A device for cutting rows for planting potatoes. Potato cultivation technology

Planting potatoes - general rules for everyone

​Similar articles​​The mechanism is a triangular movable fastening system. The front link is hinged to the vertical post. It is assumed that the person pulling the hiller forward keeps the thrust at a constant height, then in order to change the angle of attack of the cutting part of the hiller, it is necessary to tilt the vertical stand and fix it in this position. To do this, a plate with a number of holes is placed between the stand and the rod. Changing the position of the vertical stand is carried out (special device). If you don’t have such equipment, you can get a smooth bend as follows: fill the pipe with regular sand as tightly as possible, making plugs (wooden wedges) at the ends.

​pipe bender or blowtorch​

  • ​Manual hiller​
  • But when using this planting scheme, the potatoes will grow quite densely. This option is not very profitable in terms of plantation yield. In practice, this scheme is used quite rarely.​

​You need to start planting by determining the distance between the rows. To do this, you should do the following:

Methods of planting potatoes - what to choose?

​Whichever traditional method is chosen for planting potatoes, they all require a minimum of effort. At the same time, their yields are almost the same. So the choice should be made only based on the properties of the soil and the availability of the required equipment.​

​(gas-burner) for heating the metal in places of bends;​

Devices for manual planting of potatoes

​is a simple tool that requires two people to operate. The design consists of a double-blade working body with a pruning knife, a front link, by which one person pulls the hiller forward, and rear control handles for a second person.​

More often you can find plantings where the gaps between the bushes will be twice as large. You can also find the following method for calculating the correct distance between bushes. Here the total weight of the potatoes must be divided by the entire area where you plan to plant them. In this case, the resulting figures will be a real reflection of the yield. You can even find data when the distance between the holes is one meter (for a row proximity of 70 cm). But this method gives the lowest yield.​

​mark the entire area;​

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The best technologies for planting potatoes

​To make planting potatoes faster, you can use available tools and devices for planting.​

Distinctive features of Dutch technology

So, when planting root crops, you should take into account the climate zone and soil type

​and is fixed with a bolt and nut.​

  1. ​round section​
  2. ​welding machine;​
  3. ​With the help of a hiller you can significantly​
  4. ​It should be noted that, as in the situation with the distance between rows, it is necessary to take into account the plant variety:​

​Marking is done using a marker (in this case this means a shovel, stick, etc.). They draw a shallow furrow. Later planting is carried out along these furrows;


​angle grinder​

​facilitate​


Early varieties are best planted at a distance between bushes of 25 to 30 cm;

​a string is pulled along the first groove between the wedges, which will act as a guide;​

Traditional manual

​A special country planter is very often used when planting potatoes using the Mittlider method. This method involves carefully cutting holes with a planter at equal distances along the narrow beds. After planting, the ground is leveled using a rake.​

​The choice of method depends on the characteristics of the soil on summer cottage or garden. For example, in the case of loose, sandy loam and sandy soils, the trench method should be used. For loamy soils, the option with the formation of ridges is more suitable. Let's look at each method in more detail.​

  1. ​mandatory cleaning of the soil from all kinds of pathogens, pathogens, bacteria and fungi before alternating crops;​
  2. ​There are several well-known devices that will help in planting root crops:​
  3. ​Other important recommendations:​

​hole​

​The rear link is a fork in the shape of the letter “P” with a width of 500 mm and a length of handles of about 200 mm. A (grinder) is welded in the center of the fork to process the joints.​

​many routine jobs to care for the site. This includes cutting furrows for planting potatoes and then hilling them up. It is also convenient to cut ridges with a hiller and loosen the soil.​

​Late varieties need to be planted at a greater distance - from 30 to 35 cm.​

  • The tuber can be planted directly under a stretched cord. But this is a very labor-intensive process that will take a lot of time;​
  • ​Using a walk-behind tractor, potatoes are planted as follows:​
  • ​Smooth landing, or “under the shovel”. A very simple method. Here you just need to lift the layer of soil with a shovel, put the tuber in the resulting hole and cover it on top.​

​use only high-quality planting material. This point is very important for Dutch technology. Our gardeners need to strictly adhere to this point if they want to really get good harvest. In Holland, only high-quality planting material is always planted, so their harvest is always excellent (unlike our compatriots). According to the technology, the tubers should have a diameter of 30-50 mm. Only tubers that have varietal purity and high reproduction are used (elite and super-elite varieties);​

​Markers that will be needed in order to maintain the same distance between rows of plants. It is best used with the square-nail method or with simple planting in a trench. Potatoes have high lighting requirements, and therefore the beds should be located in the north-south direction.

​. We weld the same corner to the vertical post above the first corner.​

Video “A simple and quick way to plant potatoes”

​vertical section of pipe​

Using a walk-behind tractor or planter

The hiller described here will have several adaptive adjustments:

​For​

​These figures are for tubers that have a standard size for planting (with egg). When using smaller tubers, the above distances must be reduced. The optimal distance would be about 18-20 cm. For very large tubers, the distance can increase significantly and even be 45 cm.​

  1. ​After planting potatoes in a row, to increase yield, you should mulch the soil. Mulching is carried out with peat, which is poured in a layer of two to three centimeters.
  2. ​Initially, even furrows should be cut. The whole process is accompanied by deep loosening of the soil. The distance between the furrows should be about 55 cm. This distance is left for convenience during further weeding;
  3. ​After planting is completed, the ground should be leveled using a rake. This will reduce moisture loss.​

​pre-planting cultivation of the land in order to increase the productivity of future seedlings;​

​Miracle shovels, thanks to which you can make holes and plant tubers at the selected depth at the same time. However, it should be borne in mind that using such a device requires a lot of effort.​

Video “Planting potatoes using a walk-behind tractor”

​You should not add fresh manure to the soil - root crops react best to ash as an organic fertilizer and to mineral supplements.​

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Optimal distance when planting potatoes

​To make dumps, you need to prepare two identical plates 1-2 mm thick, cutting them according to a template. We need to give them

Row spacing

​300 mm long. This end of the fork is inserted into the vertical rod. We bend a pipe with a diameter of ¾ inches in the same way as a vertical stand.

​Height adjustment will be carried out using​

​making a hiller​

The distance that is maintained for the rows is not particularly important when choosing the distance between the bushes. This parameter is directly dependent on the characteristics of the soil composition. If the soil is fertile, it contains a lot nutrients, then planting should be done more densely, since the soil will allow the bushes to form normally and produce a harvest that is excellent in taste and volume. If soil fertility is low, gardeners recommend planting tubers at a greater distance from each other so that in the future the bushes have enough opportunity to produce a crop.​

  1. ​If the ridge planting option is used (beds are formed), then as many as two rows are placed in one bed. In such a situation, the rows are placed at a distance of 19-26 cm.
  2. Tubers that have sprouted well are placed in the furrows with the sprouts facing up. The distance between them is about 40 cm. With small planting material, the distance is reduced;
  3. ​The disadvantage of this method is that it is very difficult to do the necessary actions alone. At least two people are needed here. One should dig the ground, forming holes, and the second should follow and place tubers in the holes. In addition to potatoes, compost, fertilizers (urea, saltpeter) or humus should be placed in the hole. When digging the next hole, the previous hole is covered with earth. It is often used when there is flat terrain where water does not stagnate and the sun warms the soil well. In all other cases it should not be used similar option disembarkation
  4. ​heating or sprouting tubers. Shallow planting to a depth of 4 cm is possible;
  5. ​Attachments for walk-behind tractor. The walk-behind tractor is a single-axle machine that has an engine, transmission, and chassis. With the help of various attachments, you can use the walk-behind tractor for plowing land, planting plants, hilling and weeding.​

​Now you can move on to existing methods landings - you yourself have to decide which one suits you best.​ ​semicircular bend​

​To be able to adjust the height of the rack, you need to drill a row of holes in the upper end of the rack and the same row of holes in the vertical part of the fork. By changing the position of the bolt in the holes, you can adjust the height of the stand depending on the height of the plowman.​

  • ​telescopic device​
  • ​you will need:​

​Common pattern for planting potatoes​

Each subsequent two rows are separated by a groove the width of one shovel. The walls of this groove should be sloping.​

