Single-row potato planter for mini tractor

Potato planter for mini tractor: types and features

If you are the owner of a vegetable garden or small farm, then most likely you know how difficult it is to grow potatoes, how much labor and time it takes to get a decent harvest. So, a small-sized potato planter can save you from the monotonous work of planting potatoes; it will take over the entire process.

All you need to do is attach it to a mini-tractor and fill the hopper with seed potatoes, and the potato planter will do the rest on its own. The planting process will look like this: the device for planting potatoes will automatically dig a ridge and, using a conveyor, place the tubers in the hole; hillers located on the structure will fill the hole. Using a special apparatus, you can immediately fertilize the soil when planting.

Description and features of the potato planter

A device called a potato planter represents a way to eliminate hard labor from the physical side. This device is attached to the so-called walk-behind tractor, and potato tubers are poured in. Thus, the apparatus breaks through a so-called trench, seeds are placed in it and buried with earth. In this case, you just need not to miss the moment of planting the seed.

It’s quite easy to create such a device, even with your own hands. All you need is a container to immerse the planting material. It is also called a bunker, the shape of which can be absolutely varied: both round and square. But the main feature of this compartment should be a correctly designed bottom, which should have the correct slope. It is precisely due to the tilt that ensures high-quality delivery of potatoes to the department where they are captured in a basket for transportation.

It is important to know that devices that were made by hand must be used exclusively on previously prepared soils.

The device involves manual adjustment of the potato planting depth. This means that you can regulate the entire process with your own hands, but it will be carried out automatically. Such an auxiliary device can be moved using a variety of self-propelled equipment. The digger itself has certain wheels, which must also meet certain standards. Due to them, the highest quality adhesion to the ground should be achieved, then the planting process will be fast and of high quality.

For mini tractor

A device such as a potato planter for use with a mini tractor can be very diverse. It may differ in its appearance, direct design, as well as the method of planting potatoes in the ground. But you need to understand that not everyone will be able to use such a tool. Accordingly, there is a difference in the pricing policy of such a device for the garden. Due to the fact that not everyone can afford to purchase such a planter, we will consider making it with our own hands, for attaching it to a motor tractor.

Planting potatoes with a mini tractor and potato planter requires a lot of strength and energy. This is justified by the fact that working with a shovel takes quite a lot of energy, and besides, planting should be at a depth of about 20 cm. You can make your life easier by using a potato planter.

Before choosing this design, you need to know certain nuances:

When purchasing a device, its cost will be quite high. If you are ready to spend a round sum, then you will not have a headache, if you want to save, then the following nuances await you.
When selecting a device, you need to know how much territory it will be designed for.

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The duration of the work ahead plays a serious role. A device such as a potato planter can differ in the planting method:

Spoon method . In this case, the design involves a special system based on spoons. This method of planting has a large number of positive reviews. During the planting process, using such a device you can perform more than one important function. In addition to planting, organic substances and fertilizers are introduced into the soil, which are essential for the positive growth of the plant.
Flat method of planting potato tubers. In this case, special belts are used. These devices contain certain recesses, which are made in the form of spoons. This type of planting has one advantage over the first option. Even those tubers that have sprouted significantly are not damaged during planting.
Piercing option . This method should be the latest, since already damaged potatoes are sown.

For tractor

If you have a large plot, then the so-called double-row potato planter is perfect for you. In this embodiment, the device is capable of digging relatively large holes. Such devices have become very popular in their field today.

Often the distances between bushes and rows are set to a standard type, but you can change this distance to suit what is more convenient for you. The depth of the hole can be 10 or 15 cm, depending on what depth you specify.

For sprouted potatoes

There is a semi-automatic type of potato planter in the world of agronomy. It is intended exclusively for planting potatoes that have already sprouted. Such a unit is capable of moving not due to wheels, but with the help of so-called load hooks. Also in this case you will need another assistant.

The potato planter for sprouted potatoes has an excellent variation in the distance between the rows, from 50 to 70 cm. It is worth noting that this adjustment is smooth.

