7 replies to this topic

[fortyacre]

I'm keen to get some summer crops planted but fast running out of time

 

I have a field with heavy clay that I've cultivated previously successfully using the cultivator on my 2 wheel tractor. Unfortunately the gear rod is broken so I have to use a much flimsier cultivator with my garden tractor.

 

It's very hot and therefore dry right now so the soil is very hard. I know for tilling their must be a certain level of moisture in the soil but what about for cultivating? I just want to scratch the surface a bit so there is some loose dirt to plant into.

 

I'm planning on maybe wetting the field a little then the next day driving over it with the cultivator to very shallow depth. Then maybe doing a second pass a bit deeper. What do ya'll reckon?

 

Edited by fortyacre, December 18, 2019 - 09:24 PM.

[EricFromPa]

If it's that super hard Sun Baked Red clay that you see in pretty much every picture or video of Australia, you might have to make yourself a ripper. Or get 1 of these and build a mount for it so you can bolt it to your tractors hitch. https://www.amazon.c...r/dp/B074MJBD7R

 

You'll probably bust those cultivators up without ripping it 1st.    

[DChappy]

I think you're better off waiting...tough game playing with mother nature!

[secondtry]

Way to many variables to make a remote judgment. For instance if the hard crust is shallow you might be able to get under it. to break it up. Don 

Edited by secondtry, December 19, 2019 - 02:28 AM.

[propane1]

Hard to say. But I would use a spike tooth harrow with some weight on it and pull a heavy roller with it to break up the hard pieces, then use the harrow once more. I have never done this and I don’t have a spike tooth harrow. Just my thought of how it may work.

Noel

[fortyacre]

thanks for all ya'll suggestions.

 

its not red clay.

 

I've actually found someone selling a rototiller attachement. Surely that would break up the top soil enough to be able to cultivate it afterwards?

[DChappy]

Only problem is if you turn up clods, you are doomed until it gets moist enough to break them down.

[fortyacre]

How do I not turn up clods? Couldn't I just wet the soil beforehand?

 

BTW anyone know is there a good forum more specific to farming (but not massive scale, like hobby scale)? Don't seem to get a lot of input here, even though there are heaps of people on this forum.

 

I think people mainly just collect tractors on this forum and are only interested in that aspect. I actually want to know how to use it for farming. I don't care about collecting more about practical use

Edited by fortyacre, December 23, 2019 - 12:10 AM.