What is ridging and why it is advisable to perform it

Ridging is an operation that involves bringing soil to the base of plants. A certain amount of soil is then piled at the foot of the seedling so that its basal part is covered. This is done for several purposes: to protect against frost, to aid irrigation (thanks to the open furrows in the inter-row of horticultural crops), to allow better control of plant health, and to encourage whitening.

It is also often done similarly to mulching in managing smaller weeds, which are covered by the soil - but the effect is still limited in time. This is not to be confused with weeding, which is done to remove surface crust and weeds, while ridging is a kind of “mechanical weeding” that helps give soil (and thus nutrients, moisture, temperature) to crops.

Ridging is a widely used practice in fields and farms but is particularly valuable for the horticulture sector. Useful for many crops, it is most effective in potato cultivation. But it also proves useful for growing other vegetables, such as:

• cabbage
• fennel
• celery
• leek
• onion.

For all the types of vegetables we have seen (and particularly the potato), ridging can bring several benefits. So much so that, depending on the intended objective, ridging itself takes on specific designations:

• Support ridging. The greater amount of soil made available to the plant (through accumulation from the inter-rows) leads to more space in which to grow, so that roots and stolons can develop without problems. More soil also means, as we said, better and smoother passage of nutrients (mineral salts and water). It can be considered a “horticultural” version, somewhat less hardy and durable than bed forming.
• Control ridging. This operation removes the weed present near the seedling. Thus the crop is freer to increase vegetative volume and weeds have less light and space to be able to develop. This benefits the quality of the crop.
• Protective ridges. Another benefit is that ridging helps protect the most sensitive parts of the plant in adverse weather conditions and very low temperatures. With ideal moisture maintenance and better water distribution, the seedling is also better able to withstand periods of drought.
• Bleached ridges. This is the greatest benefit for crops such as fennel, celery, leeks and vegetables of this type. The presence of more soil around the plant stem hinders the passage and penetration of sunlight. As a result, the vegetable remains whiter and more tender, improving its aesthetic and taste qualities, which is beneficial for the market. For potatoes, on the other hand, the operation prevents the greening of the surface of the tubers.

The best time to tamp is when the soil is temperate, neither too wet nor too dry (we are talking about a water content around 40-50%). As you can easily guess, it is best to tamp during the middle seasons, spring and fall.

In particular, fall ridging has a preventive function to protect the plant against the onset of winter and the drop in temperature.

Spring ridging, on the other hand, has a qualitative function, aiming to improve and increase the productivity and quality of the crop.

In general, it is better to do the ridging shortly after the seedling is born, because the operation becomes more complex and articulated when the plant is mature (care must be taken not to ruin the leaves and the superficial roots); care must also be taken to tamp the right amount of soil: if it is too little, the desired effect will not be achieved; if it is too much, it may cause a slowdown in development.

Among the various types of agricultural and horticultural machinery, the company designs and builds mulch layer and bedformer machines. Cosmeco also specializes in customizing its equipment according to the customer's needs, thus offering the possibility of working according to personal needs.

A type of "preventative" and more durable tillage, because it allows ideal seedbed preparation, is bedforming. And Cosmeco's bedformers in particular are adjustable and suitable for all types of soil. They help to create compact ridges or seedbeds, which are useful for plant development, and allow the soil in the ridge to be perfectly broken up and compacted, ensuring optimal germination and growth of all types of crops.

If you would like more information about Cosmeco's soil preparation equipment for your crop, please contact us by filling out the form in the Contact Us section. We will get back to you as soon as possible!