You can also adjust the following important parameters:

Seed planting depth.
Distance between immediate rows and pits.
The density of plantings in one row and in the garden bed as a whole.

Purpose of potato planter

The design of the potato planter for a mini-tractor is installed on the tractor; you just need to choose the right type of equipment. And this can be done after you decide on the scale of the work. Today there are enough devices on the market that can be divided into types:

double row potato planters;
single-row potato planters;

The choice will need to be made depending on the model of your tractor and its power. But most often, a two-row potato planter for a mini-tractor is used, because in one stroke of the mini-tractor, potatoes can be planted in two rows at once.

Double-row potato planter for a mini tractor: do it yourself

Summer residents who know firsthand the difficulties of cultivating a garden on their own plot or have their own small field are happy to make their work easier with the help of various devices designed to simplify and speed up some time-consuming and labor-intensive work.

Photo of how to make your own potato planter

If you are planning to plant potatoes in the spring with minimal effort, a two-row potato planter for a mini-tractor will come to your aid, which you can assemble with your own hands without spending money on expensive ready-made equipment.

Photo of a two-row potato planter for a mini tractor

The process of working with such a unit for planting potatoes looks like this:

The discs at the bottom of the machine will dig a groove.
The conveyor will take out the potatoes in the tuber container and place them in the bed.
It is immediately covered with earth.
If you install an additional box, you can immediately fertilize the planting.

Design and operating principle

The design of a planter of any model always looks the same:

Bucket for loading planting tubers.
Drive frame with wheels.
Openers for creating furrows.
Special brackets with cups.
Groove closures.

If necessary, you can add a little functionality to the planter, for example, install a separate container to add special fertilizer to the soil.

The principle of operation of the potato planter comes down to the following: the tubers are poured into a special hopper-bucket, and from there they are picked up by a special bracket and laid out on the soil. Furrows for planting are created by special openers. When the tuber fits into the grooves, it immediately falls asleep. During the planting process, special parameters are set for planting markings. For example, the distance between seedlings will vary from 15 to 35 cm, and the rows should be spaced at a distance of 50-60 cm.

For mini-tractors with low-power engines, lightweight planter options are most often suitable. If, for example, we have to choose a planter for a specific model of the MTZ 320 mini-tractor, then it is better to opt for a power of 0.6.

How to make it yourself

It is not always possible to purchase equipment on sale, but any device can be made with your own hands. Any work on making various models of nozzles can be done by visiting a forum or website on a specific topic. And, if there is a special video that contains, for example, a drawing of a potato planter for a mini tractor or a photo with diagrams, then any manufacturing assembly will be easy and high-quality.

To design such additional equipment, it is better to select a specific diagram or drawing based on a photo from the Internet.

The manufacture of the planter begins with installing the frame, you need to select channel No. 8, pieces of such metal will do. Special spars are attached to the frame. They will need to be welded to each other using specially selected pipe crossbars.

We select metal arches where they should be located on a special rod. The seatpost supports can be made using special metal corners, and they will need to be secured to the spar. The entire manufactured structure is attached to a special bracket by welding.

All that remains is to make a bunker for potatoes. Plywood, which will need to be covered with drying oil, is suitable for this purpose. On one side, the ripper attachment will be attached to the main frame, and the wheel axle will be attached to the main axle.

A homemade potato planter for a mini tractor, if you follow our recommendations correctly, will not differ from the factory model, and it will take very little effort and money.

Today, the most popular potato planter models for mini-tractors are manufactured by Xingtai. In terms of design features, this model is often single-row with a planting depth of 80-120 mm. Seed potatoes are placed in two containers, which are used differently. One is for potatoes, the other is for fertilizer. If you need a two-row option, it will fit on a mini tractor with more power.

You can use these planter options for the MTZ-132N tractor. Before you buy a potato planter, you need to know the power of your mini-tractor and decide on the level of your potato planting tasks.

