Used Hill formers

About second-hand Hill formers

Ridge tillers are used for creating and building cultivation ridges for crops such as potatoes, carrots, chicory and asparagus. Growing on ridges is a widely used method in agriculture and horticulture because it provides a better soil structure and optimal growing conditions for the crop. Depending on the crop and the soil type, different types of ridge tillers are used. The shape, height and firmness of the ridge play an important role in both the growth and the final harvest of the crop. Because each crop has different requirements for the cultivation ridge, various versions of ridge tiller machines exist. Some machines are specifically developed for potatoes, while others are suitable for carrots, chicory or asparagus.

The importance of growing on ridges

Creating good cultivation ridges is essential for successful crop production. Especially on heavier soils, proper ridge formation is important. A ridge tiller loosens the soil and provides aeration. Soil clods are broken down, improving the soil structure and allowing roots to develop more easily.

A loose and well-built ridge has several advantages for the grower:

• Better moisture management in the soil
• Improved drainage in wet conditions
• Uniform crop growth
• Higher yields
• Better sieving capacity during harvesting
• Easier mechanical harvesting

Because the soil is made finer and the ridge is properly shaped, harvesting machines can separate the product from the soil more easily. This reduces the number of clods that are harvested with the crop and increases the efficiency of the harvesting machine.

Ridge tiller with diabolo rollers for carrots and chicory

For the cultivation of carrots and chicory, ridge tillers equipped with diabolo rollers are often used. These machines create tight and uniform cultivation ridges on which seeds are sown with a pneumatic seeding machine.

The hydraulically driven rollers behind the ridge tiller ensure a firm and tight ridge structure. This creates a stable seedbed that is important for good and uniform crop emergence.

In addition, the tight sides of the ridge make later mechanical weed control easier. Growing carrots and chicory on ridges also ensures a more efficient and easier harvesting process.

Ridge tiller for potatoes

A ridge tiller for potatoes is also referred to as a row tiller or hook tiller. This machine is used to build and re-hill potato ridges after planting.

In potato cultivation it is important that the ridges are high and well filled. This creates sufficient space for the development of new potato tubers. At the same time, high ridges protect the potatoes from light, which prevents greening.

Important aspects of ridging with a ridge tiller

Timing Ridging takes place after planting the potatoes, usually when the plants begin to grow.

Function The ridge tiller breaks up the soil and further builds the cultivation ridge. This stimulates tuber formation and provides better growing conditions.

Advantages

• Better growth of potato tubers
• Protection against light (preventing green potatoes)
• Support for mechanical weed control
• Higher sieving capacity of the potato harvester
• Less manual work when removing clods

Operation of a potato ridge tiller

The tiller hooks pick up the soil between the potato rows. This soil is then pressed against the cultivation ridges and shaped with plastic or stainless steel ridging hoods. Tiller hooks are only located between the rows, preventing damage to the plants.

Many growers work with a 4-row ridge tiller, but other configurations are also possible depending on the crop and machine width.

Increasingly, GPS steering on the tractor is used for this work. This allows the ridges to be tilled perfectly straight, which is especially important when the potatoes were also planted using GPS guidance.

Well-known manufacturers of potato ridge tillers

Well-known manufacturers of machines for creating and building potato ridges include:

• Grimme: A globally known manufacturer of machines for potato cultivation, including row tillers, potato planters and potato harvesters.
• AVR: A Belgian producer of machines fully focused on the mechanisation of potato cultivation.
• Struik: A Dutch manufacturer of agricultural machinery for potato and vegetable cultivation, known for robust row tillers and soil cultivation machines.
• Baselier: Specialised in machines for soil cultivation and ridge formation in potato farming.

These machines are often produced in 4-row versions and are designed to create firm, uniform potato ridges that provide optimal growing conditions for potato plants.

Asparagus tiller

For the cultivation of asparagus, special asparagus tillers are used. These machines differ from standard ridge tillers because asparagus is grown on much higher ridges.

In spring, the asparagus beds are rebuilt. The asparagus tiller loosens the soil, builds the ridge and then levels it tightly. This ensures that asparagus can develop properly in loose and airy soil.

For white asparagus, high ridges are usually made. Green asparagus is more often grown on lower or flatter cultivation ridges.

Method for milling asparagus ridges

When building asparagus ridges, two operations are often performed in one pass:

1. Front tiller on the tractor A flat tiller mounted on the front of the tractor loosens the top of the existing ridge.
2. Ridge tiller behind the tractor At the rear of the tractor, a special ridge tiller rebuilds the asparagus ridge using ploughs or blades on the sides. The ridge is then finished tightly and level with a levelling hood.

This combination ensures a uniform and stable asparagus ridge, which is important for a high-quality harvest.

Well-known manufacturers of asparagus tillers

Well-known manufacturers of machines for building and maintaining asparagus ridges include:

• Acker: A German manufacturer specialised in machines for asparagus cultivation, including asparagus tillers and machines for forming and maintaining asparagus ridges.
• Hermeler: A Dutch manufacturer of specialised agricultural machinery, including equipment for asparagus cultivation such as ridge forming machines and asparagus tillers.

These machines are specifically developed to create high and uniform asparagus ridges, which is important for good growth and efficient harvesting of both white and green asparagus.

Buying used ridge tillers

On this page you will find the current selection of used ridge tillers for agriculture and horticulture. The range consists of machines for different crops, such as potatoes, carrots, chicory and asparagus.

A used ridge tiller is often an interesting investment for growers who want to expand their mechanisation at lower cost. Thanks to the wide range of machines from well-known manufacturers, there is almost always a suitable ridge tiller available for your crop and business conditions.