Topic: Help And Advice Needed For Allotment Virgin Part II

[Nobbyman]

Hi All  ;D

 Thanks for your earlier advice about the allotment. Hope I'm not being too much of a pain asking all these questions, but does anyone have any good advice on what garden tools needed and where I can get fairly in-expensive but good quality tools   ???

 Not asking for too much I'm I? ;)

[piglit]

Hi Nobbyman,
I am also a newbie to the whole growing phenomemon... I found lots of lovely tools at car boot sales.  I got some old but very good quality things at bargain prices so that would be my suggestion (also quite fun).  One thing I will say is I think you really do get what you pay for, my cheapo B&Q fork and trowel are very mishappen after minimal use and the cheaper fork that my parents donated for my garden (as oppose to the lottie which has all the high quality tools) is much harder work do dig with and feels generally rather flimsy.  
Good luck!

[Nobbyman]

Thanks Piglet!! ::)

Kool name by the way!!

[Mimi]

Hi there, I got a great stainless steel fork and spade from asda.  Think they only cost between £7-8 .  nice wooden handle and quite light to use.  Doesnt have to cost much...  I would also suggest giving the local car booty a look too.  There is usually something around there well worn in and usually reasonable in price.

[Nobbyman]

Thanks Mimi!!

 I'll pop into Asda on the way home!!!

[Jesse]

I bought a really good hosepipe, the coil kind, from Robert Dyas at a good price, look out for their sales. Ebay is another place to keep an eye on but know your prices otherwise you can end up paying more when you include postage prices. I bought a really good hand spade and fork (the small kind) from Ikea at a bargain price and it has outlived all other similar purchases. Drop rather large hints when a birthday or christmas is approaching!  ;D

The things I use most are .... fork, spade, rake, pruning shears, hand fork, hand spade, gloves, an old kitchen knife to aid pricking out seedlings, buckets (look at builder centre, they have builders flexible rubber buckets at a couple of pounds each and are a god send for all manner of jobs), hosepipe, watering can. If you buy a water butt or plastic compost bin your local council can usually provide them at a subsidised price. I believe a hoe is invaluable but I don't use one as my garden is virtually weed free but an allotment would be a different story.

[Nobbyman]

Thank you again for you're advice. I think I had better get an hoe though!! :P

[Yarwooda]

I like the clip on wolf tools that come with different sized handels and different clip on tools.
Ideal if you dont have much storage and if your lottie is not safe to keep tools on they will easily fit in a container for easy transport.

Not cheap
But worth thinking of.

Alan

[TrailRat]

Wolf tools seem like a good idea as I can pack it away on the trailer for the bike. Even for those trail building jobs

TrailRat

[pot]

 ;D hi we got some tools from the allotment shed that people had left behind these were only 1 & 2 pound also we got our spade and fork from a car boot again very cheap try these and good luck

[Nobbyman]

Hi all!!

 Aparently there is a stall at the Castle Coombe car boot sale where an old man sales re-conditioned garden tools that he works on in his retirement. It's this Sunday, think I'll give this a try 8)

 Wish me luck!!

[Pixie]

Managed to get 12 wilkinson sword garden tools for £7  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D at the local house hold auctions. I don't think any have been used as the spade still had a £24.99 sticker on the handle - bargin!!!

Sam

[Nobbyman]

Cheap as chips that Pixie!!!

Got a reconditioned fork (loverly new wooden handle) at the Caste Combe Car Boot sale for £6!! and I though I had a bargin!! ::)

[Pixie]

I KNOW

chuffed to bits!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sam

[Pixie]

 >:( :( >:( :( >:( :( >:( :( >:( :( >:( :( >:( :( >:( :(

Not a happy bunny  >:(

I lent some tools to someone and they were returned to me this morning. Okay they were clean but the wood was absolutley wet - soaked right through! I don't think that they have seen the inside of his shed since they were borrowed 2/3 weeks ago.  >:(

Can anyone suggest a way of these drying out with out being damaged? I would hate for the wood to split etc as they were in quite good condition before I lent them out.

And don't worry I won't be lending out anything to that person again.

Sam

[Nobbyman]

It wasn't me!!! :o

[Pixie]

 ;D