[Yorkie]

The point about regular use of rotavators is well made, but if you need to rotavate every couple of weeks to get rid of newly emerging plants, you'd have the bed / area out of commission for the best part of a season.

There is also the risk, depending on soil type, of creating a hard pan underneath the rotavator level - causing drainage problems.

[carlrmj]

 
 I also found loads of eelworms

You must have pretty good eyesight!

DD

I haven't,nor x ray vision.What I thought were eelworms were about1/2-3/4 inch long and yellowy brown in colour,as I said loads of them.
Were they wireworms   Thanks Carl

[richyrich7]

The point about regular use of rotavators is well made, but if you need to rotavate every couple of weeks to get rid of newly emerging plants, you'd have the bed / area out of commission for the best part of a season.

There is also the risk, depending on soil type, of creating a hard pan underneath the rotavator level - causing drainage problems.

Quite true, but if you work it through as you plant then it is a viable & proven option.
As each type of plant goes in, there's less to rotovate more time for conventional weeding with a hoe. Better for some than weedkiller 
Once the plots clear then it's easier next year to double dig a section, rotating the sections each year will help stop the pan effect.

I think at the end of the day there's always going to be the issue of re-growth with whatever people do, as long as new growers are made aware of this then perhaps less would be down hearted and give up ? My lovely clear plot I hand dug and weeded back end of last year looks like a green lawn of baby poppies ! Out comes the Hoe next visit 

[Yorkie]

Thanks for the explanation Richy, I'd wondered about the practicalities and couldn't quite get my head round it!