A question

[skeets]

Its to hot to do anything out side for me so Im surfing the utube , and for some reason wound up viewing a bunch of small tractor videos from planting taters to harvesting them, that just general small back yard farming. I know the big guys do big farm stuff, but I am wondering about those of us that run a BX or a B. How many guys and gals in here do small plot farming in the big back yard garden with these little tractors.
The utube videos show tons of people across the world using small tractors to farm big family plots and I dont think I have seen more than 3 or 4 on this side of the pond. So I was just wondering?

 

[skeets]

I guess nobody uses their little beasts in the garden

 

[GeoHorn]

An answer.

 

[Poohbear]

I guess nobody uses their little beasts in the garden

skeets I used my L3301 when I had a garden but I haven't had a garden the last 2 seasons since Donna passed . Just no desire for that. I almost didn't trim back the 20 muscadine grapes I have last winter but Im coming around to a little more enthusiasm

 

[jaxs]

The answer lies in the fact that once ground is tore up, rows made and crops planted (all of which can be done while sitting on the back of little beasts) weeds begin appearing. Heaviest weed growth is late Spring into mid-Summer (right now). You can stir soil between rows with beastie to control weeds but not those amongst and close to crop. Some big operations own or contract airplanes,others use big tractors with big spray rigs,many controled by satellite spraying big bucks herbicide. A popular herbicide is caledl Glean, if I told you what Glean costs you wouldn't believe me so call the local farm supply to price it.
Have you figured out why more people don't plant large gardens? Without all that equipment above plus license and permits, you are left to control weeds by the "goose neck" method, aka garden hoe. From experience can tell you that friends and family are always too busy to help when it comes to hand hoeing weeds when it's 95f. One time is enough for most people to decide small scale farming isn't as much fun as it sounds. Say wut? You bought the equipment and secured documents or you are one of those with gonads hard as ball bearings and did it old school? Ata boy,I'm proud of you. Now start sleeping between 2 hours after sunrsie and 2 hours before sunset because you'll need to spend every night between now and harvest in the field with a shotgun. One momma coon and her half grown family can ruin an acre of corn in a single night, three mommas and their broods,who knows what their quota might be. And don't get wrapped up with corn patch and overlook the peas, deer dearly adore fresh peas. Did you know coyotes can sense ripe melons and melons a few days from harvest are amongst their favorite treats in Summer.? Before you get any bright ideas on how to pass the long nights, drinking usually results in sleep and sleep re,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I think you have the general idea by now. Sorry to rain on your parade. Speaking of rain or more acurtly lack of, you'll need an inexhaustible source of water. Any other questions about small time farming?

 

[skeets]

skeets I used my L3301 when I had a garden but I haven't had a garden the last 2 seasons since Donna passed . Just no desire for that. I almost didn't trim back the 20 muscadine grapes I have last winter but Im coming around to a little more enthusiasm

My brother, I did not know about your lovely bride. My deepest condolences to you and your family. And I fully understand, it will be 6 years come Christmas, and I know how some times the days just don't mean a thing, and you go through life ,and things that meant something to you and her no longer do

 

[skeets]

JAX, yes sir been there done that for years, with yellow tractors and white ones and just a bit with the orange one. And when my wife got sick all the stuff laid around, and got borrowed and people forgot it had a home, or sold like my 3pt tiller. And like Poohbear stated things just go by the way side when you loose your partner. And yep you farm , all the other down sides you out there, it still works

 

[jaxs]

There's hope for ageing gardeners. Here's what I did. When walk behind tiller started getting difficult to handle, I started building hugelkultur mounds and beds. Your fel will be a life saver while building and later on when replenishing soil/compost. Only tool required after construction is garden hoe and if you like, shovel and/or garden fork. With planting surface knee to waist height, it's much easier to plant,weed,tend and harvest. Caveat , 1st year production isn't very good and second is about equal to conventional in ground, 3rd and going forward production is excellent. Irrigation water is about 25% what's required in ground plus there's a cushion in timing of irrigation. Triple digits in Texas can require twice daily irrigation in ground. Twice weekly in beds. I recommend starting a bed while you have energy. By the time pants start dragging your tracks out, bed will have reached peak productivity and you have decided if you like the method.

Since I'm already handling them, I still compost leaves and other waste from around my place but no longer go on curb searches. I instead buy finished compost for $38 per yard and use time saved for garden chores. For those interested in reducing landfill inflow, check out Texas Pure Products for what in my opinion is a model.

 

[bird dogger]

Its to hot to do anything out side for me so Im surfing the utube , and for some reason wound up viewing a bunch of small tractor videos from planting taters to harvesting them, that just general small back yard farming. I know the big guys do big farm stuff, but I am wondering about those of us that run a BX or a B. How many guys and gals in here do small plot farming in the big back yard garden with these little tractors.
The utube videos show tons of people across the world using small tractors to farm big family plots and I dont think I have seen more than 3 or 4 on this side of the pond. So I was just wondering?