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Potato planter for a mini tractor: design, operating principle and types

Planting potatoes takes a lot of effort and time. Especially if the crop has to be planted over large areas. In this case, a potato planter for a mini tractor can help. This equipment makes it possible to plant potatoes in any area, regardless of soil type and weather conditions. Its important advantage is its simplicity of design. Thanks to this, you can make a potato planter for a mini tractor with your own hands, spending a minimum of time and money on it.

All potato planters on the market have almost the same design.

The equipment structure consists of the following elements:

frame equipped with paired drive wheels:
a bucket necessary for loading planting material;
openers designed for making furrows;
planting brackets equipped with cups or spoons.

Some models of potato planters are designed in such a way that during operation they not only plant potatoes, but also simultaneously add fertilizers to the soil. The design of such implements includes separate containers and devices for seeding.

All potato planters for mini tractors work on the same principle. The tubers are poured into a bucket, from where a special bracket picks them up and places them on the soil. The coulters provided in the design are responsible for making furrows, which are dug in immediately after tubers fall into them.

How to make a potato planter for a mini tractor with your own hands?

In order to make a durable, balanced potato planter for a mini tractor, you should prepare drawings before making it. They must indicate the dimensions of the parts and methods of their installation into the overall design of the equipment.

Tools and materials for work you will need:

metal sheets, 2 and 3 mm thick;
channel No. 8;
set of fasteners;
welding machine;
Bulgarian;
drill;
set of wrenches.

Making a homemade potato planter should be done in this order:

First you will need to make a strong frame for a potato planter for a mini tractor. For the frame, it is best to use channel No. 8, to which 2 spars must be welded. Next, the entire structure should be strengthened with several stiffeners;
It is necessary to weld fasteners to the side members in their front part, which will be required to install the potato planter on a mini tractor;
Next, you need to weld 2 strips cut from a metal sheet, 2 mm thick, to the side members. The strips must have a width of 2.5–3 cm. During the welding process, the plates must be fixed at an angle;
On the other hand, a bunker for planting potatoes should be welded to the metal strips. It can be made from either metal or plywood. The main requirements for a bunker are maximum strength with minimum weight. It is easiest to work with plywood up to 12 mm thick. You need to cut out the walls of the container from it and connect them into one strong structure. Its corners will need to be reinforced with metal corners. Foam rubber should be placed on the bottom and inner walls of the container, which will protect the tubers from damage;
After this, you will need to weld discs or a plow for a mini tractor to the lower part of the potato planter’s frame - these elements are intended for filling rows of potatoes with soil;
Next, the homemade potato planter needs to be equipped with wheels. 2 identical rings cut from an old gas cylinder will serve their role well;
The main problem in the manufacture of equipment is the search for stars. A two-row homemade potato planter must be equipped with a certain number of teeth. Sprockets with 15 and 40 teeth are suitable for this - they can be found in the design of an old combine:
After installing the stars, you will need to install a chain on which you need to attach the blades. To make them, it is best to take sheet metal, but using wire will be a much simpler method. The landing pitch of the blades depends on their distance from each other. It is best to place them at a distance of 25–27 cm. You can learn more about making a homemade potato planter from the video.

A potato planter for a mini tractor manufactured according to the specified algorithm will demonstrate high performance and stability when working in areas with hard obstacles.

The most popular potato planters for mini tractors

The market for agricultural attachments for tractors is quite saturated with various types of planters. Particularly popular among them are products made in Poland, Ukraine and China, which have proven themselves to be reliable, high-performance and affordable devices.

Potato planters from Poland

The products of Polish manufacturers in this segment are led by Bomet. Among domestic landowners, the most popular modifications of Bomet seeders have become:

S239 – equipment with single-row sowing of seeds and chain feeding of seed material. Provides planting of potatoes to a depth of 10-15 cm with three-position interval adjustment (29,32,35 cm). Installed on tractors with power from 18 hp. Cost $530;
double-row S239 300 kg – a device for a tractor with an enlarged hopper on the frame, a capacity of 300 kg and high productivity (2 ha/hour). The device significantly increases the speed of potato planting work. The seeder can be used with any brands of tractors with a power of 25-40 hp. The cost of such equipment is $795.

