We seem to be doing rather a lot of digging with our new allotment.. don't tell me we didn't need to. I know this is a little naive but what is the no-dig system. :-[
Some people don't dig as they think it damages the soil. Some folk don't dig because they aren't fit or can't really be bothered. You can get crops without digging so if you have a bad back or want to get a crop into an overgrown allotment you can do with no dig.
I'm using no dig on an overgrown plot as I wanted to produce some veggies quickly. I also have injured my back so not digging sounded attractive. Whether it works or not it's too early to tell so I'll report back later in the year.
My plot was covered in tall grasses and weeds so we strimmed it all down then mowed it (last winter). Where I want my beds I've put down big pieces of cardboard then fresh manure on top (all I'd got) then plastic sheet mulch over that. You then cut slits in for the seed spuds and drop them in. Done that now waiting for them to sprout ;D I'm trying to get as much of the plot under some sort of cover to stop weed growth until I can get round to making beds. I'm not in any hurry though. I'm doing squashes, french beans and courgettes using no dig (as above).
Catherine,
Have a word with a long standing member of your allotments and see if one of them will give your plot a rotovating for you. It will take out a lot of the hard work which is discouraging in your first year. Make sure he rotovates to at least 9 inches deep, all you then have to do is keep it free from weeds etc. It will be a lot easier to dig next year too.
I am just having my rotovator serviced at the moment. My plots need another going over to get the soil broken up a little more. I only have potatoes in at the moment, but I don't rush my planting out. There is still time for heavy frosts to kill young plants!
John :)
Thanks guys. ;D
Catherine - never apologise for asking a question - that's what the board is here for.
Anyway I just found this: http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg2.htm
My plottie neighbours had their plot at the same time as me. They rotovated the plot, weeds and all, and now they have a zillion times more weeds than before ;D I think you need to get rid of the weeds BEFORE rotovating - either by hand or weed killer. I haven't done either and am covering the bits of the plot that I can't get to yet with old carpet, cardboard, sheet mulch etc and doing a bed at a time. I don't think there's much need to do the whole plot and then have expanses of bare soil exposed to the elements for the weeds of colonise again. It's horses for courses but there is another way rather than digging and rotovating.
Some people love digging and rotovating but I'm not one of them ;D If I succeed with my no dig beds I'll report back, but there's plenty about them on the internet as Aqui points out. Happy gardening :)
I'm one of the lazy ones: minimal-dig.
The hoe is useful (and very easy) to keep the annual weeds manageable.
Potatoes, parsnips, leeks and carrots need to be dug out: can't avoid that. Then I rake over with a three-prong thing on a long handle to tilth and level the surface.
Bob Flowerdew has a great attitude to deep rooted weeds (and to everything really).
Treat them as compost fodder: the deep tap roots suck up minerals from way down and move them into their leaves. Pull off the leaves when you see them and put them on the heap. He claims that the roots eventually give up and die, but mine are still going strong after 2 years.
But it's a lot easier than digging up the roots of docks, cow parsley and hogweed, which never works anyway.
And I can't be doing with black plastic: sorry Wardy! but cardboard covered with grass cuttings is good.
I've got cardboard too Clayhithe ;D Anything which will smother weeds be it plastic, wood, carpet I'll use it
I use cardboard covered with anything organic that I can lay hands on.....chopped dock leaves, grass cuttings, nettles, straw, comfrey (which is very good). The only thing I'm wary of is the initial nitrogen loss while the mulch is rotting. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Hi JVMar,
Green manure with a legume (like broad beans)