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Hilling

Hilling, also known as earthing up, is a horticultural practice involving the mounding of soil around the base and lower stems of plants. It promotes root and tuber development, improves drainage, and shields underground parts from sunlight.^[1] The technique is essential for root vegetables such as potatoes, where it encourages additional tuber formation along buried stems, boosts yields, and prevents greening and solanine production due to light exposure.^[2] For blanching crops including celery, leeks, and asparagus, hilling blocks sunlight to yield tender, pale stems with reduced bitterness.^[3] Hilling is commonly used for solanaceous crops like potatoes and umbelliferous vegetables such as celery and leeks, but can apply to various plants in well-drained, loose soils to prevent root damage. It enhances local drainage and may incorporate organic matter for soil health, though specifics vary by crop.^[4]

Definition and Principles

Definition

Hilling is an agricultural and horticultural practice involving the mounding or piling of soil around the base or stems of plants to create raised hills or ridges.^[5] This technique, also referred to as earthing up, mounding, or hilling up, focuses on drawing soil from surrounding areas to build up elevation directly adjacent to the plants.^[5]^[2] In its basic mechanics, soil is gathered from inter-row spaces or nearby furrows and heaped around the lower portions of the plant stems, typically to a height of 6 to 8 inches, while ensuring the upper foliage remains exposed to sunlight.^[6]^[1] This process distinguishes hilling from related practices such as ridging, which elevates soil in continuous rows or beds across the field rather than around individual plants, and mulching, which layers organic matter like straw or compost over the soil surface instead of using mineral soil.^[7]^[8] The practice is particularly common in tuber crop production, where it supports underground growth structures.^[9]

Underlying Principles

Hilling fundamentally modifies soil structure by mounding loose earth around plant stems or bases, which enhances aeration through increased porosity and pore space, allowing greater oxygen diffusion to root zones. This alteration promotes root respiration and microbial activity essential for nutrient cycling.^[5] Additionally, the raised configuration improves drainage by facilitating water percolation away from plant crowns, mitigating risks of anaerobic conditions in heavy soils, while also regulating soil temperature—elevating it during cooler periods via greater surface exposure and insulating against diurnal fluctuations.^[10] From a physiological perspective, hilling stimulates adventitious root formation along submerged stem portions, expanding the root system for enhanced anchorage and resource acquisition without relying solely on primary roots.^[5] It further safeguards subterranean organs by blocking light penetration, thereby inhibiting chlorophyll synthesis and the biosynthesis of glycoalkaloids such as solanine in solanaceous plants, which occurs as a stress response to photostimulation and can render tissues toxic.^[11] Environmentally, hilling creates a localized microclimate that insulates roots against frost by trapping heat and reducing conductive losses, particularly beneficial in early-season plantings. The practice conserves soil moisture through minimized evaporative losses from covered surfaces and reduced runoff, while the friable soil layer aids nutrient uptake by lowering bulk density and improving root exploration of the rhizosphere.^[12]^[10] In potato cultivation, these principles underpin tuber development by fostering stem-derived roots in the hill.^[5]

Applications in Crop Production

Potato Cultivation

Hilling plays a central role in potato cultivation by burying the seed pieces and emerging stems, which encourages the formation of multiple sets of tubers along the length of the underground stem. As the plant grows, drawing soil up around the base covers the lower stems, providing additional sites for stolon development where new tubers can form, thereby supporting overall plant productivity. This practice is essential during the early growth stages, typically beginning when plants reach 6 to 8 inches in height, and is repeated to accommodate continued vertical growth.^[13]^[14] The initial hilling occurs approximately 4 to 6 weeks after planting, once the shoots have emerged and attained sufficient height, aligning with the onset of tuber initiation. Subsequent hillings are performed every 2 to 3 weeks, generally 2 to 3 times in total, until the plants approach flowering, at which point further disturbance is minimized to avoid stressing the developing tubers. With each hilling, soil is mounded to a height of 12 to 18 inches to fully cover emerging tubers and maintain a loose, aerated environment for root and tuber expansion. Hilling also contributes to general weed control by disrupting weed growth in row middles, though detailed benefits are discussed elsewhere.^[9]^[15]^[16] Integration of hilling varies with potato varieties, being more critical for indeterminate types that exhibit continuous stem elongation and produce tubers along the entire buried stem length throughout the season. In contrast, determinate varieties, which have a more compact growth habit and set tubers primarily at one level near the seed piece, require less extensive hilling if planted sufficiently deep initially. This distinction influences hilling frequency and mound size, with indeterminate varieties often needing repeated applications to maximize their extended growth potential.^[17]^[18]

