Asparagus spider
An asparagus spider is a harvesting machine for asparagus harvesting, which enables the continuous harvesting of asparagus ridges under foil. The name is subject to a change in meaning, since the term asparagus spider was originally understood as a horse-drawn machine for piling up asparagus ridges.
An asparagus spider consists of a cart on four wheels that drives slowly over the asparagus dam. The thermal film is lifted in front of the spider, guided over the tubular frame of the wagon to a height of about 1.2 m and, after the dam has been mechanically smoothed, placed back on the asparagus dam behind the spider. In the meantime, the asparagus cutter can continuously harvest the asparagus under the foil. Depending on the model, side seats with chest rests are available for two harvest workers, which enable asparagus to be picked while seated.
The spider is driven by a battery-powered electric motor with about a day's capacity or by an internal combustion engine . The asparagus cutter can set the speed of the spider and start or stop it by means of a cable pull. About two asparagus spiders are required per hectare.
Representations
In the coat of arms of the former municipality Cobbel , now a suburb of Tangerhütte , a historic asparagus spider is displayed.