On 18/08/2012 13:42, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Sat, 18 Aug 2012 08:20:07 +0000, kay
wrote:


David Hill;966866 Wrote:
We hear a lot about weeding but nothing about hoeing.
My favourite hoe is a "Stirrup" hoe, for those that don't know it
http://tinyurl.com/cqsyrvc
This tool makes weeding a little less of a chore. The stirrup-shaped
blade swivels back and forth like the hips of a hula dancer (hence the
name), slicing weed roots below the soil line. Because it’s a
long-handled tool, you can cut out weeds while standing, which is a huge

back saver. And the blade oscillates back and forth, so it works both
when you pull it toward you and when you push it away, making it easy to

maneuver in tight spaces between plants.


Interesting the different approach. I've never got on with a hoe, and I
think maybe having stony sticky clay soil is part of it - certainly
running it along just below the soil surface doesn't work.

Oh I do so agree! IMO hoeing (?SP) is a waste of time. Even when I use
a sharpened hoe blade run just below the soil surface, it seldom seems
to cut the weeds off as everyone says it's supposed to, it just
uproots them. Then, a shower or two later, they spring up fresh as
daisies and you're back where you started. It might work in a blazing
hot dry summer when the uprooted weeds burn up quickly, but we haven't
had one of those for a long while.

I prefer doing my gardening sitting down, so inching along on my knees
with a test match on the radio suits me fine. And I get the added bonus
of the chance of a good look at anything that's growing, and the ability
to save anything interesting.

I have a small hand-hoe, narrow blade (about 3"), short handle like a
trowel, that I hoe with from a squatting position (knees still free
from arthritis, thank goodness). I gather the uprooted weeds as I go
and put them on the compost heap. My dictum is that if it isn't there,
it can't re-grow.

For those that want to be close to their weeds/plants as they hoe then
there is always the "Onion hoe"
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ion-Hoe-A1.jpg
Many available at various prices, what you want to make sure is that the
blade is flat on the ground when the handle is at 45degrees to the ground.
We used to use these for singling lettuce seedlings after hoening and
cross hoeing with a motor hoe, this left us small blocke of 3 or 4
sedings, and we hoed to leave just 1.
Also for weeding in the crop later.
To save your back you rest one hand on your knee as you are bent over.
we would be hoeing for 3 or 4 hours a day in season.
David @ a sunny end of Swansea Bay.