Friday, May 17, 2019

Which rototiller is right for you?

Whether its for incorporating amendments or loosening packed soil, a rototiller is one of the most important tools to a home gardener. We just moved to our new house over the winter, and though the growing season has already started here in zone 7b, I have yet to actually get my vegetable plants in the ground because we don't know anyone with a tiller and hadn't had the extra money to buy our own until now. I have a place picked out which has been grazed by horses for several years and seems to be less clay-rich than the soil elsewhere on the property. Before I go shopping for a tiller that will hopefully last me several years (potentially decades), I'd like to know more about the difference between front tine and rear tine tillers.


Rear tine tillers are the best choice for starting new plots. Unfortunately, these tillers are heavy and large, requiring some strength to use them, but they make up for it in their ability to work dense, rocky soils. They are more expensive than front tine tillers. The engine drives the wheels, moving the tiller at a steady slow speed for easy control.

Front tine tillers are typically harder to use on previously unworked ground because they require some leverage to dig the tines into the soil. Though it's smaller, simpler, and more maneuverable, it may scare some gardeners with its tendency to jump forward when hitting obstacles. They come in a variety of widths that make them a good option for weed control between rows.

A quick note on mini-cultivators: Mini-cultivators are even smaller than front tine tillers and are a great option for raised beds or on already tilled soils between plantings. Johnny Seeds sells this mini-cultivator called a Tilther that uses a 18v drill for power. I have used it in the past for breaking down the remains of a crop of baby greens into the soil after several harvests. I highly recommend it for applications such as this, or for incorporating amendments into the top few inches of a soft soil. It's inexpensive, relatively small, and simple to use.

For my application, I plan to purchase a used rear tine tiller. The area I need to prepare for my garden is fairly large (about 30 feet by 50 feet) and the soil is too dense for a front tine tiller.

Regardless of which type of tiller you choose, there are plenty of options across brands in a wide range of prices, and they are pretty easy to find used on Facebook or Craigslist.

I can't wait to finally get my plants in the ground! Updates to come :)
-Rose

https://veggieharvest.com/info/tiller.html
https://learn.compactappliance.com/tillers/

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