Tilling the Pumpkin patch

Farmall97 · May 11, 2014

So, I need some help. I've planted a 2 acre pumpkin patch in the past using a king cutter rototiller which worked awesome on the previously tilled dirt. But this year I'm planting a 7 acre patch. My question being if it would be better to use a 2 bottom moldboard and harrow like a disc or use just the rototiller or maybe even plow then the rototiller. I just want to get good soil preparation, also the land was planted in 2007 with soy beans so it was a little over grown (small trees etc..) but I brush hogged it all and the soil is good black topsoil. Thanks for the help!

jeff9366 · May 11, 2014

As you have the roto-tiller, use it. It will take time but prep will be completed in one pass.

Plowing initially, then tilling/smoothing with a Disc Harrow would be traditional but probably not faster as you will need repeated passes with the Disc Harrow, plus dragging thereafter. Repeated passes will use a good bit of fuel and burn time.

That said, you know the width of your tiller, gearing on your tractor and your soil, which are BIG variables, and I do not.

Western · May 11, 2014

I'd plow it , allot of those small trees will want to come back. Plowing it may allow you to remove allot of the roots as you go along. That would be a workout on a tiller as well.

TomSeller · May 11, 2014

Whenever I rototill new ground I just can't get the organic matter deep enough. I prefer to plow first then rototill shallow. I don't use a disc.

jeff9366 · May 11, 2014

TIMBUKTU ?!! How EXOTIC.

Last week we had tractor people from Vatican City and Washington, D.C.

How are camel and salt prices in Timbuktu these days?

And you still count there, 1-2-3-many? :laughing:

Following T-B-N is sort of like collecting postage stamps.