Tiller Tillers, 3pt. or hand?

[motownbrowne]

You'll never regret having the 3 point tiller. I've found that my neighbors are happy to pay me to come till their gardens too, which is a piece of cake with the 3 point, and something I'd never consider with the Troy bolt horse we have.

That said, we still use the horse plenty. We grow about an acre of vegetables, so a little larger scale than you, but for us it's not an either or situation. I will say that if you're buying a walk-behind, get a good rear tine one. They're much easier to use.

 

[wmonroe]

I would go with the 3 pt tiller, there is no comparison to a walk behind. Last year I bought a left over model from tractor supply for $1350 for a 72".

 

[jbwilson]

Before tilling I suggest deep chisel plowing unless you have a fairly sandy soil. I found that tilling alone creates a hard pan below the ground surface due to the tines aggessively impacting on the soil resulting in the soil becoming severely compacted.

 

[jenkinsph]

Before tilling I suggest deep chisel plowing unless you have a fairly sandy soil. I found that tilling alone creates a hard pan below the ground surface due to the tines aggessively impacting on the soil resulting in the soil becoming severely compacted.

I agree that running a deep chisel plow is a good idea, good depth penetration and makes for a lot less wear and tear on the tiller. Most of the small tractor users don't have enough size and hp to use a chisel plow successfully though. I look forward to moving to 150 hp where a chisel plow would be a great option for ripping up the soil first.

 

[tcreeley]

A lot of our topsoil in my area is only 7-8 " deep and in many spots there is gray blue clay below that. A chisel plow that brings up that pure clay is not doing any good. Know your dirt and go from there. Raised rows for planting help with then drainage in this kind of ground.

 

[kubota4me]

Just purchased a 6' Landpride reversing tines for my Kubota LA4400 today and happy as could be. Also have an old (1988) TroyBilt Horse that will be getting a new Kohler engine for cultivated between rows after garden comes up. I like to use technology/equipment where it works.