Distance between tubers

​The furrows are filled with a motor cultivator or manually using a rake.​

​Formation of ridges. It is used at high groundwater levels, as well as on waterlogged or heavy soils. This method involves the following manipulations:

​When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to form ridges, the height of which is about 25 cm and the width is 75 cm.​

​Potatoes are the most common product grown in the garden or cottage. The technology for planting potatoes varies. It all depends on the gardener’s awareness and the tools he has. This article will discuss the most best technologies, used today for planting potatoes.​

There are a variety of methods for planting potatoes, each of which has its own characteristics. Before choosing, check out the most well-known methods.​

  1. ​as on traditional plows. Now you need to weld both halves of the plow to the vertical post. You can often see a hiller on sale with a variable angle between the plows, but is it worth it? You will work as a hiller in one area, you know your soil and, based on your experience, you will be able to select
  2. ​Front link​

​central pillar: a smaller diameter pipe will be inserted into the central pillar pipe, which goes into the rear linkage. This will allow a person to adjust the height to suit their height and comfortable grip;​

​the pipe is hollow​

Tubers are planted in holes. The correct depth for them is from 7 to 10 cm. At this depth, the potatoes will warm up best and germinate quickly.​

The best distance between two adjacent rows for potatoes is determined by its variety:​This method has many supporters, as it is characterized by the highest yield due to good loosening of the soil.​

To ensure that the ridges are even, you need to first mark the furrows. You can also use a cord for marking;​

​Our gardeners tend to use land more economically, so often the distance between two adjacent ridges is only 45 cm. As a result, manual hilling requires more caution.​

​Recently, planting potatoes using Dutch technology has become increasingly popular. This method of landing in our country is considered relatively new. Some gardeners sometimes use certain elements of Dutch technology.​

​Use of black film. This option is considered quite easy, since you don’t have to dig up the garden - just loosen the soil by 7-10 cm, immediately adding fertilizer to the soil. We lay black film or dark non-woven material on the dug bed. We secure the edges of the material, and make small cuts on the film for planting root crops. After this, we plant the potatoes using a scoop: carefully make small holes in the ground through the holes and place the tubers there, sprinkling them with soil on top. The advantages of this method are that the film, which does not allow sunlight to pass through, creates the microclimate necessary for potatoes. In addition, the material does not allow weeds to develop, and there is no need to loosen the soil. Thus, all you have to do is deal with pests. Gardeners who choose this method usually harvest their crops about a month earlier.​

Video “How to plant potatoes correctly”

​constant angle.​

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Homemade hiller: purpose, design, DIY manufacturing steps

What is a hiller, how is it designed?

​made in the form of a fork of the same width as the rear link. The difference is in size. The length of the front link handles should be such that the front person can freely stand between the handles and comfortably grab them.​ ​Adjusting the angle of attack.​

​plumbing for a vertical stand with a diameter of 1 inch and a length of 900-1000 mm; Sprouted stems should be covered with soil on top. This procedure will need to be repeated in a week. This will allow the formation of strong stems, which will have a positive effect on yield. If the planting dates were later, then the depth of the hole increases by 3 cm (this rule especially applies to dry periods). Early ripening varieties should be grown at a distance of 60-75 cm;

​When choosing a potato planting method, it is based largely on the type of soil, as well as the availability of specialized equipment at your disposal. If everything is done correctly and all the nuances are taken into account, you can achieve a high-quality harvest. Using a hoe or chopper, form the ridges. Their height is approximately 15 cm. The distance between adjacent ridges is 70 cm (a distance of 50 cm is allowed); When using Dutch technology great attention paid to calculating the planting density of potatoes. Seed material is obtained by thickened planting, in which one square meter there are at least 30 bushes. Only those tubers that have five or more eyes are selected for further planting. Next, the planting map suggests planting six tubers per square meter.​

  • ​The Dutch potato planting technology is based on a whole complex of various agrotechnical techniques. This includes:​ ​Use of straw. We plant potato tubers in pre-loosened and moist soil. In this case, the planting should be shallow - about 5-7 cm, and lay a layer of straw about 15 cm on top. After the shoots appear for the first time, increase the layer of material to 25 cm. The main thing is to lay the straw so as not to crush the plants. It is important to follow a few basic rules here. So, for example, the layer of material should not be too thick immediately after planting root crops, otherwise this will lead to the fact that the soil simply will not warm up. The ease of harvesting in this case is also pleasing - carefully lift the straw and take out the tubers. The only negative is that mice can grow in the straw, which means you will need to think about how to get rid of them: install mousetraps or use mouse poison.​
  • ​So, we weld the halves and create an even weld. We sand it with a grinder to make it smooth and sharp enough.​
  • ​It is also possible to equip a front link​​The angle of attack will be adjusted by tilting the central post relative to the horizontal plane of the ground. We will achieve this by changing the angle between the front link and the vertical post. The front link is hinged to the central post and adjustment is carried out via a turnbuckle, which will allow you to smoothly change the angle depending on the soil conditions and the height of the front person. If you do not have such a mechanism as
  • ​hollow pipe with a diameter of ¾ inches for the front and rear links;​ Also, the depth of the hole depends on the type of soil. For heavy soil, this parameter should be about 8 cm. In light soils, the depth of the hole should be about 10 cm. And for clay soils, the hole is made with a depth of 5 cm.
  • ​Late-ripening varieties should be planted in a row, the distance between which should be no more than 90 cm (minimum 70 cm).​ ​The video demonstrates the process of planting potatoes using a walk-behind tractor.​
  • Tubers are planted in these ridges. The ridges protect the tubers from possible soaking.​
  • ​Scheme for hilling potatoes on ridges​​cultivation of a plot of soil using special milling tools. As a result, the soil becomes looser;

How to make a hiller yourself?

​Use of barrels. This planting method is suitable for those who have limited space. To do this, you will need any barrel - plastic, iron or wood. It is advisable to prepare a container without a bottom or make several holes. We lay soil up to 20 cm thick at the bottom of the barrel and put 7-10 sprouted potatoes there. When the sprouts have sprouted a little, compost is placed in the barrel: the barrel needs to be filled two-thirds full. Water your potatoes as needed, checking the soil. Do not forget about the need for fertilizing - it is better to use mineral fertilizers and ash.​

  • ​It is he who takes on the main force and resistance of the soil when the plow is deepened. For a knife, you need to take a steel that is more carbon than that used for the blades of a homemade plow. Cut in the shape of an arrowhead and sharpen at an angle of 40-45 degrees. This angle will allow the knife to stay sharp longer. All that remains is to weld it to the lower end of the vertical post, grind it and the hiller is ready for work!​ ​flexible belt​​lanyard​
  • ​sheet steel​​When choosing the depth, you should not strictly focus on the above figures, since you need to make an assessment of the size of the tubers themselves. Smaller potatoes need to be planted at a shallow depth, but for larger ones the depth should be greater. Deviation from the established figures is allowed no more than 3 cm in any direction. Planting potatoes in a row is usually carried out according to a 30x80 cm pattern. Here an allowance should be made for the plant variety. Early potatoes produce less dense tops, so they can be planted more densely, with smaller distances between rows. Some gardeners argue that simultaneous planting of early and late varieties will give a better harvest.​ ​Summer is approaching, which means it’s time to plant potatoes. This cultivated plant is considered one of the most common in gardens and plots of our country. The distance between the rows of potatoes is very important for the future harvest. At the same time, do not forget that the distance between the potatoes should also be taken into account. These parameters play an important role in the formation of tubers. Therefore, this article will be devoted to these issues.​

Making a vertical stand

​For moisture-intensive soils, this approach is justified. But if the soil is very light or loose, then the formation of ridges will be ineffective. The ridges will simply begin to crumble during heavy rains, thereby exposing the buried tubers. And if the summer turns out to be hot, then you should periodically organize watering to prevent the soil from drying out. In addition to the features described above, technological process The Dutch method of planting and growing involves creating optimal conditions for the rapid development and growth of potato bushes. To achieve this, tubers are harvested relatively early, which prevents infection by various diseases, especially late blight. All tops are removed from the field. The tubers are left in the ground for two weeks for better ripening. As a result, a strong peel is formed on them, which prevents the possibility of any mechanical damage, and also increases shelf life. Mandatory spraying of plants with various preparations against late blight. This disease can destroy an entire plantation in just four days;​

