The Poultry Keeper

Lisa · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:20 am Post subject: Hoe or spade to clear allotment?

Has anyone tried using a hoe for clearing ground instead of digging with a spade? Obviously I'm thinking of my allotment here.

When I went to the potato day yesterday there was a stall from Implementations (who make copper tools) and I've seen Chillington Hoes advertised in Kitchen Garden Mag before as well.

The woman on the stall yesterday said most of the rest of the world uses hoes more than spades. She said you can let gravity do a lot of the work (as the hoe falls onto the soil) rather than having to push a spade into the ground. And as they have longer handles, there is less bending for the back (you can see why I'm particularly interested in them Wink

)

They're not cheap - but then neither is a couple of trips the chiropractor Confused

The Implementations tools were really beautiful too (not something I thought I'd ever say about a garden tool!) and just felt both balanced and light when I picked them up.... I came home with a Sirius Hoe

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

It depends on, if the allotment has been used in the previous season.

It only really needs to be turned over properly once in the year, to add air, and stop the soil getting too compacted.

You could hire a rotivator and quickly rotivate it all, then you would only need a hoe to keep it clear after that. (saves a lot of the back ache )

nigel · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:31 am Post subject:

it's a different technique but the results are the same, i quite like using a mattock type to dig with and find it easier than a spade in many respects.

Heather · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:44 am Post subject:

Rotovators aren't easy to control either - I'm not allowed to use ours Rolling Eyes

nigel · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:12 am Post subject:

i have a mantis tiller and that's fairly easy to control, though i wouldn't try using it on virgin unbroken ground it does need to be dug over first, then it makes an amazing tilth

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

I can't use a rotavator on our soil as it is clay based and tends to pan, so I use a fork once a year to dig it and then a hoe to keep it clear after that. Our soil is very fertile and I am hoping that on year after enough manure dug in it will be easier to work (well I'm dreaming anyway!!).

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6915 Location: isle of lewis

i've got an azada ,although as a child in italy they were know as a zappa ,love mine wouldn't be without it ,used to turrn over the allotment ,use it swollowly for hoeing and earthing up potatoes ,still use it here for digging ditches and digging out clumps
i love mine ,
but why not really save your back Idea

suz

Lisa · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject:

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6915 Location: isle of lewis

get a pig

,sorry couldn't resist that's what i'm using to clear the back garden this year Wink

suz

Lisa · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:35 pm Post subject:

LOL!! One day I will have to! Razz

I've watched too many episodes of River Cottage, and taken too much of a liking to bacon since becoming... err.... non-vegetarian (is that the right term?) not to give it a go.

But I'm not allowed to keep animals on the allotment, so I'll have to do the work myself Rolling Eyes

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6915 Location: isle of lewis

my downfall was little house on the praire and the good life ,
suz

mojo · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject:

buy the BH a rotovater for birthday..............mojo

Lisa · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject:

LOL!! Can't wait until September Mojo Laughing

Besides, the allotment is defintely more mine than his, so I don't think he'll fall for that one!

mojo · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject:

how about for easter with a choccy egg

Lisa · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject:

Well that's different - if he wants to buy ME a rotovator and a chocolate egg Rolling Eyes

Lis