simplest method for planting spuds plus other question

Quote from: chili on March 24, 2010, 14:26

i also need a decent hoe, so what is the most universal type to have in the allotment armoury?

I also use a swoe same as DD.

I use a medium azada for general digging and also making the trench for my potatoes.   I use the hand held heart shaped pointed azada for planting seeds directly, e.g. making rows for peas, beetroot etc.   Both very useful tools, most importantly I find I can dig lots without getting back ache, which I do with a conventional spade, even a lightweight ladies' type.
I got mine from this place, although you may be able to get them elsewhere.
http://www.get-digging.co.uk/tools.htm

After preparing the bed, I simply dib a hole with an old fork handle, pop a potato in, then rake over.  When the plants appear I earth up a with a draw hoe, drawing a small amount up over a number of weeks (keeps the weeds down as well).

I trench my spuds. It's not the simplest - I know that's what you were looking for, but the amount of slugs egss that were uncovered in the process for the local bird population to feed on, made the effort worthwhile, in my opinion.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the swoe (see link for illustration). It's got three cutting edges, so it works on the forward, backward and side strokes. My dutch hoe never gets used these days.

http://www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk/image/cache/data/1111116W-p2-500x500.jpg

Swoe... would certainly be my choice. Since buying one a few years back my dutch hoe has hardly seen the light of day. The swoe can do all a dutch hoe can then more. Great for getting inbetween plants, reaching behind and around. It can be worked in many directions. Well worth hunting one down.

Planting 100 seed potatoes:
I use a Wolf Soil Miller (as my father-in-law gave me his) to break up the soil after forking through,
next I cut a trench with a pointed draw-hoe,
dig individual holes with a hand-trowel placing seed spuds as I go along
then fill the hole trench with a rake.
Later I use a draw hoe or rake to earth up once the first growth appears.

everything on my plot gets planted using the rake handle, for a bigger hole, just wiggle it round a bit, saves a lot of bending. potatoes get a deeper hole than beans etc.
Grendel