Device for planting potatoes. A simple DIY device for planting potatoes

My dad, who lived in the village all his life, was a real Kulibin. From an old meat grinder he made a device for cleaning corn cobs from grains, from a saw - a device for processing sorghum, and he also had an electric dryer, made according to his own design. But I still use another of his inventions - a “sword” device for planting potatoes. Or rather, with its help, holes are made where the sprouted tubers are dropped.

This “weapon” consists of a column (round in cross-section, 8-10 cm in diameter), sharpened at one end. Its length is selected according to the worker’s height - the column should be approximately chest-high. There are two crossbars on the post (see diagram): one of them is installed from the tip at a distance, equal to length the bayonet of the shovel (they press it with their feet to plunge the “sword” into the ground), and the second one is at the end (they hold it with their hands).

After I prepare the tool, I get to work on the potato plot. I dig up the ground and level it with a rake. Then I pull the cord and use a “sword” to make holes at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. I leave about the same amount between rows. I put potatoes with good strong sprouts in the holes and then rake them.

Would you say that we can do without the “sword”? But don't talk. There are several very important points. For example: since the depth of all holes is the same (this is another purpose of the lower crossbar on the “sword”), then the entire planting material sealed at the same level. And therefore the shoots appear together.

In addition, this method makes the work much easier. In one day, our family of three, without overworking, plants 25-30 buckets of potatoes. And our neighbors (there are also three of them), until they began to act like us, spent 3-4 days on this matter, and then from fatigue
there were still as many lying in a layer!

True, when my mother-in-law saw me for the first time in the garden with a “sword,” she cried out loud: “Oh, they ruined all the potatoes! Let's go around the world! But when friendly shoots appeared, she rejoiced most of all.

By the way, there is one more advantage to this method: it is very easy to carry out the first weeding, because there are no large empty spaces in the beds, and, therefore, there is no risk of cutting down the potato sprouts that have not yet emerged. Now all the neighbors are armed with “swords” and constantly remember my daddy with great warmth, although it’s been 10 years since he’s been with us. And those brats for whom he repaired bicycles for free are now growing into idiots of their own...

Svetlana Alekseevna

Our thought.
You look at such a device and think: it seems like nonsense, nothing complicated, but the benefits are enormous. Most importantly, both energy and time are saved. And why couldn’t anyone think of this before? The most interesting thing is that many summer residents-inventors are embarrassed to boast about their “units”, they say, the neighbors will laugh.

Before you find out what The best way planting potatoes, you need to familiarize yourself with general rules and recommendations. So, when planting root crops, you should take into account the climate zone and soil type. The main recommendation here is the following: the heavier the soil and the colder the climate, the shallower the potato planting depth should be. For example, when working with chernozem, the depth should be about 15 cm, on loams - about 8-10 cm.

Potatoes have high requirements to lighting, and therefore the beds should be located in the north-south direction.
You should not add fresh manure to the soil - root crops respond best to mineral supplements.

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

Methods of planting potatoes - what to choose?

Exist various methods planting potatoes, each of which has its own characteristics. Before choosing, check out the most well-known methods.

Using 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. On the dug up bed we lay a black film or dark non-woven material. 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 transmit Sun rays, 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.
Using 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.
Use of barrels. This method landing is suitable for those who are limited in 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 ash.
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 from each other. Before planting root crops, fertilize the soil thoroughly by adding a bucket of humus to each of the dug nests.. During the season you need to carry out approximately three hillings. Water the garden bed only with water that has been previously heated in the sun.

As you can see, there are different ways planting potatoes - choose the appropriate one, focusing on your strength and time that you can spend on planting. So that planting potatoes and caring for them becomes a pleasant job for you, and not a boring necessity.

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, are divided into three types: motor cultivators, 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 operate on small 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 over large areas, is easy to use, chief assistant farmer

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. They plow with a plow large plots land.

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 three rows. The greater the number of rows, the higher the productivity of the cultivator. The technique for using hillers with a large number of rows must 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. 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. By using hand cultivator“Digger (6 in 1)” 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

Range 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 from each other.

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.

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

Frame for homemade potato planter 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: feed elevator device in a potato planter

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:

Cut the corners and channel to size.
Weld the structure.
Attach the axle with gear to the frame.
Make scoop cups.
Secure the cups to the chain.
Weld vertical rods to the frame.
Place the wheels on the axle and tighten the chain.
Install a potato bin.

Photo gallery: stages of making a potato planter

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;
corner Sander(Bulgarian);
set of locksmith tools.

Procedure for making hedgehogs.

