7 Handy Tools to Help You Harvest and Store Root Vegetables

Growing root vegetables takes patience – so when harvest time finally rolls around, you want the process to go smoothly.

That’s where the right tools come in. From digging to sorting to long-term storage, having a few reliable helpers on hand can make a big difference.

In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the best tools for harvesting root crops and the supplies that help you store them properly for the months ahead.

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7 Tools for Harvesting Root Vegetables

Here are some top tools – both manual and motorized – that are frequently chosen by home growers for lifting carrots, potatoes, beets, and other root veggies out of the ground with minimal damage.

1. Garden Fork (Digging Fork)

Ask any seasoned gardener for their go-to root harvest tool, and a good garden fork will likely be at the top of the list.

A garden fork (also called a digging fork or spading fork) looks like a big, sturdy fork with usually four strong tines.

It’s frequently chosen by home growers to gently loosen the soil around root crops so they can be pulled up intact.

For example, instead of yanking on carrot tops (and ending up with a handful of greens and a carrot still stubbornly underground), you can sink the fork into the soil a few inches away from the row and lever up the earth.

This helps free the carrots or potatoes without spearing or slicing them. Digging forks are easy to use and inexpensive, making them a favorite for backyard gardeners on a budget.

Pro Tip: Work the fork into the ground beside your root vegetables, not directly on top of them. That way you loosen the dirt and avoid accidentally stabbing your spuds.

2. Garden Spade or Shovel

A garden spade (basically a flat-edged shovel) is another solid tool for harvesting root veggies. If you don’t have a digging fork handy, a spade can work just fine – you just need to be a bit more careful with where you place it.

For longer roots like big carrots or parsnips, some gardeners actually prefer a long-handled shovel with a narrower blade.

You sink it deep right next to the row and gently pry up the soil from underneath. This helps lift those long roots in one piece – because trying to dig them up with a tiny hand trowel usually ends with a snapped carrot.

The trick with a spade is to aim a little ways out from the plant and go deep, then lever the soil up from below.

You’ll often feel the whole clump loosen at once, which makes harvesting much smoother.

Just a heads-up: the spade’s sharp edge can nick or slice into your potatoes or beets if you get too close, so go slow until you get a feel for the spacing.

Why Home Growers Stick To This

Many home growers stick to the fork for that reason, but a spade is worth checking out for tough, compacted soil where a fork might not penetrate as easily.

It’s also excellent for harvesting something like sweet potatoes, where you often need to dig a bit wider area to find all those sneaky tubers.

And remember, never just grab and yank a large root crop’s greens unless the soil is ultra-loose (we’ve all done the “pull and pray” – it usually ends with a handful of leaves and a smug carrot still in the ground!).

Better to spend an extra minute loosening around each plant. Your back (and your crop yield) will thank you.

3. Broadfork

If you’ve got bigger garden beds or a hefty root crop, a broadfork can really speed things up. It’s a wide, U-shaped tool with two handles and several tines.

You step on it to dig in, then pull back to loosen a broad section of soil all at once.

It’s much wider than a regular fork, so you can loosen a lot more carrots or beets in one go. It does take a little strength (and they cost more), but it’s efficient especially in dense beds or wide rows.

Bonus: if you’ve got a sore back, it can be easier than constant bending. You use body weight and leverage instead of just arm strength.

It also helps preserve the structure of your soil, which root crops appreciate. If you grow a lot of veggies each season, it’s a solid long-term investment.

4. Hori Hori Knife (Garden Knife)

One frequently chosen by home growers is the Hori Hori knife, a Japanese-style garden knife. (“Hori” literally means “to dig” – and it does exactly that.)

This tool is a top pick for small spaces and precision work. It looks like a cross between a trowel and a knife, with a sharp, concave blade that often has measurements on it and one serrated edge.

It’s great for digging around a veggie and popping it out of the soil. Many gardeners also use it to slice through taproots or cut greens off root crops during harvest.

Why is a Hori Hori worth checking out?

It’s extremely versatile – you can saw through tangled roots, dig out a carrot that’s wedged in clay soil, or even cut up seed potatoes with it.

It’s the kind of tool you don’t know you need until you have one. If you drop it in the dirt, its typically bright handle (many have wood or plastic handles, often with an orange hue) is easier to find – and trust me, tools love to play hide-and-seek in the garden.

Similar hand tools include a sturdy hand trowel or even a long screwdriver (some gardeners MacGyver this in a pinch to pry up stubborn roots).

But the Hori Hori, often sold with a leather sheath, is a fan favorite because it can saw, dig, and slice all in one.

It’s especially useful for harvesting root veggies that grow in clusters or have vines – for example, you can cut off a clump of garlic or trim away sweet potato vines as you unearth the tubers.

5. Harvest Basket or Tub

Alright, you’ve liberated your carrots and spuds from the soil – now what?

You’ll need something to cart all those veggies out of the garden. This is where a good harvest container comes in handy.

Whether it’s a mesh harvest basket, a 5-gallon bucket, or a flexible gardening tub, having something sturdy and easy to carry makes the job smoother.