Square-cluster method of planting potatoes. To do this, divide the garden into several squares and make a hole in each of them. The nests should be located about half a meter apart.​ ​Of course, on the first pass you will not be able to pick up​​which will be worn on the shoulders and chest and will allow you to relieve your hands from excessive effort. The length of the handles can be approximately 600 mm. We make the vertical part of the fork 600-700 mm long and flatten it at the end. In this place we need to drill a hole through which the fork will be attached to the vertical stand.​

Making front and rear rods

​, you can adjust the angle by moving the plate with holes to the required distance and fix it with cotter pins (bolts).​ ​1−2 mm for making dumps;​ It is recommended to plant tubers in holes with sprouts down. This must be done in order to form better spreading, which will contribute to greater ventilation and illumination of the resulting bush. After this procedure has been completed and all the rules have been followed, use a rake to cover the top of the potatoes with soil.​

The rows should be oriented from north to south. This will give the bushes more sunlight. Although in this situation it is possible to be guided by the capabilities of your plot or garden and determine the distance by eye.​

To get a good potato harvest, when planting, you should take into account the distance between the rows, as well as the distance between the tubers. It is necessary to start planting potatoes only when the soil temperature reaches up to 8 degrees at a depth of 10 cm. Often these conditions arise in May (with a dry and warm spring, planting can be done already at the beginning of this month).​ ​Formation of trenches. This method is most justified for sandy or sandy loam soils, as well as in hot climates. At its core, this method is the opposite of combing. Here the landing deepens rather than rises.​

​The most common way of planting potatoes in our country is traditional way– manual. This is due to the fact that everything new must first be tested, and the result will not always correspond to the gardener’s expectations. And the good thing about the old proven method is that it has been tested by many years of practice: soil treatment with herbicides. If you omit this point, then it is necessary to periodically weed the emerging weeds between the ridges. To do this, you can use a traditional hoe or chopper. But weeding should be done very carefully so as not to damage root system plants and not displace the stems that have already taken root; Before planting root crops, fertilize the soil thoroughly by adding a bucket of humus to each of the dug nests

​optimal angle of inclination​​Now you need to make a mechanism for adjusting the angle of attack. As mentioned, ideally this should be a lanyard, but let's look at how to make adjustments using A pipe 900-1000 mm long and 1 inch in diameter should be bent at a distance of approximately 300-400 mm from the end at an angle of 10-15 degrees. The bending is best done using ​lanyard​​As you can see, such a seemingly ordinary process as planting potatoes can present a certain degree of complexity. Incorrectly planted tubers can significantly reduce the yield of an entire plantation. Therefore, before starting the process itself, you should first familiarize yourself with the nuances that relate to this issue.​

​If we figured out the distance between the rows in the previous paragraph, then the question of the optimal distance between the tubers remains open.​​You should know that well-sprouted tubers can be planted a little earlier - at a temperature of 5 or 6 degrees in the soil. Some gardeners claim that such planting, on the contrary, helps to obtain a higher level of yield. As a result, the planted tubers are protected from possible drying out and overheating. It is not recommended to use this method on wet soils, since stagnation of water and poor air exchange of tubers will lead to a poor harvest.​

Manufacturing of a double moldboard plow

​Manual traditional planting is carried out by three main methods:​​the formation of high-volume ridges. Their formation occurs as a result of the passage between the rows of a special unit. This is done once - at the beginning of planting. During the season you need to carry out approximately three hillings. Water the bed only with water that has been pre-heated in the sun.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​of the plow, you will not be able to select the force that needs to be applied when deepening the plow. But on the third or fourth furrow, having selected the height of the vertical stand, the angle of inclination and the efforts of both plowmen, the hiller itself will “fly”, creating furrows of the correct shape.​ ​plates with holes.​

Pruning knife

​pipe bender​

​to connect the front link and vertical post for stepless adjustment of the angle of attack or, if you couldn’t find a lanyard, a steel plate with holes for stepwise adjustment of the angle of attack; In the video, the agronomist explains how to plant potatoes correctly: when to plant, what planting pattern to choose depending on soil type; are being considered different schemes planting. Most often in the literature you can find the statement that about 6 bushes should be planted per square meter. If you take exactly this number of plants, then in the case of a row spacing of about 70 cm, it is necessary to maintain a distance between bushes of 26 cm. In practice, in order not to run around with a ruler, this distance practically corresponds to a segment one and a half times the width of an ordinary shovel. You should be guided by the diameter of the hole dug with such a shovel (approximately 25-27 cm).

Best time to plant potatoes Planting potatoes in narrow beds Garden weed removal tool

The experience of potato growers says: the Dutch technology for growing root crops is the most effective, and labor costs are minimal. And the rows are clean, even, and the harvest is excellent. And the basis of everything is properly organized planting and, of course, good equipment. I offer readers a short story about the technology itself, as well as the design of a small manual harvester - a proven assistant to the potato grower. Any novice DIYer can make it.

After the garden is cultivated, grooves for potatoes are cut over the entire area. For example, with the same manual harvester. Seed tubers are thrown into them, preferably sprouted, but you can also simply lie for 3 - 5 days in the light. Then they pass between the grooves with a combine or a hiller plow (the development was published in the magazine “Modelist-Konstruktor” No. 5’97) - and all the potatoes are sprinkled as required by agricultural technology.

When covering seed material, some people try to use very common discs instead of a combine harvester or hiller plow. However, they are soon abandoned, because during soft plowing the discs, cutting deeply into the ground, turn out huge clods.

And when processed with a combine or plow, the tubers fall into favorable conditions, as they are surrounded on all sides by well-loosened, soft soil. In terms of the speed and efficiency of germination, the seed material is much ahead of the seedlings in the control plots of the old, classical method. In addition, heavy rains “clog” potatoes planted “according to the classics”. The Dutch method successfully withstands the elements - after all, the water here is concentrated below, in the rows, and the rows themselves remain in perfect condition.

When the potatoes sprout and small weeds appear, weeding is needed.

1 - handle (pipe 21×2.5), 2 - beam (pipes 21×2.5, 27×2.5 and 45×7.5), 3 - hitch axis (pipe 32×2.5), 4 - groove former (from agricultural machinery, modified, 3 pcs.), 5 - M12 locking screw (6 pcs.), 6 - M12 nut (6 pcs.), 7 - marker (2 pcs.).

A rake or cultivator (hoe) is suitable for this, descriptions and sketches of which have been repeatedly published on the pages of “Model Designer”.

But the weeds will not calm down; after some time they will come out again. And when they reach a height of several centimeters, you can’t do without a plow or disk hiller. You need to walk them all over the field, leaving behind only even rows of potatoes. Its stems at the base will be lightly sprinkled with earth, and the garden will immediately take on a well-groomed appearance.

After some time, hilling the plantation should be repeated more thoroughly. The main thing is to prevent weeds from taking over the entire field.

Digging up a potato crop using Dutch technology is also more convenient. In addition, this operation is easy to mechanize.

Now about the combine itself. This is a three-bladed agricultural implement, which, if there is no walk-behind tractor, must be pulled by two people. But with light soil, one person is enough. The working parts of such a manual combine are replaceable and are secured with locking screws to the hitch axis. The main ones used are pointed groove formers, similar to the mentioned hiller plow. They can be taken ready-made (from decommissioned agricultural machinery) or made from a 3-mm sheet of high-strength, wear-resistant steel according to the included reamer. The depth of the groove will be about 90 mm, and the width will be sufficient for throwing seed tubers.

At the connection points, the beams are fixed with locking screws, which allows you to rotate the axis of the hitch in relation to the handle and thereby ensure optimal (agrotechnical) deepening of the groove formers. The row spacing is also easy to adjust.

On the axis of the hitch, on both sides of the beam, there are L-shaped markers with bushing-screw fixation - original beacons. The signal end of one of them, extended to the required distance, moves while cutting grooves and planting potatoes strictly along the previous groove. At the same time, the combine makes three new “beds” for tubers.

