If you love fresh vegetables, you don’t have to go to the grocery store to stock up when you have your own garden. Creating a vegetable garden is one of the most efficient ways to get your hands on fresh produce on a regular basis. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks you’ll want to take into account as you look to begin planting. Let’s take a look at the list of tips and considerations you’ll need to start tilling a vegetable garden for the first time.

Mark Off the Spot You Want to Till

Take sun exposure, drainage, and access to water into account, as these will all be critical to helping your vegetable garden thrive.

Make Your First Furrow Down the Middle from End-to-End

After you make your first pass, turn around and begin your next one by putting the right rear tire of your tractor in the furrow you just created. Continue plowing this way, with the right rear tire in the furrow. This will allow the plow to constantly throw the soil into the furrow to the right of your tractor.

Allow the Soil to Dry Out and Settle Down

Once you finish plowing, give the soil some time to dry out and settle down – approximately two days in spring. If planning ahead, you may want to consider plowing in the fall and allowing the soil to rest over the course of the winter to get maximum results.

Hook Up the Rotary Tiller

Use the rotary tiller over the plowed garden soil. If you are tilling newly-plowed soil, adjust the rear leveling board to its wide-open setting. This allows tilled soil to come out of the back of the tiller freely, preventing clogs.

Continue the Tilling Process

If you are working with newly-plowed ground, you can plan on going over your garden with the rotary tiller two or three times to get the soil and seedbed just right.

Finish with Topsoil

Spread a layer of topsoil on the garden and rotary till it into place.

For more tips on tilling a vegetable garden for the first time, visit this page or contact your local John Deere dealer to find the right equipment for the job.

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