Implements for a garden?

yoyo · Jun 19, 2004

I'm getting a Kioti CK25HST in a few weeks. I what to try a garden next year and need to get the needed implements. I know I need a 4-5' disc. What else do I need? Plows,cultivators,tillers???

David

Bird · Jun 19, 2004

David, I'm sure everyone does it differently and lots of different ways work. For me personally, the tiller is the most important implement (and unfortunately the most expensive). Beyond that, perhaps it depends on how far apart you plant your rows. When I had a B7100 with a 40" tiller, that was just about all I used (except for the middle buster to dig potatos). I planted my rows 60" apart and ran the tractor and tiller down between the rows as soon as it got dry after every rain. When I got the B2710 that was too wide for that, I started planting my rows 48" apart, tilled to plant, and then after that used a 6 tine cultivator plow with field sweeps and straddled the rows until the plants got too high for that. Only about every 3 or 4 years did I tear up the ground with a plow to get a little deeper than the tiller went, and I never had, or needed, a disk for the garden.

Egon · Jun 19, 2004

As Bird has said; the tiller will most likely be all you need other than the loader to carry home the produce. Have you given any thought to raised beds?

Egon

RonR · Jun 19, 2004

Egon,

I've heard people speak of raised beds, and seen pics of them. What is supposed to be the big advantage????

THKS,
Ron

Egon · Jun 19, 2004

Raised beds supossedly warm up faster in the spring. They would be easier to maintain and keep weed free. Smaller area to which any soil amendments have to be added.

Egon

Bird · Jun 19, 2004

( Raised beds supossedly warm up faster in the spring. )

Where I'm from you don't have to worry about that; you just worry about them burning up this time of year instead. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Egon · Jun 19, 2004

Okay; we'll buy that ehh.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DUMBDOG · Jun 19, 2004

Depending upon the size of the garden, all that you will need is a tiller, then if a large garden, a cultivator to cut down on the manual labor as mentioned earlier. The main thing is to till the area that will be your future garden a few times this year, this will cut down on the amount of weeds that you will have next year.

mrcaptainbob · Jun 20, 2004

Not only are raised beds easier to weed, but the moles have a hard time gettin' to the root veggies, too! Of course, the down side is you need a ramp to drive the tractor up there to run a tiller! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

yoyo · Jun 20, 2004

Thanks for the info. I can get a disc for around $500. The tiller is around $1200 I think, I haven't priced one.I work a regular 40 hour job and any labor reducing / time savers is worth taking a look at.

MossRoad · Jun 20, 2004

MOLES! Who mentioned moles! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Oh, sorry. I have some issues with the little buggers. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Never had problems with them and veggies as they are carnivores. What we did have problems with was the voles that used the mole's tunnels. But that is another story. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anyway, a tiller is probably the first implement I would get if I were going to have a large garden. I didn't get one for my Power Trac because I already have a nice little walk behind tiller that is perfect for my needs. But tillers are great labor savers. Then I'd get an FEL as mentioned by others. They are great for hauling around soil ammendments, bales of staw, garden waste, etc...

dixiedrifter · Jun 21, 2004

Definately get yourself a tiller, you will not regret it.

IMO small lightweight discs, or for that matter any disc that is not a wheel type pickup under 12' is just too light, especially if your working new ground.

A tiller can do better in one pass what it would take a disc 5 licks to do.

nomad · Jun 21, 2004

The best is a small cultivator like this one
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/download.php?Number=435054

Its cost ($200-250) is much cheaper than a tiller and so simple that your blacksmith workshop can make it easily. When it needs a repairing it will cost much less.

Ps: By the way, I am using this one

(see attachment)

Dave___in___CT · Jun 21, 2004

( The best is a small cultivator like this one
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/download.php?Number=435054

Its cost ($200-250) is much cheaper than a tiller and so simple that your blacksmith workshop can make it easily. When it needs a repairing it will cost much less.

Ps: By the way, I am using this one

(see attachment) )

Hi...

What is this type of cultivator called ?

Source for buying one ?

What widths do they come in ?

Thanks...

Dave...

JerryG · Jun 21, 2004

If I could find a small field cultivator like that for that price I would buy it. I have been thinking about building one, but haven't had the time.

dixiedrifter · Jun 22, 2004

One thing about those cultivators like that, if you got any residue from previous crops left over they are useless.

They residue will bind up around the shanks and it turn into one giant landscaping rake.

nomad · Jun 22, 2004

(
What is this type of cultivator called ?
Source for buying one ?
What widths do they come in ?
)

I don't know what's called. It's a "small field" cultivator? Real (big) farmers there are using such cultivators with a working width of more than 20ft? here, farmers using about 6-12ft. This small garden cultivator is about 3ft only. I don't know where to find such small cultivators there in USA. But on the net you can probably find some companies selling such small garden implements.

DAP · Jun 22, 2004

Clearly the best implement to have for a garden is:

1. A small hydro tranny garden tractor
2. A wife that can operate both the garden and the tractor.

DAP · Jun 22, 2004

Raised Bed Garden: We have a few of these. Here are the advantages we realize.

1. You can put the garden where YOU want it.
2. The natural soil is irrellevant. Make your own soil. (e.g. no clay in this garden)

We just added another raised bed. Took 12 2x6 PressTreat boards, and built a box around a composted manure pile. Bought 12 10 PT posts at 2.50 each. Added a 6 yards of screened top soil (at $22 a yd), tilled it. Put in 30 tomato plants (from seed), 20 pepper plants from seed and a few eggplants. Took a Saturday and a half and will be there for a decade or 2.

Raised bed gardening provides many options as you can craft the growing environment to suit your whim.

MuncyBob · Jun 22, 2004

I've been using raised bed gardens for years. The initial work is well worth it. Another advantage is that since you normally will not be walking on the soil(as long as you don't make them too wide that is)...the soil does not compact...good for the crops to grow in and good for you too since it cuts down on your labor, I can't recall the last time I tilled the soil. I simply add whatever fertilizer, etc. to condition the soil each year..rake it in or turn it over with a shovel(you could also till it in, but I prefer not to overwork the soil)...and plant your veggies(or flowers, etc). Mulch well for minimal weeding and hope you don't have an extremely dry season!