Cut two rings from a sheet of metal using a cutting torch. Outside diameter rings 300 mm, inner - 200 mm.
In a circle with a diameter of 200 mm, which remained from big ring, cut holes with a diameter of 100 mm.
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.
Cut 24 strips of at least 90 mm length from the steel strip.
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.
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.
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.
Weld 15 spikes onto large rings, 10 spikes onto medium rings, and 5 spikes onto small rings.
Bend the bracket on which the axle will be attached. Weld the bracket or make 2 holes in it for bolted connections.
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.
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.

Summer residents know how tedious it is to plant by hand. large plot tubers, while trying to keep the rows even. To help gardeners, industrialists have long begun to produce various equipment that facilitates the planting process. Although you can make any such device for planting potatoes with your own hands.

Hand Tools Overview

Now, indeed, it will be easier to plant potatoes using original devices, and a shovel in in this case won't be needed anymore. The tools that replace the spade not only make the process easier - thanks to them, the rows are perfectly even.

The plantation looks neat, and it is more convenient to hill up the bushes. Each of the proposed devices allows you to maintain the planting pattern, so potato harvesting will actually be carried out using a mechanized method.

The device can be bought in a store or ordered online, but it is cheaper to make it yourself. No special material is required here - improvised means will do. The drawings of homemade tools are simple, so even a person without skills can make them.

Planting potatoes without a shovel

Which of the summer residents has at least once seen this device in action and is interested in how to make a marker for planting potatoes with your own hands. Craftsmen invented several types of convenient devices. It is suggested to use metal pipes, wooden stakes or a durable board as the material.

Simple model

Making the tool is not difficult - just take a stake with a diameter of 6-7 cm and a height of 0.9 m. The depth of the hole under the tuber will be limited by a support made of a rod, fixed horizontally at a height of 15 cm from the tip.

Mittlider device

This model is a little more complicated than the previous one. The frame is made from a metal pipe with a diameter of 2.1 cm. A cone with a diameter of 5.5 or 6.5 cm is welded to it, allowing you to make recesses of about 25 cm. From support leg to the marker 30 cm - this will be the distance between the holes.

Device for 3 holes

With this tool, planting potatoes will go faster, since 3 markers are already attached to one frame. To prevent the device from being heavy, it is recommended to use lightweight steel pipes for its manufacture (these are usually used in gas and water pipelines). Aluminum and strong wood (oak, acacia) are suitable for cones.

The following drawing (fig. below) will give a visual idea of the design. All sizes are indicated on it.

3 hole marker

To homemade instrument turned out to be reliable, you need to follow the given algorithm during manufacturing:

a long pipe is bent into a “P” shape and welded to a horizontal cross member;
in the upper part of the cones, a thread is cut in the center;
in the pipe on which the markers will be attached, drill through holes 9 mm in diameter in the center and at the edges;
Cones are attached to the frame using bolts;
Plugs are put on the ends of the pipe.

Using bolts, you can adjust the height of the markers, depending on the required depth of the holes.

On a note. The drawing of the 3-cone fixture gives approximate dimensions for the height of the frame. Each summer resident determines this parameter according to his height. To make the device last longer, the metal parts are coated with a corrosion inhibitor. Wooden elements should be dried and varnished, then the earth will not stick to them.

A scriber will help you get perfectly even rows when planting potatoes. This is the most primitive device that can be easily made in an hour and a half. To create the structure you will need 2 pointed wooden stakes, 10 cm in diameter and a length suitable for your height. For ease of work, handles should be placed on the upper edges of the beams.

The stakes are connected by crossbars made of strong boards 1.5 m long. The gap between the stakes should correspond to the row spacing. If manual cultivation of an area with planted potatoes is meant, up to 50-55 cm is sufficient. When using a cultivator to care for a plantation, the distance is increased to 0.60 m. If the work is carried out with a moto tractor, then it is better to maintain a gap of about 0.75 m.

A vertical rail is attached to the protruding part of the lower crossbar at the same distance from the stake - this will be the starting reference point. The lower horizontal bar itself should be located at a height of 10-15 cm from the tip of the stakes (under the depth of the holes).

Simplified version of the scriber

Planting plow

A hand plow will help you plant potatoes without a shovel. To make it yourself, you will have to put in some effort. But they are worth spending, since the device turns out to be universal - the plow is used not only for planting potato beds, but also for subsequent hilling of bushes and loosening row spacing.

Since hollow pipes and sheet metal, you will need welding equipment, a gas torch or blowtorch, and a grinder.

To create a universal method of planting potatoes, follow this algorithm:

a meter pipe with a diameter of 2.5 cm is filled with sand and closed with plugs;
bend at an angle of 10-15 degrees at a distance of 30 cm from the edge, using a blowtorch; a stand is obtained, indicated in the drawing by position 3;
Having removed the plugs, pour out sand (it is only necessary for neatly bending the pipe);
a double-blade working element with a trimming knife is formed from pieces of metal and secured from the bottom of the rack with bolts, for which holes are pre-drilled in the pipe;
control handle 4 is inserted into the pipe from above and secured with bolt 12; there should be several holes on the handle to create a telescopic retractable system;
the front link 5 is shaped as shown in the drawing and welded to the rack; positions 9, 10 indicate the presence of a horny handle;
Using brackets 7 and 8, a lanyard 6 is attached to the rod and riser, allowing you to adjust the level of attack of the knife.

