✅ Harvesting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor: planting depth and width, processing before harvesting, how to plant potatoes and at what distance

Pre-planting treatment of tubers

Pre-planting preparation of root crops requires time and effort. On a standard plot of 6-7 acres, it will take all day to plant it with a shovel, but if you connect the equipment to the work, you can do it in about three hours. For small areas, the Neva, Forza, Sadko, Don, Huter, Champion, and Carver walk-behind tractors are popular.

To begin with, seed material is prepared. Preference is given to regionalized varieties that produce good yields in certain regions. Sorting is done in order to select good raw materials. Potatoes are selected to be the same size.

Small tubers produce a small harvest. Large ones must be cut into pieces, and this provokes various diseases and opens direct access to pests. Germination takes about a month. To do this, the seed material is placed in a warm (+12-15 degrees), bright room.

If dark spots appear on fresh sprouts, this indicates a disease. The affected tubers are thrown away. Before planting, they are soaked in stimulating and pickling substances. It is not recommended to place tubers in the solution for a long time.

It is better to lay them on a flat surface, spray them with preparations and let them dry. You can plant root crops when the ground warms up to +7, +8 degrees (in the planting hole).

Mounted and trailed agricultural implements

To till the soil, the following machines are mounted on the walk-behind tractor:

plow is a device that allows you to plow the land. When plowing, the working elements are buried in the soil, and then, with forward movement, they wrap the layer. One wheel goes along the furrow, and the other along the field. Usually one body is installed, but for powerful tractors a plow with two bodies can be installed;
As an option, a walk-behind tractor is used as a winch drive. It is installed at the edge of the field and the cable is pulled through. The plow body is attached to the cable. Plowing is performed without moving a heavy implement across the field;
The soil tiller is an active organ. There are blades on the rotor, they loosen the soil to a depth of 15 cm. The existing sharp cutting edges crush the soil. The drive is carried out from the power take-off shaft;
furrow cutter - is a special double-sided plow. Attachments help form grooves in which seeds are planted;
disc bed formers help to sprinkle seed planted in the grooves;
The potato planter is attached to the power unit. One of the wheels rolls across the field, from which rotation is transmitted to the active drum. It controls the supply of seed material into the seed tube of the planter. Additionally, discs are installed that dig up planted potatoes;
Hiller cutters, while actively rotating, cover the ridges with soil. Potatoes are actively hilling;
passive hillers are similar to the body of a plow. A special ploughshare throws soil from the furrow onto the bed where the cultivated plants are located;

disc mowers installed on the machine mow the tops before harvesting;
the segment mower is installed on the power unit. Tops and weeds are mowed from the field surface 10...15 days before potato harvesting;
Potato diggers are trailed equipment. Using a fork, it penetrates inside the ridge and brings the grown tubers to the surface. All that remains is to collect the potatoes from the surface;
Mounted potato diggers are similar to a regular plow. The working body penetrates deep into the soil and lifts the tubers upward;
a trailed cart helps to remove the harvested crop from the field.

As can be seen from the list above, a whole train of mounted and trailed agricultural machines is used with a walk-behind tractor. Many operations can be performed with different equipment. Therefore, the user has a choice of what to purchase in a motorcycle gardening store.

Soil preparation

Pre-sowing work begins with the laying of mineral or organic fertilizers in the fall.

Stages of preparation for sowing in spring:

Immediately before planting, it is necessary to plow the soil to the depth of a spade bayonet (12-15cm). To do this you will need an attachment – a milling cutter.
When planting potatoes under the Neva walk-behind tractor, the wings of the unit are removed before work. The equipment installed on the walk-behind tractor must be adjusted correctly. This will ensure smooth running of the machine and require a minimum of effort. A well-plowed field does not require harrowing.

You can watch the video online for more details about planting potatoes using the Neva walk-behind tractor:

Humidify to saturate with oxygen and moisture. In a well-loosened soil layer, crops sprout more easily. At this stage, the walk-behind tractor will greatly facilitate the process of preparing the soil before planting the seed.
Complete set of walk-behind tractor.

For plowing you will need wheels with lug elements, a set of rubber wheels, wheel extensions, a milling cutter, a universal hitch, hillers or a plow. If you are going to purchase additional attachments, you should first buy a hitch. The remaining elements are selected to match it.

Types of potato diggers

Factory

Factory models are often used to dig up potato roots, as they are of higher quality. Simple models are produced that look like a regular shovel with sharp teeth and without a handle. When digging potato tubers with a walk-behind tractor, the teeth go deeper into the soil and lift the root crops. Then all the potatoes in the soil fall onto the surface of the teeth and are carried out. Models with teeth require precise adjustment to avoid accidentally damaging the potatoes when digging.

There are also more complex models, tests of which have shown that they are more effective in comparison with simple models equipped with teeth. Such potato diggers are equipped with special belts for transporting already dug potatoes to their further storage location.

Homemade

Sometimes people simply don’t have the money for a super potato digger for harvesting potatoes, and so some try to make such a product themselves. Such work may seem difficult for many people, but in fact the manufacturing process is not that difficult. People who have previously worked with welding machines and metal products can easily make a homemade digger using drawings from the Internet. To create a structure for harvesting potatoes yourself, you will need the following tools and materials:

hammer;
welding;
hammer drill for working with metal sheets;
Consumables;
metal scissors;
spanners.

Technology for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

Tips for correct landing of Pro, Viking, Crosser, Patriot, Cayman walk-behind tractors:

The row spacing when planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor should be from 55 to 65 centimeters.
The furrows must be made even, this will simplify the care of the root crop.
Before planting, you can fertilize the soil.
The distance between tubers is 25-30 cm.

The depth of planting potatoes under a walk-behind tractor is 10-12 cm.

When planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, make the distance between the rows the same. Watch the track width, it should be uniform. When cutting furrows, try to make them even. If necessary, pull the ropes to navigate along them.

Let's consider the main methods of planting: using a hiller, a mounted element - a potato planter, planting under a plow, planting in a ridge.

How to plant correctly with a hiller, at what distance and depth

To plant using a hiller, wheels with lug elements are placed on the motor cultivator. A Tarpan motor cultivator is a good choice. The furrows are being cut. Potatoes will have to be planted manually. After disembarking, replace the lugs with standard rubber wheels.

Rearranging the wheels is necessary in order not to injure the seed. The track width is left the same - 55-65 centimeters, and walk along the furrows again. The walk-behind tractor will fill the row with soil and compact the seed.

Planting with a hiller is a less expensive option. The unit should only include metal and rubber wheels and the hiller itself. The inconvenience lies in manual planting of potatoes. For large sown areas, a mounted planter for a walk-behind tractor is used.