For 20+ yrs (starting with a JD750 compact and then the Kubota B2650) we planted 2.5 to 3 acres of sweet corn.

The tractor did everything from the seedbed prep, planting, cultivating, spreading fertilizer, spraying, residue chopping, and final tilling & soil prep before freezeup in the fall.

The planter was a 1930's 4 row Cockshutt. 3pt cultivator adjusted for cultivating between rows and then for complete coverage in fall cleanup. A Howard rotavator for roto-tilling in the chopped up stalk residue.

3 pt sprayer for pre-emergent weed control.

After the kids got out of college and left, I let a local truck farmer use the 3 acres for his vegetables. But he left last year so I might have to dust off the corn planter and see if the tires will hold air again. ,

But thinking of planting just enough corn for us, friends and neighbors, or anyone that happens to swing by!! I don't think I could survive all that picking at this age now!!

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I use both my B and the MX for gardens. (Although when I use the MX it’s because my B is 4 hrs away)

the B is great in the garden. I use a reverse tiller on it and I also have a potato plow and a garden bedder. The last two manly used up north where I have a little more space. The implements sure make the work easier.

to your question there is one or two other threads where members include there garden uses… can’t remember the other thread name, but here is one. (Traffic is pretty low)

Whos into home grown

Any one up for a garden thread? Getting ready here, ground is still too wet to work though. Got tomato’s started, had to replant my pepper plants so they are a little behind. Got about 40 pounds of taters to put in. We always do lots of cucumbers too, kids love the homemade pickles...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[johnjk]

All our gardening is in raised beds. We use the B3200 FEL to hold up bags of compost while emptying or to add soil. I bought a 4’ harrow with the intent of going big but that would just feed the rabbits and deer more

 

[Bmyers]

We use our L3560 for our garden. Actually, if it goes as planned, I will be digging up potatoes with it once I get off work.

 

[skeets]

You using a potato plow or do you have a picker ?
I remember the days of Uncle John running the potato plow he would be done and back at the shed and we would be picking spuds for the next 4 hours

 

[Bmyers]

You using a potato plow or do you have a picker ?
I remember the days of Uncle John running the potato plow he would be done and back at the shed and we would be picking spuds for the next 4 hours

A potato plow.

Looks like this one ( I don't remember if it is an actual King Kutter or not)

 

[bird dogger]

Here's some Pictures of the Corn Patch from some years back. That was a LOT of corn to pick by hand and sell off the end of our driveway!! I doubt the boys will eat corn for the rest of their lives now that they're out on their own.

 

[skeets]

There is just something about a small plot being farmed and watching someone pouring time effort and in some cases love in to it. In past days no one thought twice about it, now it is something behold. Thanks for sharing guys

 

[William1]

I have no problem weeding garden beds. It is my wife's job. I mow and spray RoundUp. I do make new beds (add soil, compost, till, make the borders) when asked but remind her that she must take care of them or I'll......

 

[GeoHorn]

The answer lies in the fact that once ground is tore up, rows made and crops planted (all of which can be done while sitting on the back of little beasts) weeds begin appearing. Heaviest weed growth is late Spring into mid-Summer (right now). You can stir soil between rows with beastie to control weeds but not those amongst and close to crop. Some big operations own or contract airplanes,others use big tractors with big spray rigs,many controled by satellite spraying big bucks herbicide. A popular herbicide is caledl Glean, if I told you what Glean costs you wouldn't believe me so call the local farm supply to price it.
Have you figured out why more people don't plant large gardens? Without all that equipment above plus license and permits, you are left to control weeds by the "goose neck" method, aka garden hoe. From experience can tell you that friends and family are always too busy to help when it comes to hand hoeing weeds when it's 95f. One time is enough for most people to decide small scale farming isn't as much fun as it sounds. Say wut? You bought the equipment and secured documents or you are one of those with gonads hard as ball bearings and did it old school? Ata boy,I'm proud of you. Now start sleeping between 2 hours after sunrsie and 2 hours before sunset because you'll need to spend every night between now and harvest in the field with a shotgun. One momma coon and her half grown family can ruin an acre of corn in a single night, three mommas and their broods,who knows what their quota might be. And don't get wrapped up with corn patch and overlook the peas, deer dearly adore fresh peas. Did you know coyotes can sense ripe melons and melons a few days from harvest are amongst their favorite treats in Summer.? Before you get any bright ideas on how to pass the long nights, drinking usually results in sleep and sleep re,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I think you have the general idea by now. Sorry to rain on your parade. Speaking of rain or more acurtly lack of, you'll need an inexhaustible source of water. Any other questions about small time farming?

One way to control weeds (mostly) without dangerous and expensive herbicides….. Lay down cardboard…(you know…the stuff refrigerators , sofas, and things Amazon brings)…lay down cardboard or heavy construction paper between rows.
This will GREATLY REDUCE the weeds that can then be removed.

When the paper/cardboard rots after a couple years…. simply rototill or plow it under…adding to the soil.