its been a while while since I ve posted I’ve been so busy since getting my first plot and making full use of the growing season. In case you need reminding this is what the plot loooked like a year to the day Working through winter...
. To wonderful moment of harvesting! What a great first year!
I think I’ve been spoilt with the good weather we’ve had this year but it certainly gave me the encouragement! I’ve used no dig and it has done wonders for managing the weeds. Recommend to anyone 😃 nonsign of blighted I chanced my tomatoes outside with spares in the greenhouse. I think I may have overdone it on the 6 courgette, 3 pattypan and 10 munchkin plants I’ve grown but hey all surplus get eaten/ frozen/ preserves/ taken to work for people to help themselves. !!
Caroline , very well done 👍 Some good looking veg and yes 6 courgette plants , you must overwhelmed ! Perhaps we should run an on line competition for the “ biggest “ courgette ? This very hot weather does seem to discourage the weeds
Caroline...You've done really well in transforming your plot. The no dig method makes it easier to grow stuff and to keep on top of weeds.
Mary. The no dig method is based on having raised/defined beds, which are never walked on so as not to compress the soil. Beds are no wider than what a grower can reach from either side , there are recommended widths and lengths, mine are anything from a few feet to over 20 or 30ft long but narrow.
Using a crop rotation system...which can be as simple or complex as you wish...beds are mulched with compost each year depending what's been grown in them. I cover some of my beds with a layer of cardboard, layer of muck them plastic to over winter. In the Spring they are uncovered prior to planting, a few weeks before. Green manures can be grown in some beds over winter and some beds can be left until Spring before giving then any attention. The idea is for the worms to breakdown the soil to make it easier to cultivate rather than the soil to be manually dug over on an annual basis.
This is a basic explanation and I'm sure others can add to it...
Exactly so. After an initial dig to remove the worst of the deep rooted perennial weeds (mostly docks) I threw in all the compost I could afford and well rotted manure to about 6 inches in each bed. This has suppressed all the worst of the weeds and I’ve simply hoed off any new annual weeds. I am an avid follower of Charles Dowding which has such a no nonsense method of no dig. I have adopted his multi sowing technique for many veg eg beetroot, spring onions, onions, spinach and chard. More produce using less space.. in autumn I will add 2 inches of manure ...no digging over,. No fertilising at all just relying on the goodness from the compost. So far so good!
Go onto Waterstones Marketplace and buy two books on allotments and veg and read them. That will give you knowledge of whats is available.
1. Make 4 foot beds and dig out the paths in between and chuck the soil onto the beds 2. Plant in rotation every year and only use three plots and only manure the one that you will use for plants that can grow in recently manured ground 3. Any plots you are not using cover in ....Green Manure...Manure...Plastic sheeting. 4. make notes of what you do so you can see what works. 5. Smile and enjoy !!! 6 Send us monthly pictures
Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
Personally I like to mix it up , with some raised beds and other not , some dig , some not Again some of the horse manure we put on the beds has more weeds in it , than if it had been left ! Quetion , I sometimes use green manure , how can you not dig that in ?
Been to plot this afternoon, a bit warm , thermometer was showing 34 in the sun ☀️ Picked some figs and broccoli 🥦
Also cut down an unproductive plum tree , just the main trunk to get out
Posts
its been a while while since I ve posted I’ve been so busy since getting my first plot and making full use of the growing season. In case you need reminding this is what the plot loooked like a year to the day
Working through winter...
To wonderful moment of harvesting! What a great first year!
Some good looking veg and yes 6 courgette plants , you must overwhelmed !
Perhaps we should run an on line competition for the “ biggest “ courgette ?
This very hot weather does seem to discourage the weeds
Mary. The no dig method is based on having raised/defined beds, which are never walked on so as not to compress the soil. Beds are no wider than what a grower can reach from either side , there are recommended widths and lengths, mine are anything from a few feet to over 20 or 30ft long but narrow.
Using a crop rotation system...which can be as simple or complex as you wish...beds are mulched with compost each year depending what's been grown in them. I cover some of my beds with a layer of cardboard, layer of muck them plastic to over winter. In the Spring they are uncovered prior to planting, a few weeks before. Green manures can be grown in some beds over winter and some beds can be left until Spring before giving then any attention. The idea is for the worms to breakdown the soil to make it easier to cultivate rather than the soil to be manually dug over on an annual basis.
This is a basic explanation and I'm sure others can add to it...
1. Make 4 foot beds and dig out the paths in between and chuck the soil onto the beds
2. Plant in rotation every year and only use three plots and only manure the one that you will use for plants that can grow in recently manured ground
3. Any plots you are not using cover in ....Green Manure...Manure...Plastic sheeting.
4. make notes of what you do so you can see what works.
5. Smile and enjoy !!!
6 Send us monthly pictures
Again some of the horse manure we put on the beds has more weeds in it , than if it had been left !
Quetion , I sometimes use green manure , how can you not dig that in ?
Been to plot this afternoon, a bit warm , thermometer was showing 34 in the sun ☀️
Picked some figs and broccoli 🥦
Also cut down an unproductive plum tree , just the main trunk to get out
Hope all’s well with everybody