This method is considered the least labor-intensive. The unit includes:

A conveyor is a kind of conveyor that supplies seed.
Furrow maker, for laying furrows.
Dispenser for feeding potatoes at certain intervals.
Disc hiller that lays and fills furrows.

How to plant with a potato planter

By planting potatoes with a walk-behind planter, you can save three times as much time as when planting with a hiller. The process is completely mechanized. Potatoes are planted and hilled at the same time. The potato planter has its disadvantages.

Firstly, seed material should be selected more carefully. The tubers should be the same in size. Young shoots are not very long. Otherwise, the seed will be injured during planting. Secondly, this planting method is more expensive.

Together with a walk-behind planter, you can use a special device to simultaneously apply fertilizer to the hole, along with the seed.

Planting with a plow

You need to install lug wheels and a plow on the walk-behind tractor. The soil is prepared by loosening using a milling cutter. The plow for planting is inserted into the ground to the depth of the spade bayonet.

It is more efficient for two people to board. The first one controls the walk-behind tractor, and the second one places the potatoes in the furrow. The work is done promptly. During the first passage of the row, seed material is laid. And during the return journey, the sown furrow is covered with soil from the newly plowed one.

Landing on ridges

Planting potatoes in ridges with a walk-behind tractor is practiced in areas where groundwater is located very close to the surface. To do this, you should use a walk-behind tractor to form ridges 15–20 cm high. The tubers are planted in the ridge. This option is only suitable for well-moistened soils.

Working procedure

How to plow potatoes with a walk-behind tractor? To get a decent potato harvest, you need to follow the rules of soil cultivation, plant care, including inter-row cultivation, and timely harvesting.

Preparing soil for potatoes

The first step to winning the fight for the root crop harvest is preparing the soil for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. To begin spring work in the garden, you need to determine the area for potatoes.

For this purpose, you need to find a dry place with sandy loam. Loosening the soil is recommended in dry weather. The soil layer should not be turned over during spring loosening.

Soil composition is determined simply:

take a small amount of earth and soak it in water;
a ball rolls out of this soil; a ball cannot be made from sandy soil;
a strip is pulled out of the ball; if that doesn’t work, the soil is sandy loam;
the result is a strip - the soil is loamy or clayey.

Determining the composition of the soil can be done by hand

Planting depth

The sandy, sandy loam type is most suitable for potatoes. The owner decides for himself at what depth he will plant potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.

Light sandy and sandy loam soils are sufficiently permeated by air, so the ridges can be planted in furrows rather than cut. The depth of cultivation depends on the properties of the soil and the optimal value is 12 cm.

How to check readiness

Preparing the walk-behind tractor for work is as follows:

check the level of fuel and oil in the system; if necessary, add to the required level;
make sure that the wheel drive levers are unlocked;
open the fuel supply valve;
move the ignition switch to the “On” position;
Pull out the starter rope and pull it firmly until the engine starts.

Before starting the walk-behind tractor, it is necessary to check the oil and fuel levels

Progress

The planting process involves the entire complex of actions from preparing equipment and seeds to the end of planting time. Technological techniques develop differently depending even on weather conditions.

Under any circumstances, farmers practice pre-sowing selection, vernalization and germination of tubers. Tubers weighing 35-50 g are selected for planting. The sprouts are planted in the ground when they become thick and green.

Grooving

The seeding material has been prepared, the equipment for cultivating the land has been brought into readiness, the timely question arises of how to cut furrows for potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. Mid-season and late potato varieties are planted in rows at a distance of up to 35 cm, and row spacing is kept at 60 cm. The cutting distance between rows of early varieties is kept within 50 cm.

Cutting beds

People use technology according to their specific conditions. Using a walk-behind tractor, furrows or beds are cut. There is an answer to the question of how to cut beds for potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.

The first bed should be made exactly along the ruler. In the next row, the wheel is lowered along the track of the previous row. Everything turns out smoothly if you put extensions on rubber wheels, attach a two-row hiller, and align the knives correctly in the center.

The role of the plow

What is a plow for planting potatoes for a walk-behind tractor - it's speed. They cut furrows, lay potatoes, go back, and the walk-behind tractor closes the furrow. The next furrow is laid at a distance of about 70 cm.

Homemade plow

Experienced farmers can easily make a homemade plow for planting potatoes using a walk-behind tractor. They understand the price preference for DIY products.

In addition, intelligently calculated parameters make work easier; the plow does not break out of the furrow. The plow is controlled during operation and has its advantages.

Motor cultivator

Planting potatoes with a motor cultivator is also carried out. It is equipped with a gearbox and cultivation cutters, unlike a walk-behind tractor, which has wheels.

In terms of cost, this unit is cheaper. Cultivation of potatoes involves the use of a plow.

Potato processing

Weeding

A week after planting, it is worth loosening the soil. During this time, a dense crust formed on the ground, preventing the germination of plant stems and the access of oxygen. Weeding is carried out weekly. This helps fight weeds that negatively affect root crops.

Trailed grain harvesting equipment is classified as agricultural equipment and is used for harvesting grain and leguminous crops. A trailed grain harvester is reliable, high quality and productive.

Snow removal equipment is ideal for owners of suburban areas, since snow removal occurs with their own efforts. By clicking on the link, you will become familiar with the various models and characteristics of the Lynx snow blower.

Operational and technical characteristics of walk-behind tractors with hiller

The engine is the most important and expensive part of the walk-behind tractor. The power of the unit and the quality of the work it performs depend on its characteristics. The motor is installed two-stroke or four-stroke. An air cooling system is usually provided; only heavy-duty walk-behind tractors can use liquid cooling. The engine is started using a manual starter. In heavy models, an electric starter can be used, and the walk-behind tractors themselves are equipped with a battery.

Walk-behind tractor manual starter

Speed

It depends on the number of gears provided by the manufacturer:

the operating speed of a simple unit is usually 2–4 km/h;
with 2 or 3 speeds, the car accelerates to 10–15 km/h;
6-speed ones can travel with a trailer at a speed of 30 km/h.

The number of speeds is another difference between different models of walk-behind tractors. Simpler representatives have one forward and one reverse gear. Powerful and expensive equipment can have up to 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds.

Walk-behind tractor gear shift lever

Transmission

The transmission system includes gearboxes of different types - with gear, belt and chain drives. They can also be collapsible or non-dismountable. Equipped with non-separable gearboxes, they are considered maintenance-free. They cannot be repaired, and if such a gearbox breaks down, you will have to buy a new walk-behind tractor.

