Homemade potato cultivator

Inter-row cultivators are an essential tool in every gardener's arsenal. Cultivation can be done manually, but it's time-consuming and labor-intensive. Cultivators significantly simplify and streamline the process.

An agricultural potato processing unit can have bonus add-ons for additional functionality, such as replaceable parts such as rakes or aerators. Since its inception, the cultivator has been continuously improved to provide maximum benefit to the gardener.

Homemade potato cultivator

After using the machine, the soil becomes loose and free of dense lumps. Fluffy, even soil will create better growing conditions for future plants. Making a hand cultivator is simple and less expensive than buying a factory-made one. You can make a homemade potato cultivator from readily available materials. The convenience of such a tool is guaranteed.

Necessary materials

To ensure that the work on creating a cultivator is as efficient as possible, tools are used.

1. Welding machine with electrodes.
2. You can't do without an electric drill with metal drill bits and a gas torch.
3. You should have a tool for cutting pipe threads on hand.
4. A set of metalworking tools, including a grinder, will be useful for cleaning welds.

The cultivator will be made from sheet metal no more than 4 mm thick, with dimensions averaging 1,000 mm x 500 mm. You'll also need a water and gas pipe, which is split into two sections (one longer, one shorter). You'll need two steel rods of different diameters, along with wing nuts and a solid cylinder. The kit also includes a threaded crosspiece and four cotter pins.

Types of cultivators:

1. In terms of purpose, a distinction is made between row-crop and steam cultivators. The latter is used before planting, while the former is suitable for hilling crops, removing weeds, and loosening the soil.
2. In terms of working tools, one can choose between a milling machine or a disc harrow. There are also options with winged tines and a chisel harrow for deep tillage. Gardeners also use a plowshare for cultivating plants.
3. In terms of traction type, cultivators are classified as mounted or trailed. Many gardeners still use hand-held equipment, while gasoline-powered and even electric machines are available on the market.
4. When considering weight and power, cultivators are categorized into light, heavy, and medium. Thanks to new technologies, an efficient ultra-light model has also been created.
5. When referring to the category of the number of rows processed, the cultivator can be classified as single-row or multi-row.

Inter-row tillage cutter

It's essential for weed control and effective for loosening the soil and using the material as fertilizer. Inter-row tillage is used for crops such as cabbage and onions, beets and carrots, tomatoes, and not just potatoes. Tilled soil retains nutrients longer, which contributes to increased yields. As a result, gardeners need to use less herbicides.

Loosening the rows of potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

A walk-behind tractor is used for a variety of purposes. This versatile tool can be used for weeding and harrowing. Gardeners also use a walk-behind tractor to hill crops and till the soil. Those with larger plots often use a walk-behind tractor, which provides a greater reach. There are many videos online that are worth watching before cultivating potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. Gardeners should properly assess the scope of the work before using the machine. Judging by the videos, inter-row potato cultivation with a walk-behind tractor is effective, while a rotary tiller for inter-row cultivation offers greater maneuverability.

Cultivators for inter-row soil cultivation:

1. The KF-2.8 model is ideal for inter-row cultivation. It allows for simultaneous application of fertilizers not only to potatoes, but also to soybeans and corn.
2. The KF-3.6 freezer model is in no way inferior to the option described above in terms of cultivation efficiency, ideally loosening the soil and introducing fertilizer.
3. The USMK-5.4 soil loosening and weed control unit is used for 12-row crops. This powerful tool is capable of applying fertilizer to row spacings up to 450 mm wide.
4. The next model is an improved version of the USMK-5.4, which comes with a fertilizer attachment. This unit can be used with loose mineral material. This model is equally adept at cultivating 12-row crops and 450-mm row spacings.
5. The model in question is also available in another configuration. Gardeners often prefer this tool with the AVPU-12 attachment. It's used by potato growers for spreading herbicides using a ribbon. The AVPU-12 attachment is more effective for 12-row crops. Many crops, including fodder beets and soybeans, benefit greatly from using this attachment.
6. The mounted KRN-4.2 cultivator is ideal for sowing crops in six rows. Row crops respond well to this cultivator, and it is suitable for row spacings ranging from 600 mm to 900 mm.
7. The model described above, with its optional fertilizer attachment, is considered an effective mounted unit. This model makes it easier to apply mineral fertilizers to soil with a 6-row planting pattern. The cultivator is effective on many row crops.
8. The KRN-4.2 variant discussed above is available through KASS. It is effective when used on six rows of row crops, with row spacings of approximately 600 or 700 mm.
9. The KRN-5.6 mounted cultivator is very popular. This updated model has proven itself effective in 8-row cultivation with varying row spacings. Weeds are effectively trimmed, and excellent loosening is guaranteed after using this cultivator, as is the uniform distribution of loose mineral material.
10. For cultivating crops with 600 mm row spacing, the KRN-5.6 model, equipped with a fertilizer attachment, can be used. This is an excellent option for row spacings of 700 and 900 mm. The unit can cultivate eight rows of crops while simultaneously applying mineral fertilizer and thoroughly loosening the soil. All weeds that interfere with normal plant growth will be trimmed.
11. As usual, the KRN-5.6 model was released with an additional attachment. The KASS model allows for effective fertilization of 8-row row crops using the band application method commonly used by gardeners. As with its predecessors, the cultivator, despite the attachment, effectively combats weeds and evenly distributes loose fertilizer. Soil loosening quality remains excellent. This model may be more expensive than the previous two, but its efficiency for cultivating larger plots is significantly higher.

Reviews

Alexey:

"I've been cultivating potatoes by hand my whole life. Recently, my wife and I bought a larger plot of land and decided to grow potatoes for sale. On a large plot of land, you can't do without a cultivator. We built our own unit from scrap materials, but it wasn't as effective as a commercial one. We decided it was time to buy a good cultivator. We chose the KF-2.8 model. The soil quality after cultivating the soil with this cultivator is excellent."

Julia:

"You can't underestimate the cultivation process—every gardener knows that. I consider myself an experienced potato grower, and I always preferred using a simple cultivator. But when it broke, we had to consider buying a new one. My husband and I decided to invest in a KRN-4.2. I couldn't have dreamed of better cultivation. The difference compared to the old cultivator is noticeable. The results are excellent."

Lyudmila:

"We have two plots. On one, we use a rotary tiller for inter-row cultivation, and on the other, we use a walk-behind tractor to speed up cultivation. Cultivating the potato rows with a walk-behind tractor speeds up the work significantly. I don't know how we ever managed without such a miracle machine. Growing potatoes has become easier, and cultivating with a high-quality unit significantly improves the yield."

Pauline:

"If you're cultivating 12-row crops, it's hard to find a better unit than the USMK-5.4. This is an excellent model that allows for quick cultivation. The soil becomes light and fluffy. It's easily aerated, meaning plants thrive. Weeds are completely eliminated. The advantages of this cultivator over others are hard to dispute."