Weeding hoe and asparagus knife from Leborgne

This Leborgne Weeding Hoe and Asparagus Knife is a robust and practical hand tool, designed for harvesting asparagus and some root vegetables, highly effective for extracting the long and deep taproots of certain 'weeds', which can be particularly difficult to eradicate. This tool is equipped with a short and sturdy wooden handle that is easy to grip and store. It has a long, narrow, and curved head with sharp edges and a bevelled tip, made of forged steel, which is very effective for cutting roots and penetrating the soil. Lightweight, manoeuvrable, and durable, it is a well-crafted tool that will last for many years.

Approximate Dimensions: Handle Length: 14 cm (6in) - Blade Length: 36 cm (14in) (including a "tongue" of 11 cm (4in) x 3.5 cm (1in)) - Total Length: approximately 50 cm (20in).

Weight: approximately 420 grams.

In addition to its traditional use for asparagus, this hoe is an essential tool for successfully extracting taproots, which are deeply rooted in the soil and difficult to pull out without breaking them. These are long, relatively narrow, and tapered roots that penetrate the soil vertically and deeply, from which finer lateral roots grow. They can be found, for example, in carrots, parsnips, and oak trees, as well as in many 'weeds' such as dandelions, plantains, purslane, thistles, sow thistles, or dock leaves. To destroy this type of plant, it is necessary to remove at least the first 5-7 centimetres (2-3 inches) of the root, sometimes the entire root, along with the rosette of leaves. Generally, leaving a small part of the root deep in the soil will stop the undesired plant from surviving. The sharp edges of the long blade penetrate the soil at the base of the plant, while turning and pressing on the handle. The blade descends all around the root and cuts the rootlets, leaving only the task of pulling it out of the soil.

This Leborgne tool consists of a wooden handle with a socket where the forged steel head is securely attached. With its short handle, this model is suitable for small surfaces (flower beds, small vegetable gardens) or for maintaining raised plantings such as raised beds or flower boxes.