Kinematic diagram of the walk-behind tractor transmission

The differential is responsible for the maneuverability and turning of the vehicle, which allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds. In other models, a mechanism may be installed that, if necessary, blocks one wheel for turning.

The distance between the wheels can be changed independently - many manufacturers provide this function. So for hilling you can set the required gap equal to the width of the row spacing. If using a walk-behind hiller, it is important to adjust these two distances so that they are approximately the same. When processing potatoes, the size of the wheels also matters - if their diameter is more than 70 cm and their width is 10–15 cm, then the equipment will not damage the bushes.

Potatoes with a walk-behind tractor: 3 planting methods. Detailed analysis!

Planting potatoes, on the one hand, is a pleasant family leisure activity, but on the other hand, it is hard physical work, especially when you need to plant a large potato field. To significantly ease the labor and time costs of planting potatoes, it is convenient to use walk-behind tractors. Let's figure out how to implement the method of planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor and thereby ease the gardening chores.

Tilling the soil before planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

Tilling the soil with a walk-behind tractor is much more effective than simple, even high-quality digging with a shovel.

The walk-behind tractor saturates the soil with oxygen, which has a positive effect on the growth and development of potatoes in the future.
The walk-behind tractor chops and cuts weeds, which will slow down their growth.
The only disadvantage of the walk-behind tractor is that it requires male strength.

Circular tillage with a walk-behind tractor

I often see summer residents doing circular tillage. This is completely acceptable. In this case, you should move starting from the edge and towards the center in a spiral.

Disadvantages of circular tillage:

After the area is plowed, you will have to use a rake to thoroughly level the soil surface in the places where the walk-behind tractor turns.

How to set up a walk-behind tractor for tillage

Before cultivating the soil, the walk-behind tractor should be prepared: set up and adjusted so that the passage of the walk-behind tractor leaves even grooves behind it.

I purchased the walk-behind tractor with additional attachments in the form of a hiller
and
a plow
. Without them, nothing will move forward.
Adjust the depth of the track created by the walk-behind tractor: it should be equal to 20 cm
.
In order for the track to be the required length, you need to use plow
. The plow will not allow you to create different depths, and the rows will not “walk”, they will be even.

For cultivation you need to use cutters

. As a result of their impact, depressions are formed in the ground. Ideally, you need to ensure that when moving in the opposite direction, one of the cutters falls into the mark left by the other cutter. This will give the most thorough digging. _____________________________________________________________________

How to prepare a walk-behind tractor for planting potatoes

To plant potatoes on a walk-behind tractor, different devices are installed than for cultivating the soil.

You need to change the attachments on the walk-behind tractor: remove the cutters
and install
lugs
.
The center stop
should also be removed and a hitch installed instead.
Usually metal pins
.
Next, I advise you to equip the walk-behind tractor with a 2-row hiller
, and the width between its components should be approximately
65 cm
. In fact, this distance is what will ultimately be between the rows of beds.

Markings for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

To mark your garden you need to use a marker. You can purchase special equipment, or you can make a marker yourself - it’s not difficult at all.

How to make a marker for planting potatoes with your own hands

Take a wooden handle and install a cross stick at one end.
Then we prepare something similar to a rake: we fill 3 pegs with a distance of 65 cm between them.
After this, you can safely draw stripes on the soil.
So we go through one row.
Then we unfold the constructed level and lead it in the opposite direction so that the outermost peg goes exactly along the previous outermost strip.

After the area is completely marked, all you have to do is take the walk-behind tractor in your hands and make even furrows.

Methods for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

I know 3 ways to plant potatoes with a walk-behind tractor: using a hiller, a potato planter and a plow. I consider all these methods acceptable and convenient. An interesting method that does not require any special equipment is planting using a plow.

Planting potatoes with a hiller

Special lug wheels must be mounted on the walk-behind tractor.
Afterwards, you can begin cutting furrows into which the potato tubers will be placed in the future.
This is already done by using the plow.
Then I change the wheels of the walk-behind tractor to rubber ones. The width between the wheels is equal to the width of the track, then when they move, the potato tubers are embedded in the soil and even lightly compacted.

Planting potatoes with a potato planter

Let me make a reservation right away that it is appropriate to use a potato planter if you are planting potatoes on an area of more than 10 acres. You can purchase a potato planter for potatoes or make your own.

The potato planter looks like a canopy that is attached to a walk-behind tractor.
The volume of such a “canopy” is about 4 buckets of potatoes.

The potato planter (canopy) consists of 2 devices:

furrow maker
, from where potato tubers enter the soil,
disk hiller
, which serves to cover the tubers with soil.

In addition, the walk-behind tractor must have lug wheels.

. In order for the grooves to be deeper, the distance between the discs should be reduced.

Before using a walk-behind tractor with a potato planter, you need to prepare the soil

plow it or dig it up with a full bayonet of a shovel,
harrow,
It is advisable to water it, spending about a bucket of water per 1 m².

After the soil is ready, you need to let it dry for a day and then form ridges.

Planting potatoes with a plow

Potatoes can be planted using a walk-behind tractor with only a plow. The plow is used to turn over the soil before winter.

Attach the plow and lugs to the walk-behind tractor.
Even preliminary marking of the soil before planting potatoes is not required.
Along with the formation of ruts, potato tubers are also planted.
As soon as you make a line to the end of the plot, then simply turn the walk-behind tractor with the plow and, making a new track, at the same time close up the one already made, the one in which the newly planted tubers lie.

How to plant potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

We start the walk-behind tractor,
pour the potatoes into a compartment specially designed for this purpose,
when the walk-behind tractor moves, the tubers fall into the track prepared for them,
You can regulate the planting density yourself.
After planting the potatoes, the ruts are closed and compacted.

How to choose a walk-behind tractor for planting potatoes

When choosing a walk-behind tractor for planting potatoes, do not be afraid of the high price. Nowadays these are quite reliable machines, having durable fixtures and parts that allow them to operate without breakdowns for many years with normal handling. And in terms of fuel consumption, modern walk-behind tractors have become much more economical. _____________________________________________________________________

practically do not vibrate,
make minimal noise
launch quickly,
easy to manage,
are highly environmentally friendly.

Walk-behind tractors are now used very widely and are used not only for planting, but also for digging up potatoes. If you practice, then when digging you can achieve a minimum number of damaged tubers - no more than 1% of the total mass.

So if you are faced with the choice of whether to buy a walk-behind tractor or not, then I boldly advise you to take it. However, you should not consider the cheapest or most expensive models. Take the average price, and everything will be fine!