Another marker (with the first one retracted) is used when the combine is pulled in the opposite direction. This change occurs quite quickly - for this purpose, wing screws are provided on the bushings with wire beacons. Moreover, before welding, the bushings are slightly bent so that the markers made of high-strength steel rod fit into them with little friction.

You can, by retracting and without using markers at all, pull the combine so that one groove former follows the previous furrow. However, only two new grooves will be cut.

M.VALUY,

Mena,

Chernigov region

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The straight lines of potato bushes look very beautiful, showing order and creating comfort for self-hilling or using a cultivator. An unpleasant routine activity with the help of certain devices for self-landing can become a fun, unpretentious and enjoyable activity, and designing your own necessary manual equipment is a process of technical creativity.

Today there are special devices - marker, scriber, hedgehogs, plow for planting and weeding potatoes. They will greatly facilitate the work of the gardener. The work, when using these simple devices, happens much faster, and the result is the same effective and high-quality if it was done by hand.

Marker for planting potatoes

A marker is a device that is necessary to facilitate manual activities when planting, as well as to ensure that the beds are level, with evenly distributed holes for potatoes. Subsequently, such beds are not difficult to process using mechanized or manual devices.

Today you can buy ready-made markers, but it is better to make a homemade device, then the distance between adjacent plows, for organizing holes for planting, will fully correspond to the distance between the wheels of a motor cultivator or tractor.

Markers can be basic or very complex. You can make them from any material you have at hand:

  • Wooden stakes;
  • Durable board;
  • Special or round metal pipes.

It doesn’t matter what the device’s handle or frame is made of, the main thing is the distance between the components that make the holes.

Elementary marker

This is a wooden stake approximately 90 centimeters high and about 60-70 millimeters in diameter. A horizontal rod, which is fixed at a height of about 150 millimeters from the base, will serve as a support that limits the depth of the hole. Before you start working with this device, you need to mark out future holes using twine. It is stretched along the length of the rows at a distance of approximately 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80 centimeters between the beds.

The distance between the beds depends on the subsequent method of tillage, manual or mechanized. The gap between the pits in a row is about 30 centimeters, depending on the size and variety of potatoes that will be planted.

Mittlider Marker

This is a more complex version of the marker, which is made from a pipe with an external diameter of 21 millimeters. The distance between the holes will be 29 centimeters. The cone with which the holes are made is made from a pipe Ø 55-65 millimeters. It must be welded to the frame.

On the initial row, the frame is placed parallel to the twine and, applying the necessary force, is immersed in the soil. Then we place a cone in the hole that we have marked, and continue like this. In another row, holes are made as in chessboard. A marker made using this method allows you to plant potatoes on small areas , while obtaining a high yield.

Three holes at once

This model consists of metal pipes and 3 cones.


The welded frame of the marker is made from a special light and strong pipe measuring 25x25x2 millimeters. To do this, you can take a regular steel pipeØ 32 millimeters, which is used for water supply or gas pipelines. Cones are made of aluminum or acacia wood, oak.

A hole is made in the cylindrical part and an M8 thread is cut. Three such through holes Ø 9 millimeters are made in the pipe. Through these holes the cones are attached to the frame with M8 bolts. Using bolts measuring 40-80 millimeters, you can adjust the depth of the hole. The distance between the cones is 45 centimeters. To avoid injury, plugs must be placed on the open ends of the supporting pipe. The height of the bolts may vary. This will depend on the depth of the hole required. The larger the bolt, the wider the possibilities.


Wooden cones must be sanded, varnished or drying oil applied so that soil does not stick to them when working. All metal components must be treated against corrosion. The height of the frame must be adjusted to your height. The values ​​indicated in the drawing are suitable for a summer resident with a height of 175 centimeters.

Scribbler for planting potatoes

Planting potatoes using a scriber will shorten this process several times. Everything is done easily and without straining. It is not difficult to make; any man can do it and it will take no more than 2 hours.


To make it you will need two stakes Ø 10 centimeters and two boards one and a half meters long. The stakes are made from dried bars or thin spruce trunks. They need to be processed, edges sharpened and handles made. Then nail wooden crossbars to them.

It is necessary to make the required distance between the stakes. If subsequently the potatoes are processed with a mini-tractor, then the distance should be approximately 65-70 centimeters; if with a cultivator, then a distance of 60 centimeters would be rational. At manual processing, the stakes must be placed at intervals of 45-55 centimeters.

The board from below must be nailed with a margin on which you need to install a note from a narrow strip. It is done at the same distance as the stakes. With its help, the beginning of the pits is determined.

You need to make handles for yourself so that there are no problems when working later. The board from below must be installed so that, when pressing on it, a hole is formed, approximately 10-15 centimeters deep.


The idea of ​​working with a scriber is as follows: When placing it on the edge of the area, you need to hold it with your hands by the handles in front of you. Then press on the board from below, while the stakes sink into the soil, and the mark leaves a mark. Then they move it with their hands, making movements back and forth, in order to enlarge the pits. There should be two ridges of holes, and the third ridge will be a mark from which you need to follow, but in the other direction, placing a stake on the mark.

At the same time, a person follows the marker and plants the potatoes. The whole process is quick and easy. Use this technique and make your work on the site easier.

Homemade hand plow

When the time comes to plant potatoes, summer residents act according to the following scheme: they make markings for planting, dig holes with a shovel, put potatoes in them and then fill them with their hands. While the potatoes are growing, they need to be hilled, More often this is done with a hoe. This takes a lot of time and effort. Today this process can be simplified as much as possible.

The hand plow is very simple device, with which 2 people work simultaneously. It consists of:

  • 2 dump bodies for operation, with a knife for trimming;
  • Front pull, in order for one person to pull it forward;
  • Handles at the back to control a second person.

It also performs work on cutting rows for planting, helps with hilling potatoes, and also loosens the ground.


In order to make such a device you will need:

  • Hollow pipe for vertical stand Ø2.5 centimeter, about 1 meter long.
  • A piece of hollow pipe Ø3/4 inches for making traction front and rear;
  • Section of sheet rod 2 mm thick, for making dumps;
  • To connect the front rod to the vertical post a lanyard will be needed, which can be replaced with a metal plate with holes to adjust the angle of attack;
  • Blowtorch or a gas burner for heating metal on bends;
  • Welding equipment;
  • For processing joints you will need a grinder.

The long pipe must be bent at a distance of about 30 centimeters from the beginning, the angle should be 10-15°. A pipe bender will help to make bends. If it is missing, you can make a bend using the following technique:

  • Filling the pipe sand;
  • We put it on the edges of the pipe stubs;

We heat the intended bending area with a blowtorch and begin bending.

The smaller pipe, like the perpendicular stand, must be bent. To adjust the height, we make holes on the top edge and the same holes on vertical section supposed fork.

By changing the location of the bolt in the holes, you can change the height of the stand for the comfort of the summer resident.


The pull rod at the front looks the same as the one at the back, but is different in size. The height of the handle should be such that the person walking in front can easily stand between the handles, grasping them.

The height of the vertical part should be 60 centimeters, it must be made flat at the ends and holes must be drilled to connect to the vertical section.

At a distance of 30 centimeters from below, an angle for front traction is attached to the vertical post. Then, at a distance of 25 centimeters from this hole, the same corner measuring 25x25 is welded to the fork. A hole is also made in it, and it is welded to the stand above the first corner.

2 moldboard plow

You will need 2 identical plates 2 millimeters thick. We round the bends on them. Using welding, with even seams, we attach the 2 halves of the plow to the perpendicular stand. We sand them with a grinder so that they are sharp.

Pruning knife


We take the strongest carbon steel. We cut the knife in the shape of an arrowhead and sharpen it at an angle of 45°. This angle will keep the knife sharp for a long time. Using welding, we attach it to the vertical post from below and sand it.

The manual plow is ready for work on the site!

Hedgehog cultivator for weeding

They remove grass with roots, unlike flat cutters, which only cut the stems. Hedgehogs rake the soil between the rows, which creates distinct rows and beautiful beds. Loose soil allows oxygen and liquid to pass through well, which increases the growth of potato roots, and this is a guarantee of an excellent harvest.


