[puffinstuff]

I'm getting the plot ready for planting in some potatoes in feb./march.  I have the chance to rotovate it beforehand.  Would this be good practice or would it damage the texture of the soil as i have heard some say.  I have put plenty of compost down over the autumn/winter.  appreciate any advice on this. :?:

puffinstuff

[Sally A]

As long as the perennial weed roots are out, I'd rotovate.

[richyrich7]

Me too    great fun  

[Gwiz]

noisey smelly machinery? on a sunday morning?
Too right!
go for it!!

[Aidy]

Is it realy worth it for spuds? they are trenched so dont need nice fluffy soil to germinate through, roots, lettuce and other stuff that are shallow rooted yea but not spuds, making the hole in the ozone bigger for what?    nah dont waste fuel and energy for spuds. I would not plant them either until late march depending on weather. Cant remmeber who told me last year, but it was a great tip. Plant your spuds as normal, when they appear mound the soil up, when they appear again, carefully knock back the mound and remound, this kills a lot of germinating weeds off with the second mounding (is that english?) worked a treat last year for me.

[Clampit]

My neighbouring allotmenteer in Bognor used to plant 'Foremost' mid way through Feb under cover, she grew some cracking early's.

[Rob the rake]

I'm getting the plot ready for planting in some potatoes in feb./march.  I have the chance to rotovate it beforehand.  Would this be good practice or would it damage the texture of the soil as i have heard some say.  I have put plenty of compost down over the autumn/winter.  appreciate any advice on this. :?:

puffinstuff

Don't rotavate if your soil's too wet, you'll make it worse. Better to wait until it's friable enough - have a dig around with a fork to check. If it's soaking, hang fire. If it's diggable then fire 'er up. Vrrooom!!  

[richyrich7]

I'm getting the plot ready for planting in some potatoes in feb./march.  I have the chance to rotovate it beforehand.  Would this be good practice or would it damage the texture of the soil as i have heard some say.  I have put plenty of compost down over the autumn/winter.  appreciate any advice on this. :?:

puffinstuff

Don't rotavate if your soil's too wet, you'll make it worse. Better to wait until it's friable enough - have a dig around with a fork to check. If it's soaking, hang fire. If it's diggable then fire 'er up. Vrrooom!!  

Corr I'm raring to get the machinery out like a cat on a hot tin roof


Better off hiring an out board at the mo' tho'   :roll:

[Rob the rake]

 

Corr I'm raring to get the machinery out like a cat on a hot tin roof


Come March, it's like the rotavator grand prix on our site. You can hardly see for the fumes. :shock:  :shock:

[richyrich7]

 

Corr I'm raring to get the machinery out like a cat on a hot tin roof


Come March, it's like the rotavator grand prix on our site. You can hardly see for the fumes. :shock:  :shock:

 

[gobs]

That's when I don't like to be there. Building site. :evil:

I would quote Aidy on this, if no need for it don't use it and pots are no need.  

[Rob the rake]

That's when I don't like to be there. Building site. :evil:

I would quote Aidy on this, if no need for it don't use it and pots are no need.  

It gets to me too, Gobs. I don't own a rotavator, and only use them to save time when completely unavoidable. I swear it decimates your worm population, and the worms do more digging than we do if they're allowed to thrive. Hopefully I'll have all the garden bedded up by the end of this year, so I'll not need to use one any more.

Each to their own though. If rotavatings your bag, then go for it. It's the bleeders that seem to rotavate all year round that get my goat though, there's just no need for it for the little jobs. I doubt if those guys even own a fork. Idiots.