I will be doing a fence next year.

Not to get side tracked from the thread, but yes, once the garden planted a 6 1/2 ft fence with netting goes up. Our deer must know your deer. :laughing:

BTW I have a second garden as well.

 

[TWD]

Not to get side tracked from the thread, but yes, once the garden planted a 6 1/2 ft fence with netting goes up. Our deer must know your deer. :laughing:

BTW I have a second garden as well.

Our deer ate through our fence like that

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Our deer were a little slow this year. The raccoons ate almost all of our corn before the deer could get to it. The fence is a good idea, keeps the deer out so the raccoons can climb the fence and get to it without worrying about the deer beating them to it.