[bungo]

Hello,
i have been doing a lot of research into rotavators and am feeling pretty lost as to what particular size is suitable for a piece of land that we are trying to turn into a smallholding/market garden.
Basically the piece of land is around 6 acres (could become bigger if we rent more land ), i am wondering if a rotivator of 6.5 hp will be sufficient or would we need a larger one around 8hp, or even 13? someone on an earlier post said the Maxtra ML-GR001which is 6.5 hp was fantastic but he only needed it for an acre, as i would be looking at around 6 acres would this still suffice?
Im also wondering what else to look out for when buying a rotivator? im also tempted by a two wheel tractor but not sure which is best?
if anyone can help with any of these questions it would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Ben

[Fleecewife]

We went for the tractor driven option, with a Siromer 24 ish HP Chinese tractor.  They are only a few thousand pounds, which might seem a lot, but they may well now be available second hand.  This gives the option of other attachments as well as a rotavator, such as plough, back box, front loader, topper, trailer and so on, whereas with the smaller rotavators that's all you get.  We do also have smaller rotavators - a Raleigh which is I think 5 HP and a tiny Mantis for between row work.  For an acreage as big as 6, mechanisation is well worth while, and the small tractor option is light on the land, the tractor itself is narrow and small, and the quality of the rotavation is far superior to a smaller walk-behind version - and it's effortless 

[Small Farmer]

I guess you've looked at BCS, Pasquali, BSG etc.  There are innumerable YouTube videos showing how easy they all are    It depends on your age and wallet.  There have also been several threads in this section,  one a couple o months ago but I'm afraid once you start with machinery the options are limitless. 


Hire and try, but I'm with FW on the matter of tractors

[bungo]

Thanks for the advice,
I agree a tractor will probably be easier but the problem is money not only for the tractor but the other attachments as well, and if we can spend 3-400 pounds instead of two thousand then it would be better. There is also 4 of us so we have the labour power to perhaps use a rotavator is necessary but at the same time i suppose we dont want to be too unrealistic and overwork ourselfs and the rotavator.
food for thought..

[Small Farmer]

So beg borrow or steal some different machines to try them out on your land with your muscles.  Are there dealers or hire shops you can talk to? 


It sounds to me like you want the heaviest/most powerful you can manage.  You might think about getting a contractor in to do the initial work with a tractor?

[chrismahon]

Our 6HP Ariens is great and would cope with an acre. But as it isn't a self driven model it is hard work. At three time the price the Honda 6HP self driving with contra-rotating tynes would do the job. But it's not good at tight spaces because we hired one after ours was stolen. Self-driving have powered wheels at the front, the others use the tynes to drive and you have to pull them backwards to make them dig. I can't do more than an hour with ours, then I'm knackered!

[hughesy]

Don't kid yourself if you need to cultivate six acres it's a job for a tractor. Different matter if you just need to do small areas at a time within the six acres. Also the current condition of the land will make a big difference. If it's been pasture for years it will be pretty compacted and thick with roots, which will make it very hard work for any pedestrian operated machine. Soil type will play a part too. The ground will very likely need to be broken first by ploughing, and even then trying to rotovate six acres on foot will cripple you.

[bungo]

Thanks for all the advice. We are now looking at different sites and may go for something an acre or two smaller than 6 acres. I suppose for the initial cultivation we can hire a tractor and then for the individual beds throughout the year we can buy a 6-8hp self driving rotavator. Dont think we would be doing anything bigger than an acre at a time.