Weeding with a walk-behind tractor is done using certain paws or a rotating cutter. The cutter is rotated by the power take-off shaft. The advantage of the paws is ease of installation and thoroughness in loosening the soil. They loosen the soil at a depth of 4-7 centimeters, depending on its condition.

To operate, the presser feet need to be secured in certain fasteners at a distance equal to the width of the row. The fastener should have a slight overlap that will cover both legs. Devices can be either single-sided or double-sided. If the device is one-sided, then the legs must be attached so that the blades are located towards the row spacing.

The paws, which have one-sided blades, can be installed in another way, which makes it possible to process the bed on both sides simultaneously.

There is another device for manual weeding called a weeder. This is a frame, with a knife and a drum. Its wheels are placed between the rows, the knife chops the grass, and the spinning drum catches it and throws it back.

There are manual and electric cultivators with a gasoline engine. For weeding, devices with 2 knives are used, which are attached at an angle of 45°. It is best to carry out weeding with a cultivator, which has three-pronged mini forks installed instead of knives.

For comfort, these devices are installed on wheels: the summer resident pushes him, pressing him as close to the garden bed as possible.


Using a device with a hedgehog attachment, they immediately weed and hill up the potatoes. The hedgehog consists of 2 cones mounted on a frame. The cone is made of 3 steel wheels of different diameters. Pointed spikes are welded onto the wheels. 2 hedgehogs are attached to the frame, spinning, they hook the grass in parallel and rake the soil from row to row.


Electric cultivators are more dynamic and are used for small gardens. Their main drawback is the need to pull the cable from the outlet, which is not always comfortable. It is more rational to use cultivators with a gasoline engine. But such cultivators are less dynamic than manual ones, but the most productive. All types of cultivators are equipped with hedgehog attachments. The strength of the engine is selected depending on the condition of the earth; the heavier it is, the stronger the device.

Weeding attachments using a trimmer

For weeding, use a trimmer with an electric motor located on top. Between the rows they are often weeded with a trimmer head and fishing line.

It happens that a knife with 3 blades is used to remove grass. Steel knives are mounted on a trimmer with a level stand. If the stand is crooked, then plastic attachments are attached. If the knife hits any obstacle, the device will be thrown back or broken.

You can buy it at the market or in a store trimmer attachments with earth cutters, which have the shape of disks with curved blades, and are mounted on a single axis. More often there are 4 cutters in one attachment.


The size, diameter and number of cutters depend on the power of the brush cutter engine. The instructions for use for the attachment indicate which lawn mowers it is suitable for.

You cannot make the attachment yourself, because... it is difficult to choose the width and diameter so that it does not break the device. You cannot weed with a trimmer on difficult, clayey soils.

Before using the trimmer, professional summer residents treat all rubbing elements with silicone lubricant.

Rules for processing potatoes using a trimmer:

  1. Before processing you need protect your eyes and s, since during weeding the cutters rotate at high speed, raising dust and dirt into the air.
  2. You need to treat the area for weeds when the grass is still small. Treatment should be done once every two weeks.
  3. It's better to weed in the morning, then during the day the grass will dry out and turn into straw.
  4. No need to immerse cutters to a depth of more than one and a half centimeters. With this technique, the land is cultivated, and the soil receives oxygen and nitrogen, which has a great effect on potatoes.
  5. You can’t immerse cutters also because it may damage the device.
  6. If the engine on the device is not very powerful, then you need to take a break every quarter of an hour.
  7. At the end of the summer season nozzles must be treated with a disinfectant, to remove all germs.

A broken cutter can be replaced with a cutter made by yourself. To do this, you need to carve a circle from a steel sheet and bend the cavities. The diameter cannot be larger than that of the cutters used. It is prohibited to put additional cutters on the trimmer axis.

How to make hedgehogs with your own hands, drawings

If a summer resident likes to work with tools and save a lot of money, then you can make hedgehogs for weeding with your own hands or order them from a metal working organization. First of all, you need to understand how the hedgehogs will work, draw a few drawings. They can be used both on a cultivator and for manual work..

Hedgehogs for manual work can consist of a loosening device, a frame and a holder. The ripper is a hollow pipe with steel teeth welded to it. It is secured to a spacer frame and a wooden handle is attached. Using it you need to roll the soil back and forth, which requires certain physical strength.

There are many versions of hedgehogs for walk-behind tractors and cultivators. Many developers have made their own individual devices. The traditional version of the hedgehog is made using steel discs. You will need 3 disks of different diameters:

  • 100, 200, 300 mm;
  • 240, 180, 100 mm.

The device is assembled on a pipe Ø25 millimeters. Using jumpers, steel disks are fastened together, starting with the largest and ending with the smallest. There are developers who use 5- and 6-sided disks instead of disks. The distance between them should be 18 centimeters, and the maximum disc Ø 36 centimeters. For the teeth, a steel rod is used, cut into 40 pieces.


Approximately for the design you will need 5 pieces of spikes for a small disk, 10 pieces for a medium one, 15 pieces for a maximum one. It happens that welding of auxiliary studs onto the axle is required. The length of one spike is 14 centimeters.

Today there are several varieties of hedgehogs:

  • Rotary. The main task of such hedgehogs is weeding and hilling. They will suit any device.
  • Conical. Required to remove grass before germination.

To sum up the results, it can be noted that the use of devices for planting, harrowing, weeding and hilling potatoes in a summer cottage will make this process easy and not labor intensive. By using a variety of samples, we can say with confidence that the harvest will be plentiful and will delight the gardener.

The post Making devices for planting and weeding potatoes with your own hands first appeared About the farm.

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Planting and caring for potatoes is a difficult and tedious process. Typically, the areas allocated for potatoes are quite large, so planting, hilling and harvesting potatoes requires a lot of time and effort. And, of course, this process needs to be automated. There are many devices that make the life of a gardener easier. These include both mechanized devices and manual equipment. There are plenty to choose from, given the area of ​​the plot and financial capabilities.

Cultivators for planting potatoes

Devices for cultivating land are called cultivators. The cultivator can loosen the soil, plow the ground, remove weeds, apply fertilizers, plant, and hill up.

Motorized equipment used on personal plots and farms is divided into three types: motorized cultivators and mini-tractors. They differ in power and scope of functions.

Motor cultivators are divided into classes depending on weight. Mechanisms up to 30 kg belong to the first class and are designed to work on non-volatile equipment. large areas. Motor cultivators up to 60 kg belong to the second class and work over large areas. Units up to 100 kg belong to the third class. For work on personal plots, second-class cultivators are purchased, and attachments are purchased separately.

Table: comparison of motor vehicles

Photo gallery: types of cultivators

A motor cultivator is lighter and more maneuverable than a walk-behind tractor and is used in small areas The walk-behind tractor has drive wheels, the most popular equipment among summer residents. The mini-tractor can work on large areas, is easy to use, and is the farmer’s main assistant.

For all types of cultivators there is a set of attachments for performing various tasks.

Hillers are used to hill up potatoes and create a furrow during planting. A potato digger makes harvesting potatoes easier. Mounted mowers are used to mow the grass. A potato planter will help when planting potatoes. Pumps are used for watering land plots. Large areas of land are plowed with a plow.

Hedgehogs for planting, equipment features

The hedgehog device consists of two parts, each of which is a set of disks fastened together at a certain distance different sizes with spikes. These two disc structures are connected to each other in such a way that they form an angle. The presence of an angle allows you to form an earthen ridge when moving the cultivator.

When processing beds, structures are used either from one hedgehog or from several, fastened together by a frame.

Photo gallery: varieties of hedgehogs for weeding potatoes

The main function of hedgehogs is weeding, loosening, and hilling potato plantings. Two weeks after planting, when there are no potato shoots yet, it is recommended to carry out pre-emergence treatment of the field with hedgehogs. The hedgehog removes weeds with roots and loosens the soil. After such treatment, the growth of the root system is enhanced.

Hillers for planting

Hiller is a device for a cultivator designed for planting and hilling potatoes. This device can be single-row, double-row, three-row, or have more than three rows. The greater the number of rows, the higher the productivity of the cultivator. Technique for using hillers with big amount the rows should be more powerful.

