Tiller recommendations for a BX or what else to use

[Sam Mac]

Guys

I'm thinking about buying a 48" tiller for my Kubota BX 2660. Looking for recommendations.
Edit:

I had this posted in the implements area but it looks like it fits here better.
I plan on trying my hand at doing a small garden and thought a tiller was the hot setup but as you can see those that know more about this than I do are talking me out of the tiller idea. So now tell me what should be thinking about. I suck at making stuff grow and need all the help I can get.

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Guys

I'm thinking about buying a 48" tiller for my Kubota BX 2660. Looking for recommendations.

My next door neighbor has one on a BX, it is easy to ruin the soil with a tiller by simply going too slow.

After two seasons, the tiller had turned his garden into "concrete", the tilth was gone.

I ain't saying not to get one, I am just hinting not to go slow, it will destroy the soil structure.

Definition of TILTH

1
: cultivated land : tillage
2
: the state of aggregation of a soil especially in relation to its suitability for crop growth

This thing is much safer:



AND cheaper!

[Sam Mac]

John

I'm new to this plowing or tilling thing so I welcome any suggestions. Blowing up rock and crushing it I know how to do. You have been to my place tell me how you would do it and what to use. This is what I have at the moment.

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by CADplans

My next door neighbor has one on a BX, it is easy to ruin the soil with a tiller by simply going too slow.

After two seasons, the tiller had turned his garden into "concrete", the tilth was gone.

I ain't saying not to get one, I am just hinting not to go slow, it will destroy the soil structure.

Definition of TILTH

1
: cultivated land : tillage
2
: the state of aggregation of a soil especially in relation to its suitability for crop growth

This thing is much safer:



AND cheaper!

Agreed: tillers are great tools, but like any other tool, they only work well when used properly. I've never heard of the extreme case of a concrete garden by misuse but I certainly agree with the destroying soil structure statement. Anywho, I second the chisel option you posted. The soil doesn't have to be broken down to dust to be tilled sufficiently for planting. Just...broken up enough to get good seed contact with the soil when planting. After that, mother nature will take care of the rest.

OR

Since you've already got a plow to turn the soil with, you could get a single or double gang set of discs to break up the turned soil. The only downside to this is, as opposed to the cultivator listed above, you won't be able to use it again to cultivate between rows for weed control during the growing season.

[J-Mech]

You've got the right idea with the plow. It's a good place to start! I agree with CAD. You can over-till, and he is right about going too slow. Plow, hit it once with a tiller and you should be good to go. Bush Hog makes a good tiller for the money. Used them before quite a bit. They aren't bad. If your interested in a really, really good tiller, about the best one out there is made by Howard. It's called a Rotavator. I have no idea where the closest dealer would be. Look at them, if you want help finding a dealer, I'll help you. We had one on our farm. It was the best tiller I've ever seen!! Here's a link to a site that shows them.

[CADplans]

What is the intended purpose of the tiller?

Vegetable garden?
Flower beds?
Lawn renovation?
Enjoying springtime? (that is my tilling duty purpose! )

A $3k purchase is takes up a lot of storage space, if it is used 15 minutes a year.

But, then a dragster costs more and is used less time!

If it is to get grass to grow behind the house, I would be buying hay, thinly covering the area every couple months until the grass looks better than a golf course.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by CADplans

What is the intended purpose of the tiller?

Vegetable garden?
Flower beds?
Lawn renovation?
Enjoying springtime? (that is my tilling duty purpose! )

A $3k purchase is takes up a lot of storage space, if it is used 15 minutes a year.

But, then a dragster costs more and is used less time!

If it is to get grass to grow behind the house, I would be buying hay, thinly covering the area every couple months until the grass looks better than a golf course.

Just a small veggie garden. Maybe 20'X40'

If the plow and a cultivator will do the job I'm all good with going that way. One thing that I'm concerned about with the tiller idea is that my land has an abundance of rocks so I'm worried I could destroy the PTO on the BX even with a slip clutch. Thoughts?

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Just a small veggie garden. Maybe 20'X40'

If the plow and a cultivator will do the job I'm all good with going that way. One thing that I'm concerned about with the tiller idea is that my land has an abundance of rocks so I'm worried I could destroy the PTO on the BX even with a slip clutch. Thoughts?

Tillers are for BIG gardens, my garden is 50x100 feet, way too small for a BX and a tiller.

Rent a walk behind tiller, if you want to prep the soil after plowing.

The 4 foot wide tiller would be useless for weed control, especially if there is any grade to the garden.

[Sam Mac]

Think you guys just saved me a couple grand. Thank you.

Moved the thread so that I can get info on what tools I should be thinking about. I have a plow and a ripper shank. I like the idea of renting a walk behind if I am only going to need it once in a while plus I don't need to worry about tearing up the BX.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Think you guys just saved me a couple grand. Thank you.

Moved the thread so that I can get info on what tools I should be thinking about. I have a plow and a ripper shank. I like the idea of renting a walk behind if I am only going to need it once in a while plus I don't need to worry about tearing up the BX.

For an area that small and for a few hundred, you could get a tiller for the 121.....

I think a disk and a small field cultivator would do you good.

Land Pride makes excellent tillage/dirt tools. (They have good tillers too.)

Here is their disk........ Disk
This tool is a very good leveler/finisher....... Soil Pulverizer
This is a good style field cultivator. The shovels on it need replaced with cultivator sweeps though (You can get the cultivator shovels at Rural King also)......... Field Cultivator


(BTW) Most tillers have a lot of built in protections for hitting rocks. I have honestly seen FAR more rear PTO tore out of a tractor on a Bush-Hog than anything. Usually not from hitting something.... but from a U-joint breaking and it flipping that long shaft around!