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.

 

[5030]

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?

Actually, I've taken straw bales and stood them on the cut end longways (with newspaper under them to block the weeds. I'm injthe process of putting on 46 urea on the topside and wetting them down to promote them 'rotting'. When they cool down inside, I'll plant the seed potatoes directly in the straw bales. That way the tubers can grow unimpeded by the soil. Supposed to work fantastic, an experiment by me this year and I'm using Maine seed potatoes sent to me by my good friend in Bar Harbor.

According to what I read, you keep the bales moist all the time. Guy down the road did it last year with pumpkins and they went crazy.

I'll still put some in the ground, along with the onions, corn and peppers. No cabbage this year. Plenty of kraut in the cellar yet...lol Goggle up planting gardens in straw bales. Lots of good reading.

 

[farmeratheart]

I’ve used this setup a few years now for furrows to plant in and for digging. It works great . No excessive side to side sway as
mentioned by one commenter. It was welded together for me by an Amish friend from a conventional potato plow share and some 2” receiver stock.
Frank

 

[BrokenTrack]

Actually, I've taken straw bales and stood them on the cut end longways (with newspaper under them to block the weeds. I'm injthe process of putting on 46 urea on the topside and wetting them down to promote them 'rotting'. When they cool down inside, I'll plant the seed potatoes directly in the straw bales. That way the tubers can grow unimpeded by the soil. Supposed to work fantastic, an experiment by me this year and I'm using Maine seed potatoes sent to me by my good friend in Bar Harbor.

According to what I read, you keep the bales moist all the time. Guy down the road did it last year with pumpkins and they went crazy.

I'll still put some in the ground, along with the onions, corn and peppers. No cabbage this year. Plenty of kraut in the cellar yet...lol Goggle up planting gardens in straw bales. Lots of good reading.

I tried this method, but it did not work for me either, but I live in Maine too, so maybe that is why? Good luck to you though, just because it did not work for us boys in Maine, does not mean it would not work for you.

 

[BrokenTrack]

The rocks don't peel as easy.

I think I figured out a novel way to eliminate rocks from dug potatoes, but want to get my patent submitted before I describe it on here!

 

[5030]

I tried this method, but it did not work for me either, but I live in Maine too, so maybe that is why? Good luck to you though, just because it did not work for us boys in Maine, does not mean it would not work for you.

Giving it a shot and of course I'll report back in the fall. I'm not 100% certain about it either, candidly.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Giving it a shot and of course I'll report back in the fall. I'm not 100% certain about it either, candidly.

We used to grow potatoes back in the old days. We stopped in 1988, but now that I have sold out of sheep, I am not sure what to do with the farm. I should do something with it.

I want to let it go fallow this year, just to give the farm a rest, it has been raising crops since 1800 so giving it a year off will not hurt.

We like to give back, so we thought maybe doing potatoes for charity might be good. I got everything to grow them but the harvester, so I thought about making something that would load them without a lot of back-breaking work.

 

[5030]

We used to grow potatoes back in the old days. We stopped in 1988, but now that I have sold out of sheep, I am not sure what to do with the farm. I should do something with it.

I want to let it go fallow this year, just to give the farm a rest, it has been raising crops since 1800 so giving it a year off will not hurt.

We like to give back, so we thought maybe doing potatoes for charity might be good. I got everything to grow them but the harvester, so I thought about making something that would load them without a lot of back-breaking work.

I get my seed potatoes from Maine every year. Your Maine potatoes keep very well in the cellar all winter and good baking as well.

Nice to have a very good and longtime friend living between Bangor and Bar Harbor who sends them to me.