Nikolay Khromov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, senior researcher

Homemade potato planter for walk-behind tractor

There are various modifications of walk-behind tractors on sale, all of them cope well with their tasks. However, when choosing a model, it is necessary to take into account a combination of factors:

area of the cultivated area and soil parameters;
power and weight of the unit;
list of work performed on the walk-behind tractor;
type of fuel used;
equipment and cost of the walk-behind tractor.

It must be remembered that the larger the area of the treated area, the more powerful the walk-behind tractor engine should be. A lightweight unit with a capacity of 3 liters is quite suitable for a summer cottage. With.

For a summer cottage, you can purchase a lightweight walk-behind tractor with a capacity of up to 5 liters. With

If the soil is dense and heavy, then a light unit will simply get stuck in it. You will have to make a lot of effort to move it from its place. The higher the power of the walk-behind tractor, the heavier it is.

Depending on the power, there are several types of walk-behind tractors:

ultra-light: their weight is small - about 20 kg, and their power is 3 liters. With.;
light - with a weight of up to 40 kg and a capacity of 3–5 liters. With.;
the average ones weigh from 40 to 60 kg, their power is 5 liters. With.;
heavy ones weigh more than 60 kg, their power is more than 6 liters. With.

Heavy walk-behind tractors are used, as a rule, on large farms where a large amount of work is expected.

Heavy walk-behind tractors are used over large areas and on large farms

The latter are considered more economical. But as a rule, units with diesel engines have little power.

Attachments are purchased along with the walk-behind tractor or in the event that certain work needs to be done. Motoblocks with a power take-off shaft (PTO) can be supplemented with:

seeders;
potato planters;
potato diggers, which are a type of plow;
sprayers;
lugs;
disc or tine harrows;
cultivation cutters;
conventional or reversible plows;
hillers;
flat cutters;
trailers;
adapters that turn a walk-behind tractor into a mini-tractor;
rotary brushes, allowing the use of a walk-behind tractor for snow removal.

The walk-behind tractor is an indispensable assistant when planting, hilling and harvesting potatoes. This unit allows you to perform a wide variety of work in the shortest possible time.

When choosing a walk-behind tractor model for your site, it is important to pay attention not only to its price, but also to the power, type of fuel used, and the possibility of additional equipment

Agrotechnical requirements for planting potatoes under a walk-behind tractor

Agricultural technology for planting potatoes does not depend on whether the corresponding work is done manually or in an automated way. The essence of the process, in any case, is to dig a depression in the ground of a certain size (in the form of a continuous furrow or separate holes), place root crops in it, keeping the distance between them as equal as possible, and then fill the hole again with earth. Sometimes backfilling is carried out by simply leveling the soil layer, in other cases a ridge is formed at the planting site (hilling up).

In addition, simultaneously with planting tubers in the ground, you can apply the necessary fertilizing in the form of organic matter or mineral fertilizers. In this case, the nutrient mixture is placed on the bottom of the holes, sprinkled with a small layer of soil on top and planting potatoes are placed on top of it. When using agricultural machines in the process of planting potatoes, it is necessary, accordingly, that the technical device can ensure the implementation of this type of work.

Design of a disk walk-behind tractor.
In particular, the walk-behind tractor is required to be able to:

it is guaranteed not to damage the tuber when planting it in the soil, regardless of the size of the potato (root crops weighing from 30 to 90 g can be used for planting, which is comparable in size, respectively, to a walnut or a chicken egg), depending on whether the tuber is planted whole or cut into fragments, as well as the presence of sprouts on it (the so-called vernalized or sprouted potatoes);
adjust the row spacing in accordance with the planned planting pattern, and it is desirable that the error be no more than 2 cm (the width of the butt row spacing, that is, the distance between the two outer furrows made by a potato planter, hiller, plow or other walk-behind tractor attachment, may deviate from the specified no more than 10 cm);
dig a furrow of a certain depth and fill it with a ridge of the required height, and in both cases the error should not exceed 2 cm;
lay the tubers at an equal distance from each other with the ability to adjust this distance in increments of at least 5 cm (for example, 20, 25, 30, 35 cm, etc.) and with an error of no more than ¼ of the specified parameter;
avoid omissions when planting root crops, which is especially critical when it comes to planting large tubers;
strictly maintain a straight line when laying a furrow, no matter how fast the walk-behind tractor is moving;
ensure local application of organic and mineral fertilizers simultaneously with planting potatoes - both by direct laying in the hole, and dotted on both sides of the tuber (relevant for mineral fertilizing), while the technical capabilities of the walk-behind tractor should guarantee the ability to strictly adhere to the planting location (2–3 cm from the root crop in depth and 5–7 cm to the sides) with an error of no more than 1/10.

Hedgehogs for weeding

Inter-row cultivation is carried out with a special ripper, which is called a hedgehog. The device is made in the form of several metal rings with different radii. They are located at a short distance from each other, forming together something like a cone.

Each segment has sharp thorns that are designed to pull out weeds. To increase efficiency, the design is made in pairs, but asymmetrical. The parts are placed at an angle to each other.

Weeding. The thorns catch the plants and pull them out of the ground along with the roots, without touching the crop.
Loosening and fluffing up the soil. The process improves the penetration of air and moisture into the soil.
Formation of rows. The planting structure looks neat.

Hedgehogs are used both for weeding potatoes and for hilling. They are suitable for all types of soil and plot areas.

The device works on the principle of a rotary harrow. The spikes penetrate the soil, and the rings rotate, thereby pulling out the plant and loosening the soil.

Making your own hedgehogs

To make a hedgehog yourself, choose a metal disk structure as a basis. Find 3 disks of different sizes. Rings are more effective because they weigh less and are less damaging to the soil, but discs are easier to make.

For a paired design, take circles with the following diameter:

250 mm, 170 mm, 90 mm;
280 mm, 190 mm, 100 mm.

The frame is a thick inch pipe. The axial size of the hedgehog is 25 mm. The distance between the outer circles should not exceed 160 mm. The maximum disc diameter is 340 mm.

Almost every summer resident has a motor cultivator. Basically, it is used to prepare a site for planting various vegetables. Instead of digging up the territory manually, it is much easier and better to do it with a walk-behind tractor. However, at present, with the help of various adaptations to this equipment, it is possible not only to loosen the soil, but also to plant and weed individual crops, for example, potatoes.

Preparing the site for planting

The biggest problems when growing potatoes arise on heavy soil - clay or black soil. It is physically very difficult to dig it up, and yet root crops place very high demands on the softness, looseness and lightness of the soil. The walk-behind tractor allows you to solve this problem quite quickly, while experts recommend equipping the device with special cutters instead of wheels.

