What size/type of plow do I need?

[miramadar]

I own a Kioti CK27 and I want to do a little farming. I need to break ground in an existing garden and I'd like to create a new garden next year that is about 1 acre. I need some advice from the local experts here.

In reading the forums, I apparently won't benefit much from a 2-bottom plow as my tractor really isn't powerful enough to pull it through virgin soil. My existing garden is relatively small, so the added efficiency of a 2-bottom plow really isn't needed. So, I'm guessing a 1-bottom. But what size? My tractor is considered a CUT...so do I need to buy a special type of plow? Can I use a standard sized plow? And from what I've read and seen on YouTube (Everything Attachments has some very nice and informative videos on YouTube by the way!), I need the coulter. So I'm all for that.

I was also thinking of getting a middlebuster. I need to dig some ditches and trenches because I'm currently building a new house. I need sewer and water lines dug and I'm hoping that a middlebuster will do that. I also need to trench and install drain pipe for about 150 feet through some bottom land that is holding water. Could I just get a 1-bottom plow to do this as well?

I guess I'm sort of confused by the whole thing.

 

[Egon]

Consider a rota tiller.

 

[bp fick]

A simple 3 pt, single bottom plow isn't hard to find. They are pricey, as you likely know. Your tractor will handle a single share. The middle busters are also good plows, but don't throw those nifty, neat furrows. The price for the Middle Buster is only $150, whereas the share plow is $500. Available at a TSC, although they may have to order the share plow, as keeping those in stock isn't as common as the middle buster.

I used a middle buster to break this "virgin" soil as a little BX cannot handle a very big share plow very well. Rear Tillers are slow, don't go very deep, and are pricey, but pretty nice to use after plowing.

 

[gwdixon]

A middle buster will not do the job of digging a trench for water or sewer line. A plow won't do the job either. Rent a ditcher or trencher to do the piping jobs you have in mind.

Tractor implements are specifically designed to do certain jobs well but don't easily do other jobs. That is what keeps the implement companies in business.

 

[schmism]

a moldboard plow is generally designed to plow half its width in depth.

so a 14" wide plow is 7" deep, 16" plow 8" deep etc.

the K&K brand 1 bottom plows at TSC and the like are just fine for light use behind a CUT. as for will they cut a trench? most use a potato plow or middlebuster for that job.

there are those that also just have a middle buster/patato plow and use it for both ditching and garden "plowing"

do you have a roto-tiller? walkbehind at least? to make a decent seed bed your gonna need a tiller of some sort.

 

[bp fick]

Or, you will need a disc and drag of some kind. Discs run about $700 bucks for the beginner models. Drags can be made from old chain link or you can buy one very reasonably.

 

[schmism]

Or, you will need a disc and drag of some kind. Discs run about $700 bucks for the beginner models. Drags can be made from old chain link or you can buy one very reasonably.

This is why a tiller is usually the way to go.

by the time you buy a middle buster or 1bottom plow for 3-400 then a disk for 700 then spend time and energy building a drag..... you might as well spend the $1000 it takes to buy a tiller and be done i with it.

 

[bp fick]

Tillers are awesome, if a bit slow.

They do create a hard pan at about 6", but a simple and cheap middle buster (shoe on/off)or subsoiler can break that up, down to 9-12 inches typically.

 

[miramadar]

do you have a roto-tiller? walkbehind at least? to make a decent seed bed your gonna need a tiller of some sort.

I do have an old tiller that was my grandfather's. It's a beast. For the past several years I've used it exclusively to till the garden. I'm not a big fan of it. It's great for small jobs, but I can't see doing a whole acre with it.

Unfortunately, my grandfather sold his tractor and implements years ago when I was young. There are still some "parts" of plows around the farm...horse-drawn stuff.

So, yeah, I'd love to have a rototiller. But $$$ is an object. Like I said, I'm building a house this year and don't really have a lot of cash to throw around. But I've got a buddy w/ a rototiller and he'd till it for me. I just don't want to have to depend on others, you know?

