[strudelpoodle]

This isn't strictly an equipment question but I can't see where else it might fit.  I'm familiar with double digging with a spade but please could someone enlighten me as to how one achieves this result using a rotavator?

[Trillium]

You can't really, because no matter how deep you set the back stick for depth, it will never equal digging with a spade/shovel/whatever.

I've tried many times, but only manage barely one spit depth. After rotovating, you could try forcing a garden fork into the soil to try to loosen deeper layers, but it's an exhausting job.

Only other possibility is to rotovate as deep as you can, rake back all the loosened soil, then rotovate the deeper area. The problem here is that rotovating will kill all worms that might be hiding in deeper areas. A sliced worm is a dead worm; they don't regrow body parts as mistakenly believed.

[stompy]

I usually get 18" depth with my rotavator, i add plenty of manure and sharp sand and rotavate it in.
The beds get deeper as the years go on, so you start with 18" but after a few years of adding stuff they end up at 2ft and more, so in my opinion there is no need to double dig.

Others will disagree so   

[mower man]

Stompy ...   what make of rotovator do you use please  ?

[Dominic]

Link

I've got something a little bit like that.

Its good for a couple of centimetres depth, and it'll find and pull out any rocks.
Theres no way you could double dig with one.
You could double dig, and then use it to break big lumps of earth into small lumps.

To "double dig", you'd need a plough and a tractor.

[strudelpoodle]

Stompy

The machine is plenty powerful enough and I'm currently rotavating to about 12" (a 'spade and a bit'), it cuts through anything -its just done a good job of chewing up hard-packed ground that's been neglected for well over 20 years. 

18" depth would be sufficient -I think I just need more practice.

[smud6ie]

I would be intrested and I am sure many others would be that posters would  refer to their tools and machinery by make and model etc! instead of a generic term.
smud6ie

[strudelpoodle]

Apologies....I'm referring to a Honda F400 (not sure exactly which model but it has a G150 engine with 2 forward and 1 reverse gears).

[stompy]

Stompy ...   what make of rotovator do you use please 

Hi been away for a week.

Mine is a Norlett something or other with a 3.5hp B&S engine, it has 4 sets of blades with 4 tines on each blade with a anti runaway bar at the back.

It easilly digs down to 18inch's after a couple of runs, but with all 4 blades on it begins to struggle a little when at full depth, i could do with a 5hp one to be honest.
I do work it hard though.

[uesheppey]

Hi, I am completely new to my allotment, which I'll get next month when it has been made from a bit of waste land which is being cleared, ploughed, flattened and treated with weed killer (gyp something) by a generous local farmer.  There will then be over 30 plots available, enough for everyone who wanted one in our village.  I have read John Harrison on double digging but won't have a rotavator to start with and my question is: will it be necessary to double dig this autumn/winter with this new land?  I want to start planting next year and have the time to do it but not if it's not necessary.

[Dominic]

Ues
Ploughing it should have done the job of the double dig I think

[Bigbadfrankie]

I wish my F400 would rotovate to 18"!!!!

Mine would need extensions to the air intake and exhaust to run at such drpths

[smud6ie]

My kubota B7100 is the only machine i have that will dig 18":
smud6ie

[Fen]

If I had a rotavator that worked the soil to a depth of 18 inches  I wouldn't do it.  The turning/smearing action of rotavator blades in unbroken soil tends to leave a 'pan' (A layer of compacted soil beneath the cultivated soil, which roots and rain find difficut to penetrate)

In my experience there is no substitute for double digging where there is sufficient depth of good soil - no point in digging up boulders or sterile clay. I only double dig for main crop potatoes, about 1/8th of the plot a year and break up the soil below the 2nd. spit with a fork. Hard and slow work, I just do a few rows at a time. Best done in the Autumn before the ground is too wet, keep off it until the spring and let the weather break it down.  All the rest of the cultivation is done with a Merrytiller.

[Dominic]

Best done in the Autumn before the ground is too wet,

My soil didnt dry this year.
I watered the hanging baskets half a dozen times...