Landing devices of this brand have earned popularity due to their high build quality, as well as a modern design that allows comfortable work with high productivity. With their help, you can plant both table and fodder varieties of potatoes.

Potato planters from Ukraine

Ukrainian-made attachments are distinguished, first of all, by their relatively low prices. The following modifications of seeders are in great demand:

PL-50 is a potato planter equipped with a 50-liter hopper. Plants potatoes to a depth of 5-10 cm with a strip coverage of 55-65 cm. This device costs only $255;
PL-50/2 is a high-performance double-row seeder with a chain conveyor. Provides a seed placement depth of 5-10 cm with a processing strip width of 55-70 cm. The cost of the unit is $540.

Ukrainian-made potato seeders are mounted with mini tractors using a single-point fastening mechanism and do not require a PTO.

Potato planters from China

Chinese potato seeders have become popular due to their versatility. They can be combined with any brands of mini tractors and mounted to them using a three-point attachment.

2SM-1 is a single-row potato planter with a chain conveyor, designed for tractors with a power of 12-25 hp. The seeder is equipped with an additional hopper for filling fertilizers. Productivity 0.9-1.2 ha/hour. Retail price: $660;
KS-2MT is a two-row potato planter that ensures planting seeds to a depth of 5-10 cm with a row spacing of 65-75 cm. It is used with mini tractors equipped with a hydraulic mechanism for lifting mounted implements. This device costs $665.

Potato planting equipment from China is characterized by high wear resistance and maintainability.

Important tips for making a potato planter

You can operate homemade equipment for planting potatoes even if instead of a metal or plywood tank, a tank from an old washing machine is installed. Despite its low capacity, the use of this element will save time on making a homemade tank.

It is very important to pay attention to the wheels for the potato planter. These parts should have a large width so that they will not trample loose soil. The equipment seeder can be made of a simple pipe with a diameter of 10 to 25 cm.

The coupling mechanism between the potato planter and the mini tractor must be selected taking into account the model of the existing agricultural machine and the coupling mechanism provided in its design.

The single-row potato planter is easier to operate. During operation, this design makes 1 furrow, the step of throwing out potatoes in which depends on the width of the blades. To prevent planting material from getting stuck in the tank or seeder, tubers of approximately the same size should be selected in advance. Another option is to make additional space for an assistant who will supervise the process of planting potatoes.

To do this, you will need to attach an old car seat to the frame of your homemade equipment.

What devices?

Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are structures consisting of several studded joints of various diameters . They are located relative to each other at an angle of 45 degrees. This device allows you to form ridges as the tractor moves.

You can rebuild the hedgehog yourself by installing additional parts on one frame parallel to each other. They are suitable for plowing all types of soil.

Each hedgehog should have spines 6-7 cm long, 6-8 mm in diameter, with an interval of 4-5 cm between them.

Mini planter

May consist of one or more blocks. Additional blocks allow you to simultaneously pour fertilizer into the furrows . Multi-row structures help plant 1 hectare of land in just half an hour. The container holds from 10 to 20 potatoes.

Advantages of additional accessories:

furrow formation;
the ability to store seed;
fill the furrows with soil;
all these tasks are performed simultaneously.

Potato planter for mini tractor - fast, convenient, high quality

Planting potatoes is a labor-intensive and tedious process.
Today, many types of agricultural machinery have appeared on sale that are capable of taking on this work completely. We are talking about mini tractors, as well as attachments for them, in particular, a potato planter. Potato planters for mini tractors come in different types, each of which differs in design, method of planting tubers, and also in price. Not everyone can afford to purchase quite expensive tools, so in this article we will consider the option of creating a potato planter for a motorized tractor or mini tractor with your own hands.

Where to buy a potato planter for a mini tractor

You can buy a high-quality potato planter for working with a tractor in the Gardenshop store. Products are available with a variety of parameters, performance capabilities and prices. Products are represented by Polish, Ukrainian and Chinese manufacturers, who successfully compete with global suppliers of agricultural attachments for tractors.