 

[bp fick]

I do have an old tiller that was my grandfather's. It's a beast. For the past several years I've used it exclusively to till the garden. I'm not a big fan of it. It's great for small jobs, but I can't see doing a whole acre with it.

So, yeah, I'd love to have a rototiller. But $$$ is an object. Like I said, I'm building a house this year and don't really have a lot of cash to throw around. But I've got a buddy w/ a rototiller and he'd till it for me. I just don't want to have to depend on others, you know?

Well, for absolutely the least, you cannot beat a middle buster. To dress it, if the soil isn't too lumpy or in need of pulverizing, just go over it with a field cultivator, such as this. A disk would be better if the ground is soddy or lumpy, which if you had plowed last fall, it would have had the frost cycle to break down a bit. $150 or less with coupons for a middle buster and $250 or less with coupons for the cultivator. It'll work. Go over the ground enough and you might even re-plow and re-work, but you'll keep the $$$ in your pocket. Once the crops come up a bit, you'll actually use that cultivator for its intended purpose.

 

[miramadar]

Well, for absolutely the least, you cannot beat a middle buster. To dress it, if the soil isn't too lumpy or in need of pulverizing, just go over it with a field cultivator, such as this. A disk would be better if the ground is soddy or lumpy, which if you had plowed last fall, it would have had the frost cycle to break down a bit. $150 or less with coupons for a middle buster and $250 or less with coupons for the cultivator. It'll work. Go over the ground enough and you might even re-plow and re-work, but you'll keep the $$$ in your pocket. Once the crops come up a bit, you'll actually use that cultivator for its intended purpose.

Thanks for the advice all. Love this site! I do plan on getting the middlebuster. My wife loves growing potatoes and that would be VERY handy for that. And it seems that the middlebuster, set not too deep, would create nice furrows in tilled soil.

My soil has a lot of clay in it, so pulverizing does need to happen. We tilled the garden last year and it was really too wet to be done, but it was the only opportunity I had to do it, and it was a mess. I ran the old tiller over it 3 times, but the clods were so hard after they dried, they were like bricks. The garden didn't do so well. So, I'm not sure that the cultivator would be of much use. I do have a box blade that I could use to dress. Last year that's what I used to break the ground. The scarifiers went down a good 8-10 inches, but it was hard to reach the full depth and not fill the box with soil and drag it all over the place. Again, wisdom says:

Tractor implements are specifically designed to do certain jobs well but don't easily do other jobs. That is what keeps the implement companies in business. (gwdixon)

 

[bp fick]

My soil has a lot of clay in it, so pulverizing does need to happen. We tilled the garden last year and it was really too wet to be done, but it was the only opportunity I had to do it, and it was a mess. I ran the old tiller over it 3 times, but the clods were so hard after they dried, they were like bricks. The garden didn't do so well.

Two words: Fall Plowing

 

[schmism]

My soil has a lot of clay in it, so pulverizing does need to happen. We tilled the garden last year and it was really too wet to be done, but it was the only opportunity I had to do it, and it was a mess. I ran the old tiller over it 3 times, but the clods were so hard after they dried, they were like bricks. The garden didn't do so well.

this is why you dont use a tiller when the soil is to wet. instead turn the soil with a moldboard plow which means it will dry quicker then you can till it once its dried right.

 

[GE222]

Bp fick has it correct. Plow in the fall, then in the spring, go over it with a field finisher.

The are plenty of old single bottom trip plows out there that can be had for cheap. Lots of old small disks and drags as well. Watch the farm auctions.

My largest plow is a Deere, 7 bottom, which is not used much any more. Takes a bit of horsepower. It is also hydraulically adjustable. The adjust ability is used for several reasons, engine horsepower, field conditions, as well as how much crop residue is to be covered/exposed.