bananimal

I sold/gave away 4 PK pups this year and I am amazed at how difficult it is to dig out the pups.

The sucker connection to the mama runs much deeper that any other I've grown. And the roots are like thick cables and long.

Little guys are no problem. I'm talking about 6 and 7 ft pups. The 6' digging bar with foot assist wouldn't work so I used 2 pick mattocks. Punched into the ground on opposite sides of the pup and pull the handles in opposite directions.

A bit tricky solo. I push one pick with my foot -- and with an arm around the mama to keep balance push on the other pick by the free hand. With one foot on the ground I pull the pup up with the balance arm - still holding on to the mama.

Get the picture? The mama, pup, the picks and me start to wobble all over the place and my wife starts laughing. When the thick roots show, several are so long and thick they have to be chopped with an ax to get the whole thing out. From now on they come out at 4 ft. Ay, yai, yai!