Photo gallery: varieties of hillers

Single-row hiller for motor-cultivator Double-row hiller for walk-behind tractor Three-row hiller for mini-tractor

Models of hillers come with a fixed or variable working width. With a fixed working width, potatoes are planted with a width between rows of at least 70 cm for ease of hilling. If the hiller adjusts the working width, then the row spacing can be any width.
The technology for using a two-row hiller when planting potatoes involves using a marker for marking. The hiller is installed at the marking and the furrows begin to be cut. After turning, one hiller can be lowered into the cut furrow, or you can continue cutting furrows along the marked lines. After cutting the furrows, planting of potatoes begins. The tubers are placed in furrows at a distance of 35–40 centimeters, then the furrows are filled with earth.

Mini planters

The mounted potato planter consists of several blocks:

  • a small plow for cutting furrows;
  • potato compartment;
  • special hillers for filling potatoes with soil.

Just like hedgehogs and hillers, potato planters can be uniform and multi-row. The use of one or another modification depends on the power of the equipment and the composition of the soil.

Photo gallery: varieties of potato planters

Single-row potato planter for a motor-cultivator or walk-behind tractor Double-row potato planter for a walk-behind tractor A four-row potato planter is capable of planting potatoes on an area of ​​2 hectares in one hour of operation

To perform landing, you need to replace the rubber wheels with lug wheels. When a potato planter passes through a plot, all operations are performed simultaneously: grooves are made, tubers are laid, tubers are covered with soil. Simultaneously with planting potatoes, you can apply fertilizer if you use an additional device.

Planting with a mini tractor

The mini-tractor is used in areas with any terrain.
Of course, such a technique is not suitable for a small area; there is nowhere to turn around. Such a mechanism must be purchased if the area of ​​the plot is more than 50 acres. Mini-tractors are divided into light (power up to 14 hp), medium and heavy (up to 35–45 hp). Using a mini-tractor you can perform the following work:

  • plow;
  • plant;
  • cultivate;
  • apply fertilizers;
  • mow the grass;
  • clear the area of ​​debris;
  • remove snow;
  • fill up holes and trenches.

For planting using a mini tractor, it is preferable to use a potato planter. The hiller is not suitable in this case, because the width of the furrows differs from the tractor track width, and during subsequent hilling the tracks will not match. Experienced farmers use an unusual technique. For the first pass, only two hiller bodies are used, placing them at a distance of 30 cm from the middle of the wheels. Lay out the potatoes. Then they add a third hiller, walk along the first track and bury the potatoes.

Devices for planting potatoes manually

Among hand tools You can highlight a manual plow, markers and a manual cultivator.

Very convenient device- plow “Vyatka plowman”. Planting potatoes is done in this way. Furrow No. 1 is dug and tubers are laid out in it. They begin to dig a second furrow, while burying the first. Furrow No. 2 is used for laying fertilizers. When digging the third furrow, the second one is filled with earth. Tubers are again placed in furrow No. 3. And the whole procedure is repeated. The row spacing for this planting is 60 cm.

The instrument is height adjustable.

Another device for planting potatoes is a marker. A very useful and convenient thing. The material from which the marker is made is high-quality steel. The width between the cones can vary from 10 to 50 cm.

Hand cultivators are available for sale. Using the manual cultivator "Digger (6 in 1)" you can perform several types of work:

  • planting and hilling root crops;
  • loosen, weed and trim weeds;
  • sow seeds of almost all agricultural crops;
  • loosen the crusts on the surface of the ridge before planting.

Homemade equipment for planting and hilling potatoes, diagrams

The range of homemade equipment for processing potatoes is huge. And although there are many devices on sale that can be used to plant and hill up potatoes, craftsmen are constantly creating new devices to make the work easier and faster during the sowing season.

The simplest device is a marker. Its purpose is to mark the ridges in such a way as to make the plantings even and suitable for subsequent processing with motor cultivators. For homemade markers, the distance between the cones coincides with the track dimensions of the existing equipment that will subsequently be used to process the plantings. Homemade markers can be simple or complex, made of wood or metal. The main thing here is how far apart the cones that punch the holes are located.

DIY markers for planting potatoes

Markers differ from each other in the number of cones for punching holes.

Single hole marker

The simplest marker is a wooden stake about 90 cm high and 60–70 mm in diameter. A crossbar is fixed perpendicularly at a distance of 15 cm from the tip. This is a stop to limit the depth of the hole. The locations of the holes are marked using cords.

Three hole marker

The three-hole marker consists of a frame and three cones. The distance between the cones is 450 mm. The cones are attached to the bottom bar of the frame with bolts that allow you to adjust the depth of the pits. Materials used:

  • profile pipe 25x25x2 mm;
  • aluminum or dense wood for cones;
  • M8 bolts 40–80 mm long.

Marker with adjustable distance between holes

The distance between the holes depends on how the marker pins are extended.

To make a marker with an adjustable distance between holes, you will need the following materials:

  • water and gas pipe with a diameter of 60 mm, a wall thickness of 3 mm, a length of 565 mm for the load-bearing beam;
  • steel sheet 1.5 mm thick for conical elements;
  • pipe 60x3 mm, 100 mm long for a cylindrical body;
  • pipe 21x2.5 mm, 250 mm long for marker;
  • pipe 21x2.5 mm, 330 mm long for a retractable bracket for a marker;
  • pipe 27x3 mm, 65 mm long for the guide sleeve;
  • bolt M8x40 (fixing) – 3 pcs.;
  • nut M8 (welded) 3 pcs.;
  • pipe 27x3 mm, 120 mm long for the stand bushing;
  • pipe 21x2.5 mm, 1500 mm long for a two-piece welded stand;
  • bolt M10x20 (clamping) – 1 pc.;
  • pipe 54x2.5 mm, length - 560 mm for a retractable bracket;
  • plug - 2 pcs.

The procedure for making a marker.

  1. Make elements for punching holes. Weld together the cylinders and conical tips (2 and 3).
  2. Weld a bushing for the stand (10), a nut (8), two guide bushings for the brackets (6) and two elements for punching holes to the supporting beam.
  3. Weld two markers to the brackets (5).
  4. Weld the third marker to the retractable bracket (12), fix it at a distance of 50 cm from the outer cone.
  5. Screw the bolts into the nuts (8).
  6. Insert the stand (9) into the bushing (10) and secure it with the clamping bolt (11).
  7. Weld the plugs to the handles (13).

Photo gallery: types of markers for planting potatoes

DIY shovel-harvester

Another device is a shovel-harvester. It's designed this way. Two triangle-shaped shovels are attached to the handles. When closed, the shovels resemble a beak. The shovel goes deeper into the ground by pressing the “beak”, the handles are brought together, the shovels open underground, and a tuber is thrown into the resulting hole. Then the shovel is removed from the ground without covering it. The tuber remains in the garden.

Photo gallery: shovel-harvester

Drawing of a shovel-harvester A shovel-harvester is a simple device for planting potatoes

Do-it-yourself potato planter for walk-behind tractor

People's engineers even make accessories for motor cultivators with their own hands. Many authors who published descriptions of their homemade potato planters used drawings of factory-made units. The principle of operation of the mechanism is that when a mini-tractor or walk-behind tractor moves, the wheels of the unit spin, and the axle with the drive sprocket rotates. Above the leading star is a small star. The stars are connected by a chain. Cups are welded onto the chain for removing potatoes from the hopper.

Factory potato planter (assembly drawing): 1 - counterweight; 2 - unit; 3 - bracket; 4 - tensioner; 5 - conveyor; 6 - hopper; 7, 9, 16, 23, 24 - bolt; 8 - stand; 10 - sector;11 - disk;12 - ridge height;13 - planting pitch;14 - furrower;15 - planting depth;17 - hitch;18 - track width;19 - bracket;20 - drive drum shaft;21 - conveyor; 22 - angle of attack

The frame for a homemade potato planter is assembled from channels. A hopper made of plywood or metal is installed on the frame; the hopper is equipped with a feed elevator. The elevator is assembled from special cups. The cups are attached to the chain at a distance of 270 mm and move with the chain.

