I didn't know where to post this !

I'm going to plant a large garden this year. My Mom and Dad planted one for years, up to 1 1/2 acre gardens for a local Farmers Market.

Anyway, my Dad always plowed (tiller) between the rows every few weeks, all summer long.

Why ? Why would that be neccessary ? Any plant roots growing there you'd chop up. Airating the soil or allowing it to better absorb moisture is worthless if there are no roots there from the plants.

So what is the reason people do that ? The only year my wife and I had a garden we literally put truckloads of mulch aroud the plants (small garden) and never plowed and rarely had to weed and it done fantastic.