Forks and Spades advice please

[andytomato]

I have just been told that i have my first allotment !!!
Im a complete novice and am wondering if any one can recommend a good fork and spade for a lady gardener ...

[Two_Sheds]

I have tried various and varied tools over the years, and I can thoroughly, highly recommend this one ... it's small, light but very sharp.

Shop around though ... I paid £22 for mine, and have seen it for £17 online.

[Glutton4...]

I'd go for stainless steel too - much easier to keep in good condition. Personally I always make sure that the item is made of as few individual pieces as possible. Those with a separate handle never seem to last as long (I broke my Dad's the other day ) Also make sure the top of the spade is thick and sturdy where it joins the shaft - I have had spades that flex and then snap when digging in hard ground - ie Essex clay, which I guess you're familiar with! Cheap tools don't last, that's why they're cheap.

Being a 'girl' I always go for nice looking tools too! Good luck with your search/shopping, let us know how many incidentals you buy too - ie seeds lol!

[andytomato]

Thanks Two sheds ,
that looks the kind of size i'm after and i have a spear and jackson small hand fork which i love . Hopefully it will be a good investment but i will shop around.,
Thanks for your advice Glutton,
I allways think you get what you pay for at times , i saw some spades and forks in Asda yesterday for £3 each in the sale but (a) they were very heavy and (b) how long will they last?

ps i already have that seed addiction !!! oh dear

[taff]

don't bother with asda tools you'll be using lots. I bought a fork last ear, lasted about 2 months before it bent over. Just bought a very nice stainless steel one, much much better and easier to work with.

[rustylady]

Definitely go for stainless steel. If you're petite then go for what they call a "border" spade and fork. Slightly smaller and easier to use.

[Two_Sheds]

this one is very similar to the Spear & Jackson ...Wilkinson Sword Power Border Spade

[geoff]

There's no simple answer, just go to garden centres and DIY stores, and keep trying till you find something you like

By all means treat yourself to something new and shiny, but don't be in a hurry to buy anything else. If you've just got an allotment then someone else has vacated it, and when people leave an allotment they tend to give up gardening altogether. This means that most allotments will gradually accumulate all sorts of tools and accessories that are shared out amongst the remaining tennants; so ask around when you move in, and you might be given all sorts of stuff
Or it might just be left on the plot. When I moved onto mine I found a fork, 2 rakes, 2 hoes, a hand fork, 2 hand trowels and all kinds of other stuff

My local old Woolworth's store has been reopened by a discount chain, Home Bargains or something similar. They are selling Wilkinson Sword s/s tools at much reduced prices, like rakes and hoes from about £22 or £24 to £5; I got a cultivator for £5. I think the forks and rakes were down from about £28 to £9

[geoff]

Oops, I meant forks and spades , of course

Go to your library and start reading gardening books, that's a way of getting instant experience. Look for books with " vegetables" or "allotment" in the title, as most general gardening books tend to concentrate on flowers

Best Wishes, and remember that an expert is just someone who's made more mistakes than you

[BFG]

You could use no dig methods and save the expense, hard work and dodgy back.

Digging destroys the soil structure and kills the soil life. It also encourages weeds. Dormant seeds will spring into life when you disturb the soil. It's natures way of healing the wound and preventing soil erosion by wind and rain.

[Alison]

this one is very similar to the Spear & Jackson ...Wilkinson Sword Power Border Spade

I think that's an updated model of the one I have, I find it brilliant. It's strong enough to do some serious digging but light enough that I can use it OK. Have dug 12 10' by 4' beds plus a few other bits and pieces with it at the lottie and it's not bent or caused me back problems, both of which I see as a good thing.

[andytomato]

Dear All thanks for all your great advice .... went with Two Sheds recomendation . Went into homebase among others and spear and Jackson seemed a good quality and weight, plus a bonus i was able to use my nectar points so ended up with fork and spade for the price of the spade.
Only took me a year to save the points!!!! Oh well

Hopefully off to lottie for first time today , just waitng for my keys but i have seen my plot and have inherited a row of strawberry plants and a lovely crown of ruhbarb. I have a half plot i thnk that is their policy for newbies but suits me for now .
Happy digging All