Topic: Potato fork

[djbrenton]

One of our gardeners has the best potato fork I've ever seen. It is designed for tarmac laying and is about 16 inches wide, curved and has bobbles on the end of each tine. Perfect for lifting pots without spiking them so if you're looking for the ideal tool, check out builders merchants rather than garden centres.

[mat]

What a good idea; I'll keep an eye out for these

mat

[kenkew]

I wonder if a second garden fork could have 'bobbles' welded to the tines for the same effect?

[sarah]

...or... a detachable set of bobbles...that would somehow not come off when you were using it.

[tim]

Certainly a bright lead, DJ, but - interfering again - the bobble forks, surely, are for shovelling potatoes, rather than digging them?

More normal to use flat tined forks for the latter?

[Curryandchips]

Anything that gets them out of the ground without puncturing them works in my book...

[Busby]

I have been planting and harvesting potatoes for years and years. There are special potato lifting forks on the market if you search carefully. But I have never needed one - take a little care and few potatoes are damaged. These can easily be sorted and eaten first.

Keep things simple is my motto.

[tim]

Yes indeed, Busby - & forks? - like the flat tined ones?

Curry - puncturing? It's the doer not the fork!!

[Curryandchips]

Thinking through both our comments Tim, I believe we are both right. Any form of tool is likely to damage a tuber if it contacts it I guess, irrespective of the tine design. Perhaps I need to put my thinking head on.
Like everyone, I have my fair share of tubers sorted for 'immediate' use.