The Gardenshop company provides the opportunity to purchase goods at retail or wholesale, for full payment or in installments. The price range is quite large and amounts to $199-820. Delivery of attachments mounted on a tractor is carried out by a carrier company to any city in the country.

All offered potato planters for mini tractors have a one-year warranty. They have undergone technical control and pre-sale preparation, so they are fully complete, functional and free of defects.

A potato planter is a useful and effective equipment for installation on a mini tractor. It will help optimize the potato planting process and carry out planting work quickly, efficiently and easily.

The equipment of some factory potato planters can be supplemented with special tanks containing fertilizer for the soil. After work, the available fertilizer is poured from this container into the holes where the potato tubers will be planted.

Choosing the right potato planter for a motorcycle tractor

To plant tubers, you need to spend a lot of effort and time, since they must be located at a depth of about 20 centimeters. Today this process can be automated by planting potatoes with a motor tractor. The equipment itself will prepare the soil, and the potato planter will cope with its task in the best possible way.

There is a huge selection of potato planters for sale for all types of mini tractors. To find a suitable tool model, you first need to decide on some nuances:

Price. You must immediately determine for yourself the amount you are willing to spend, since the price range is almost limitless. You can buy either a very budget model or a very expensive one, which will have additional functions;
Performance. You must know the size of the field that will be planted;
Duration of work also plays an important role;
You should also know the model of your mini tractor, since the mount is different for all machines. Consequently, not all potato planters will fit one mini tractor.

Types of potato planters for mini tractors

There are many different types of potato planters designed to work with mini tractors. Depending on the number of rows processed, they are:

single row. These planters are easy to use. Suitable for mini tractors with a power of about 18 horsepower, and for medium-sized fields;
double row. They perform well on equipment with a power of more than 25 horsepower, in large fields.

According to the type of planting of plant tubers, potato planters are divided into the following types:

spoon The design is a system consisting of spoons that are attached to a belt. Has a lot of advantages. So, in parallel with planting potatoes, a ridge is formed and the soil is treated with special insecticidal compounds. The row spacing turns out to be quite large, which is very useful for future plants, and the design also prevents gaps during planting by feeding the tubers with spoons;
flat belt Sowing of tubers is carried out using belts. This also includes another type, such as feeding with shaped belts, in which there are recesses in the form of spoons. This unit has one undeniable advantage - even already sprouted tubers are not damaged;
piercing. With this method, already cut tubers are sown;
There is another unusual type of potato planter called French. This planter is designed for planting sprouted tubers. A conveyor belt delivers the potatoes to the hopper. After this, he leads the tubers into the working chute, where the potatoes are arranged linearly. And only then the plants fall into the ground with the help of spoons.

Potato planters are also divided into types according to the need for human participation in the planting process:

automatic. Designed for use by one person. You will only need to operate the equipment and add potatoes to the hopper as needed;
semi-automatic. During work, the participation of at least two people is necessary - one operates the equipment, and the second throws the potatoes into the ground.

Based on all of the above, we can conclude that choosing a potato planter for a mini tractor is a rather complex process, and it will be difficult to do without the help of a specialist. To make the right choice, carefully study the instructions for your equipment, as well as the planter itself.

Potato planter for mini tractors 2MBS-1

The manufacturer of this potato planter is Xingtai. The maximum power of this equipment is 4.8 km/h. It is single-row and the depth of planting tubers using this technique is 80-120 mm. Has two containers, one for seed potatoes, the second for fertilizers. Fertilizers are applied to the soil at the same time as planting. A box for potatoes is 40 kg, for fertilizers 25 kg. The planting pitch between tubers will be 250-270 mm. The efficiency of labor productivity is 0.1-0.3 hectares per hour. A mini tractor for such a planter needs 12-18 hp. This potato planter weighs 105 kg.

The price for such equipment ranges from 17,000 to 19,000 in Russia. If you buy directly from the manufacturer, the price will be lower. Companies that deal with specialized equipment make their own markup, which includes additional shipping costs and other expenses.

