[Coltar223]

I was going to make a 'profound, fatherly comment not to rotovate', but after all the excellent advise posted above I think I shall just quietly concure and shut up.

Good luck with your venture.

[Alfie]

Fairs fair, you've done a cracking job Shaun 

[cudders]

I hand dug my plqnting areas last  year. It was very overgrown with 100s of nettles etc.

This year its been so much easier to dig over and handly any weeds.. Only one small bit to do where my last sprouts are and then it's done.. I've placed black plastic down over all the areas too.

I will tiller the surface before planting but that should be it..

Defo hand dig first, so much easier in the long run. Good exercise too! I'm a man mountain now..

Cudders

[goose]

Ive now dug three 4 1/2' x 8 1/2' beds.  i was rather proud of myself until this morning when my neighbours turned up and rotovated their entire plot in an hour and a half and i had hardly dug anything .

im very tempted to try the best of both worlds now by digging half (which should give me enough room for this years crop)  and rotovating the other half, clearing what i can and covering with plastic for another time.

[Greasehog]

I rotorvated a corner of my lawn last yr and had no problem at all with the grass or weeds coming back... just got lovely rich soil...
I think it all depends on what weeds you have there to start with anything stubborn like couch grass and brambles would come back if you don't keep an eye on it.

[goose]

thick couch grass and brambles is all im growing at the moment!!