Best attachment for turning a mountain field?

[bh10]

I bought some acreage in the N.C. Mountains, Ive got a 1/2 acre field thats never been plowed and full of thick grass. I was wondering what attachment you'd guys use for it, as Im wanting to put in a garden? Im also assuming its rocky as ****.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I would know if it is rocky or not. That would make a big difference in the equipment you need.

 

[HEC]

I would probably want to turn it over with a land plow first to get an idea just what you have ,and then if it doesn't have to many large size rocks you can rototil it or use a disc harrow for breaking it up and get the rocks out the best you can . I use a land plow in the fall and a disc for my garden prep in the spring . I use cultivators and a small tiller during the growing season .

If you think you have lots of big rocks you may want to get a plow that will trip so you don't cause any damage to plow or tractor . I bought a used 3 bottom self tripping plow for $ 200 dollars and it works fine for what little I use it .

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

A half acre is not worth buying any equipment for. What equipment do you have now?

The best way to turn unbroken ground into a garden is, typically, to plow it with a chisel plow or a turning plow and then disc it with a tandem or offset disc. You can then rototill it it or run a drag over it to break up clods and level it. Then you'll need a bedder to make beds. That's a lot of equipment for a half acre garden.

If you've got a tandem disc, I'd probably go mow the grass down short and then run the disc over it several times until you can bury the disc up to the axles. Your DK55 should make short work of it even if you have to go over it 10 times with the disc. Then drag it or rototill it.

 

[bh10]

I would know if it is rocky or not. That would make a big difference in the equipment you need.

Its rocky, there's rocks everywhere on the property.

A half acre is not worth buying any equipment for. What equipment do you have now?

The best way to turn unbroken ground into a garden is, typically, to plow it with a chisel plow or a turning plow and then disc it with a tandem or offset disc. You can then rototill it it or run a drag over it to break up clods and level it. Then you'll need a bedder to make beds. That's a lot of equipment for a half acre garden.

If you've got a tandem disc, I'd probably go mow the grass down short and then run the disc over it several times until you can bury the disc up to the axles. Your DK55 should make short work of it even if you have to go over it 10 times with the disc. Then drag it or rototill it.

Bush hog is really all I got, got the tractor to bush hog a couple properties. I do have a set of disc (not tandem), but the are terribly light a old. They wouldnt come close to doing anything even after numerous passes.

Im thinking I might spray it now, then mess with it? IDK though. Regardless though Im going to need to buy some attachment. And I dont know if I need a middle buster, chisel plow, bottom plow or what? Im afaird of a bottom plow do to the rocks.

 

[wolftree]

Unless you have 12 kids that can be made to work in a garden, a half acre garden is huge. I suggest finding a used rototiller for $20 and trimming the size way down to 20'X50'.

 

[bh10]

Unless you have 12 kids that can be made to work in a garden, a half acre garden is huge. I suggest finding a used rototiller for $20 and trimming the size way down to 20'X50'.

Most of it is going to be planted in food plots for turkey (clover/chicory), we've got next to nothing for deer, but have an abundant turkey and grouse population.

 

[Thomas]

Know anyone w/good set of sharp harrows you could borrow.

 

[Halftrack]

If is that rocky, I would suggest the 5 or 7 shank spring loaded all purpose plow. Mr. Sweet has a number of them, 5, 7, and 9 shank. I think if you sprayed the area, let everything die and then multiple passes with the shank plow, you could then use your light disc to smooth and mix in your seed. Mr. Sweet could fill you in on the application of a shank plow to your situation.

 

[1026mrg]

We have about 6 food plots, total of about 8 acres, up in the mountains in Vermont. Very rocky in spots.
Removing the rocks is not easy, but if you want good, tillable, workable soil, it is a must.

We did it as follows. First a three bottom, re-settable plow (Kverneland AB 85). Don't worry too much about damaging a "bottom plow" as long as it is re-settable. They are designed to work through big rocks. Then after plowing, come through with a stone fork or grapple to pick out the big rocks. Stone fork is preferable. Most have solid, round tines and are spaced more closely than a root grapple. Many root grapples have welded on tips. These will eventually work loose & fall off when handling a lot of rocks. Next, disc harrow. To really get the land pretty rock free, it will take several seasons. I generally run the tractor with a stone fork on front & plow on back when working the fields to plow & remove rocks. That way when I hit a big one, I can pull it out with the stone fork before it potentially gets covered in the next plow pass.

A harrow will not remove the rocks. In most cases, it will run over them & eventually tear the discs off of the bearing. You need the plow, a resettable, to turn up the rocks. Then remove the rocks either with a stone fork, a root grapple or by hand and toss into an FEL bucket.

It will take 2-3 seasons before you stop turning up major rocks. But if you really want a rock free garden, this is one way to do it.

We learned these lessons the hard way.... doing it another way first & screwing up or tearing up equipment.

 

[boggen]

i am out of my league here.

they make a "de-stoner"? if memory serves me right, it kinda looks like a 3pt hitch tiller up in front, but extra heavy duty tines / teeth. and then a stone/dirt separator in back. if memory serves they are pretty costly. but you might try to see if someone has one locally you can rent out or like. i want to say, i saw them show up in the "potatoe" areas of the country. or marketed more in those areas.