To dig or not to dig that is the question
No Dig gardening is a topic that people frequently talk about as at first glance it seems like a way to grow your vegetables without having to do any digging. Unfortunately, there is no easy way out! The arguments against digging are that it damages the fragile topsoil and brings weed seed to the surface allowing it to germinate. Also digging moves nutrients to lower levels of soil, where there is less oxygen and where they are less available to micro – organisms. It is also said that no dig keeps crops free from pests and disease.
The no dig concept is perhaps best suited to the organic grower. In the autumn annual weeds should be removed and perennial weeds dug out. Apply a thick layer (about 10 – 15cms) of compost, rotted horse or cow manure, leaf mould or straw to the surface of the soil. You could also use black polythene or old carpet. Covering the surface of the soil in this way helps to keep the soil warm and all those amazing little worms active, they will take the organic matter down into the soil aerating and breaking up the clods. This process can take a little time depending on the weeds present in the soil. Alternatively, if the soil is really poor and perennial weeds overwhelming you can practice no dig gardening by covering the soil completely with a sheet m ulch i.e. wet layers of newspapers or cardboard to black out the weeds over several years. You then make new compost on top of them using the same mulching materials with the addition of good topsoil or compost and then plant or sow into that.
GROWING USING THE NO DIG SYSTEM.
You can still grow some vegetables through the mulch but if you are planning to do this then don’t mulch in winter as the soil is cold as it will keep warmth and water out.
Sowing
Seeds are sown in the normal way, hoe and rake the surface to make a seed bed. If the surface of the soil is poor, then a shallow drill can be made with a hoe and the seeds covered with a mixture of damp sand and sieved compost.
Planting
When you are ready to transplant seedlings you can make a small hole in the top soil to plant into. Compost or manure can be placed around the seedling at planting time, potatoes however are grown entirely on the surface.
Growing potatoes
When using a no dig system pot atoes are the only crop that are grown in a different way. *Cut down any weeds and water the ground if it is to dry. *Spread manure on the surface and lay the seed potato’s on top of the manure about 60cm apart. *Cover each row of potatoes with a layer of straw or hay, leave a small path between each row. *Check regularly for shots appearing through the mulch and keep adding mulch as the shoots get bigger. * When the plants are growing well you can use a top up mulch of grass mowing this will help keep the light off the potatoes and stop them going green, add more grass as and when it is needed. To harvest your crop of potatoes pull back the mulch and take as many potatoes as you need but remember to put back the mulch to keep out the light.
PROS AND CONS OF A NO DIG SYSTEM
PROS
Produces a lovely topsoil which is ideal for seedlings to push through. Helps to protect the soils structure Keeps moisture loss to a minimum Keeps weed seeds away from the surface so they cannot germinate. Will boost your worm population.
CONS This system takes much longer to improve a poor soil. Does not tackle soil compaction and hard pans. Takes away the fun of digging, which many people enjoy. Can be quite costly if you have large areas to mulch.