Testing potato forks
Geoff tests forks designed for lifting potatoes
Over recent years, numerous people have asked me whether potato forks still exist and where to get them. Spurred on by these questions and requests, I decided I’d better look into it and give them a test for harvesting and moving potatoes. Some are very much designed for this role, but can be used for different root crops and purposes too, while others are a variation on the ‘standard’ fork design.
1 Compass Potato Fork, £39.99
With its light weight (just 1.975kg/4lb 6oz) and long working height (85cm/33½in) ash shaft with T-bar handle, this fork was the most comfortable and easy to use. The four 30cm (12in) long, flat-fronted, spear-shaped, carbon steel tines with rounded tips were easy to insert into even quite heavy clay soil and harvested the potatoes with minimal damage. With gaps of between 3-4cm (1¼-1½in) between the tines, it harvested even quite small potatoes.
2 Bulldog Tools Premier 9 Prong Potato Fork, £108.86 ex. VAT
This is an extremely sturdy fork with ash shaft and nine round, carbon steel tines 2-2½cm (¾-1in) apart, with a bulb end to reduce damage to the crop. The rounded basket shape of the 36cm (14in) long, 28cm (11in) wide head ensures you can carry a hefty load, but this meant a heavy weight, too. Weighing in at 3.15kg (6lb 15oz) and a working height of only 69cm (27in), meant it was a bit of a beast to use and lift the crop from the soil.
3 Draper Tools 10 Prong Potato Fork, £36.82
Like the Bulldog Tools’ fork, this one features a rounded, basket-shaped head, measuring 42x36cm (16½x14¼in), which helped get the tines under the potatoes and provided leverage to lift the crop and soil. The head comprises 10 rounded, thin, forged carbon steel tines, 3-4cm (1¼-1½in) apart, while the ash shaft has a longer working height of 85cm (33½in). Overall, at 3.12kg (6lb 14oz), this fork weighs more or less the same as the Bulldog Tools’ fork.
4 Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Potato Fork, £53.49
Looking more like a traditional digging fork, this has slightly wider tines than the others tested here, with gaps of 5-5½cm (2-2¼in) between them. Weighing in at 2.35kg (5lb 3oz) and with a working height of 76cm (30in), it was comfortable to use, but not much different to a standard fork for potato lifting. Strong and good quality with an ash shaft and hammer-finish, epoxy-coated carbon steel head and socket.
5 Burgon & Ball Potato Harvesting Scoop, £16.99
This stainless steel 18½x14cm (7¼x5½in) scoop with ash shaft has a working height of 69cm (27in), and is designed for collecting container-grown potatoes. If used on those in the ground, it is recommended to “first loosen the soil around the plants”. The end bar prevented stabbing the potatoes, and the 2cm (¾in) gaps between the tines ensured even small potatoes were collected and gave a good sieving action.