Few weeds in no dig means it takes little time to clear any that are there, rake level and spread (in this case) approx. 2in (5cm) of compost over the surface. The compost holds nutrients in water-insoluble form so no cover is needed. Winter weather and frosts soften the compost and you can sow/plant into it come spring, then replant in summer if second cropping. This one bed of 5x16ft (1.5x5m) have 109kg veg in 2016, see http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/no-dig-growing/homeacres/ compared to 2016 harvests of 99kg from the dug bed to left, which took 80 minutes to dig and incorporate its two barrows of compost.
VIDEO: Speedy ten minute preparation of a no dig bed for winter, spring, summer and autumn, 28s time lapse
Few weeds in no dig means it takes little time to clear any that are there, rake level and spread (in this case) approx. 2in (5cm) of compost over the surface. The compost holds nutrients in water-insoluble form so no cover is needed. Winter weather and frosts soften the compost and you can sow/plant into it come spring, then replant in summer if second cropping. This one bed of 5x16ft (1.5x5m) have 109kg veg in 2016, see http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/no-dig-growing/homeacres/ compared to 2016 harvests of 99kg from the dug bed to left, which took 80 minutes to dig and incorporate its two barrows of compost.
I layered the floor of my low tunnel again today with (5) bags of leaves and (2) bags of coffee grounds. The tilth is already much improved! I planted buckwheat there this summer. I like how the gardener can enjoy a marked improvement with organic matter added. Input truly equals output with gardening.
Bravoooo!!!
We laid out a carpet of cardboard and straw about a month and a half ago over the grass to prepare for next years no dig garden. We're excited. Last year we had a small one to try it out and it worked pretty well but we know we have things to learn and fix. Thanks for your videos. I know I didn't initially learn this stuff from you but it's good to see another doing it in action too.
Sir, quick question regarding mushroom compost. I recently found a large mushroom farm that sells their used mulches at a reasonable price. Should I allow the mushroom mulch to naturally degrade in a compost pile or is it okay to use shortly after the mushrooms have been harvested?
Nice quick and tidy!
Chuck
Ahhhh yes i remember when i used to be young and was nearly this fast
Charles, I am loving your videos! Can you explain the reason behind your decision to do both a wooden raised bed and then those on the ground. Is there a difference? We want to do both but I didn't know if the wooden raised bed had some advantages or disadvantages for certain vegetables. Thanks so very much!
If you keep adding compost every year, wouldn't you eventually run out of room to add more compost. What do you do when you can no longer add compost to feed the soil? Do you remove older compost first?
Dear Charles, Thank you very much for your inspirational videos (and books and articles for that matter..). I truly enjoy your videos and after trying no-dig gardening for a few years I really start to appreciate the benefits (it mainly saves me hours of digging on cold wet wintery days!).
But at the moment I am left with one big question: What happens to all that compost ones it has done its job and lost its fertility? In one of your videos you describe that you buy in a lot of compost and you mulch you garden with a fine thick layer of the stuff. But I cannot image you keep piling compost on top of compost on top of compost.. Only after two years of adding well rotted (as in fully composted) horse manure to our beds our raised beds are almost full to the brim. I have build my beds to eventually be raised by another layer, but once that is full I cannot keep making my beds higher. That's why I am wondering what to do with all the used compost at the end of its productive life?
Looking forward to hearing from you and many thanks again!
Edwin
Kind regards. Have you ever planted on bales of straw and what are the experiences?
Charles, what is the perfect size for a raised be frame? I notice that you walk in some of your beds without frame borders. I use well rotted horse manure similar to how you use well Rotted cow manure. Is it okay to walk on the same area where you are going to plant later?
I live in zone 5a, i got one bed to try out gardening on my friends garden. This season i quickly grew some cucumbers but i want to try out no digging and proper gardening next season. My friend is starting to prepare beds for winter they will be cultivated and currently there are weeds all over the place. I asked to not cultivate my patch as i want to cover it with compost and try out no diging method now. Problem is i dont have any compost so i will be buying some. I can get my hands on cow/horse manure or earth/straw/bird manure mixture or worm compost but that is insanely expensive. My bed is around 1mx4m long. So my question is how to prepare bed for the winter and if 250liters of compost would be enough for the start? Also, which compost would be best out of these? Or what i should be looking out for? Thanks!
Charles, would you not cover it with something after applying the mulch? My thinking is that the rain will just run the nutrients straight down deep into the soil and lose the goodness on top.
I am starting my no dig bed soon but I have no compost. Can you suggest an organic soil to start with or should I just go and dig some soil from my own yard to place in the bed to start?
Hi Charles. Love the content! I have a series of permanent beds that are covered (since winter) with geo textile fabric. Is it alright to keep them covered all year if I won't be able to get crops in for this season? Or should I do a cover crop planting and let it die away? Thanks for any input mate!
As good a place as any to ask I suppose: Charles, Cypress or Oak Mulch for the walkways between beds? Thanks in Advance!!!
hello, what are you doing when the bed is full after a few years?