Earlier in May I was about to use my Ford 601 to do some actual plowing. Last year I only plowed a few lines for my father's tomatoes, but this year he decided it was time to revive part of his garden "empire". The plow that I used is a Ford 2 bottom 12 inch which works great for the mostly red clay soil of north eastern Tennessee. The area that I plowed has sat somewhat dormant for about ten years and has been a dumping ground for organic matter of various sources - ground leaf litter from the front and back yard, cow manure from the last four bio-lawnmowers ( a term for the family cows - the last passing in February 2018 aged 23 and a half ), among other organic matter. Clover has taken over the area in certain areas, weedy material in other places which has been ground up by the lawn mower.
I realize that there are things that I did that probably are against conventional protocol, such as not adjusting the plow after doing the initial line, plowing the headlands, etc. This was one of those jobs where such things did not matter and I knowing exactly how your other equipment will perform.. The ancient ( Garden Ways ) Troy-Bilt tiller will only till down three to four inches - the plow as you guess went went down further than the tiller will ever be able able to go. There are also several large rock protrusions in the area of the headlands on the camera end that would be a determent to the plow.
This is the first time in over 35 years that this ground has been plowed this deep. The furrows were broken with a horse drawn disc as that was the only disc that was I have available at this time and then tilled over with the Troy-Bilt which took around 40 minutes or so. The ground has never been broken up so nicely before.
The lessons? Large roots are also a pain to deal with especially with a three point plow, and that the worn out clutch disc needs to be changed soon.
I realize that there are things that I did that probably are against conventional protocol, such as not adjusting the plow after doing the initial line, plowing the headlands, etc. This was one of those jobs where such things did not matter and I knowing exactly how your other equipment will perform.. The ancient ( Garden Ways ) Troy-Bilt tiller will only till down three to four inches - the plow as you guess went went down further than the tiller will ever be able able to go. There are also several large rock protrusions in the area of the headlands on the camera end that would be a determent to the plow.
This is the first time in over 35 years that this ground has been plowed this deep. The furrows were broken with a horse drawn disc as that was the only disc that was I have available at this time and then tilled over with the Troy-Bilt which took around 40 minutes or so. The ground has never been broken up so nicely before.
The lessons? Large roots are also a pain to deal with especially with a three point plow, and that the worn out clutch disc needs to be changed soon.
