Why do you need to hill up potatoes and how to do it correctly?
Potatoes are an unpretentious crop. But with a little effort, you can significantly increase your yield. Hilling up potato beds is one of the measures the use of which allows you to grow even, healthy tubers.
We will tell you in detail about how to properly hill potatoes, why do it and why this procedure helps to increase the yield.
What is hilling
Along with with weeding Hilling is used to loosen the soil when caring for potato plantings. The essence of the procedure is to sprinkle the base of the bush with loose, damp soil..
The meaning and timing of the procedure
Why do they hill up plantings? This simple technique allows you to save young bushes from the spring cold, prevents tubers from bulging to the surface and increases productivity.. In addition, formed tall bushes are better illuminated without shading each other.
Hilling is carried out in several stages. The first time the bushes are sprinkled with soil, as soon as they appear above the surface of the earth. If the weather is unstable and there is a possibility of return frosts, the plants are completely covered with earth. This protects young shoots from the cold and does not harm the bush. If the weather is warm, there is no point in falling asleep completely; this will only slow down the growth of the bushes.
The second hilling is carried out 2-3 weeks after the first. Third - when the bushes reach a height of 15-20 cm.At the same time, the base of the shoots is sprinkled, forming ridges 15-20 cm high. During this period, a lot of soil is sprinkled onto the bushes. This prevents the bush from falling apart in different directions and the appearance of tubers on the soil surface.
The fourth hilling is rarely used. It is advisable if the bushes grow in width and the tubers begin to peek out of the ground.
Impact on yield
How does hilling affect yield? Adding soil to the base of the bush provokes the growth of new tubers on top of already formed ones..
Need to know! Tubers form on thin stems (stolons) that emerge from the main stems. The longer the underground part of the potato bush, the more stolons are formed.
In addition, the crop likes to grow in cool soil. Hilling protects the plant from overheating and maintains optimal conditions.
When a height of 15-20 cm above the ground is reached, the plant stops growing and directs all its forces to the growth of formed tubers.
Sprinkling with moist soil causes shoots to grow taller and produce new stolons. in addition to those already available.
How often to repeat the procedure
If the soil on the site is loose and fertile, it is enough to hill up the potatoes twice during growth. If the soil is heavy or the bushes begin to fall apart, hilling is carried out 3-4 times per season.
Time spending
Hilling up, like loosening and removing weeds, is carried out after rain or watering. In hot weather, apply in the early morning or evening. This will make it easier for the bushes to recover in case of damage.
Important! After flowering begins, weeding and hilling the plantings is not recommended. During this period, stolons (future tubers) are actively formed, and when cultivating the soil they are easily damaged.
Is it possible to do without hilling?
Despite all the undoubted advantages, hilling potatoes is a process that requires a significant investment of effort and time. And if the plantings occupy a large area, one treatment may take several days.
Is it possible to do without this procedure? Yes, it's possible. Potatoes that do not need to be hilled are grown in two waysallowing for minimal maintenance.
Fitting under film
The dug up and leveled soil is covered with a covering black non-woven material. Holes are made in the fabric according to the sowing pattern and the seed is laid out.
Further care for such plantings consists of: watering and preventive treatments against pests and diseases.
Read also:
Growing potatoes using the Chinese method
Planting under straw
Another way to sow, allowing you to do without tedious hilling and weeding. The method is based on the well-known mulching technique.
The sowing technology looks like this. Seed potatoes are laid out on top of the dug up and leveled soil and sprinkled with a layer of soil. After this, the entire area is covered with dry straw. There should be a lot of straw, at least 30-50 cm.
The advantages of the method are that under the straw “blanket” the soil retains moisture and remains loose, and weeds do not grow. Flaw: in damp summers it can develop under the straw. late blight.
Tools
To process plantings, hand tools and mechanized devices are used, which significantly facilitate the work of the summer resident. Let's tell you more about them.
Chopper or hoe
A popular and affordable method of manual processing of potato beds. Using a tool, the soil is raked up to the bush from all sides or the stems are carefully pushed apart and soil is poured into the middle of the bush. The ridges are formed wide and high, then the root system will have enough soil volume for growth and protection from overheating.
Shovel
If you don’t have any other tools, you can also dig up potatoes with a shovel. Of all the hand tools, this is the least convenient option.
Manual hiller
The designs of manual hiller are different. There are simple homemade options and factory-made, more complex ones. The tool is convenient because it cultivates the soil only between rows, simplifying and speeding up the process.
Hand plow
A manual disc plow is used for caring for crops (hilling up, loosening, removing weeds) and for cultivating the land after harvesting.. You can make the tool yourself or purchase a ready-made one.
Walk-behind tractor
It is advisable to treat large potato plantings with mechanized devices.. For hilling, for example, a walk-behind tractor with various attachments is used.
When growing potatoes, a walk-behind tractor is used throughout the entire season, from the moment the soil is plowed until the harvest. The disadvantage is the high cost of the device and fuel for it. In addition, if handled ineptly, there is a risk of severe damage to the bushes.
Cultivator
Another mechanical assistant. Motor-cultivators are manual, electric and gasoline-powered. They help not only with hilling, but also with weeding and loosening the soil..
Useful tips
Advice from experienced gardeners will help you plant potatoes correctly:
- With the beginning of the flowering period, hilling is stopped. During this period, there is a high risk of stolon damage.
- The second and subsequent treatments are best done manually.This minimizes the likelihood of injury to plants.
- If the soil is loose and fertile, and the bush begins to fall apart during the growth process, it is permissible to carry out more than three hillings to avoid the tubers sticking out to the surface of the ground.
- Depth and darkness improve the taste of the tubers, so during the second and subsequent hillings, rake more soil to the bush (the height of the ridge should be at least 18-20 cm).
Conclusion
Hilling potato bushes means sprinkling the base of the stems with loose soil. The procedure increases yield and protects tubers from exposure to sunlight. Hilling is carried out in 2-3 stages until the flowering period begins.