A dibber is used to pre-form holes in soil for planting out vegetables such as brassicas and leeks.
They are quite useful in fairly loose soil, but not necessarily so, in stiff / hard clay.
To alleviate this problem Some dibbers are fitted with steel tips.
History has it that 'dibbers'in the form of a pointed stick have been in use since Roman times, and have remained mostly unchanged since.
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Probably the main differences today is that they are often formed of hardwood and that have been turned smooth on a lathe and had a 'tee' handle fitted.
Alternatively they are made of moulded plastic.
A recycled broken spade / fork shaft that has been hewn to a point makes for a cheap alternative.
Pro's & Cons;
When planting seed potatoes, dibbers can have their drawbacks, e.g.
The pointed end makes the hole terminates in a point, the result being that the potato tuber when dropped into the hole, does not fall to the bottom, meaning; the roots it sends out will have to grope for a time to find anchorage.
Similarly, this drawback can affect transplanted plants that have a fairly large root ball as again; the roots may not reach the bottom of the hole.
In conclusion this tool has its uses, but a hand trowel is often the better option.