Manual plow with traction

For ease of control of the plow, a strong neck-axillary tape can be attached to the base of the draft handles (position 11). It will allow the lead worker to evenly distribute his efforts when walking with the plow across the site.

How to use the devices

The devices described above make the planting process easier and faster, but you need to get the hang of using the tools. To keep things moving, it is recommended to do the work with a partner.

How to manage markers

It doesn’t matter what type of device will be used, the principle of operation is the same. To begin with, mark the first row with twine and make indentations in the ground parallel to it with a marker, applying some force to this. Moving along the twine, one worker forms holes, followed by placing sprouted tubers in them.

Using a 3-cone marker, planting can be done in a short time. The next rows are designed based on the nearest planted one. If the area is small, then the holes are marked in a checkerboard pattern for ease of subsequent processing.

Planting with a scriber

How simple the design of this device is, so simple are the actions of the farmer when using it. Even a large potato plot can be easily planted within a couple of hours, following these instructions:

holding the tool with both hands, set a reference point (side rail) at the beginning of the section;
press with your foot on the lower crossbar so that the stakes penetrate the soil to the required depth;
After moving the instrument back and forth for a few seconds, expand the hole to the required size.

Having passed through the site in one direction in this way, you get 3 ridges of holes: 2 from stakes and another from a vertical rail. Turning in the opposite direction, the scriber is placed as a guide in the hole of the last ridge. While the sower fills the first 2 rows with potatoes, his partner continues marking the rows with a scriber, walking towards him.

Planting under the plow

Despite the fact that the manufacture of this structure will take some time, the planting of tuber crops itself will be easier compared to a situation where you would have to work with a shovel. True, in this embodiment, a trench is formed into which the potatoes are placed by a third person (two people operate the plow).

It will be difficult to maintain an even distance, but the row will turn out even if you focus on the stretched twine. Before you start plowing, the tool must be configured:

by rotating the lanyard nut in one direction or the other, set the desired angle of attack of the knife;
use a bolt to adjust the height of the control column handle to suit your height;
The neck-axillary belt is adjusted to the figure of the partner walking in front.

The traction force in the process is provided by the actions of the person pulling the plow. It is on him that the belt is worn. Its main task is to maintain a constant angle of attack. The person walking behind, controlling the stand, pushes the device forward.

As a result, the knife easily cuts into the ground, the dumps throw the soil to the sides, creating a neat trench for planting. If the wings are adjusted correctly, the shifted soil will partially fill the previous groove in which the tubers are already laid.

Preparing the site for planting

The design of this device is so convenient to use that it can be operated by 2 people with different builds and different heights. Using a plow throughout the season will ensure convenient cultivation of potatoes on a large plantation.

But even more simple devices, described above, significantly increase the productivity of planting potato tubers, allowing sowers to work harmoniously.

DIY device for planting potatoes

Planting potatoes is a routine spring job. If you have a small plot of land and a couple of acres of land for potatoes, planting by hand will not take much time and effort. But it is difficult to plant several hectares with potatoes, and making even and beautiful rows is even more difficult. What to do? If you are at least a little familiar with tools, you can make a device for planting potatoes with your own hands.

Homemade devices: types

Folk homemade craftsmen have come up with many mechanisms that will help plant potatoes. The most common are:

A simple marker.
Mittlider marker.
Improved marker.
Potato planter.
Hand plow.

We'll tell you how to make them yourself.

How to make a simple marker

Making a simple marker is easy. Enough to have on hand regular board and wooden pegs.

A marker for planting potatoes is a wooden stake with a diameter of about 65 mm. The height of the stake must be at least 90 centimeters. A transverse strip is attached at a height of about 15 cm from the sharp edge. It will serve as a stop that limits the depth of the hole.

Before planting with this tool, you must first mark the locations of the holes using a rope. The ropes are pulled along the rows at a distance of 40-80 cm from each other. Everyone sets the distance independently; it depends on whether the hilling will be carried out with a walk-behind tractor or manually. A gap of about 25 centimeters is left between the bushes, plus or minus five centimeters, depending on the size of the potatoes being planted and the variety.

Why homemade device Is it better than a purchased device? In the marker you can set the exact distance, which will be equal to the distance between the wheels of the cultivator or tractor.