DIY potato planter

Any factory-made attachments, including a potato planter, are quite expensive. Not everyone is ready to spend an impressive amount of money on such a tool. But there is a way out - you can make a planter at home.

The entire production process must begin with the creation of a drawing. It is thanks to the diagram that you can accurately calculate the size and type of structure. This will guarantee that the end result is suitable for your mini tractor and in the future, potato planting will be carried out efficiently.

You will need to make the following items:

Frame. The remaining elements will be located on it;
Container. It is in this that you will pour the potato tubers;
Mechanism for feeding tubers into holes;
Rippers for creating holes;
Wheels;
A mechanism that will bury the holes in which the tubers are located.

In principle, this is the simplest version of the planter. You can additionally add a reservoir for fertilizer, which will be supplied to the holes along with the tubers. You can also add an additional element for feeding potatoes, that is, making the potato planter double-row.

The process of creating a homemade potato planter for a mini tractor:

The first step is to make a frame, which consists of channels and spars welded together, which are located longitudinally;
At the front of the structure there is an arch and a fork, and at the side there are elements for planting and digging holes;
Wheels must have lugs. Between the wheels you need to attach a disk of wood about 6 centimeters thick, which will have four semicircular grooves. This disc is necessary to grab the potatoes and throw them into the holes;
The potato bin is made of a sheet of metal about 3 millimeters thick. You can take simple plywood, but the structure will not be as strong and durable. The walls of the bunker are welded, and rubber is placed on the bottom so that the tubers are not damaged during operation;
After this, you can make a seat and attach it to the wheel axle, on which two wheels are located. All this is mounted on the frame;
Furrow cutters are located at the rear. They are necessary for digging holes.

We also bring to your attention some tips that will help make attachments more practical and convenient:

The potato planter is quite large in size, so additional weighting can be installed on the minitractor so that the machine does not tip over during operation;
The landing speed should not be high - about 1 kilometer per hour;
You can adjust the inter-row space and the distance between tubers using stepladders, which you need to either loosen or tighten.

As you can see, making a potato planter is quite simple. It is only important to have the tools and necessary materials, as well as the desire. In this case, the planter will have characteristics that are not inferior to factory models.

Necessary materials

A potato planter can be made at home, because it does not require any rare components or special tools. Homemade potato planters, drawings of which can be freely found on the Internet, are made from the following materials:

a frame consisting of steel pipes and angles for attaching other structural parts to it;
reservoir (hopper) for potato tubers;
gears that will power the entire landing mechanism;
steel parts that form the holes in which the potatoes will be planted, as well as burying them after that;
wheelbase.

These are all the components of the design of a homemade potato planter that need to be made or taken from old agricultural equipment. Naturally, the work cannot be done without a welding machine, an angle grinder, as well as the presence of various channels, spars and other related materials.

You can also make a fertilizer dispenser for a potato planter with your own hands, with the help of which you will simultaneously plant and fertilize the holes. This is a fairly common phenomenon, because when planting by hand, they often use a mixture of ash and chicken droppings, or manure, with the addition of phosphate fertilizers.

This, of course, is not necessary, but additional fertilizer will contribute to the rapid ripening of the crop, which is important in our regions where the summer is quite short.

How to make a potato planter for a mini tractor with your own hands

When mass planting potato tubers, it is important that this process occurs quickly and easily. It is difficult to produce “Russell” potatoes in holes with your own hands, especially on large areas. Therefore, you should look for a faster way to do this. One option is a potato planter for a mini tractor.

Do-it-yourself potato planter for a mini tractor

The main advantage of using such a device is the uniform distribution of planting material. This increases not only the volume of the harvest in the future, but also its quality.

How to do it yourself

If you do not have the necessary funds to purchase a new potato planter, then it makes sense to think about making this unit on your own.

Indeed, a do-it-yourself potato planter for a mini tractor, the drawings of which are widely presented on the Internet, is the way out of a crisis situation when there is a constant lack of money.

