[NorthEssexsmallholding]

does anyone use a potatoe fork?  Trying to avoid forking out (sorry  on buying one of these.  I seem to remember seeing something you could buy or make for a conventional fork to stop it from spearing the tatties.  The thing is I've got quite a lot to lift as I'm selling them and want to avoid damage.

Or is in the technique of lifting rather than the tool?

[Fleecewife]

I use an ordinary garden fork, but put it into the ground carefully, vertically and well back from the plant.  Some varieties have the tubers very close to the plant whereas others grow more widely spaced away for the plant.  If you stab the fork down then you will almost certainly spear a spud, but if you are a bit more gentle you will be able to feel if you are approaching something other than soil and stop in time.  It doesn't take any longer than going at it like a demon - just pace yourself 

[Hermit]

I keep looking out for potato forks but the last one at a croft auction went for £40.00!!! I was given a sort of mucking out fork that works great but you do get the dreaded crunch occasssionaly