Mesh baskets (also called hod baskets) are great because you can rinse veggies right in them. Trugs and tubs are lightweight, easy to clean, and hold a ton.

Even a laundry basket or old crate works fine – as long as it’s tough enough to carry heavy roots and has decent airflow so things don’t get sweaty.

For bigger hauls, a wheelbarrow or garden cart is a lifesaver. When you're harvesting in bulk, it’s all about getting the job done without dropping beets every few steps.

6. Gloves

And one more “tool” to consider: gloves. Harvesting root vegetables is delightful but messy work.

A durable pair of garden gloves (with some grip) can keep you from ending up with completely black fingernails and also protect you from surprises like thorny weeds or hidden rocks.

Gloves like the popular rubber-coated type provide a good grip even on muddy carrots. Of course, if you love the feel of soil, go bare-handed and enjoy the mud manicure – just mind the more prickly plants.

7. Motorized Helpers – When Elbow Grease Isn’t Enough

Most backyard gardeners won’t need heavy machinery, but if you’re blessed with a bumper crop (or maybe you’re the overachiever who planted a quarter-acre of potatoes), you might consider some motorized harvesting help.

Middle Buster Plow

On the homestead scale, one of the most popular tools is a middle buster plow (also known simply as a potato plow or furrower). This is an attachment that fits on a small tractor or even a powerful garden tractor.

It’s basically a single plow blade that you drag through the row; it lifts and splits the soil, popping up potatoes (or other root crops) as it goes.

Homesteaders love this attachment because it’s perfect for single-row planting and harvesting of root vegetables – drive it down the row and watch the potatoes magically appear in the furrow behind you.

If you have a compact tractor, a middle buster is definitely worth checking out for bigger jobs. It’s heavy-duty, built for tractors up to around 40 horsepower, and built to handle tough soil without breaking a sweat.

Walk-Behind Tractor

Other mechanized options include walk-behind tractor implements. For example, some market gardeners use a walk-behind rototiller with a plow attachment or a baby-sized root harvester.

These can undercut carrots or beets in the ground – basically slicing underneath them so you can then gather them by hand.

There are even old-fashioned one-row potato harvesters (conveyor-belt contraptions from the mid-20th century) that some crafty homesteaders find and restore; they dig up the potatoes and shake off soil in one go. However, unless you’re farming for a farmers’ market, those might be overkill.

Keep Scale in Mind

If your root patch is modest, stick with the manual tools – they are simpler and give you a great workout.

If you’re pulling up hundreds of pounds of veggies, a small tractor attachment or enlistment of a friendly neighbor with a tractor might save your back (and hours of time).

Just remember the wise advice: machines should match your scale and goals – there’s no point in firing up an expensive gadget for a 10-foot row of carrots.

Sometimes the peace and quiet of digging by hand is part of the joy of homesteading. And besides, you can always bribe a friend to help with harvest in exchange for a basket of potatoes!

With your harvest in hand (or in bucket, or maybe in tractor scoop), let’s turn to the next challenge: how do we store all these root vegetables so they stay fresh and delicious for months? Time to talk storage tools and techniques.

Tools and Materials for Storing Root Vegetables

Harvesting is only half the battle – storing your root vegetables properly can extend your enjoyment well into the winter.

After all, no one wants their garden’s hard-earned bounty turning into a pile of shriveled carrots or sprouted, rubbery potatoes by January.

Below is a list of top tools and materials – from traditional root cellars to modern hacks – that are frequently chosen by home growers and homesteaders for storing root vegetables.

1. Wooden Crates and Damp Sand (or Sawdust)

One classic way to store root crops is in layers of damp sand inside a sturdy crate or box.

Start with a layer of slightly damp (not wet) sand or sawdust, add a single layer of unwashed root vegetables (like carrots, beets, or parsnips), making sure they don’t touch, then cover with more sand. Keep layering until the container is full and top with sand.

You can use wood crates, plastic bins, or thick cardboard boxes – just make sure they’re rodent-proof. Fine sawdust, peat moss, or vermiculite can also work.

Store your crates in a cool, dark spot (ideally 32–40°F with high humidity). Don’t wash the veggies first – just brush off excess dirt and trim leafy tops to about an inch.

Pro Tip: If your storage spot might freeze, insulate your crates with blankets. If things dry out, lightly mist the sand to keep it just damp.

2. Root Cellar (or Equivalent)

Root cellars aren’t just traditional basements anymore.

They can be a corner of your basement, an insulated part of your garage, or even a hillside shed. The goal stays the same: a cool (around 35°F), dark, and humid spot where root veggies can keep for months.

If you have a basement, try sectioning off a corner with foam insulation and add a vent to control airflow. Use metal or plastic shelves and keep crates a few inches off the floor to help air circulate.

No basement? A cold garage can work as a seasonal root cellar if you insulate windows or use insulated boxes to keep temperatures steady. Sheds, attics, closets, or pantries also work well for crops like garlic and squash that like it drier.

