Planting, weeding, harvesting: in diversified market gardening, most crop work is still done by hand, at ground level. So choosing the right machine is less about horsepower than about how well it helps the people doing the work. Here are the main types of solution, with their strengths and limitations.
The options
Hand work, with no machine
No investment, but you work on your knees or bent double, you carry the crates, and jobs progress slowly: lying on a work bed, for instance, you weed 30 to 40% faster than on foot. Over time, the physical strain takes its toll on health and makes hiring harder (see our guide on physical strain and back pain).
The two-wheel tractor or compact tractor
Well suited to small areas and soil cultivation. However, it offers no working position for planting, weeding or harvesting by hand, so it doesn't cut the time spent stooped over the bed.
The 40 hp tractor with implements
Versatile and powerful, it carries a wide range of implements. But it needs a driver, burns diesel (around 1,400 L a year in our study), is noisy and compacts the soil, all for manual jobs that move at a crawl. Guided hoeing often takes two people.
The electric straddle tool carrier
It drives over the bed and carries implements for transplanting, weeding, hoeing, mulch laying and handling. TheRomanesco Straddler moves forward on its own at a controlled speed, guided by camera, carries up to 4 people sitting or lying down, and recharges from the sun.
The grower's side-car
Lighter than a straddle tool carrier, the Broco'lit combines a driving position with a work bed: one or two people work lying down, then the machine carries up to 15 crates at 15 km/h. It suits farms with scattered plots.
Side by side
| Hand work | Compact tractor | 40 hp tractor | Romanesco Straddler | Broco'lit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working posture | Kneeling, stooping | Driving, then kneeling for hand work | Driving, then kneeling for hand work | Sitting or lying above the bed | Lying above the bed |
| People working | Depends on the crew | 1 driver | 1 driver + the crew | Up to 4, no driver needed | 1 or 2 |
| Energy | Human | Combustion or electric, depending on model | Diesel | Electric, solar charging | Electric, removable battery |
| Noise and vibration | None | Depends on model | Yes | None | None |
| Hoeing | By hand | Depends on implements | Often 2 people | 1 person, 1 to 3 rows, camera guidance | Lie-down hand weeding |
| Carrying loads | By hand or wheelbarrow | With a trailer | Yes | 2 tool lifts of 250 kg, pallets, bulk bins | 200 kg + driver, up to 15 crates |
| Under cover | Yes | Depends on size | Often difficult | Yes, 1.80 m high, turns on the spot | Yes, turns on the spot |
Running costs, according to our study : up to €6,000 saved per year with the Straddler compared with a 40 hp tractor for transplanting, weeding and harvesting, and CO₂ emissions cut by a factor of 10.
How to choose
- You mainly cultivate soil on small areas: a compact tractor may be enough.
- You already have a tractor and want to cut down on kneeling work for planting, weeding and harvesting: a straddle tool carrier complements it, or replaces it for those jobs.
- You grow at least 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) of mixed vegetables and want one machine for the whole year : go for theStraddler.
- Your plots are scattered and you mainly want to work lying down and get around quickly with your crates: go for the Broco'lit.
- Whichever you choose, check the investment grants available where you farm before you buy: applications often have to be filed before you order.
Still not sure? Get in touch : we'll advise you based on your crops, your area and how your plots are laid out, and can put you in touch with an equipped grower near you.