Best implement for garden tilling

[flyingace]

My wife wants to start a garden. We live on fairly rock soil and want maybe 75'x50' plot. What is the best 3-point implement for turning the soil over in preparation for planting? Are there additional implements I should consider getting?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TimPa]

I plant a somewhat bigger garden, and use a 2 bottom plow to turn over, than a 5" 3ph tiller to prep.

 

[Ultradog MN]

What size and brand of tractor do you have?
If I could only have one tool for putting in a garden it would be an old Dearborn or Ferguson cultivator. My cousin has been using one for most of 20 years behind his 40? hp John Deere and it does a good job.
You want the 2 row cultivator and not the field cultivator.
The alternative is to buy a plow and disc but you'd be into those for most of $1K whereas an old cultivator could be had for around $300.
If you are patient you could find one cheaper.
I picked up a good Ferguson cultivator for $175 this spring.
Photo is just one I found on Google.

 

[flyingace]

Thanks for the replies.

Tractor is a Ford 3000D.

 

[flyingace]

Thanks for the replies.

Tractor is a Ford 3000D.

 

[maxwell99]

A old plow to turn over the soil each spring/fall.

Then get a 5ft tiller.
you would be setup

 

[old]

Depending on what transmission it has a 300D is likely to be able to handle a tiller which for a garden it the best thing a guy can use

 

[Jason S.]

What wrong with the field cultivator? I use mine probably more than any other plow I own.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 10:14:37 09/20/13) My wife wants to start a garden. We live on fairly rock soil and want maybe 75'x50' plot. What is the best 3-point implement for turning the soil over in preparation for planting? Are there additional implements I should consider getting?

Thanks in advance.

That's kind of like asking another person what girl you should marry! For a little plot like that you might be best hiring it plowed and then maybe even tilled. Then get yourself a decent rear tine tiller. A 50x75 ft plot is way too small for a farm tractor after the initial ground breaking.

 

[Leroy]

You say rock soil, you cannot raise a decent garden in rocks. So first thing to think about is how to get rid of those rocks with a rock picker of some kind. Haven't had a garden for several years but I had that problem along with clay that would get so hard you could not stick a shovel in it. I was going to try to go with raised beds with good dirt brought in but health got in the way of that. Might be a better way for you to go.

 

[MF#1]

If not too rocky a turning plow is great. A tiller is also a bonus but it has some side effects. I have had a garden tilled that way for many years(25+). You will quickly find that any weed seed will work to the top when using a tiller. Might want to buy the wife a good "hoe".

 

[JMS/.MN]

Was thinking the same thing. Just take shanks out where the rows are and you have your row cultivator as well. Can even add shields if needed when the crop is small.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I have both a row crop and field cultivators.
The field cultivator has dual coil springs on the shanks and will fold up if they hit an obstacle or if you set them too deep. It would
not even come close to working like a chisel plow like the row crop cultivator would.