Depending on the area of the site, the composition of the soil, the model of the walk-behind tractor and your own preferences, you can prepare the site for future planting in one of two ways:

Dig up the area completely, starting from any point on the edge and moving towards the center in a spiral . After digging is completed, the ground will need to be leveled by replacing the walk-behind tractor attachment with a rake.
Digging in strips, moving from one edge of the site to the other, in accordance with the plan for future beds . When using this method, it is necessary to provide small areas up to 2 m long at one and the other end of the field, on which it will be possible to turn the machine around without any problems. Digging of each row is carried out twice - in the forward and reverse direction, while moving backward, one of the cutters of the walk-behind tractor should be directed into the newly dug furrow. This precaution ensures loosening of the soil to the required depth and ideally prepares the ground for planting tubers.

The wide distance between the outer rows will be very useful at the time of harvesting: it will be convenient to place dug up potatoes and tops in this area.

Installation and configuration of devices for hilling

In order to hill potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, you need to purchase and install a hitch and a hiller, which can be disk or plow-shaped. A plow-shaped hiller can be single-row or double-row, and a disk hiller is always installed only on a two-row walk-behind tractor. The latter type is more effective, easier to set up and more convenient to use, but it is more expensive.

The next point is the installation of lugs that improve traction with the soil for a smooth ride. They are required mainly when working with a plow-shaped hiller. Special wheels for hilling should have a larger diameter, which will allow you to “raise” the body of the walk-behind tractor so that it does not crush the tall potato tops.

The lugs are made entirely of metal and have different shapes depending on the manufacturer. For hilling, it is recommended to use wheels with a width of 10-13 cm and a diameter of 30-60 cm. If you want to install larger wheels, keep in mind that the speed will increase noticeably and it will be difficult to do the job efficiently without creepers. For a single-row walk-behind tractor, as well as during the first processing, lugs are required less frequently - hilling is carried out on rubber wheels.

Setting up a plow hiller involves choosing the correct angle of attack and depth of penetration. The depth depends on the soil, but in any case it is set when the walk-behind tractor is positioned on a flat horizontal surface. The angle of attack is adjusted by the position of the stand: if the hiller is too deep, the stand leans forward; if it comes out of the soil, then back.

For a disk hiller, the position of the disks relative to each other is set (the narrowing of the upper part and the widening of the lower determines the nature of the ridge), the distance between the disks (depending on the row spacing) and the angle of attack (the inclination of the frame relative to the horizontal plane).

A two-row plow-shaped hiller processes a row running in the center and half of the side rows, so when moving back it is driven through one row spacing, i.e. the wheel passes along the spacing only once. The work is done faster, but the quality is not always satisfactory.

The disc hiller, despite the fact that it is hung on a two-row walk-behind tractor, processes only one row in the center, so when turning, it is necessary to go through one row spacing twice, processing each row separately. However, the soil becomes looser and the ridge neater.

Today, Russian-made walk-behind tractors “Neva” and “Salyut” are often found in summer cottages, as they are more affordable and at the same time reliable. For a small area, 5 - 6 hp will be enough. Craftsmen do not stop at additional equipment from the manufacturer, but strive to improve their equipment with homemade devices.

When cultivating over-compacted soil, a light walk-behind tractor may slip due to insufficient weight to penetrate into the ground. To solve this problem, experienced gardeners suggest using weights. They can be mounted on wheels, on the top of the body, or on the front (for ballast).

Suitable blanks can be found at scrap collection points. The individual elements are welded, then the fastening parts are welded to the finished weights. To weight the wheels, you can use monolithic disc weights or make hollow lugs that are filled with lead or concrete.

The weight of the walk-behind tractor for hilling should be less than for plowing. In most cases, adding weight to the wheels is sufficient.

Methods and technology of planting potatoes

The walk-behind tractor is a very convenient device due to the huge variety of additional attachments that can be used with this machine. Depending on what accessories are available to the farmer, various methods for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor can be used.

Video: planting potatoes using a walk-behind tractor

Walk-behind tractor with hiller

Planting potatoes using a hiller is considered the easiest and cheapest way to use a walk-behind tractor.

There are four main types of hillers for walk-behind tractors:

with fixed working width (lister);
with variable working width (in turn, they are single-row and double-row, the latter can significantly save operating time and energy costs, however, planting potatoes with their help is not very convenient, since you have to control two furrows at the same time);
disk (the most functional and convenient, but more expensive than the previous two);
propeller , capable of simultaneously loosening the soil, removing weeds and hilling).

Specialists from the Netherlands have developed a fundamentally new type of hiller, which allows you to adjust both the width and depth of the grip. At the same time, Dutch hillers are relatively inexpensive and much more energy efficient than their domestic counterparts.

Each of the possible types of attachments has its own advantages and disadvantages, therefore, when choosing an accessory, it is necessary to proceed from the size of the sown area, financial capabilities and other subjective criteria. Planting potatoes always begins with marking out future beds.
The next sequence of actions is as follows:

Install lug wheels with extensions on the device instead of conventional wheels.
If the design of the device requires it (for example, a Neva walk-behind tractor), remove the wings and the central stop from the unit, replacing it with a hitch, to which the hiller is attached.
Attach the hiller to the walk-behind tractor.
Set the desired width of the wings (to make it maximum, you need to move the blades): for a two-row device, it is necessary to provide a row spacing of at least 70 cm, for a single-row device, 60–65 cm is enough.
Start the machine in first gear along the marked area of the furrow and begin digging the ridge.
The depth of the furrow is adjusted using a hitch; for this purpose, there is a special handle on the device.
Place planting tubers at equal distances into the prepared furrow.
When the planting of potatoes is completed, the wings of the hiller should be spread to the maximum distance (on Neva and Salyut brand units, the distance between the wings remains unchanged, but to dig a furrow, the lug wheels must be replaced with regular ones).
By pointing the walk-behind tractor at the ridge line, the furrow is filled with soil.

In order not to make row spacing too wide when using a two-row hiller, some experts recommend disconnecting one of the hillers from the device and installing the remaining one in the center. In this case, you need to work with regular, not lug wheels. This method really simplifies the work, but makes it very energy-consuming, since the operating time of the walk-behind tractor doubles.

Therefore, each farmer can make the best decision for himself - not to purchase a two-row device, learn to work with it, despite the difficulties and the large distance between the rows, or use the nozzle as a regular single-row one.

What to weed with?

At the moment, there are various devices for weeding vegetables. It could be:

hoe;
hoe;
flat cutter;
cultivator.

Modern man does not want to waste time and comes up with newer devices for the shelf. These include a walk-behind tractor. Makes work several times easier. This will be especially noted by the person who planted root crops under a shovel.

