disc harrow or rototiller

[jyoutz]

I'm planning to upgrade to a much larger tractor (L4701) than I currently have. I plan to sell my current 54" rototiller because it would be too narrow for the L4701. I have a large garden that I plow in the fall with a moldboard, and I've been preparing for spring planting by rototilling. My soil is good and have been used as a garden spot for 14 years. I'm considering just getting a 6 foot disc harrow instead of a larger rototiller. Any thoughts? Would the disc prepare the seed bed good enough for gardening, or would I miss having a rototiller?

 

[lakngulf]

You would probably miss the tiller but with enough weight and trips over soil the disc harrow will do the job

 

[captronr]

A lot of options here, each with advantages/disadvantages, plus different costs.

If you plow every fall, I'm not sure you need to rototill before planting. A disc might work. Another option would be to obtain a mounted springtooth or chisel plow. Either would require more than one operations, such as work the ground, wait for a rain and / or 10 days, then work it again.

I used to have a tractor with a 7 shank spring tooth. I used it on fescue sod on very good ground. It looked like crap after the first 1 or 2 operations, but by the 3rd or 4th, it was perfectly tilled to plant.

Later, with a larger tractor, I purchased a 10 foot pull behind chisel plow for $40 at a farm auction. Cut it apart and built a 7 foot three point chisel plow. Sold the rest for scrap for about $20. Worked great and the price was right.
Ron

 

[jyoutz]

A lot of options here, each with advantages/disadvantages, plus different costs.

If you plow every fall, I'm not sure you need to rototill before planting. A disc might work. Another option would be to obtain a mounted springtooth or chisel plow. Either would require more than one operations, such as work the ground, wait for a rain and / or 10 days, then work it again.

I used to have a tractor with a 7 shank spring tooth. I used it on fescue sod on very good ground. It looked like crap after the first 1 or 2 operations, but by the 3rd or 4th, it was perfectly tilled to plant.

Later, with a larger tractor, I purchased a 10 foot pull behind chisel plow for $40 at a farm auction. Cut it apart and built a 7 foot three point chisel plow. Sold the rest for scrap for about $20. Worked great and the price was right.
Ron

I already have a moldboard plow. I plow in the fall to open the furrows so that snow can penetrate. But my soil has some clay and plowings isn't sufficient to make a planting bed in the spring. I'm wondering if a disc harrow would be able to make a suitable planting bed?

 

[captronr]

To me, if you say "clay" and disc in the same sentence, I'd be leary. Unless the disc can cut the clay up (which it might be able to do), it might just pack it down which will not make a decent seed bed.

I'll defer to others.
Ron

 

[TheMadOne]

A disc will work, but it won't be as quick or uniform as a tiller.

Why the L4701 instead of a MX or Grand L?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You would probably miss the tiller but with enough weight and trips over soil the disc harrow will do the job

And there lies the problem, more weight and more trips over the soil!

That's called compaction, I'd either offset the tiller you have to cover one track, or get a bigger tiller.

SR

 

[jeff9366]

I'm planning to upgrade to a much larger tractor (L4701) than I currently have. I plan to sell my current 54" rototiller because it would be too narrow for the L4701.

I have a large garden that I plow in the fall with a moldboard, and I've been preparing for spring planting by rototilling. My soil is ]good and have been used as a garden spot for 14 years.

What is LARGE in terms of square feet or acres? Is this a kitchen garden?

Assuming your garden is less than five acres, a Roto-tiller is simpler mixing soil than a Disc Harrow.

With a Roto-tiller on previously tilled ground it is usually once and done. You can till slowly.

A Disc Harrow has to be pulled at a brisk pace in order to mix soil, hence it is not as good for relatively small areas.

 

[MHarryE]

Soil type is the key. My soil is graded 49% clay, 42% loam, and 9% sand. One needs to beat it into submission. Moldboard plow, disc twice, cultivate twice in the fall. Multi-weeder (Euro spring teeth in the spring after Mother Nature has done its freeze/thaw job and I’ve got a seed bed for farm crops. For garden it’s moldboard plow in fall, disc once if there’s time, and roto-till before planting. Needs to be dry with the high clay content.

 

[jyoutz]

A disc will work, but it won't be as quick or uniform as a tiller.

Why the L4701 instead of a MX or Grand L?

I like simple tractors, and don't really care for the gadgets on the grand L (or the price). I like the simplicity and the weight/HP/capabilities as well as the size of the L4701. It hits a sweet spot for what I need. The MX seems a little larger and less handy in the barn/pens/garden, and I don't want to pay for Cat 2 implements. Also the price of the 4701 is reasonable for that size/HP tractor.