What is hilling and what is it for?

Hilling is the process of adding soil to the roots and stems of plants. Hilling is used in potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, peanuts and many other crops. This process has several goals. When soil is poured onto the stem, additional roots are formed on it, which improves plant nutrition. When hilling, the top layer is loosened and more oxygen is supplied to the plant. And, in turn, moisture is better retained in the loosened earth, which protects the plant from drying out.