Photo gallery: device for feeding elevator in potato planter

Drawing of fixing the cups on the chain The cup is a circle made of 10 mm wire with a diameter of 50–60 mm, two arcs are welded crosswise at the bottom

Materials for making a potato planter:

  • metal corner;
  • tank from a Soviet washing machine;
  • gear;
  • chain;
  • fittings;
  • steel wire;
  • channel;
  • wheels.

What tools will you need:

  • welding machine;
  • Bulgarian;
  • drill;
  • hammer;
  • a set of keys;
  • screwdriver;
  • wire cutters

Work order:

  1. Cut the corners and channel to size.
  2. Weld the structure.
  3. Attach the axle with gear to the frame.
  4. Make scoop cups.
  5. Secure the cups to the chain.
  6. Weld vertical rods to the frame.
  7. Place the wheels on the axle and tighten the chain.
  8. Potato planter is ready for work

    Do-it-yourself hedgehogs for weeding potatoes

    Some farmers make their own hedgehogs for hilling potatoes. According to the operating principle homemade hedgehogs no different from factory ones. To make hedgehogs you will need materials:

  • steel sheet 4 mm;
  • steel strip 20 mm wide and 4 mm thick;
  • a metal rod 8 mm thick in diameter and 100 to 140 mm long;
  • inch pipe;
  • metal rod with a diameter of 20 mm;
  • steel strip 70 mm wide and 4 mm thick, 200 mm long.

To make hedgehogs you will need the following tools:

  • welding machine;
  • gas cutter for metal;
  • angle grinder (grinder);
  • set of locksmith tools.

Procedure for making hedgehogs.

  1. Cut two rings from a sheet of metal using a cutting torch. The outer diameter of the rings is 300 mm, the inner diameter is 200 mm.
  2. In a circle with a diameter of 200 mm, which remains from a large ring, cut holes with a diameter of 100 mm.
  3. Cut out a third pair of disks with a diameter of 100 mm, in which holes for the pipe are cut in the center. The hole should be 1 cm larger than the diameter of the pipe.
  4. Cut 24 strips of at least 90 mm length from the steel strip.
  5. Of these, 16 will be needed to connect two pairs of large and medium disks, 8 (4 for each cone) - for medium and small ones.
  6. Connect large and medium rings with jumpers (8 pieces for each cone), this should be done according to the marks made in advance. First, draw two diameters perpendicular to each other, then, turning the ruler 45º, draw two more lines at right angles. On small drives, 4 jumpers are enough.
  7. Cut 80–90 pins 120 mm long from a rod with a diameter of at least 8 mm. Sharpen the pins on both sides at an angle of 45º. Remove sharp, uneven edges and burrs with a grinder.
  8. Weld 15 spikes onto large rings, 10 spikes onto medium rings, and 5 spikes onto small rings.
  9. Bend the bracket on which the axle will be attached. Weld the bracket or make 2 holes in it for bolted connections.
  10. Assemble the device: the large rings will be on the inside, and the small disks on the outside. The distance between the large ring and the small disk should not exceed 170 mm. Insert the ends of the axles into the holes of the brackets. The axles can be secured in the holes using nuts (if the axle is threaded) or by welding.
  11. Clean out all uneven surfaces and paint the structure.

There are many devices for planting and hilling potatoes. The choice depends on the area of ​​the treated area. Many devices can be made independently. Each vegetable grower chooses the best option for him.

" Potato

The straight lines of potato bushes look very beautiful, showing order and creating comfort for self-hilling or using a cultivator. An unpleasant routine activity with the help of certain devices for self-planting can become a fun, unpretentious and enjoyable activity, and designing your own necessary manual equipment is a process of technical creativity.

Today there are special devices - marker, scriber, hedgehogs, plow for planting and weeding potatoes. They will greatly facilitate the work of the gardener. The work, when using these simple devices, happens much faster, and the result is the same effective and high-quality if it was done by hand.

A marker is a device that is necessary to facilitate manual activities when planting, as well as to ensure that the beds are level, with evenly distributed holes for potatoes. Subsequently, such beds are not difficult to process using mechanized or manual devices.

Today you can buy ready-made markers, but it is better to make a homemade device, then the distance between adjacent plows, for organizing holes for planting, will fully correspond to the distance between the wheels of a motor cultivator or tractor.

Markers can be basic or very complex. You can make them from any material you have at hand:

  • Wooden stakes;
  • Durable board;
  • Special or round metal pipes.

It doesn’t matter what the device’s handle or frame is made of, the main thing is the distance between the components that make the holes.

Elementary marker

This is a wooden stake approximately 90 centimeters high and about 60-70 millimeters in diameter. A horizontal rod, which is fixed at a height of about 150 millimeters from the base, will serve as a support that limits the depth of the hole. Before you start working with this device, you need to mark out future holes using twine. It is stretched along the length of the rows at a distance of approximately 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80 centimeters between the beds.

The distance between the beds depends on the subsequent method of tillage, manual or mechanized. The gap between the pits in a row is about 30 centimeters, depending on the size and variety of potatoes that will be planted.

Mittlider Marker

This is a more complex version of the marker, which is made from a pipe with an external diameter of 21 millimeters. The distance between the holes will be 29 centimeters. The cone with which the holes are made is made from a pipe Ø 55-65 millimeters. It must be welded to the frame.

On the initial row, the frame is placed parallel to the twine and, applying the necessary force, is immersed in the soil. Then we place a cone in the hole that we have marked, and continue like this. In another row, holes are made like on a chessboard. A marker made using this method allows you to plant potatoes in small areas, while obtaining a high yield.

Three holes at once

This model consists of metal pipes and 3 cones.


The welded frame of the marker is made from a special light and strong pipe measuring 25x25x2 millimeters. To do this, you can take an ordinary steel pipe Ø 32 millimeters, which is used for water supply or gas pipelines. Cones are made of aluminum or acacia wood, oak.

A hole is made in the cylindrical part and an M8 thread is cut. Three such through holes Ø 9 millimeters are made in the pipe. Through these holes the cones are attached to the frame with M8 bolts. Using bolts measuring 40-80 millimeters, you can adjust the depth of the hole. The distance between the cones is 45 centimeters. To avoid injury, plugs must be placed on the open ends of the supporting pipe. The height of the bolts may vary. This will depend on the depth of the hole required. The larger the bolt, the wider the possibilities.


Wooden cones must be sanded, varnished or drying oil applied so that soil does not stick to them when working. All metal components must be treated against corrosion. The height of the frame must be adjusted to your height. The values ​​indicated in the drawing are suitable for a summer resident with a height of 175 centimeters.

Scribbler for planting potatoes

Planting potatoes using a scriber will shorten this process several times. Everything is done easily and without straining. It is not difficult to make; any man can do it and it will take no more than 2 hours.


To make it you will need two stakes Ø 10 centimeters and two boards one and a half meters long. The stakes are made from dried bars or thin spruce trunks. They need to be processed, edges sharpened and handles made. Then nail wooden crossbars to them.

It is necessary to make the required distance between the stakes. If subsequently the potatoes are processed with a mini-tractor, then the distance should be approximately 65-70 centimeters; if with a cultivator, then a distance of 60 centimeters would be rational. When processing manually, the stakes must be placed at intervals of 45-55 centimeters.

The board from below must be nailed with a margin on which you need to install a note from a narrow strip. It is done at the same distance as the stakes. With its help, the beginning of the pits is determined.

You need to make handles for yourself so that there are no problems when working later. The board from below must be installed so that, when pressing on it, a hole is formed, approximately 10-15 centimeters deep.


The idea of ​​working with a scriber is as follows: When placing it on the edge of the area, you need to hold it with your hands by the handles in front of you. Then press on the board from below, while the stakes sink into the soil, and the mark leaves a mark. Then they move it with their hands, making movements back and forth, in order to enlarge the pits. There should be two ridges of holes, and the third ridge will be a mark from which you need to follow, but in the other direction, placing a stake on the mark.

At the same time, a person follows the marker and plants the potatoes. The whole process is quick and easy. Use this technique and make your work on the site easier.

Homemade hand plow

When the time comes to plant potatoes, summer residents act according to the following scheme: they make markings for planting, dig holes with a shovel, put potatoes in them and then fill them with their hands. While the potatoes are growing, they need to be hilled, More often this is done with a hoe. This takes a lot of time and effort. Today this process can be simplified as much as possible.

