The quality of the crop and the taste of the potato depend not only on the fertility of the land into which it was planted, but also on the condition of its tops: complex processes are continuously taking place in it, thanks to which useful substances that feed the tubers are produced. By its condition, you can determine what fertilizers are not enough for the normal development and growth of the plant. Shoots withering at the end of the season indicate that they are ready for mowing and that the fruits must be harvested soon. Why you need to mow the tops, how and when is it better to do this, will be discussed in the article below.
Important! Cut tops should not be given as pet food — this can lead to severe poisoning.
Why mow the tops before harvesting?
Gardeners advise mowing tops 5-7 days before harvesting, thereby ensuring that potatoes have enough time to ripen, get stronger, and also to tighten the peel.
The main reasons we mow it are as follows:
- to remove shoots infected with late blight that can transmit this disease to tubers;
- in later varieties of potatoes, the tops can be green until the fall;
- bushes may not dry simultaneously on the same site;
- during frequent rains, a withered tops can again grow stronger and take root, drawing nutrients from tubers;
- to accelerate the ripening of fruits and improve their quality;
- as a preventive measure against viral diseases that can be transmitted from leaves to fruits;
- so that the earth in the garden is faster to dry and it is more convenient to dig up potatoes later.
Did you know? With a small alteration, the trimmer can be used as a boat motor.
How to prepare a trimmer and choose a nozzle
One of the mechanical ways to remove potato shoots is to use a trimmer, which is a motor scythe with various nozzles. It is gasoline, electric and multifunctional. Most often, gardeners use gas trimmers because of their practicality and ease of use.
They fit nozzles in the form of a reel with fishing line or knives (plastic, metal and disk). For mowing tops, a disk is best suited, as well as a fishing line of a larger thickness, since a thin one can not cope with dense potato shoots.
Important! If the trimmer makes a very strong sound, you need to use special headphones.
When to start and how to mow with a trimmer?
It is necessary to start mowing potato tops when a third or a quarter of the leaves on it turn yellow. The following recommendations should be followed:
- check the serviceability and operation of the tool;
- depending on the type of trimmer, you need to fix it well on yourself and hold it correctly in order to feel comfortable, work efficiently and not get tired;
- After putting on the motokosa, you should install it parallel to the surface of the earth;
- you need to direct the trimmer from right to left in front of you, laying the mowing on a sloping surface so that they do not interfere with further work, and gradually move straight;
- mow at a height of 10 cm from the surface, leaving processes that make it easier to determine the location of the tubers;
- it is better to start from the outer edges, reaching the middle of the site.
Video: how to mow potato tops with a trimmer
Safety rules for mowing tops
When working with a trimmer, you must adhere to the basic safety rules:
- When mowing, be sure to wear safety glasses, gloves, tight pants, closed shoes or boots, as flying dust and small stones can cause injury.
- Do not mow if there are people nearby.
- If the engine of the scythe has low power, you need to take breaks to avoid overheating.
- Do not do any other manipulations with the trimmer turned on (checking, lubricating, replacing parts, etc.), except for mowing.
- After completion of work, all parts of the trimmer and nozzle must be cleaned of contamination, treated with fungicidal solutions to prevent microbial infection of plants.
- You must move slowly and carefully so as not to spoil the braid.
- The gas trimmer can only be refueled when it cools down.
- It is recommended to mow in a cool time of day.
- It is life-threatening to work without a protective cover.
- Do not use the tool immediately after lubricating the parts or after rain - you need to wait at least 30-40 minutes.
Using a trimmer for mowing potato tops significantly facilitates the work of gardeners, because, compared to a manual scythe, they can process much larger areas of the garden in a short time without applying much effort. The main thing is not to forget about safety rules for yourself and others.
