[MyAchingBack]

I'm thinking of buying a cultivator. What is your preferred choice, 3 prong cultivator or a hoe??

[Gwiz]

I think a hoe is more use. Having said that, I use a swoe and also a cultivator

[DD.]

Swoe - definitely!

[MyAchingBack]

I wouldn't know how to use a swoe. I don't think I have even seen one 

[DD.]

One of these:



It has three cutting edges, so it hoes on the back-stroke as well as the forward, also a sharp edge for a "side swipe". One of my better investments.

[MyAchingBack]

Sold! Thanks DD.

[DD.]

Have a look around for offers.

I've got two, one a Joseph Bentley one and one a Wilkinson Sword one, (plot and home). Both bought at separate times from Wyevale when they had offers.

[grendel]

I prefer the old fashioned hoe with what looks like short fingers front and back, each finger is sharpened, front and back.
mind you I have only ever seen them in kent
Grendel

[Growster...]

A Swoe is a marvellous tool, and very well worth the investment!

It doesn't do the same job as a cultivator anyway; I use it to cut weeds down, not get down 10"!

;0)

[DD.]

My dutch hoe has not seen the light of day since I got the swoe.

It gets into parts other hoes cannot reach.

[MyAchingBack]

I prefer the old fashioned hoe with what looks like short fingers front and back, each finger is sharpened, front and back.
mind you I have only ever seen them in kent
Grendel

That looks very medieval 

[snowdrops]

I too made use of an offer at Wyevale & bought a swoe,I found it took a bit of getting used too after 30 years of using a dutch hoe,but I've persevered & I know find it too be well worth the effort,I can get in very close too the plants without too many casualties  :blink:.
A chat on our plots has what I think might be a chillington hoe, that had even more sharp sides.

[snowdrops]

No just googled & it's not a chillinton hoe, my plot neighbour's got, so I don't know what it is.

[Growster...]

Snows, a pic will help here!

A Chillington hoe has just one wide, heavy cutting edge, as you've probably found out!

Bet you'd like a Growstada though, wouldn't you..;0)

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=85597.msg951930#msg951930

[snowdrops]

Ha ha Growster areyou setting up in business then? I have got something similar but not shaped at the front just straight,my Dad mackled it together. I use it for making the trench for potatoes & earthing up. I'll try to get photo's next time I see the chap,but with rain like today goodness knows when I'll get there again unless I buy a boat/ark