No-dig Vegetable Gardening |
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Producing healthy crops without hard work is possible! No-dig gardening needs no regular digging, weeding, watering or other such chores and of course doesn’t rely on chemical pesticides or fertilisers.
Why no-dig?
Healthy soil is a living ecosystem comprising organic matter, innumerable bacteria, fungi, insects and worms. These organisms play a vital role in supplying nutrients to plants, so keeping them happy and oxygenated is the key to productive healthy plants. Digging disturbs the life in the soil and damages its capillarity. The key to the no-dig method is allowing a healthy soil ecosystem to develop over time.
No-dig beds must never be walked upon because it compacts the soil. Raised beds are best, they give a longer growing season because they heat up earlier in the growing season and remain warm longer and are less susceptible to frost. Also drainage is improved which is good in heavy clay soils. The deep loose soil in raised beds can accommodate vegetable plants at least 2/3 of the normal row spacing. They are more efficient because fertility is concentrated in a small area.
GETTING STARTED If you already have a growing space, you can easily convert it to a no-dig garden simply. Do so by creating raised beds that can be reached from a path and are never walked upon. The easiest way is simply to take the top layer of soil where the path is to be and pile it upon the bed spaces. If soil is compacted or infested with weeds it will be necessary to dig it at this initial phase. Use whatever you can find- wood, stones, bricks or upside down bottles as edges for the beds. To build beds on top of lawns or weed infested ground without digging use a layer of thick cardboard, layers of newspaper, or other natural fibres that cut out the light. This will suppress grasses and most weeds and rot down to allow root penetration after a season or so. If there is a lack of soil at your site create raised beds using any available organic material- twigs, leaves, grass cuttings, sawdust, weeds etc. Pile up the materials in thin layers with the coarsest at the bottom, adding whatever compost or soil is available on top. Grow shallow- rooted crops for the first year or so. Mulching The idea of mulches is to fully cover up the earth with a layer of organic materials without leaving gaps. Mulches maintain healthy soil conditions by regulating temperature and keeping the soil moist between rain showers. They also prevent most weed seeds from germinating. By spreading mulches directly on the soil, instead of first converting them to compost, organic materials do double duty – serving as mulch, and as a slow-release of organic fertilizer, soil conditioner and worm food. All plant cuttings and residues should be returned to the earth by applying them as mulch on the soil. The mulch method is ideal for perennials and annual crops that are grown from transplants. Mulches may have to be removed for direct sowing of seeds. One method that allows direct sowing onto mulched ground is to use seed balls. No-dig potatoes are great for clearing new ground. Simply place tubers on the earth beneath thick weed suppressing organic mulch. This will break down during the growing season and be dug in as the potatoes are harvested. Mixed Cropping Mixing plants is an optimum use of space, including vertical space, some plants grow well in shade, and others are climbers. Also consider root depths, different plants take water and nutrients from different depths in the soil. One technique for maintaining permanent cover is called over-sowing, sowing one crop before the harvesting of the existing crop. The greatest productivity comes by optimizing use of time as well as space. Quick growing crops like peas, radishes, turnips, rocket, spring onions, lettuce and other salads can be used as catch crops to fill up any spaces. By using mixed cropping throughout it is not necessary to practice strict crop rotation because soil borne pests diseases of certain crops will not have built up in any one particular area. Dont be shy about packing the space, ideally leaves of mature plants should be touching. Remember the greater the diversity and variety of plants in your garden the greater will be the number of beneficial organisms that keep a check on the populations of pests. When mixing plants always include:
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