Walk-behind tractor

A special device designed for soil cultivation. Weeding potatoes with a walk-behind tractor is carried out using paws or a weeder. The most commonly used are paws. They are fixed on holders, adjusted to the size of the row spacing.

They should overlap each other slightly. When attaching the paws, you need to place them so that one is in front of the other. This placement prevents cut plants from clogging the tool. Experienced specialists know how to make them at home.

Paws are a special device for weeding. They can be one-sided, two-sided or lancet. Depending on the installation, it processes the row on one or both sides. With the help of a walk-behind tractor, it is easy to weed potatoes, since the device has high productivity.

As a rule, walk-behind tractors are used on farms.

Cultivator

Growing potatoes is a labor-intensive process that requires effort and time. Weeding potatoes is one of the important stages of growing. To facilitate the process of removing weeds, use a cultivator. The device can be manual, electric, or equipped with a gasoline engine.

You can also remove parasitic plants from the garden bed manually. This is a real godsend for older gardeners who suffer from arthrosis. For weeding potatoes, you buy the tool in the store or make it yourself. A cultivator removes plants along with their root system.

The technique of use is as follows. The tool is screwed completely into the soil, the entire length of the teeth should go into the ground. Then, in one motion, they lift it up along with the pulled out weed. Most suitable for processing row spacing.

Types of attachments for cultivators

To cultivate beds, cultivators equipped with a pair of knives are most often used. They are located at an angle of 45 degrees to each other. They do not miss a single plant or device, which, instead of knives, is equipped with small pitchforks with teeth. To make it easier to operate such a weapon, wheels are installed on them.

The farmer pushes it, pressing down on the soil. Thus, labor productivity increases.

Weeding potatoes with hedgehogs is a convenient way to get rid of parasitic plants and at the same time hill up the garden bed. Hedgehogs for weeding potatoes are a structure made of two cones. Both cones have 3 wheels, the material of which is metal. All differ in size, as they have different diameters to make work easier.

Sharp spikes are welded onto metal wheels. Before work, potato weeding hedgehogs are placed on the cultivator frame. As the wheel rotates, the spikes pull out weeds and hill up the beds. The use of hedgehogs in this case increases labor productivity.

This device was also improved by providing it with a motor. After this, using the motor cultivator became even more convenient. It makes it easier to process the crop. Using a motor allows the mini-device to make work in the garden easier.

Technology for proper planting of potatoes using a walk-behind tractor

Planting potatoes is a difficult task. It takes a lot of effort and time. To make the work of gardeners easier, Russian companies have developed wonderful equipment - a walk-behind tractor. The most famous and popular brands are “Salut” and “Neva”, these are the best walk-behind tractors for cultivating land.

They are easy to operate, last a long time and rarely break down. But there are some rules that must be followed when planting potatoes. This article will tell you tips about proper planting and nuances in using a walk-behind tractor, as well as equipment that will help plant and dig potatoes.

Hedgehogs for weeding: purpose and types

This is what hedgehogs look like for processing potatoes

Devices for removing weeds, in addition to their direct function, help solve several related problems at once:

loosen the area of soil near the potato bush;
reduce moisture loss;
promote better tuber formation;
Thanks to timely cultivation, potatoes of any variety are less affected by pests and diseases.

In large areas, it is difficult for summer residents and farmers to make do with primitive tools: hoes and rakes. Hand tools in the fields are being replaced by a cultivator walk-behind tractor and hedgehogs for mechanized weeding of potatoes.

There are two types of hedgehogs. This is a rotary hedgehog (used for weeding, making the soil fluffy, as a ripper and hiller for potato plantings). The cone hedgehog is good for working across the field both before emergence and during other periods.

Thanks to these functions, potatoes are hilled quickly, with a minimum of labor costs. This is the advantage of any type of hedgehog. It's easy to buy them today. But there is one significant drawback to ready-made devices - they are not cheap. You can reduce the cost of purchasing equipment by building a hedgehog with your own hands.

Homemade devices are affordable, simple and reliable. They can be made from scrap materials and those that are sold in any hardware department of a hardware store.

Methods of planting potatoes

There are two planting methods. They differ in the tools they use:

Hiller with regulator
Mounted potato planter.

Both options are equally popular among summer residents. It’s just that the first option is used for a small area, and the second for a large area. But the first option is also cheaper. Good for those who like to save money. So, let's look at each of them.

Walk-behind tractor with hiller

Its design consists of the following elements:

Conveyor is a conveyor that supplies seed.
Furrower - lays furrows.
Distributor - with its help, tubers are planted in a strictly specified period of time.
Hiller - loosens the soil and covers the crop with soil.

This tool works on the following principle. Before you start working, the unit needs to be configured: metal wheels and a special hopper are installed on the tool. Wheels create furrows. They should be even, then the growing process will be simplified.

Potatoes are placed in the hopper, which will fall into the holes when moving. After this, the wheels are replaced from lug wheels to rubber ones and adjusted to the track width. This will prevent damage to the root crop.

Next, the hiller covers the potatoes with soil, compacting it at the same time. Apart from manually adding tubers to the hopper, the entire planting process occurs automatically.

Mounted potato planter

Before using the planter, you will have to carry out the preparatory stage for planting. First you need to plow the land. Then carry out harrowing so that the crop receives the required amount of water and oxygen. After this, you need to moisten the soil (if possible).

This type of walk-behind tractor has the following design:

furrowers;
special bunker;
disk device for filling potatoes with soil.

The structure of the walk-behind hiller allows you to plant potatoes in one go, since the tool simultaneously makes furrows, pours out the tubers and covers them with soil. Before use, you need to attach special wheels to grab the soil and an additional attachment - a potato planter. You can use a homemade unit or buy special equipment.

Field plowing equipment

The modern fleet of mini tractors includes about two dozen devices, domestic and imported, differing in functionality, power, and price. Let's look at the most popular of them.

Motoblock "Neva"

Among the advantages:

ease of operation;
reliable engine with high efficiency;
durable housing that prevents damage to the mechanism;
ability to work with attachments designed for a wide range of jobs.

In addition, this type of walk-behind tractor provides the user with ample opportunities to choose the optimal speed and comfortable handle position. At the same time, according to reviews from gardeners, “Neva” has not proven itself very well when working with a plow (short plowing depth).

The disadvantages include high weight (more than 90 kg), insufficient stability on uneven ground, and high cost.

Motoblock "Salute"

The author of this device, the Salyut association (Moscow), did everything to make it as convenient to use as possible. Its center of gravity is low and the engine is moved forward, making it easier to control than the Neva and able to easily maintain balance when connecting a plow.

Another advantage is its low weight and maneuverability, allowing the Salyut to be used in small areas. It should also be noted that the handles of the walk-behind tractor are narrowed and can be rotated 180°, which makes it very convenient for cleaning work.