Other Vegetables

Hilling serves a key role in the cultivation of blanching crops such as leeks, celery, and asparagus, where mounding soil around the stems excludes light to yield pale, tender growth with reduced bitterness. For leeks, soil is progressively banked around the base as plants grow, typically 2-3 times during the season, adding 2-3 inches each time to achieve a blanched stem up to 6 inches long, a process that spans several weeks to promote elongated white portions suitable for harvest.^[19]^[20] In celery production, mounding soil around plants in mid-season blanches the stalks by blocking sunlight, helping retain moisture while fostering milder flavor and crisp texture.^[21] Asparagus is blanched for white varieties by mounding sandy soil over crowns in late winter before spears emerge, excluding light to prevent chlorophyll development and produce spears with a nuttier taste; this labor-intensive method allows harvest over four weeks from established beds.^[22] In root vegetable cultivation, hilling protects exposed shoulders from sunlight, averting greening that imparts bitterness and toughness due to solanine production. For carrots, soil is hilled gradually to cover crowns with at least 2 inches of mound, preventing solar exposure on emerging tops and maintaining edible quality; similar mounding to 4-6 inches is applied as plants mature.^[23] Beets and radishes benefit from analogous techniques, where gradual soil buildup around 4-6 inches covers any protruding roots, shielding them from light to avoid discoloration and ensure tenderness without altering core growth processes.^[24] Beyond primary growth enhancement, hilling occasionally provides structural support for certain vegetables in windy conditions, bolstering root anchorage without directly boosting yield. For corn, gradual hilling as plants progress supports shallow roots, enhancing overall stability to resist lodging from gusts while aiding general cultivation.^[25]

Methods and Techniques

Manual Methods

Manual hilling involves using basic hand tools such as hoes, shovels, rakes, or garden forks to draw soil from the middles of rows and gently pile it around the bases of plants, typically starting with low mounds and building them up over multiple sessions to support growth and protect developing tubers or roots. The process begins when plants reach 6 to 8 inches in height, with soil being mounded to a depth of about 6 inches by the time of tuber formation, ensuring careful application to avoid damaging shallow roots or stolons. This technique is particularly applied in potato cultivation, where hilling is timed within the first four weeks after planting or as vines emerge, but it can be adapted for other vegetables like blanching crops such as leeks and celery in similar small-scale settings. For blanching crops, soil is gradually drawn up around the stems to exclude sunlight and produce tender, white portions.^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29] This method is ideal for home gardens or small plots under 1 acre, where precise control over soil placement allows gardeners to manage limited space effectively without machinery, though it is labor-intensive and best suited for operations yielding around 200 pounds from 100 feet of row. For instance, hilling a single row segment may require focused manual effort, making it practical for low-tech farming but less efficient for larger areas. Suitability extends to well-drained soils like sandy loam, where the added mounds improve aeration and prevent exposure to sunlight, reducing risks such as greening in tubers.^[27]^[29]^[28] Best practices emphasize working with soil that is moist but not waterlogged to facilitate easy handling and minimize compaction, while performing the task in the early morning or evening to reduce plant stress from heat or direct sun. Cultivation should remain shallow during hilling to protect root systems, and multiple sessions—spaced two to three weeks apart—are recommended to gradually build the mounds without overwhelming the plants. Uniform moisture maintenance post-hilling is crucial to support healthy development and avoid issues like cracking.^[29]^[27]^[28]

Mechanical Methods

Mechanical methods of hilling employ tractor-mounted or pulled equipment to efficiently mound soil around crop rows in larger-scale agricultural operations. Common equipment types include disk hillers, which use angled disks to throw soil from inter-row spaces onto the plant bases; sweep shovels that scrape and lift soil for deposition; and rotary tillers that incorporate and redistribute soil more aggressively.^[30] These implements are typically attached to tractors and designed to minimize plant damage while building substantial hills.^[31] Implementation involves adjusting the machinery to match row spacing, commonly 30 to 36 inches for potato crops, ensuring the tools align precisely with plant rows to avoid compaction or uprooting.^[31] Tractors operate at speeds of 4 to 6 miles per hour during hilling passes to achieve optimal soil movement without excessive disturbance.^[32] Multiple hilling operations, often one to two additional passes beyond initial planting, are performed throughout the growing season to progressively increase hill height as plants develop.^[33] During these mechanical passes, incidental weed control occurs as inter-row soil is disturbed, though primary weed management relies on integrated strategies.^[30]

