Potato Plow anyone??

[adettman]

Hi, folks.

Has anyone attached anything resembling a "potato plow" (or middle buster) to a 1.5 or 2" tool bar (i.e. Keulavator)? I'm working with a local metal worker who may fabricate a tool bar that resembles a Keulavator for my Kubota L3400. Among other modifications, I'm thinking of asking him to extend the tool bar thru the center (the Keulavator, on the other hand, leaves a space in the middle so that the implement clears crops in-row). I'd like to occasionally mount a middle buster-like plow to this center portion, namely for digging potatoes (but also for furrowing before planting). I'd only be pulling this "potato plow" thru loose soil (that is, not breaking new ground). Has anyone mounted a similar plow/middle buster on a standard cultivator shank (spring shank)? The bolt spacing is adequate for the potato plow that everythingattachments sells but I wonder how they'd work together? I'm curious what you folks think.. thanks for your time.

 

[CoyPatton]

It seems like I saw something along those lines on a YouTube video. Not sure whose channel or what product. Seems like it may have been a heavy hitch item they reviewed bu far for certain on the brand.
The biggest issue I would foresee would be the possible extra wiggle from the receiver tube in addition to the sway linkage. You could end up with quite a bit of side to side movement.

Decided to check my memory and found this on Heavyhitch.com.

 

[Ford850]

I think the single full length bar will give more support than the split bar style, so the potato plow would be fine. I'm about to build a tool bar with hiller disks. I already use a middle buster style potato plow to dig them, and as long as you don't plant them deep and hill them, they dig/plow easily.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I would think digging the potatoes is the easy part, as even a roll-over plow would be able to do that.

I would think the back-breaking work would be in picking up the potatoes once they are on the ground. I saw quite a few homemade potato diggers that did put them in baskets for the builders though. I am not sure how to separate the poato-sized rocks from the potatoes though.

 

[TnAndy]

I would think digging the potatoes is the easy part, as even a roll-over plow would be able to do that.

I would think the back-breaking work would be in picking up the potatoes once they are on the ground. I saw quite a few homemade potato diggers that did put them in baskets for the builders though. I am not sure how to separate the poato-sized rocks from the potatoes though.

The rocks don't peel as easy.

 

[TnAndy]

You can buy spring type plows about the size of a middle buster that will clamp right on a 2" tool bar tube. I used the to follow the tractor tires and loosen soil after I've run over it hilling potatoes.

My homemade rig:

They sell them here, along with lots of other cool stuff: Farm Implements, Farm Machinery for Sale, and Equipment Parts

 

[Jstpssng]

I would think digging the potatoes is the easy part, as even a roll-over plow would be able to do that.

I would think the back-breaking work would be in picking up the potatoes once they are on the ground. I saw quite a few homemade potato diggers that did put them in baskets for the builders though. I am not sure how to separate the poato-sized rocks from the potatoes though.

I run the potato plow down to break the spuds free, then go down through with my hand digger kicking them into piles. That way they are in piles, with a lot less bending over.

 

[5030]

This year, no digging taters of any method. This year I'm planting them (very shortly) in straw bales, above the ground.

 

[Jstpssng]

This year, no digging taters of any method. This year I'm planting them (very shortly) in straw bales, above the ground.

My father did that one year when I was a kid but never tried it again.
Let me know how it works out, it seems like a good way to get ahead of the weeds. Do you just put one layer of straw and let them grow, or keep adding to it all summer? Would you mind posting a pic just after you plant?

One difference between my father's technique and yours though; where you are using straw, he used hay. Am I the only one who sees an opportunity for weeds here?

 

[kthompson]

The true cultivators were strong enough to handle what you want so would expect what you are wanting to do would work. Just wondering, do you have a subsoiler? If so first check to see if you can get a middle buster sweep that would bolt to it. They do make them that are dual purpose.