A simple DIY option is a buried metal trash can. Dig a hole, sink the can, layer veggies with straw or sawdust inside, and cover the top with wood and straw bales. It’s low-tech but effective.

The best part? Root cellars store food without electricity – just basic, passive preservation.

3. Burlap Sacks (and Mesh Bags)

Some crops store best cool and dry – not in damp sand. Onions, garlic, shallots, and winter squash prefer 50–60°F with good airflow.

Mesh bags, burlap sacks, and slatted crates are ideal. Once cured, onions and garlic can go in mesh bags and be hung in a dark, cool spot. Potatoes like it more humid but still need airflow and darkness – burlap sacks in a basement work well.

Avoid bags for fresh carrots or beets unless humidity is high – they’ll shrivel. But for dry crops like cured sweet potatoes, squash, or dried beans, sacks or pillowcases in a dark, dry area are perfect.

Just block light – green potatoes taste bitter.

Many home growers frequently choose mesh onion bags (often saved from store-bought produce) to store their homegrown onions or shallots.

They’re worth checking out because they’re cheap (or free) and effective. Also, storing things in smaller separate bags or crates helps avoid the old “one bad apple spoils the bunch” scenario – if one onion goes bad, it won’t ruin an entire massive pile.

Which brings us to an important general tip…

“Check and Rotate” – The Underrated Tool (Your Eyes and Nose!)

Okay, it’s not a physical tool you buy in a store, but your own vigilance is one of the best tools for successful root vegetable storage. Make it a habit to check on your stored veggies every week or two.

If you catch a soft or smelly potato early, you can pull it out before it spreads rot to the rest.

In sand-filled crates, gently dig around with your hands to feel for any mushy spots. In burlap bags or mesh sacks, just sort through by hand and pull anything that feels squishy, moldy, or off.

Trust your senses – if something smells weird or looks suspicious, it probably needs to go.

For extra backup, a simple thermometer-hygrometer combo is worth adding to your setup. It lets you monitor both temperature and humidity at a glance.

Most root veggies prefer high humidity (around 90–95%) and temps just above freezing (32–40°F). If the air is too dry, mist the sand lightly or set out a small container of water. Too damp? Ventilate or crack a lid to let some moisture escape.

In short: stay watchful. It doesn’t take long, but regular check-ins can make the difference between fresh carrots in February and a slimy surprise.

DIY Root Storage Hacks – Getting Creative

No root cellar, no problem – homesteaders are nothing if not creative. Some DIY root storage hacks are worth checking out if you’re short on traditional options.

We mentioned the trash can buried in the ground – that’s a popular one (#1 in many lists of cellar alternatives). Here are a couple more clever ideas:

Bury an Old Freezer

Got a defunct chest freezer or fridge?

Remove any electrical components and bury it in the ground (with the door or lid at ground level).

This essentially becomes a pre-insulated mini-root cellar. The buried freezer keeps a steady cool temperature, and the lid can be cracked for ventilation on mild days.

People have successfully stored potatoes, carrots, and more this way – just make sure to address any drainage so it doesn’t fill with water. It’s like a giant cooler in the dirt.

If you don’t want to bury it, even just keeping an old freezer in a garage or shed and using it as an insulated box can work (prop the lid open a smidge for air flow).

Zeer Pot (Clay Pot Cooler)

This one’s an international pick that’s especially useful in arid regions.

A Zeer pot is an evaporative cooler – essentially one clay pot inside a larger clay pot, with wet sand in between the walls, covered with a wet cloth.

As the water evaporates, it cools the inner chamber. It’s been used to keep produce fresh in places without electricity.

It’s not going to handle a huge harvest, but for a bunch of carrots or some turnips, it’s a neat solution. Plus, it’s a fun project to try if you’re feeling experimental (and a cool science lesson for kids!).

Sand Clamp

This old-school method involves piling root veggies (like potatoes or beets) on straw, then covering with more straw and a mound of earth or sand. It’s basically a mini underground cellar right in the yard.

While it’s not rodent-proof (which is why most folks skip it today), it’s still a neat historical method. If you’ve got lots of veggies and spare straw, it could work in a pinch – or during a fridge emergency.

It’s low-tech, low-cost, and doesn’t require any tools beyond a shovel and some patience. Just make sure to pick a well-drained spot so rain doesn’t turn your clamp into a soggy mess.

One last tip: label your storage. Whether it’s crates or buried sand boxes, a simple tag or notebook log saves you from mystery veggie digging in January.

Time to Gear Up and Get Harvesting!

We’ve covered a lot – from simple tools like the garden fork to clever storage tricks like the buried freezer.

Whether you’ve got a big garden or just a few rows, the right tools can make harvesting and storing root veggies easier and a lot more satisfying.

Start small if you need to. A fork and a few storage bins go a long way. Later, you might add a Hori Hori knife or repurpose that old freezer into a root cellar. It’s all about finding what works for you.

And remember – homesteading doesn’t have to be perfect. Just practical, a little creative, and full of good food at the end.

Happy harvesting, and may your potatoes stay firm and your carrots behave themselves!