Anyone use tillers to garden with

[FarmboyBill]

I put this post up for those who use tillers, or have them (I have 2), so that they wont post in the walk behind garden tractors post. If you have any type of machine that can use a tiller, or rotary plow. (Whats the diff between a rotary plow and a regular plow, And a rotary plow and a tiller, Id like to know). Please post about it in here. NOT in the walking tractors that pull plows, discs, harrows, cultivators, planters, mowers, whether rotary or sickle.

[pgerhard]

This is what I know as a rotory plow:



Here is a clip of one in action.

YouTube

I only know of them for Gravely Tractors but others might exist. I have one and it the best thing for breaking virgin ground. In one pass it will leave a bed that is ready for planting. No need to disk or till.

Peter

[mistletoad]

We use a PTO driven tiller on the tractor, a Husqvarna rear-tined tiller and a Mantis that I absolutely loath! lol

I love the Husqvarna but it has been out of action for months due to various repairs. We rented a replacement but it was a newer model and it was awful. Not sure what we will buy if this one becomes unrepairable.

[ronbre]

i OWN 3 tillers ..a troybuilt, a sears and a smaller one..but I no longer use them..should sell them.

I am more into the no till type of gardening at this point

[kaitala]

I have a troy-built pony I got about 15 years ago. I used to live on a few acres, the had to move into a condo, and now live in suburbia. Despite having sat unused for many years, it started right up when we went to use it to make the gardens here in suburbia, and works quite well for the few friends we lend it to. The belts just went on it (dry rot, lasted 15 years, not too bad!), but that's the only problem I've had with it.

It does make light work of busting up difficult soil, breaking up sod, and tilling amendments into the soil. It is a little clumsy for small gardens, and heavy to get into gardens with edging. Alll in all, I love it, and, so long as one doesn't till so often as to develop the hardpan under the topsoil, I'd use it much more than I do, if I had more property!

[Callieslamb]

We have a Cub Cadet tiller about the same size as the troy-built Pony. I use it to turn my soil in the spring and fall. It breaks up sod well in my sandy soil. I can also till through fairly tall weeds with it. I will be trying it on Buckwheat at the blooming stage in a month or so.

It's very heavy to handle and I don't like trying to maneuvering it between crop rows but it does the heavy work for me without my having to kill the grass first.

[Cheribelle]

Another vote for the Troybuilt Pony. My sister has one and it's a dream. Starts right up every time.

[Jolly]

6 feet of KingKutter tiller behind a 45hp tractor.

[postroad]

501 Honda with three foot tilling width.

[seedspreader]

troy built horse



That I feel very blessed to have gotten for $300.00.

Love that thing.

[eclipchic]

We have a large Club Cadet rear tine tiller. It works well for us

[FarmboyBill]

Tonight, I got through the UPS, new? tines for my Mantis Tiller. It has say 2 tines on every wheel bent. Is new tines shaped that way??

[flewism]

I used to have three, now only two. The 5',3pt. king kutter I sold a couple of years ago. We used to do an acre garden in sweet corn, pumpkins, cabbage. and beans yearly, plus a couple food plots for deer. Now that the kids are older and moving on, I'm just doing the two 24' by 16' raised beds near the house.
Anyway, I still got a 20 year old, 18" craftman rear tine tiller and a little 8" honda 4 stroke mini tiller that's only a couple years old.
I also sold plow.

[katy]

FBB your question gave me pause to look up the rotary plow, interesting and nice. link for rotary with video, http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/videos.html The old rotary plow went to a variable depth and at the same time shredded the dirt to seed bed or close to quality. But does not do well in heavy clay soil, unless previously worked with tool of choice.

Don't know the names of them but the plows I remember from childhood would turn over a large piece of ground, but still had to be dragged to remove clods. Maybe other treatments as well.

I have a Troy Bilt garden cultivator which does a great job, would love to have a Mantis for weeding between rows. We also have a larger pull behind cultivator which helps on the time but not fine enough for me for seeding. I think it will do a good job on first time tilling in a field, but not tried it yet.

In searching tonight I find that there are new units on the market referred to as rotary plows, but they are what I would call a disc. Confusing to a newcomer. Hope this helps.

[kan-green]

I bought a large Craftsman rear tine tiller on sale last winter. It paid for itself in tolling gardens for townsfolk this spring. I will never use a front time other than a mantis again. I had a spinal fusion 8 years ago and that Craftsman is really easy on the back.

[plowjockey]

We have an 80' Troy bilt Pony, that is a gem.

Also have a small Honda FG110 tiller, that's awesome for weeding and tilling flower beds.

[JGex]

We have 2 Frankentillers right now, but have a BCS tiller with a brush mower on the way. Should be the last garden tractor we ever buy. Hoping to save enough to buy the chipper attachment before the end of the year.

[Oldcountryboy]

I went back to the front tine tiller. (Sears Craftsman) I break the garden up with the big tractor and also till it first with the big tractor. Then I use the front tine tiller to make beds with. The front tine tiller is great for small tight area's.

[FarmboyBill]

STILL GOT A MANTIS QUESTION> NEED HELP. Read it above please

[JGex]

I have a Mantis, too, but I'm not sure what you're asking.... the tines are bent in a different way than other tillers....