Motoblock "MTZ"

The brainchild of the Minsk Tractor Plant attracts with its compactness and maneuverability. Despite its high weight, the device is perfectly balanced and therefore extremely stable.

The latest modification, MT3 09N, will become a universal gardener’s assistant, and if you purchase an additional adapter with a seat, the walk-behind tractor can be turned into a mini tractor. Other advantages include wide functionality, large fuel tank capacity, and high power.

It should be remembered that MTZ is more intended for processing large areas; it is unprofitable to use it in small areas. In addition, the unit is picky about the choice of soil: it is not recommended to use it on heavy soils.

The difference between a walk-behind tractor and a cultivator is that the latter uses a cultivating cutter. For these purposes, motorized devices are used in the form of a walk-behind tractor, a motorized cultivator or a mini-tractor. People invented a walk-behind tractor - the most suitable, low-cost equipment for planting potatoes.

The advantage of a motor cultivator is that with the help of a cultivation cutter the soil is prepared, beds are cut for sowing and inter-row cultivation is carried out up to the harvesting of root crops.

Mini-tractors are used in small farms for plowing, transporting goods, and cleaning areas. All small-sized equipment solves the same questions: how to help agricultural workers.

Read more: Is it possible to eat zucchini while breastfeeding?

How to plant potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

Pre-landing preparation

Before planting, it is necessary to cultivate the land: plowing and harrowing. Thanks to this, the soil will be saturated with oxygen and it will dry out a little. This is done using a plow or a special cutter.

The beds are crushed (cut) in two ways: using a hand rake or a walk-behind tractor. The choice of tool depends on the area of the site and your own desire. But using the second option is preferable. After all, some tools loosen the soil very well when planting. In this case, the loosening depth reaches 20 centimeters.

After this, the rows are marked. In order for potatoes to grow better, you need to create free row spacing. The average distance between them should be 60-70 cm. The distance of the rows depends on the type of potato. Various devices are used to create row spacing. After cultivating the soil, you can begin planting potatoes under the walk-behind tractor.

Landing technique

Regardless of how the work is carried out, one rule should be followed. The planting depth should not be less than 10-15 centimeters, and the distance between tubers (seeds) should be 20-30 cm. For ease of orientation, you can pull a rope. Potatoes will germinate better if the soil is fertilized after loosening.

Working with a hiller. First it is attached to the walk-behind tractor. Using the Neva apparatus, you will have to move the blades to increase the wingspan. This is necessary for proper placement of potatoes in the holes. When working with Salyut, you do not have to go through this procedure. The lug wheels are attached to the unit.

The track width of the walk-behind tractor for planting potatoes is 60 centimeters. The tops should be planted at the same distance. After sowing, it is necessary to remove the metal wheels and install rubber ones. In this case, the width should remain the same. The wings are at maximum distance. Now you can cover the crop with soil.

There is another option for using a walk-behind tractor - using it under a plow. Metal wheels and a plow are simultaneously installed on the apparatus. When planting in this way, it is worth throwing potatoes at the stage of creating a furrow. This must be done immediately, since when the tool creates a new furrow, it covers the seeds in the already created one with soil.

Below you can watch a video on how to plant a plow walk-behind tractor.

Weeding with a walk-behind tractor using a flat-cut weeder

The next device is no less popular. A flat cutter is a special attachment for cultivating soil and removing weeds from the top layer of soil. With its help, you can prepare the area for planting or simply process the row spacing. There are flat cutters with special drums for discarding weeds and simple ones with ordinary knives.

When weeding potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, the wheels must be in the furrows. While the cultivator is moving, the knives gradually cut off all the weeds from the rows, and the drum throws them back

It is also very important to consider the age of the weeds. While they are not yet deeply rooted and strengthened, it will be much easier to remove them

But mature and strong plants will not succumb to every adaptation.

Important! The same method can be used to weed not only potatoes, but also other crops.

Scheme of planting potatoes with a motor cultivator

Before planting potatoes, the soil must be loosened and, at the same time, furrows must be created. Potatoes should be planted at a time when the soil temperature reaches 8-9 degrees. At a depth of 10 centimeters. The furrows should be made as even as possible, and the distance between them should be about 60 centimeters. This is done so that when loosening the soil it does not touch the planted tubers.

Having finished cultivating the land, the potatoes are manually placed in the holes. The distance between tubers should be 30-50 centimeters. After this, the field is again processed with a motorized cultivator to cover the potatoes with soil.

At the same time, it saves a lot of effort and energy. All work and planting with the cultivator is carried out automatically. You will only have to work with your hands when harvesting.

If the site is located near groundwater, then the future harvest should be protected from excess water. In this case, potatoes can be planted directly into the ridges. The ridges are formed with a walk-behind tractor 20 centimeters high. But this method of growing potatoes will only help where the soil is well moistened.

Landing process

You can plant potatoes under a walk-behind tractor using a potato planter or hiller. These tools differ from each other in that the potato planter makes it possible to perform several manipulations simultaneously. The unit is equipped with both a hiller and a device for distributing potato fruits. With the help of such a device, you can plant potatoes over a large area alone.

When using a potato digger, you do not have to scatter potato beds over holes and then hill them up. All work is carried out simultaneously. Most often, this technique is used for processing large fields and vegetable gardens.

Some plant growers use the method of planting potatoes under the plow. In such a situation, a plow and special lugs are installed directly on the motor cultivator. You need to focus on the first pass. Using this technique, it is more convenient to plant potatoes together. While one person is making the hole, the other will throw the potatoes along the created furrow. Having completed the initial row, the device turns around and moves in parallel.

When using any equipment for hilling, it is necessary to adhere to the correct row spacing. The distance between the furrows should be at least 20 cm. The holes should have a depth of 10-15 cm. The potatoes are scattered into the prepared furrows. After this, the wheels on the equipment are replaced with ordinary ones. The distance between the rows remains the same.

Harvesting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

Hilling

A month after planting, the first shoots appear. Now, using a walk-behind tractor, you need to properly hill up the potatoes. This process should begin when the height of the shoots reaches 15-20 centimeters.

Hilling itself is a replacement for loosening the soil and weeding it. At the same time, this treatment protects the crop in the spring from return frosts. It happens that before the emergence of seedlings, the temperature may drop slightly below zero. A layer of soil covers the fruits, warming them and allowing them to survive bad weather.

Usually they spud up 2 times: the first time as soon as the sprouts appear, the second time after three weeks. But you need to know what if:

The nest begins to grow wider, across the ridge;
Tubers peek out from under the ground and turn green in the sun

You will have to hill up a third time. There are times when potato hilling is needed 4 times per season. But then you get a good harvest.

