I grow potatoes on the plot in small quantities. I plant literally 8-10 pieces to eat it fresh in the country. You can't buy these potatoes in the store. Boiled potatoes with butter, dill and salted cucumber. What else do you need for a good day?
It is not difficult to grow it, but there are rules, the violation of which leads to a poor harvest. It is very important to spud potatoes correctly and on time.
The purpose of hilling potatoes
When hilling potatoes, the yield increases by a third. What is this procedure for:
- prevent the leaching of nutrients from the soil;
- influence the growth rate of stems;
- increase illumination;
- protect from moisture evaporation;
- promote the penetration of oxygen;
- protect tubers from sunlight;
- increase the area for the growth of potatoes;
- boost immunity.
What tools are used for hilling?
Hoe
Planting a large area with a chopper is difficult to spud, as you have to work in a half-bent position and make efforts. I spud several of my nests with this tool. I walk along the row and pour the earth on one side, and then I do the same on the other. The chopper is well sharpened and wide enough. So this is a little boost for me.
Manual mechanical hiller
On such a hiller there are two disks located at an angle relative to each other. One cannot cope with the mechanism. Be sure to invite an assistant who will pull the device, and the second to direct in the right direction. Management is simple, the work can be done quickly.
Motoblock
The walk-behind tractor is useful on the farm not only for hilling potatoes, it can do many useful things.
When hilling, the cutter loosens the soil, and the plow piles the earth on the potato bushes. With the help of a walk-behind tractor, you can quickly spud a large landing area.
Manual plow
A manual plow covers two sides of the rows in one pass. Pushing this structure forward, the gardener loosens the earth, and the blades located on the sides push it closer to the rows of potatoes.
Cultivator
This device is cheaper and simpler than a walk-behind tractor. The principle of operation is the same.
When to spud potatoes and how many times?
After germination, the potato develops quite quickly, soon the sprouts will reach 15-20 cm. It's time to carry out the first hilling. At the same time, all weeds will be destroyed.
Early hilling can protect plants from frost, which occurs in cold regions until early June.
It is good if it rained before hilling. The mound of earth will help retain moisture. In dry weather, I water the plantings the day before.
The second time I spud potatoes during the budding period. During the secondary processing of bushes, I make a high hillock of the earth, otherwise the formed tubers can “look out” from the ground and turn green.
How to properly spud potatoes?
With manual hilling, I act like this:
- I weed the landings.
- I create an elevation from the ground along the entire row on one side, and then on the other.
- I act carefully so as not to damage the roots. Any damage negatively affects the development of culture.
- At the end of the row I build a small “dam” to retain moisture.
With the fan method of hilling, a shovel is used:
- the stems are laid out on the soil in the form of a fan;
- from the aisles they take the earth with a shovel and pour it into the center of the bush so that only small tops remain;
- Weeded weeds are placed on top.
My little potato plantation is always well-groomed and planted, so the harvest is good.
How do you spud potatoes? Share your experience in the comments.
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