Wheel Horse vs Ford Tractor for Garden Plowing

[Ed729 57]

I’m wanting to start a small-medium sized garden and looking for some advice. My soil is clay and I think it would be very hard to rototill without breaking it up with a moldboard plow first. I have a WH 312-8, and a Ford 2000 (35ish hp) tractor that I’m trying to decide between for purchasing a used plow setup. I think price will be similar or slightly cheaper to go with a 3 point plow. I can find workable 2-bottom 3-point plows for about $300 and be ready to plow….for the Wheel Horse I’m looking at about $150 for a Brinley plow plus another couple hundred for the sleeve hitch, cable, etc. 

 

Has anybody used both a garden tractor and a “real” tractor on gardens for plowing? Did one setup work better than the other?
 

Obviously the Ford would have more power and probably do the job quicker, but with an FEL it won’t be very maneuverable and it’s much heavier. Maybe another advantage is I can adjust from the seat. It seems like overkill for a garden but being similar or less cost has me leaning that direction. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

 

[slim67 2,744]

I’ve never plowed with anything other than a garden tractor myself but with wheel weights and traction , I've never had a problem. I used an 8 inch Sears bottom plow on my folks 16/6 with 105 lb wheel weights. Their gardens werent super huge but enough. The bigger it is, the more work.

[Lagersolut 700]

If it were me I'd go with the Ford 35hp 3 point - I started plowing with a C-101 years ago ( my garden is 50 x 80 ) - I started with sod and a lot of clay too- not an easy task for a smaller tractor - took me years of amending the soil and tilling in crops until it plowed decent - I'm now using a 416-8 to plow with bigger tires more weight and power . My patch has buildings around it so its not really possible room wise to get in with a bigger tractor . Your ford also has the down pressure to sink the plow - with the brinley you're relying on the weight of the plow - if it's dry here forget it - I'll never get the plow sunk - my plow shear should probably be replaced but I freeze when I see how proud Brinley is of it .

[Pullstart 63,380]

Let’s weigh efficiency vs fun and the Horse wins all day!  Sometimes the fun is breaking stuff, fixing stuff, looking for Dan’s wallet, and putting out fires, but we have to roll with the punches!

[WHX?? 49,729]

Yeah a 312-8 with a 10 0r 12" Brinly is the way to go. An excellent combo. 

Plows go for 125 -150 good used and a slot  hitch adapter for way less than 100 or a Brinly hitch for 80 -100. 

You might need some ags & weights but there are workarounds there too. Load some turfs and chains. 

 

Lets see your tractor Ed. 

 

If you can't turn clay your not set up properly. Every soil type requires a different set up. New plots can be difficult but just gotta stay at it. 

Lots of good threads here on plowing. 

 

A Suburban cutting the mustard and when the big boys get together. 

[WHX?? 49,729]

A really good one by @PeacemakerJack

 

[pfrederi 18,108]

20 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Yeah a 312-8 with a 10 0r 12" Brinly is the way to go. An excellent combo. 

Plows go for 125 -150 good used and a slot  hitch adapter for way less than 100 or a Brinly hitch for 80 -100. 

You might need some ags & weights but there are workarounds there too. Load some turfs and chains. 

 

Lets see your tractor Ed. 

 

If you can't turn clay your not set up properly. Every soil type requires a different set up. New plots can be difficult but just gotta stay at it. 

Lots of good threads here on plowing. 

 

A Suburban cutting the mustard and when the big boys get together. 

 

 

Where are the rocks???  I have clay and lots of rocks.  40hp DC-3 Case with 2 bottom plow had to work some Then it was difficult to disc.

[Handy Don 12,980]

1 hour ago, pfrederi said:

Where are the rocks???  I have clay and lots of rocks.

Good question!

In our area the stuff underfoot seems like 30% rocks. I did learn, courtesy of @953 nut’s tractor & implement series last year, how different moldboard plows were specifically made (geometry, materials, adjustability) for use in different soil conditions. Gotta have the right tools. 

Never done much plowing, but I do know that one has to consider soil compression from the wheels of heavy tractors. You might want to get some input from your local version of our NY Cornell Cooperative Extension -- a university-level agriculture research organization. 

[Lee1977 6,905]

Don't know what type of clay you have out there. We have red clay here in NC if it's to dry you can't get a plow in the ground does make any difference what you have. Too wet you will make brick hard clods.  Best to plow in the fall a little wet and let it freeze over the winter. Plowing in the spring it has to be just the right amount of moisture. Plow a short piece and test, take a hand full and press it in your hand if it sticks together it is too wet. If it just right it will crumble back apart.

[kpinnc 13,010]

Pure red clay takes a couple years work to make it a viable garden. Don't get me wrong, it'll grow most things well. But it usually takes some composting things in over the winter to make it easier to work. 

 

Your PH will determine it, but I loaded leaves on my garden and tilled a couple loads in as well as pot ash to get mine right. 

 

A Wheel Horse can break it up, but as Don said if it's very dry it is much harder quite literally. 

[Ed729 57]

I’m still feeling kind of split on the decision, I guess it might come down to a good deal in one setup vs the other.

 

I also have a Gravely LI I’m restoring that I could buy a rotary plow for. Seems like it would not have much issue my soil but it might be slow.