Do We Need The Must Have Gadgets?

Two weeks ago first seed catalogue arrived looking through I was amazed at the accesories on sale ,Five types of hoe which as far as I could see any sharp dutch hoe would do as good a job.An assortment of dibbers and string lines.As I delivered my monthly news letter to our plot holders I asked about how many used any type of hoe other than a dutch hoe,only two out of ninety plot holders.A few had tailor made garden lines these were older growers whose grandchildren had bought them as Christmas pressents.most used two small pieces of cane.Twenty one used home made dibbers none had a bought dibber.The most popular dibber for sowing seed in modules and planting out was the same as I use ,this is seventy five years old,never broken or replaced,never lost and better now than when I first had it.This wonder dibber...my index finger,first knuckle joint for sowing seed in modules full finger for potting on after pricking out,.The most popular tool for pricking out was an old table fork.I know allotmenteers are great recyclers and a bit careful with their cash,the question is do you improvise or buy the latest tools?

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Permalink Reply by Southbourne Gardens on September 24, 2012 at 16:39

My out look on this has been very similar to buying equipment for the kitchen, where gadgetry abounds, buy only what you will use on an almost daily basis, buy the best quality you can afford and look after it. Having the right tool for the job definitely makes the whole task of gardening easier and more of a pleasure.

As far as improvisation is concerned, I have a small artists trowel which cost seventy five pence and is just perfect for pricking out seedlings and potting them on.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on September 24, 2012 at 17:19

My allotment tools are Swiss Army Knife, Spade, Fork, Rake, Trowel, Hoe, Onion hoe, Watering can and Hosepipe all top quality, thus coming home with me, Like wise, finger for a dibber, thats all you need.

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Permalink Reply by tony southall on September 24, 2012 at 19:33

Sound advice like the similarity with kitchen gadgets and I love improvisation One of our plot holders built this shed entirely from pallets that were free

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Permalink Reply by Malagrowther on September 24, 2012 at 19:50

I have dibber that's just ideal for planting out leeks - It's a broken off fork handle. Nothing else has quite the right dimensions. Before I obtained this, when my garden fork snapped, I used to us the wrong end of a rake. The new implement is a big improvement!

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on September 24, 2012 at 22:07

Like..............

Malagrowther said:

I have dibber that's just ideal for planting out leeks - It's a broken off fork handle. Nothing else has quite the right dimensions. Before I obtained this, when my garden fork snapped, I used to us the wrong end of a rake. The new implement is a big improvement!

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on September 24, 2012 at 23:21

My leeks are always small when I plant them out so my dibber is made from a child's spade I found at the seaside. Actually when I say my dibber I mean one of them. When I manage to get fat leeks to plant out I'll use the one made from a broken garden fork.

But back to the original question...no, we don't need any of those gadgets as they don't make us better gardeners. Years ago I knew a photographer who took some stunning images with an old Praktica camera. At an exhibition someone asked her what equipment she used and was more than miffed to find that, although they'd spent hundreds of pounds of state of the art gear they could still only manage happy snaps.

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Permalink Reply by Malagrowther on September 24, 2012 at 23:56

Colin, the leeks aren't that big to start with. You've got to leave room for growth!

Colin Robinson said:

My leeks are always small when I plant them out so my dibber is made from a child's spade I found at the seaside. Actually when I say my dibber I mean one of them. When I manage to get fat leeks to plant out I'll use the one made from a broken garden fork.