In addition, the purchase of a mini tractor itself is a rather expensive undertaking, after which there is virtually no free funds left. Why then think about buying a potato planter in a store, you have to try to recoup the previously made investments. Therefore, the construction of a homemade unit is completely justified.

At the same time, the procedure is virtually the same, regardless of the type of mini tractor:

A homemade potato planter for a minitractor, the sizes of which can be very different, is made from whatever tools you have on hand. The whole point is minimal cost, so it's natural.

At the first stage, the frame structure will be manufactured, to which other components will be welded. To do this, we will need channels No. 8, from which two longitudinal spars are welded, connected to each other by three transverse steel strips.
In front of the structure, you need to weld an arch with mounting forks directed to the central rod of the unit.
The frame is strengthened by two steel inclined beams, which must be secured to the middle of the arch located in front. Next, you need to secure the support on which the seat will be located, made from a 50x50x5 mm corner.
It is attached to the spar with your own hands. A plastic type bracket must be welded to the inclined beams. It is to these beams that the potato bin will be attached.
The bunker will be made of four sheets of plywood, 12 mm thick. You need to cut out equal parts, and then fasten them together with steel corners. You also need to apply drying oil, and when it dries, paint it with waterproof paint.
You can lay a rubber coating inside the bunker so that the tubers are not damaged by the walls of the tank. Using a pair of bolts, secure the hopper to the bracket.
The ripper and wheel axle will be located at the bottom of the frame.
You will have to make the wheel axle yourself.
The base will be an ordinary steel pipe, along the edges of which trunnions are installed. Their dimensions will have to be adjusted to the diameter of the pipe used, but there is nothing difficult about it.
You need to make holes in the steel pipe into which special pins will be installed, where the spikes will be inserted. At the end of the assembly process, they need to be brewed.
The wheel axle must be secured using steel clamps using four M16 bolts.

You need to weld hubs onto the wheels, which will have two bearings on each wheel. Next, we place the bearings on the spikes and protect them with a felt gasket, which will prevent excess dirt from getting in.

Thus, we get a semi-automatic potato planter for a mini tractor, made by ourselves. It is semi-automatic because a person will sit on the potato planter itself and throw the tubers into the corresponding seed tubes.

Therefore, this design needs to be supplemented with a seat on which you can sit comfortably. It is made from ordinary boards, which are then covered with foam rubber and covered with leatherette.

A homemade two-row potato planter for a mini tractor will be a slightly more complex design, because you will have to design more components and parts of the unit. But there are quite a lot of detailed drawings on the Internet indicating exact dimensions, which will greatly simplify this task.

Purpose of potato planter

The main purpose of a potato planter for a tractor is to plant tubers of unsprouted potatoes. In addition, with the help of such a device you can fertilize soil of all types in any area (mountainous is an exception). In addition, such a device is universal. In one pass, in addition to the planting process itself, he can form furrows using a plow and create beds with a special disk.

The main purpose of mini potato planters is to simplify the process of agricultural work.

When we dig with such equipment, a person completely relaxes. In addition, proper use of the device allows you to plant potatoes evenly in a single-row or double-row method. But the main problem is that not many farmers can afford a potato planter for a mini tractor because of its high price.

A product from domestic manufacturers will cost the buyer from $200 to $500. The price may vary depending on the functional features of the device. The most famous planters are KS -1 and 2, 2 MBS, L - 201, Scout T-25, etc. Foreign ones are even more expensive. A used device is cheaper – from $80. But, given the wear and tear of individual parts of the potato planter for a mini tractor, the price for such a device is still too high.

How the device works

Not a complicated operating principle

A do-it-yourself potato planter for a mini tractor will not be inferior to purchased options if all the features are taken into account, from the choice of materials to the operating principle of all mechanisms. The operation of such a device is based on the simple interaction of two stars and a chain with blades:

While the device is moving, the wheel axle rotates.
A star is installed on the wheel axle (as on old domestic combines), which also rotates.
Vertically, above one star there is another. Between them there is a chain with blades, which during movement captures and scatters the tubers.