Advantages and Limitations

Benefits

Hilling significantly enhances potato yields by burying additional portions of the plant stem, creating more sites for tuber formation along the underground stolons. Studies have shown that hilled plots produce 8-13% higher total tuber yields (16.3–17.0 tons per acre) compared to non-hilled controls (15.0 tons per acre), with even greater increases observed in certain native cultivars, where the absence of hilling resulted in yield losses of up to 86% for Huayro potatoes. This practice also leads to higher proportions of marketable US No. 1 tubers, averaging 86.4% in hilled treatments versus 78.7% without hilling, due to improved overall plant biomass and tuber quality.^[30]^[34] By mounding soil around the base of potato plants, hilling effectively blocks sunlight from reaching developing tubers, preventing greening and the accumulation of toxic solanine compounds that render potatoes inedible. Hilled treatments have been found to reduce green tuber production to 0.3–0.6 tons per acre, compared to 1.5 tons per acre in non-hilled plots, thereby minimizing food safety risks and post-harvest losses. Additionally, the soil cover provided by hilling suppresses weed emergence and growth by shading the soil surface, achieving 45-70% weed control when combined with interseeding and minimal herbicide use, reducing nutrient and water competition for the crop.^[30]^[35]^[36] Environmentally, hilling improves soil conditions by raising temperatures in cooler climates, with late low-profile hilling increasing early-season soil warmth by approximately 3°C (5.4°F), which promotes faster emergence and growth during short seasons. It also enhances drainage by elevating the root zone above surrounding soil levels, reducing waterlogging and the incidence of tuber rot in wet conditions, while maintaining adequate moisture retention for optimal development. Similar protective blanching effects occur in other crops like celery, where hilling prevents bitterness from sun exposure. For blanching crops such as celery and leeks, hilling excludes sunlight to produce tender shoots but may require additional monitoring for pest issues in humid environments.^[30]^[1]^[9]

Potential Drawbacks

Manual hilling in agriculture demands considerable labor and time, contributing to the overall production labor expenses of $500–$600 per acre in conventional systems.^[37] Mechanical alternatives, while reducing ongoing labor, necessitate substantial upfront investment in specialized equipment, such as hilling machines priced at approximately $1,800 for entry-level models suitable for smaller operations.^[38] These costs can strain smaller farms, particularly where access to financing or maintenance resources is limited. Environmentally, hilling poses risks of soil erosion, especially on sloped terrain exposed to heavy rainfall, as the process disturbs soil structure and increases runoff potential. Studies in sloping arable lands have shown that potato hilling exacerbates erosion rates through heightened soil disturbance, potentially leading to loss of topsoil and nutrient depletion.^[39] Additionally, excessive use of heavy machinery for mechanical hilling can cause soil compaction, elevating bulk density and diminishing porosity, which impairs root growth and water infiltration over time. Regarding efficacy, research indicates that hilling may provide only minimal or non-significant yield improvements under optimal growing conditions, with some trials reporting slight positive effects that fail to reach statistical significance.^[30] It proves particularly ineffective in very sandy or pre-compacted soils, where poor cohesion limits mound formation and stability, reducing the practice's ability to enhance drainage or protect roots.^[40] These limitations highlight the need for site-specific assessments to avoid diminishing returns.

