[harry]

I've just seen a potatoe planting tool demonstrated, it makes a hole and you put the seed potatoe in and then withdraw the tool leaving the spud in the hole. Has anyone tried this method of planting spuds. I usually dig a trench and space the seed potatoes along the bottom.

[Trikidiki]

I used a bulb planter to plant mine at the weekend.

[Goneterseed]

I have a 3 x 3 fence post with a point on the end. I screwed a piece of 2 x 2 across it 8" from the end which I use to press the point into the ground with my foot. It also acts as a depth stop so the hole is a consistant depth. I just drop the spud into the resulting hole. It is so much quicker and easier than digging the trench.

[solway cropper]

Not sure why you would need a special tool to plant spuds when folk have been planting them every which way for hundreds of years. Oh, I get it..they want to take your money!!

[Trikidiki]

I used a bulb planter to plant mine at the weekend.

Not sure why you would need a special tool to plant spuds when folk have been planting them every which way for hundreds of years. Oh, I get it..they want to take your money!!

Not sure why I have a bulb planter, I've never felt the need for one to plant bulbs. No idea if I bought it or inherited it from somewhere. 

[Robster]

I heard about an old guy on our lotty that used a long handled too with a bulb planter on the bottom.  Without bending down he could drop a potato into the hole and cover it up again.  A pretty neat solution to a problem allowing an old chap to continue with a hobby he loves.  I've locked that one away for future reference.

[Eblana]

I use a long handled bulb planter for my spuds and a trowel for my bulbs

[Dantheman]

I used a bulb planter to plant mine at the weekend.

I do it this way too work well enough for me.

[Snoop]

Could you post a link to this tool, Harry? If not, do you know what it's called?

[harry]

Its supplied by groves nurseries

http://www.grovesnurseries.co.uk/products/potato-planter-tool-11229.aspx#.VwTo48eodHg

[New shoot]

The link took me to the home page, so fixed it so it went to the description page for the tool   

Looks like a nifty piece of kit for anyone who can't or doesn't want to bend down to plant their spuds 

[grendel]

I use the handle of my rake or hoe and wiggle it to make the hole bigger

[ARPoet]

25 quid for a tool you use once a year? No Thanks.. I will stick with my trusty old trowel and a kneeling pad.

[Snoop]

25 quid for a tool you use once a year? No Thanks.. I will stick with my trusty old trowel and a kneeling pad.

Depends how many potatoes you have to plant and the state of your back, I guess.

I have one of these (page in Spanish, but the video is self-explanatory and has no dialogue).

http://www.nasarresl.com/es/plantador_manual_pulmiplant_con_punta_reforzada.php

It's an absolute godsend for planting out leek and onion seedlings and any plants I grow in modules or plug plants I buy. I regarded it as a good buy and would highly recommend it. As I always chit my potatoes, I've never used it for planting them out for fear of breaking off the chits. But if you don't have chitted potatoes, it would be absolutely brilliant for that.

The one you link to, Harry, looks like it's hard work to open the jaws, mind.  I have arthritis and might find it difficult to operate. If you know someone who has one, it might be worth giving it a go before you buy. But anything that keeps us gardening for longer has to be a good thing!

[harry]

The spanish one looks a brilliant piece of kit, I wonder where I could get one. I plant about 100 seed potatoes so £25 pounds isn't that much  especially if I shared it with my allotment neighbour