Growing a vegetable garden is an increasingly popular hobby, captivating even those living in cities: a trend accelerated by the pandemic that sees more and more young people among its followers.
The sensitivity towards organic and eco-sustainability, the choice of fresh vegetables free from harmful chemicals, along with a proven stress-relief effect, are the motivations that drive people to engage in this activity.
You can make use of the space you have: whether it's a large or small plot of land or a few pots on the balcony.
Before starting, in addition to having basic knowledge about the type of soil, sunlight exposure, or the choice of the most suitable plants, it is necessary to equip yourself with the right tools for working the soil.
The soil preparation phase, which precedes sowing or transplanting, is indeed fundamental for achieving good results.
In this article, you will learn about the essential tools for working the soil correctly. The good news is that for medium-small plots, you won't have to spend a fortune: just a few simple tools, the same ones our grandparents used.
When choosing tools, it's good practice to consider their manageability, based on your abilities and strength. This way, you can work more comfortably and reduce the risk of injury.
Here are the topics we will explore in this article:
- 3 Essential Tools for Working the Soil
- Small hand tools for growing a vegetable garden in balcony pots
- Working the soil with children: which tools to choose?
- Watering the garden while saving water is possible!
- How to care for and protect the garden?
- How to choose the best tools for working the soil?
The 3 essential tools for working the soil
There are various tools available for working the soil, but there are 3 that are absolutely essential.
Each will be indispensable for each specific phase of soil preparation, namely: the spade, the hoe, and the rake.
1. The spade: digs deep into the soil and removes roots
The spade is a fundamental tool for working the soil and preparing it to host your garden.
What is the spade used for?
Digging with a spade serves to work the soil deeply, allowing you to eliminate weeds and any roots left over from previous crops.
With this tool, you will break the soil into clumps that you will leave exposed to winter frosts.
When digging, the steel blade is sunk about 20-30 cm and turned to create the clump. After this operation, the soil will be softer.
Before starting, make sure the soil is not too wet. To do this, simply turn over the first clump and see if the blade is dirty with mud or not.
The spade is similar to a shovel but differs in that, to sink it, you use the force of your foot pressing on the appropriate step.
When choosing the shape of the spade that best suits your needs, consider the characteristics of your soil: the pointed one, penetrating the soil more easily, is more suitable if the soil is harder and difficult to work. Conversely, you can also opt for a square shape.
Pay attention to the handle, which should be:
- Proportional in length to your height, to avoid back pain
- Made of sturdy material, preferably wood
Similar to the spade, the shovel, or spade, can be used to move soil and spread fertilizer.
2. The hoe: the oldest multifunctional tool for working the soil
Hoeing is the working phase that takes place at the end of winter to prepare the soil for sowing. This operation serves to break the clumps created with the spade and make the top 10/20 cm of soil finer and softer.
During this phase, the fertilizer previously spread is also incorporated into the soil.
The hoe however has many other functions. Not by chance, this tool is one of the oldest and a true symbol of the farming world, so much so that it features in sayings and proverbs like "In the plains or in the mountains, without a hoe, you can't eat".
The hoe is also used to:
- Break the roots of weeds and thus remove them
- Dig channels for rainwater drainage
- Hearth the plants, meaning to move some soil at the base of the plant to create a small mound to protect the crop
- Trace furrows for sowing or transplanting
- Hoe around the plants to break the surface crust that often forms on the soil, allowing it to be aerated
Generally, the hoe has a metal blade and a wooden handle, just like those from a hundred years ago.
The traditional one consists of a single blade that can have sharper or squarer shapes depending on the type of soil being worked, whether hard or heavy. A great alternative, in terms of functionality, is the double-headed hoe.
The double-headed hoe ends with two different tools: on one side, you have the straight blade of the classic hoe and on the other, a fork (the double-headed hoe, indeed).
This type of hoe is truly multifunctional and allows you to create furrows, aerate the soil, and weed.
Again, the length of the handle (usually 70/80 cm) and the weight of the tool should be chosen based on the user's characteristics.
The angle at which you hold your hoe to strike the soil will vary depending on the operation you are performing, whether turning the clumps or breaking the roots, etc.
As always, the rule applies that experience teaches, so if it seems more complicated at first, as you get the hang of it, everything will become easier and faster, although still tiring!
3. The rake: cleans and levels the soil
It is the third indispensable tool for working the soil.
Its functions, regarding vegetable cultivation, are multiple:
- Clean the soil of roots (cut during previous working phases) and stones
- Level the surface preparing it for sowing or transplanting. A well-leveled soil is essential for the success of the garden
- Incorporate the fertilizer
- Plant the seeds
How to choose the rake?
The choice of the type of rake, especially regarding the number of teeth, whether sparse or dense, depends on the use you need to make of it:
- For harvesting (for example, leaves) it has wider teeth
- To level the soil, prepare the seedbed, lightly bury the seeds, and turn the compost, you should opt for a tool with denser teeth and a not too long handle
All the tools for working the soil seen so far, the handle, being continuously stressed, is the part most prone to breakage. Don't worry: you can purchase only replacement handles for your spade, hoe, or rake.
