coast crab

This is a Japanese tool called a "kama". It is a small, hand-held tool used for light weeding in the garden. Much quicker and easier than using a hand trowel, the serrations cut roots below the soil surface with just a quick flick of the wrist. I had never seen one before living and studying in Japan, and now I don't know how I'd function without it. Every gardener should have one, you'll love it.

Russell

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pitangadiego

You lift it up, and jam it between the corm and pup, just like an ax. Since it is heavy, the weight helps with the process.

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We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com

Richard

The product sold here in the picture would break after a few plunges into the soil. They are sold for harvesting brocolli, bunches of grapes, etc.

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coast crab

Yes, it has a thin blade, but it is not "plunged" into the soil. It is used to LIGHTLY weed - scraping just below the surface almost parallel with the soil level. I guess it could be used for harvesting, I don't doubt it, but I never saw it used that way. Since the blade is so thin it seems that harvesting brocolli would be pretty hard on it too. I would think that a good, sharp, serrated kitchen knife would do a better (and cleaner) job of removing banana leaves. Anyway, that's what I like to use.

The other thing is a big, heavy pry bar used for popping rocks and concrete out of the ground. Yes, it weighs a ton, but it seems like it would mutilate a big corm. You'd have to have a good aim.

R

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sunfish

Barnel Landscape Sod Trimming Knife #725

coast crab

"Kama", brought home with me from Japan in 1987. Well worn, knicked, but not broken. The real miracle is that after 22 years I haven't lost it in my garden somewhere.

Obviously a tool of many uses.

R

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sunfish

We had that same knife when I worked for Valley Crest Landscape . It was used for cutting sod. Worked great ,stayed sharp .

Richard

Here's my harvest knife:

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Nicolas Naranja

I had always used a cane knife to prune, I am quite interested in the dehanding knives, I didn't think of e-bay when I last looked

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

austinl01

I just bought one of these at Home Depot today for $32. I can't wait to give it a try when the bananas come up this fall.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

austinl01

Well, I tried my new digging bar today to separate these two Raja Puri bananas. I'm happy to report that it performed beautifully. The bar made a nice, clean cut through the pseudostem with minimal effort. It's easy to aim and required no knee work like a regular shovel would. I like how its small size and straight handle allows you to really make a good cut without destroying the leaves of the plants. I should have invested in one of these a long time ago. I'm more than pleased with it, and the price isn't unreasonable either for a full steel bar. I will be using it to dig up my non-hardy clumps of bananas this fall. Thanks for the thread.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

austinl01

This looks like a good banana knife. What are the difference in blade sizes used for?

New Banana Knife Banana Harvesting Knifes 3" blade Hyde - eBay (item 120472966709 end time Oct-23-09 11:51:19 PDT)

New Banana Knife Banana Harvesting Knife lot of 2 Hyde - eBay (item 360192168290 end time Oct-23-09 11:19:03 PDT)

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

Richard

Austin, those seem pricey to me. I bought the harvest knife below for $8 at a local nursery -- you should be able to do the same in your location.

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cvining

Thanks for the post. I have seen what are the many variation of tools needed for harvesting.

Nicolas Naranja

I just got a couple different knives from horticulturesource, one of them similar to Richards, the other is a tomato knife with a very sharp 2" blade, and the other has a 3" smooth hooked blade. I've got 2 bunches that will be ready in about 10 days or so, I will see how they fare.

Addition:

Those knives are expensive, check Sickles & Landscape / Harvest Knives - Hand Tools - Seed / Clone to Harvest, Landscape, Knives, Shears, Loppers, etc. - Discount Specialty Farm, Greenhouse & Garden Supply: Horticulture Source
for some knives

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

mckoinld

A friend built a bamboo tool for me and I tried it today to remove some IC pups. It worked really well. It is a 2 part tool. Blade with solid rod for handle and hammer sleve that slides down over the rod. Just place the blade where you want it and 2 or 3 strikes with the sleve is all it takes.

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GOOOO TIGERS

austinl01

Thanks, all. I have been using this folding saw that I bought at Lowe's. It has a 10 inch blade and does a good job cutting through banana leaves.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

Taylor

On my local Craigslist, someone was selling a Chiquita banana knife! I contacted them about it the same day they posted, but it was already sold. $25. It looked substantial enough to cut the fruits, so leaves wouldn't be a problem. Looked like it could even cut off pups. I cannot find a single picture like it online anywhere, and the person has since deleted their post!

Abnshrek

The Sod knifes look like the y would be effective for many things. Now that long handled rock wedge doesn't look like it would be very precise in propogation. I don't like cutting any roots. I haven't seen a pup attached that was wider than 2 inches. I use a short crow-bar that has a flat top so if need be I can hit it with a rubber mallet the other end I welded in the nail gap with high grade welding filler then took it to the grinding wheel. It's the prop-po-gator..tm pending all rights reserved. lmao

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

sandy0225

I've found this works well with a stump bucket!
Works good on bamboo too!
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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
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Muncie, IN 47302
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