Marker for planting potatoes using the Mittlider system

The American agronomist Mittlider invented his own method of planting potatoes. According to his method, the vegetable garden should be divided into planting beds up to nine meters long. The width of the beds is 45 centimeters. Make a distance of about 100 cm between them. Method narrow beds allows you to water and fertilize only the soil on them.

To plant potatoes using this method, you need to make a more complex device. In order to understand the principle of this device, you need to look at the diagram.

To make a marker for planting potatoes with your own hands, you will need a metal pipe with a diameter of 21 mm; it is used to mark holes. Thus, the holes are obtained at a distance of 29 cm from each other. Another pipe with a diameter of 55 (65) mm is welded to the frame, from which a cone is formed that will punch holes.

Before planting, first stretch the cords along the beds. The frame is placed parallel to the stretched lines, starting to plant the first row, it is pressed into the ground. The marking pin will mark the hole; you need to stick a cone there. Do this until the end of the row. On another row, holes are made in a checkerboard pattern.

Using this device, you can grow a decent harvest even in a small area.

Improved three hole marker

Using three cones and metal pipes, you can make a device that will allow you to make three holes at once. It is necessary to take a steel pipe D 32 mm. Steel is easy to weld, although you can use a duralumin pipe.

Cones are made from high-strength wood, such as oak or acacia, but preferably aluminum.

The cones are screwed to the bottom crossbar with long bolts. The depth of the hole depends on the length of the bolts. The longer the fixing bolts are, the deeper the hole will be. Make a distance of 45 cm between the cones.

DIY potato planter

The most simple device A potato planter can be used for planting potatoes. Any man can make a potato planter after spending a couple of hours. You will need to take two boards 1.5 meters long, as well as two stakes with a diameter of 10 cm.

Pegs are made from thick spruce branches. They are processed, sharpened, and made into handles. Wooden transverse strips are nailed to them. Make a distance of about 60-65 centimeters between the stakes if the planting will subsequently be processed with a cultivator or mini-tractor. The distance should be no more than 55 cm if the processing is manual.

The bottom board should be with a reserve; a note is made on it using a narrow strip at the same distance as the stakes. It will help determine the beginning of the pits.

How to use this device? Place the device on the ground, holding it by the handles in front of you. Press down to make holes. You immediately get two ridges of holes, the third will become a note, they follow it in reverse side. The second person will follow the marker and plant the potatoes.

How to make a hand plow

The hand plow will become homemade machine for planting, hilling, loosening the soil. It can be operated by two people. It takes effort to make a plow.

For production you will need:

Meter-long hollow pipe with a diameter of 2.5 cm.
Hollow pipe with a diameter of ¾ inch.
Metal sheet 2 mm thick.
A metal plate with holes or a lanyard.
Gas-burner.
Bulgarian.
Welding machine.

The large pipe is bent, departing from the beginning by 30 centimeters. To facilitate this procedure, you can use a pipe bender. Use a blowtorch if there is no pipe bender.

The small pipe needs to be bent. To adjust the height, you need to make holes in the vertical rack and on the top edge. The height of the stand is made individually so that the person who will hold the plow will be comfortable. It can be adjusted with bolts.

The vertical part at the ends is made flat. Its height is about 60 cm. A lanyard is placed between the rod and the stand to be able to adjust the angle of attack. The angle is attached below. More details in the video:

How to make work easier and faster when planting potatoes using a cultivator

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: motor-cultivators, motor-blocks, 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 in small 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

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

Hedgehogs for planting, equipment features

The hedgehog device consists of two parts, each of which is a set of disks of different sizes with spikes fastened together at a certain distance. 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

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. The technique for using hillers with a large number of rows must be more powerful.

Photo gallery: varieties of hillers

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

Planting with a mini tractor

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

Devices for planting potatoes manually

Hand tools include a hand plow, markers and a hand cultivator.

A very convenient device is the Vyatsky Plowman plow. 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 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 pipes made of metal.

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. 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, behind the marker a man is walking who plants 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. It 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 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 expected bend location blowtorch and start 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 most durable carbon steel. We cut the knife in the shape of an arrowhead and sharpen it at an angle of 45°. This angle will make the knife sharper 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 more dynamic, they are used for small vegetable 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:

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.
You need to treat the area for weeds when the grass is still small. Treatment should be done once every two weeks.
It's better to weed in the morning, then during the day the grass will dry out and turn into straw.
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.
You can’t immerse cutters also because it may damage the device.
If the engine on the device is not very powerful, then you need to take a break every quarter of an hour.
Upon completion 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 cut a circle from 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 at the same time save a lot, 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.

If we summarize the results, it can be noted that the use of devices for planting, harrowing, weeding and hilling potatoes summer cottage will make this process easy and not labor intensive. Applying various samples, we can say with confidence that the harvest will be abundant and will please the gardener.

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

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