Before you start hilling potato seedlings, you need to understand why this is necessary at all and how to carry out the procedure correctly.
There are several nuances that, if not taken into account, can reduce the effectiveness of the procedure.
We will tell you why you need to hill up potatoes and how to do it correctly.
Firstly, potatoes are hilled to prevent the shoots from falling, the tubers from turning green, a strong root system from forming, and to improve air exchange. Hilling also helps retain moisture and nutrients in the soil.
Secondly, it is worth knowing that potatoes can be grown without hilling. Even without weeding, if you sow green manure on the potato bed or cover the soil with straw.
Thirdly, you need to remember the time of hilling. There is no exact date, and approximate dates are related to the specific climatic conditions of the region.
First hilling of potatoes
It is carried out after the shoots have risen to a height of 7-10 cm. The procedure protects against recurrent frosts and stimulates the development of the root system.
Second hilling and subsequent
They are planning to do it 2 weeks after the first one, and the next one is in another month.
You can't hill up
Hilling should not be done during flowering. You need to do it before the buds open, or do nothing at all.
As for the tool, everything depends on the technical capabilities. Often a walk-behind tractor, a disc hiller, a cultivator, a plow or a hand garden tool - a hoe - is used.