Historical Context and Examples

Historical Development

The practice of hilling, which involves mounding soil around plant bases to promote root development and protect crops, originated in ancient agricultural systems. In pre-Columbian Native American agriculture, it was evident in the "Three Sisters" polyculture, where corn, beans, and squash were planted together in earthen mounds around 1070 AD, allowing the crops to mutually support each other through shared soil and structure.^[41] This mounded technique, practiced by indigenous groups like the Iroquois and those in the Mississippi Valley, enhanced soil fertility and weed suppression without modern tools.^[42] In the Andes of South America, potatoes were domesticated around 8000–5000 BC. Later, around 300 BC, similar ridging and mounding methods using raised beds known as Waru Waru were employed for potato cultivation to improve drainage, warm the soil, and shield tubers from frost in high-altitude environments. These indigenous techniques formed the foundation for hilling's adaptation elsewhere. Potatoes were introduced from South America to Europe by the Spanish in the late 16th century, spreading as the crop gained acceptance across the continent by the 18th century.^[43] During the colonial period in North America, hilling evolved with the development of specialized tools, such as hilling hoes used on 17th- and 18th-century Tidewater Virginia plantations for mounding soil around tobacco and emerging row crops. Archaeological evidence from sites like Jamestown confirms these hoes' design for efficient soil throwing, reflecting European adaptations of indigenous practices amid plantation expansion.^[44] The 20th century brought mechanized refinements to hilling, driven by industrial agriculture in the U.S. and Europe, where disk hillers—implements using rotating disks to form ridges—emerged in the 1940s and 1950s to scale up operations for potatoes and other vegetables. This shift, exemplified by patents for adjustable disk systems, reduced labor while maintaining the practice's core benefits in large-scale farming.^[45]

Notable Examples

In 19th-century Ireland, manual hilling through the traditional "lazy bed" method was central to potato cultivation, involving the mounding of soil into ridges to plant seed potatoes, which maximized yields on marginal lands during the pre-famine era. This technique allowed a single acre to produce up to six tonnes of potatoes, sufficient to sustain a family of six for nearly a year, underscoring its role in supporting dense populations reliant on the crop. During the Great Famine (1845–1852), the lazy bed system's efficiency in poor, wet soils contributed to the high dependency on potatoes, though it proved vulnerable to blight when the crop failed en masse.^[46]^[47] In Alaska, research conducted in the late 1980s at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Palmer Research Center demonstrated the practical benefits of hilling on potato yields in cold climates. Experiments comparing hilled and non-hilled plots showed that hilling increased marketable (US #1) tuber yields by approximately 20–25%, from 11.8 tons per acre in non-hilled fields to 14.2–14.7 tons per acre in hilled treatments, primarily due to improved drainage, weed suppression, and reduced greening. Total yields also rose by 9–13%, highlighting hilling's role in enhancing quality and overall productivity in short-season environments.^[30] Contemporary organic farming practices often integrate hilling with cover crops to manage weeds in potato inter-rows, as evidenced by field trials in the upper Midwest. In one study, early hilling followed by interseeding red clover or hairy vetch as cover crops achieved over 80% weed suppression in potato rows, reducing reliance on mechanical cultivation while maintaining yields comparable to conventional systems. This approach buries weed seeds during hilling and leverages cover crop competition for light and nutrients in inter-rows, promoting sustainable weed control on diversified organic operations.^[36] In the Peruvian Andes, ridge hilling—known locally as "waru waru" or raised-bed systems—has been a traditional practice for cultivating native potato varieties, providing frost protection in high-altitude regions prone to temperature drops. These earthen ridges, often 4–10 meters wide and elevated 1 meter, warm the soil faster and create microclimates that shield tubers from overnight frosts, enabling reliable production of frost-sensitive Andean landraces like those in the Solanum tuberosum group Andigenum. Revived amid climate variability, this method has helped farmers on the Peru-Bolivia border sustain yields of diverse potato types without synthetic inputs.^[48]^[49] A notable variation of hilling appeared in early 20th-century U.S. Midwest corn farming through "hill dropping," where seeds were planted in clustered mounds spaced in checkrow patterns to facilitate cross-cultivation. Farmers in states like Illinois and Iowa dropped 3–4 kernels per hill using hand tools or early mechanical planters, then mounded soil around emerging plants to control weeds and support growth, achieving denser stands on fertile prairie soils. This method persisted into the 1920s before shifting to drilled rows, but it exemplified hilling's adaptability for row crops beyond tubers.^[50]^[51]

References

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As you hill up soil around the plants, incorporate 0.15 pounds actual nitrogen per 50 feet of row. Repeat the hilling and fertilization two weeks later. Note ...
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Aug 1, 2024 · Hilling: Hilling (piling soil, straw or compost up around the base of the plant) should start when the plant is about 6 inches tall, and it can ...
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When the plant is six inches tall, cover with another three inches of soil. This is called hilling and can be done again after six more inches of plant growth.Planting · Soil Requirements · Harvesting
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When the plants are about a foot tall, use your hoe to mound six to eight inches of soil continuously along the entire row of plants. This is called hilling.
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### Hilling in Potato Production: Summary
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