TOFG-all

Tillage & Cultivation

Unit 1.2 | Part 1 – 77

Once you know the center-to-center spacing of
your rear tires then all bed forming implements (i.e.,
furrowing shovels, bed shapers) must be set to this
spacing. All other “in-row” implements used fol-
lowing the initial bed shaping must also match this
spacing (i.e., planting sleds, cultivators, mowers, bed
recycling discs, rototillers etc.). Most small farms are
thus either on a 48” or 60” bed spacing. These spac-
ings dictate either a single 48”- or 60”-wide bed, or
two 24”- or 30”-wide beds (see figures 3 and 4).

Another critical consideration when setting up

bed spacings is tire width. If possible, tires should

not be any wider than 12 inches for vegetable farm-

ing if you plan on getting into the field to perform in-

row operations after beds have been formed. Wider

rear tires will take up critical production space.

Also note that most lower-horsepower 4-wheel

drive tractors have poor clearance for “in-row”

work. The basic limitation with poor clearance is

that final cultivations on taller crops (e.g., sweet

corn, peppers, eggplant,

tomatoes) must be done

much earlier, since crop

height will dictate timing.

This limitation could impact

weed management options.

Figure 3

Figure 4

Supplement 4: Field-Scale Row Spacing