How to Plow With a Potato Plow

Potato plows, some of which are also called "middle buster plows," are simple plows that will dig one furrow at a time and divide the earth evenly on each side of the furrow. Because they are light they sometimes stray right and left in hard dirt and because they only dig one furrow at a time they are not the best choice for farmers with many acres to cultivate. But they can plow a furrow up to 18 inches deep and if you grow potatoes or carrots they are exactly the right implement to harvest those vegetables.

Tractor hitch
Small or large tractor
Seed potatoes
Disc hiller or hoe

Instructions

- 1
  Attach your tractor hitch to your small or large tractor according to the instructions included with your tractor hitch.
- 2
  Attach your potato plow to the tractor hitch according to the instructions that came with your plow.
- 3
  Lower the potato plow to the depth you choose. A nine-inch furrow is a good depth for potatoes.
- 4
  Put the tractor in gear and drive straight to plow the furrow. Stop the tractor and dismount. If you are planting potatoes, drop one seed potato into the furrow about every 12 inches.
- 5
  Cover the potatoes with about four inches of dirt, using either a disc hiller attached to your tractor or by hand with a hoe. Wait for the potatoes to grow.
- 6
  Reattach the potato plow to your tractor in late summer or early fall when the potato vines stop growing. Lower the plow to about 18 inches and plow the line of potato vines, bringing the potatoes to the surface. Gather your potatoes by hand.

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