I use a ‘potato’ fork. Something like a pitchfork but smaller and the tines are more flattened and rounded so as to help prevent from digging into the potatoes instead of dirt. Potatoes grow near the top of the soil and can easily sunburn when the vines die down. A sunburned potato is green and bitter. The potato will continue to grow even after the vine dies down and needs to have some sort of mulch or soil covering over the top. I have found that at least 3 inches of straw works best as it is easiest to remove. This fork works also for digging out sweet potatoes.
This year I am hoping my soil is fluffy enough I can dig in with my bare hands.
Thank you, I am giving it a try. We have had some odd weather this year. Not sure what I will get out of my garden.
The last 10 days we had really hot weather and sun. Before that we had too much rain and cloudiness.
Now it is cool and cloudy.
I guess I will have to take what I get.