How to dig potatoes with a walk-behind tractor or motor cultivator: advantages

Harvesting potatoes manually requires a lot of time, effort, and patience. However, a video of potato digging with a walk-behind tractor demonstrates that using specialized equipment with the correct settings allows for high-quality, whole-crop harvesting with ease and in minimal time.

Potato digging is a necessary step, as it presupposes harvesting. This video of potato digging with a walk-behind tractor confirms that the planned task can be completed quickly and efficiently.

Digging potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

A walk-behind tractor with a mounted digger offers the potential for successful harvesting. It utilizes metal rods that dig into the ground and lift the soil containing the potato tubers. The soil then falls between the rods, but the roots remain attached to the digger rods.

The quality of the planned work depends largely on the correct settings of the walk-behind tractor, as the digger must reach a sufficient depth. Ideally, the digger should reach below the tubers to be removed. To preserve the integrity of the tubers, dig every other row. Knowing how to dig potatoes with a walk-behind tractor can guarantee a quick and successful harvest.

Advantages of digging potatoes with machinery

Gardeners new to using walk-behind tractors are wary of using them for potato digging. The main reason for this fear is the risk of damaging the crop. In fact, this concern is well-founded, as an improperly adjusted walk-behind tractor can result in unwanted cutting of the potatoes. In reality, using a walk-behind tractor and potato digger requires minimal effort, as the attachments are simple in design and require proper adjustment of the digging depth based on the size of the ripened potatoes.

Digging potatoes with a walk-behind tractor has the following important advantages:

• the completion of the assigned task is significantly simplified, thanks to which you can save time and effort;
• it is expected that gardening activities will be carried out in the shortest possible time;
• the harvest is completely extracted from the soil and losses are minimal.

Proper potato digging using a walk-behind tractor guarantees savings in time and effort for every gardener.

How to properly set up equipment

Using a walk-behind tractor requires a traction mechanism. Harvesting speed depends on the machine's power, but the primary adjustment is made on the towing hitch. The machine's pointed tip cuts the soil layer, then lifts the potato tubers onto special rods. This allows the harvest to be left on the soil surface.

The tiller's boom is equipped with holes for adjusting the machine. The hitch can be positioned in various positions, changing the tiller's tip angle. If a steep slope is expected, the tiller can dig deeper into the soil and facilitate harvesting.

Experimental models feature special attachments that allow the wheels to be adjusted to fit narrower or wider. This parameter depends on the row spacing. Widely spaced wheels can cause tubers to separate, resulting in unsuccessful harvesting.

Types of potato diggers

Factory

Factory-made walk-behind tractors vary in design, which determines their success. Potato digging with a walk-behind tractor can be accomplished in different ways, so it's important to pay attention to the design features of factory-made specialized equipment.

1. Vibrating type. In this case, the trailed mechanism consists of a share and a vibrating screen. A special screen vibrates as the potatoes are dug. The share lifts the soil layer containing the root crops and then steps on the vibrating screen, through which the soil falls. The crop remains on the screen of the walk-behind tractor and is then deposited on the ground behind the machine. This type of potato digging is efficient, but vibrating models have a unique design.
2. Conveyor type. This type of equipment involves using a ploughshare to loosen the soil and transport it to a conveyor platform, from which the soil and remaining potato tops fall. The clean root vegetables are retained on a grid equipped with a special hook. A conveyor type walk-behind tractor is reliable and easy to use.
3. Arrow-type. These walk-behind tractors are the simplest, as they have no moving parts. The machine has a bayonet-type shovel, which is attached to a rod and the walk-behind tractor. This forces the cutting surface to be at a specific angle to the ground. A layer of soil is removed. The gap between the bars is ideal for retaining root crops, ensuring efficient harvesting.

The choice of a factory-made walk-behind tractor largely determines the possibility of successfully digging ripe potatoes.

Homemade

Digging potatoes with a homemade walk-behind tractor is also possible, but the equipment must be properly designed. Thick, durable equipment is recommended.

The base of the homemade walk-behind tractor is a frame welded from metal angles and an iron channel. The plowshare is made from iron plates, which are then bolted to the elevator housing. The metal frames are then used to create a cylindrical body. Bushings connected by two metal shafts are inserted into the body for tilling the area. The key of the walk-behind tractor also houses the sprockets and hubs responsible for the movement of the equipment.

Another important aspect is the manufacture of the drum from roller chains and a rod. The rod is shaped like a wheel and connected to the chains. To increase the strength of the structure, the chains are secured to bent discs, which are then welded to the discs. The structure is mounted on two fixed axles.

Next, the support and conveyor unit is installed. The input axle should be located in the casing on the left side. After this, the sprocket and bearing are secured.

Reviews

Victor:

"I always dig potatoes with a factory-fitted walk-behind tractor. A potato digger with a hiller and blades is also ideal for digging. Properly setting up the walk-behind tractor guarantees a successful and quick harvest."

Valentina:

"Digging potatoes with a walk-behind tractor is quick and easy. The most important thing is to set up the equipment correctly. If you set the correct parameters, garden beds and other debris in the area won't interfere with the harvest. All the potatoes can be pulled out of the ground intact. I'm happy that digging potatoes with a regular walk-behind tractor is so easy and quick!"

Xenia:

"A walk-behind tractor can be successfully used for digging potatoes. The most important thing is to harvest on a cloudy day or in the evening, as it's not recommended to cultivate dry soil in hot weather. If you plan the harvest correctly and set up the equipment correctly, you can harvest potatoes quickly and easily. However, a small portion of the potatoes will still need to be harvested by hand."

This video of potato digging with a walk-behind tractor helps you understand how to set up specialized equipment and the easiest way to harvest a bountiful crop in the shortest possible time, ensuring well-preserved root vegetables.