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No Place Special

I was wondering what everyones opinion was on tilling. I assume the deeper the better, is this correct? What is the main reason for tilling the entire patch? Is it to control weeds or to have it loose for the root system or is there something else? Should I till throught the season, or is once in the spring adequate? Thanks in advance, Mike

3/30/2002 9:14:52 PM

walton n.y.

tilling helps break up the soil and mix in amendments it also helps bring weed seeds to the surface so that they can be eaten by animals but mostly they germinate if you till them back into your soil before they set seed they add a small amount of organic matter back to the soil don't over till as it speeds up the loss of nutrients only a few times are needed to till

3/31/2002 9:34:10 AM

Utah

Mike -
I'd say there isn't one main reason for tilling.
People typically till to mix in something they
have added to their soil- manure, fertilizer, lime,
for weed control, cover crop killing and mixing in,
and sometimes just before planting- to aerate the
soil.
people usually don't till during the season. you
might cut up some of your roots. but if you are
far away from the plant then it would be ok.

4/1/2002 12:02:57 PM

Utah

and... like you said the deeper the better.
a foot is better than six inches.

4/1/2002 12:04:50 PM

Indiana

I would have to disagree. If you have 12 inches of tops soil, then yes 12 inches is great, but if you are like most people, and only have 6-8 inches of topsoil, surely you wouldnt want to mix in 4-6 inches of pure clay. I hope that all made sense. Basically I am suggesting to till the depth of your topsoil.
Tom Beachy

4/1/2002 12:30:50 PM

Utah

i don't know... some big pumpkin have been grown in
clay soil ! :) I guess it depends on what you have
and what you want.
if i only had 6 inch of top soil... i'd move it all
off and dig deeper.
and i suppose there is a limit on the other side too.
you don't need to till 6 ft down...
... and tillers don't go that deep anyway.
I do know of a guy who got down 2 ft with one that
you pull behind a tractor.

4/1/2002 4:32:38 PM

No Place Special

Thanks everyone! When I dug postholes last summer, id say that the first 2 feet was dark topsoil and the 3rd foot was clay. I plan to take my tiller as deep as I can, almost a foot id guess. Thanks again,
Mike

4/1/2002 7:08:22 PM