You can also make discs that will dig ditches along a certain track width. In addition, the container itself where potatoes are transported can be made in any volume that its owner wants. Limitations are present only in the availability of material and human desires.

Types of potato planters

The main advantage of a do-it-yourself potato planter for a mini tractor is its ease of design. Unlike purchased models, which work only with certain brands of large and small tractors (MTZ 80/82 (Belarus), 132n, etc.), a homemade device is suitable for any vehicle.

There are 2 types of potato planters for mini tractors. They make single-row and double-row devices.

A single-row machine is simpler and less efficient. Double-row devices are more powerful, simplify and speed up the planting process. In addition, if the farmer has correctly calculated drawings with the dimensions of all structural elements, then such a device can be attached to a monoblock.

A two-row potato planter for a mini tractor consists of the following structural elements:

Bunker for planting material.
Frame with wheels.
Bipod for earthworks.
Mounts with bowls for planting tubers.
Discs for backfilling soil.

The only difficulty that distinguishes a home-made device from a purchased Chinese or domestic model is the lack of a mechanism for adjusting the volume of fertilizers. But, if a person wishes and has his skills, it is also possible to build such a mechanism. It may also be difficult to adjust the row width. A two-row machine will have the characteristics that a person will set for it during manufacture.

Design Rules

It is best to design the device using ready-made drawings, which already have all the necessary dimensions and a sketch of the device itself. The fact is that most of the devices that can be seen in the video taken by the farmers are suitable for any vehicle. Potato planter for tractor T 40, T80 (82), Neva, Salyut and other brands and models, is assembled taking into account the same features. Most often, the device is assembled like this (single-row or double-row type of device does not matter):

2 spars are welded to the frame of the device, which is channel No. 8. The structure is strengthened with transverse ribs.
Fastenings are welded to the front part of the side members, with the help of which the device will be connected to the T 40, T 80, MTZ tractor, etc. (despite the multifunctionality of the device, it is better to review/modify the possibility of connecting it to the tractor).
2 metal strips 25-30 mm wide are welded to the side members. The length is taken from the dimensions in the drawing. Place them at an angle.
A hopper for planting material is welded to the other end of the metal strips.
A plow or discs are welded to the bottom of the frame.

Potato containers can be made from either metal sheets or plywood.

The main thing is that the structure is strong, but not heavy. It is easier to work with wood whose thickness is no more than 1.2 cm. According to the available drawings and the dimensions indicated in them, it is necessary to cut out the walls of the tank and connect them into one structure, securing them at the corners with a metal corner. To avoid damage to the potatoes, foam rubber or other softening material can be placed on the inside of the tank.

The wheels of the device can be taken from a gas cylinder by cutting off 2 transverse rings from it. The main problem is the stars. A two-row machine must have a certain number of teeth. On the stars, their number should be 40 and 15. It is better to find ready-made parts from old combines. So, installing the chain will not be difficult. The blades are attached directly to the chain. They can be made from thin sheet metal or wire. The second option is simpler. The landing pitch is adjusted by the distance of the blades from each other. It is most advisable to install them at a distance of 25-27 cm.

Some tips

You can use a homemade device for planting potatoes even if you install a washing machine tank instead of a plywood or metal tank. Although its capacity will not be large, you can save effort and time for the manufacture of this part of the device.

It is also important to pay attention to the wheels. They should be wide. Thus, the device will not “trample” loose soil. The seeder can be made of a simple pipe, the diameter of which is 10-25 cm. All fastenings must be calculated according to the brand of the tractor (MTZ, Salyut, etc.). Although most of these home-made devices, single-row or double-row, can be attached to any type of vehicle, a device designed for a separate tractor is still better.

The single-row machine is easier to use. The device makes 1 furrow in the soil, and with a certain step (which is set by the width of the blades), throws out the tubers. It is necessary to collect potatoes of the same size so that the planting material does not get stuck in the seeder or any other part. Another option is to install additional space for an assistant who will supervise the boarding process. You can make it from a simple car seat by attaching it to the frame of the device. If you have a two-row seeder in your design plans, you won’t be able to do without additional space.