[Donnay]

Hello, can you plant main crop potatoes with a bulb planter, or is it best digging a trench? Any advice welcome.

[mumofstig]

Yes, you can 

[snowdrops]

I've got an old potato spreader given to me by old plot neighbour. It is similar to a bulb planter except you plunge it in the soil the open the handles & the base part opens(spreads) & you drop the potato in.

[Donnay]

That tool sounds great, shame they don't make them any more!

[snowdrops]

I'll try & get some pictures. I was very touched when he gave it me when he gave up his plot. He'd lent it me the year before & it made it so much easier. Considering when I got my plot next to me he would hardly speak to me  . I worked my charm on him 

[mumofstig]

Ah, but they do
http://www.grovesnurseries.co.uk/products/potato-planter-tool-11229.aspx

[DD.]

That might have to go on the festive present list!

[snowdrops]

Yes that's it. Well done mum. Mine is an antique though, he said it had been his dad's & he was 86 or so. I use it on better prepared soil than that though, hubby  rotorvated it on Sunday for me so it's lovely & loose.

[gremlin]

I plant my spuds with  a trowel, like bulbs.   But then I only have 100 to plant, so it isn't too band.  Much easier than digging trenches. 

(an Apprentice member of DD's no-faff-gardening-club)

[Donnay]

Just treated myself, many thanks!!!

[Lottiman]

I made my own planter, I bought a five foot length of 2x2 planed timber, drilled through 8 inches up from the bottom and put through a nice thick peice of threded steel bar and put a washer and nut either side. I Could not be with out it now just work your way down the bed on a plank  you can do 100 spuds in no time   Or if you have the help of young daughter in which case things take a little longer 

[DD.]

I plant my spuds with  a trowel, like bulbs.   But then I only have 100 to plant, so it isn't too band.  Much easier than digging trenches. 

(an Apprentice member of DD's no-faff-gardening-club)

Mine are currently done with a long handled trowel so there's less bending! (But the bulb planter is looking a good option).

[RJR_38]

Hmmm if only I had known these ideas before crippling myself this year when planting in bulk. Does this plant them deep enough though? I dug trenches almost a spade deep and have already earthed up twice as they are peeping through - would bulb planters really be able to go deep enough?

[Lottiman]

Funnily enough my daughter thought we were half way to australia I always think there deep enough when i'm trying to find them at harvest

[neal]

I use a long handled bulb planter saves bending and my back