BX and a soil plow

[fishpick]

I posted "dirt plow" because this time of year people seem to be all thinking snow... and since I hate the cold... I'm thinking soil...

So - with a BX24... and the desire to make many gardens where there is now weed and sod... what's the opinions of this forum for the right tool for this job?

48" tiller... or 1-2 bottom plow + disc or drag.

The opinion lines are open.

 

[Glowplug]

I would probably have to say a tiller. I don't think you could pull a 2-bottom plow with that size tractor. Sure, a 1-bottom plow maybe. But that would take a long time and be a bit of a set-up. It would likely be difficult without 3ph draft control also. A tiller would likely get it done quicker and with less hassle.

 

[Glowplug]

One other thing. . . .what is your soil type? If you have clay soil I doubt very seriously a BX would pull even a 1-bottom plow. If it is loam you would be okay most likely.

 

[Renob]

Fish,

Go with the tiller.

Here's what I do with simlilar equipment:

Cut brush/weeds/grass with mower/rotary cutter.

Spray with round-up....Wait a couple weeks.

Use box blade with scarifiers all the way down, blade just above the ground. Back and forth and diagonal to break up soil.

Rototill 'till your happy with soil.

Have soil tested. Fertilize as necessary. Grow nice stuff!

 

[JBX]

Hi Fishpick,
I prefer to break up the soil first with a middlebuster or SB plow first, but that also depends on soil type and if it has been worked recently, as Glowplug asked.

In my experience, with our heavy clay and alkaline soil in Central Texas,
it is a muti-step process.

I start using a midddle buster with the blade unbolted and removed, and use the single "tooth" down about 6' to 10" to break up the soil. My BX2200 handles this without problem and with turf tires too.
I make a pass every foot or as needed.

Then I reattach the middlebuster blade and make passes as needed. May need to attach a "gauge wheel" on the middlebuster or SB plow if needed, and make adjustments on 3PH to keep from digging in too much.

If you have a tiller, then use that to churn the soil to your satisfaction.
In my opinion, a tiller works best with loose or soft soil. A tiller used in hardpacked soil just puts serious wear and tear on the tiller and tractor. I would rather find big rocks, roots or trash with a plow rather than a tiller.

If you don't have a tiller yet, running a 4' disk back and forth over the soil comes pretty close in my view.
Gives you more time on the tractor too!

 

[JBX]

Hi Glowplug,
Our soil here in Central Texas is heavy clay in most places, and some places only a few inches deep before you hit limestone.
My 3.5 acres has soil about 2' deep. When dry it is like concrete and when wet becomes "gumbo". When conditions are just right, my Bx2200 with a SB plow handles it without a problem. A 2 bottom plow would be too much in this soil for my BX.

 

[HomeBrew2]

BX plow.

Hail, Milkman!

 

[Glowplug]

I'm not sure how easy it would be to pull a true moldboard plow with a BX or any tractor for that matter that doesn't have draft control. I would love to hear from some people's experiences. I can see where a subsoiler may work okay without draft control though.

 

[milkman]

I'm not sure how easy it would be to pull a true moldboard plow with a BX or any tractor for that matter that doesn't have draft control. I would love to hear from some people's experiences. I can see where a subsoiler may work okay without draft control though.

Works really well (see link in post #7) the pics there were in really dry, hard ground, I have used it in a lot better soil since then and have added a depth wheel to maintain a constant depth. Really enjoy my 14" single bottom true moldboard plow and the BX has no trouble at all pulling it.

 

[milkman]

BX plow.

Hail, Milkman!

Now you're taunting the non believers

 

[BrianW]

I personaly watched a 27HP Craftsman deluxe garden tractor (1 wheel drive!) plow up an existing lawn into a garden with a brinly sleeve hitch plow. I am sure a four (really three) wheel drive BX can do it if you don't pick too big of a plow. I was amazed when I saw the Craftsman turn over that lawn. Here is a link to the plow he used.
Brinly-Hardy

 

[RonR]

Wow, Milkman,

You must have to be very careful when turning at the ends of the rows; you do a sharp turn and that boom arm out there TWENTY FEET (ok, its not that much) could take out fences, pets, the truck, and neighbor watching you work!

Glad to hear you added a gage wheel. A touch of the 3PH and it would go up/down a foot, huh?

Looks good!

ron

 

[fishpick]

I personaly watched a 27HP Craftsman deluxe garden tractor (1 wheel drive!) plow up an existing lawn into a garden with a brinly sleeve hitch plow.

Now that's where I'm coming from... Growing up we had this old Wheelhorse (well before Toro ruined them) - and that 16HP (maybe that much) Kohler engine on a belt driven 1 wheel drive garden tractor could plow up **** near anything... manual lift of the plow too! Many a lawn got ripped up and garden put in with my pops driving that thing around. It did have chains on its turf tires and he did "bounce" up and down on the seat when it would get hung up to make the rear tires bite...
So - I just don't see why the thought of a plow on a 23HP 4WD R4 tired diesel monster is a big deal... and given the weight the BX has over that old Wheelhorse... I dunno - seems like... I dunno...

 

[kwolfe]

I would think that it would also make a difference how big a bite you are trying to flop over. The first pass would seem to be the hardest, however after that, you should be fine.

 

[MOPAULY]

I would say it depends on how big of a garden you were going after. I help my wife prepare all of her rose gardens with a walk behind tiller. Unless it's a huge area I don't see the need for an attachment...however my opinion will be in the minority here as many on the forum seem to want to do everything from the seat of the tractor.

 

[Tom_H]

Wow, Milkman's little plow is so cool. My dense hard clay is a struggle with a subsoiler on the BX 2200, but it gets done. I brush hog first, then sub-soil, then rototill.

 

[milkman]

Wow, Milkman,

boom arm out there TWENTY FEET (ok, its not that much)

Glad to hear you added a gage wheel. A touch of the 3PH and it would go up/down a foot, huh?

Looks good!

ron

Much shorter than that, and it's on the side, works better there.

 

[milkman]

So - I just don't see why the thought of a plow on a 23HP 4WD R4 tired diesel monster is a big deal... and given the weight the BX has over that old Wheelhorse... I dunno - seems like... I dunno...

Here's the little patch that I plowed up with the one bottom.

 

[fishpick]

milkman - I was right there with you... until I zoomed in and saw green doing the tilling
Of course - it's likely because it can't pull a plow
That's a sweet little plot you got there. What you planting?

 

[flusher]

I posted "dirt plow" because this time of year people seem to be all thinking snow... and since I hate the cold... I'm thinking soil...

So - with a BX24... and the desire to make many gardens where there is now weed and sod... what's the opinions of this forum for the right tool for this job?

48" tiller... or 1-2 bottom plow + disc or drag.

The opinion lines are open.

Use a middle buster to break up the soil, then rototill. I use a King Kutter middle buster with my 21-hp(engine) Kubota B7510HST for that job. My rototiller is a used Yanmar RS-1200 (4-ft wide).

The photo shows my back yard soon-to-be grass area that I plowed with the middle buster about 10 days ago. I'll rototill that area later in Feb.

My 50'x50' garden area is in the background beyond the 7510, also plowed with the MB. I'll rototill that area in March.