A hand plow is a very simple device that can be operated by 2 people at the same time. It consists of:

  • 2 dump bodies for operation, with a knife for trimming;
  • Front pull, in order for one person to pull it forward;
  • Handles at the back to control a second person.

It also performs work on cutting rows for planting, helps with hilling potatoes, and also loosens the ground.


In order to make such a device you will need:

  • Hollow pipe for vertical stand Ø2.5 centimeter, about 1 meter long.
  • A piece of hollow pipe Ø3/4 inches for making traction front and rear;
  • Section of sheet rod 2 mm thick, for making dumps;
  • To connect the front rod to the vertical post a lanyard will be needed, which can be replaced with a metal plate with holes to adjust the angle of attack;
  • Blowtorch or a gas burner for heating metal on bends;
  • Welding equipment;
  • For processing joints you will need a grinder.

The long pipe must be bent at a distance of about 30 centimeters from the beginning, the angle should be 10-15°. A pipe bender will help to make bends. If it is missing, you can make a bend using the following technique:

  • Filling the pipe sand;
  • We put it on the edges of the pipe stubs;

We heat the intended bending area with a blowtorch and begin bending.

The smaller pipe, like the perpendicular stand, must be bent. To adjust the height, we make holes on the top edge and the same holes on the vertical section of the proposed fork.

By changing the location of the bolt in the holes, you can change the height of the stand for the comfort of the summer resident.


The pull rod at the front looks the same as the one at the back, but is different in size. The height of the handle should be such that the person walking in front can easily stand between the handles, grasping them.

The height of the vertical part should be 60 centimeters, it must be made flat at the ends and holes must be drilled to connect to the vertical section.

At a distance of 30 centimeters from below, an angle for front traction is attached to the vertical post. Then, at a distance of 25 centimeters from this hole, the same corner measuring 25x25 is welded to the fork. A hole is also made in it, and it is welded to the stand above the first corner.

2 moldboard plow

You will need 2 identical plates 2 millimeters thick. We round the bends on them. Using welding, with even seams, we attach the 2 halves of the plow to the perpendicular stand. We sand them with a grinder so that they are sharp.

Pruning knife


We take the strongest carbon steel. We cut the knife in the shape of an arrowhead and sharpen it at an angle of 45°. This angle will keep the knife sharp for a long time. Using welding, we attach it to the vertical post from below and sand it.

The manual plow is ready for work on the site!

Hedgehog cultivator for weeding

They remove grass with roots, unlike flat cutters, which only cut the stems. Hedgehogs rake the soil between the rows, which creates distinct rows and beautiful beds. Loose soil allows oxygen and liquid to pass through well, which increases the growth of potato roots, and this is a guarantee of an excellent harvest.


Weeding with a walk-behind tractor is done using certain paws or a rotating cutter. The cutter is rotated by the power take-off shaft. The advantage of the paws is ease of installation and thoroughness in loosening the soil. They loosen the soil at a depth of 4-7 centimeters, depending on its condition.

To operate, the presser feet need to be secured in certain fasteners at a distance equal to the width of the row. The fastener should have a slight overlap that will cover both legs. Devices can be either single-sided or double-sided. If the device is one-sided, then the legs must be attached so that the blades are located towards the row spacing.

The paws, which have one-sided blades, can be installed in another way, which makes it possible to process the bed on both sides simultaneously.

There is another device for manual weeding called a weeder. This is a frame, with a knife and a drum. Its wheels are placed between the rows, the knife chops the grass, and the spinning drum catches it and throws it back.

There are manual and electric cultivators with a gasoline engine. For weeding, devices with 2 knives are used, which are attached at an angle of 45°. It is best to carry out weeding with a cultivator, which has three-pronged mini forks installed instead of knives.

For comfort, these devices are installed on wheels: the summer resident pushes him, pressing him as close to the garden bed as possible.


Using a device with a hedgehog attachment, they immediately weed and hill up the potatoes. The hedgehog consists of 2 cones mounted on a frame. The cone is made of 3 steel wheels of different diameters. Pointed spikes are welded onto the wheels. 2 hedgehogs are attached to the frame, spinning, they hook the grass in parallel and rake the soil from row to row.


Electric cultivators are more dynamic and are used for small gardens. Their main drawback is the need to pull the cable from the outlet, which is not always comfortable. It is more rational to use cultivators with a gasoline engine. But such cultivators are less dynamic than manual ones, but the most productive. All types of cultivators are equipped with hedgehog attachments. The strength of the engine is selected depending on the condition of the earth; the heavier it is, the stronger the device.

Weeding attachments using a trimmer

For weeding, use a trimmer with an electric motor located on top. Between the rows they are often weeded with a trimmer head and fishing line.

It happens that a knife with 3 blades is used to remove grass. Steel knives are mounted on a trimmer with a level stand. If the stand is crooked, then plastic attachments are attached. If the knife hits any obstacle, the device will be thrown back or broken.

You can buy it at the market or in a store trimmer attachments with earth cutters, which have the shape of disks with curved blades, and are mounted on a single axis. More often there are 4 cutters in one attachment.


The size, diameter and number of cutters depend on the power of the brush cutter engine. The instructions for use for the attachment indicate which lawn mowers it is suitable for.

You cannot make the attachment yourself, because... it is difficult to choose the width and diameter so that it does not break the device. You cannot weed with a trimmer on difficult, clayey soils.

Before using the trimmer, professional summer residents treat all rubbing elements with silicone lubricant.

Rules for processing potatoes using a trimmer:

  1. Before processing you need protect your eyes and s, since during weeding the cutters rotate at high speed, raising dust and dirt into the air.
  2. You need to treat the area for weeds when the grass is still small. Treatment should be done once every two weeks.
  3. It's better to weed in the morning, then during the day the grass will dry out and turn into straw.
  4. No need to immerse cutters to a depth of more than one and a half centimeters. With this technique, the land is cultivated, and the soil receives oxygen and nitrogen, which has a great effect on potatoes.
  5. You can’t immerse cutters also because it may damage the device.
  6. If the engine on the device is not very powerful, then you need to take a break every quarter of an hour.
  7. At the end of the summer season nozzles must be treated with a disinfectant, to remove all germs.

A broken cutter can be replaced with a cutter made by yourself. To do this, you need to carve a circle from a steel sheet and bend the cavities. The diameter cannot be larger than that of the cutters used. It is prohibited to put additional cutters on the trimmer axis.

How to make hedgehogs with your own hands, drawings

If a summer resident likes to work with tools and save a lot of money, then you can make hedgehogs for weeding with your own hands or order them from a metal working organization. First of all, you need to understand how the hedgehogs will work, draw a few drawings. They can be used both on a cultivator and for manual work..

Hedgehogs for manual work can consist of a loosening device, a frame and a holder. The ripper is a hollow pipe with steel teeth welded to it. It is secured to a spacer frame and a wooden handle is attached. Using it you need to roll the soil back and forth, which requires certain physical strength.

There are many versions of hedgehogs for walk-behind tractors and cultivators. Many developers made their own individual devices. The traditional version of the hedgehog is made using steel discs. You will need 3 disks of different diameters:

  • 100, 200, 300 mm;
  • 240, 180, 100 mm.

The device is assembled on a pipe Ø25 millimeters. Using jumpers, steel disks are fastened together, starting with the largest and ending with the smallest. There are developers who use 5- and 6-sided disks instead of disks. The distance between them should be 18 centimeters, and the maximum disc Ø 36 centimeters. For the teeth, a steel rod is used, cut into 40 pieces.


Approximately for the design you will need 5 pieces of spikes for a small disk, 10 pieces for a medium one, 15 pieces for a maximum one. It happens that welding of auxiliary studs onto the axle is required. The length of one spike is 14 centimeters.

Today there are several varieties of hedgehogs:

  • Rotary. The main task of such hedgehogs is weeding and hilling. They will suit any device.
  • Conical. Required to remove grass before germination.

To sum up the results, it can be noted that the use of devices for planting, harrowing, weeding and hilling potatoes in a summer cottage will make this process easy and not labor intensive. By using a variety of samples, we can say with confidence that the harvest will be plentiful and will delight the gardener.