Any hiller is suitable for this procedure - with one, two or three rows. If necessary, an additional attachment is installed on the cultivators and the soil is fertilized with its help.

You can see how a two-row hiller works in this video.

Hilling secrets

Many gardeners earth up potatoes in the hot summer. But it's not right. This can damage the shoots or the root crop itself. Because of this, the plant may wilt. In addition, the procedure negatively affects health.

Therefore, it is recommended to do this in the morning or evening. And not in dry weather, but after rain, when the soil dries out a little, but remains quite moist. This makes it easier to get rid of weeds and weed the beds.

And it is much easier to hill up wet soil, since wet soil does not crumble. Moist soil added to the base of the stem stimulates the development of new shoots. And this leads to an increase in yield, this is the technology.

What is a walk-behind tractor

A walk-behind tractor or motor-cultivator is a two-wheeled (but on one axis) power unit equipped with a one- or two-cylinder air-cooled internal combustion engine, which provides the cultivator with traction during plowing, loosening, cutting furrows and hilling.

The cultivator is equipped with a lever steering wheel, with the help of which the operator walking behind it directs it in the desired direction. In addition, the power unit comes complete with a trailer on a rigid axle - when connected, you get a full-fledged light-duty vehicle.

Using a walk-behind tractor significantly increases labor productivity compared to manual digging or hilling. However, productivity is directly related to the power of the power unit - in this indicator, not a single walk-behind tractor can compare with a tractor.

Potato growing technology is a sequence of different types of land cultivation.

Harvesting

A walk-behind tractor is convenient not only for planting potatoes, but also for harvesting them. This is done in early autumn (September-October) in dry weather. To do this, an additional device is installed on the unit - a plower. It is sometimes called a "potato digger" or digger. He digs the ground and takes out the tubers.

You can see how the harvest is dug up in this video

But you don't have to use it. It is enough to use a single-row hiller. He will lift the ground, and the potatoes will lie on the edge of the bed. All that remains is to go around the area and collect the ripe crop.

To avoid potato germination, after harvesting it should be placed in a dark, cool place. There it should lie for 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the potatoes need to be sorted by size. And only after that send it to the cellar.

Mechanized care of potato beds

For better potato growth, it is necessary to hill them, that is, sprinkle the stems with loose soil. During the season, this procedure is performed 2-3 times:

The first hilling is carried out when the height of the bush is 15 cm, i.e. in the middle - end of May. The height of the ridge should not exceed 10 cm.
The potatoes are earthed up the second time when the plant height reaches 20–25 cm, i.e. two weeks after the first earthing up.
After 10–14 days, you can repeat the procedure again. Now try to pour the soil as high as possible.

The most convenient way to hill potatoes is with a walk-behind tractor with a disk hiller.

Hilling potatoes with a walk-behind tractor significantly reduces the amount of time spent on this type of work. They do this as follows:

A hiller is installed on the walk-behind tractor, the angle of attack (rotation) of the device is adjusted and the depth of its immersion is adjusted.
Rubber wheels are replaced with lugs.
The unit is installed exactly in the center of the row spacing.
Movement is carried out at the lowest speed of the walk-behind tractor.

A walk-behind tractor and various attachments will make further care of the potato plantation easier.

The time from planting to the first potato shoots is the most important for the formation of full-fledged and healthy tubers. Germination will begin from the upper eyes

The main thing that should not be allowed is breaking off sprouted branches. This will negatively affect the growth and development of potato fruits.

The role of the plow

After the first shoots appear, a weeder is used to weed and loosen the soil between the rows. It performs the tasks of a conventional plow.

Hilling

Accelerates the development of stems, destroys weeds and protects the plant from possible frosts. Performed 2–3 weeks after germination. A hiller is used for work.

To remove weeds after sowing, but before the first shoots appear, a mesh weeding harrow is used, which is fixed to the frame of the walk-behind tractor and pulled across the field.

How to properly set up a walk-behind tractor for digging potatoes

Before you start harvesting with a potato digger, it is important to set it up. When regulating, special attention is paid to the plow, which is responsible for digging up tubers.

First of all, set the depth to which the plow will sink into the soil. The minimum depth is the length of one shovel bayonet. If you make it smaller, the cultivator will damage the tubers during digging.

Reference. The depth is adjusted with bolts located between the plow stand and the lock. Once loosened, the plow can be easily moved up or down.

The next step is to adjust the angle of the field board relative to the soil surface. To do this, use a screw handle. It is twisted until the board lies on the ground, and then twisted in the opposite direction so that the back part rises above the ground by about 3 cm.

Digging potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. Setting up a potato digger secrets!

Advantages and disadvantages

Oddly enough, many garden owners do not want to resort to automation in the process of growing crops. The reasons are varied, and not always objective.

However, digging crops with a walk-behind tractor has a lot of advantages that are hard to argue with:

Simplicity of design. The equipment is not difficult. No special knowledge is required to use it. The main element that is needed when collecting tubers is a digger. This part includes an upper fan and a plow made of metal.
Easy to set up. It is not difficult to understand the walk-behind tractor. The main thing that needs to be done is to adjust the required depth of the plow and get used to using the equipment.
Lack of significant physical labor. You need to point the device directly along the ground, and then there will be no problems. Even a woman can handle such a load.
Ability to quickly dig up potatoes. Thanks to automation, harvesting is much faster than doing it manually.

Of the minuses, there is only one - inept use. Lack of experience can make it difficult to use a walk-behind tractor at first. However, once you understand how the walk-behind tractor works, there shouldn’t be any problems in the future.

Tips and tricks

In order for the potato digger to cope with its tasks properly, adhere to the following recommendations:

Be sure to carry out adjustments before starting work.
The power of the device must be sufficient, especially when it is used for large areas.
The size of the digger is selected so that it matches the size of the walk-behind tractor. If it is too large, it will damage the crop.
To keep losses to a minimum, make a test pass and adjust the diving depth.

Recommendations for selection

To efficiently dig up potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, you should choose a high-quality digger.

When choosing, the type of walk-behind tractor for which the digger is selected is taken into account. For example, potato diggers of the Agro or Zubr models are better suited for light walk-behind tractors than others.

All other varieties will not be combined with such cultivators.

For more powerful walk-behind tractors, the following models are chosen:

KVM-3. The device goes deep to a depth of 25 cm, which allows you to remove potato tubers from the soil. The model allows you to install additional knives on it for collecting fruits in hard ground.
KVM-1. Used for use together with cultivators. Like the KVM-3 model, it is equipped with additional slots for knives.