Small hand tools for growing a vegetable garden in balcony pots
To closely care for each vegetable and especially if you are growing a garden in balcony pots, you will need small tools for working the soil, many of which, due to their function, are the miniature versions of larger equivalents.
- Small hoes, also available in double-headed versions
- Small shovels of various shapes, the smaller "sisters" of the spade
- Small rakes, for cleaning and leveling around the seedlings
- Weeders and cultivators are used to more easily eliminate weeds
- Planting tools, useful for making small holes in the soil for sowing or planting seedlings
- Scissors and pruners are useful for pruning plants and harvesting vegetables
Working the soil with children: which tools to choose?
Growing a vegetable garden can be a truly fun and educational activity, even for children.
To involve them and make them feel truly useful, at Millstore you can find, at a very affordable price, a wide range of tools and clothing for children, just like those for adults but, in terms of materials, colors, and sizes, made to measure for the little ones.
Fun small hoes, little rakes, shovels, buckets, wheelbarrows, watering cans, and tool belts complete with all the essential tools, will make your children feel like little perfect gardeners.
Waterproofs and colorful boots will allow them to help you even in the colder periods.
A tip for adults: don't forget to use work gloves (different for each type of material) suitable for the task you are performing. They are essential for safe gardening.
Watering the garden while saving water is possible!
Water is a fundamental element for achieving good results in vegetable cultivation. Therefore, choosing the most suitable irrigation tools for your garden's needs and the time you have available for watering is essential.
Remember that the water should neither be too little nor too much (to avoid stagnation that would harm the plants) but in the right amount according to the climatic conditions and the varieties of vegetables you are growing.
The choice of irrigation type will depend on the size of your garden and the time you have to dedicate to it. The important thing is not to leave the crops without water, especially during the driest periods.
If your garden is small or if you are growing on a balcony, a simple and inexpensive watering can will suffice. Alternatively, you can use hoses to which you can attach, if desired, nozzles or guns.
If you want to save precious drinking water, a rainwater collection tank could be the solution for you. You will have clean water for your plants at no cost.
If you cannot guarantee regularity in watering frequency and prefer a more practical and automated system without spending a fortune, you can opt for a drip irrigation system, also known as micro-irrigation.
This method supplies water to the plants slowly and without waste and can be customized based on the characteristics of your garden.
The use of controllers and timers is essential to ensure your vegetables receive the water they need in case you have to be away for shorter or longer periods.
Here are the advantages of drip irrigation:
- Water savings, beneficial not only for your wallet but also for the environment
- Better irrigation, because the water flows slowly from the surface to the roots
- Helps prevent fungal diseases by avoiding moisture on the stems and leaves of the plants
- Saves time because the system, once set up, will take care of itself
- You can schedule irrigations and ensure your crops get the water they need even when you are on vacation
This practical system can also be applied to balcony gardens.
At Millstore, you will find complete micro-irrigation kits suitable for planters, gardens, and pots.
How to care for and protect the garden?
In addition to the tools for working the soil, your garden will need other tools to provide you with a good harvest, such as supports and plant stakes, necessary to support certain types of crops and materials for mulching.
If you want to learn about methods to take care of your garden, read the article “How to grow and care for an organic garden.”
Supports and plant stakes: to support the plants
Some types of vegetables have slender stems and risk falling under the weight of the fruits. A classic example is the tomato.
It is then necessary to intervene with supports and plant stakes like bamboo canes on which you will tie the plant to allow it to grow upwards.
Mulching: what it is and what it is for?
Mulching is a very important technique for protecting the garden and consists of covering the soil around the plants to prevent weeds from growing due to both the lack of sunlight and the necessary space.
For mulching, materials such as straw, dry leaves, bark, waste plant materials (thus at no cost) or mulching mats like biodegradable sheets or discs made of jute or coconut fiber that are very easy to apply.
This technique, essential for organic cultivation, is very useful because it ensures the uppermost part of the roots a milder temperature in the cold months while, in the warmer months, it reduces the need for watering.
How to choose the best tools for working the soil?
As you may have already understood, to cultivate a garden, you really only need a few simple tools. To start, begin with the essential tools we have discussed.
As you gain experience, you will realize what additional tools may be useful to you, and you can delve deeper by reading the article “Complete guide to the essential tools for cultivating a garden and garden.”
The same applies to irrigation: if you have a small garden or pots on the balcony, feel free to start with a watering can and hoses and then, if necessary, switch to a micro-irrigation system.
If you are a beginner, ask your trusted retailer for advice, who will be able to guide you on the most suitable type of tool for you. Whether you want to buy directly in-store or online, Millstore will support you in choosing the right tools for your needs.
A team of experts will be at your disposal by phone, email, on the website chat, and on social media channels.