Allotments 4 All

I have been reading a Bob flowerdew book all about using the no-dig method to cut down work.  He talks of 'fixed beds' ie beds without wood etc around them that are approx 1.5 meters across so you never tread on them.

Now i know i can't afford timber for raised beds but i was wondering if anyone else uses this type of 'no-dig' method and if so how do you go about it?  have you any advice or pictures you could show me to help?

our beds are mostly like you describe, but I dig them. Beds are separated by strips of carpet about a foot wide

Me too. Mine are separated by narrow grass paths. I only dig them to the extent that I need to e.g. plant/harvest potatoes, turn in green manure etc. It seems to work pretty well. I'll try to get some photos and post.

My late friend `supersprout` used a no dig method.  Raw compost material over a bed and then covered with a thick layer of straw.

It might break some more `conventional ` methods/rules? but I did visit her plot and believe me she did grow some pretty good veg

sounds like my allotment!, no-dig, mulch, loads of wildlife, very few pests. ;)

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Beds are separated by strips of carpet about a foot wide
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sounds like a good way to breed slugs

I thought that too, but it isn't. Mind you, we don't suffer from them much at the allotment

Are these also known as "deep beds" because over the years the paths get lower (top scraped off for putting on beds) and the beds get higher (mulching etc)? If so, that's what I am increasingly doing. I hoe and rake them when adding mulch and fertiliser - I only dig if I've let them get so weedy that its the easiest way to clear them.....

Shhh! (don't tell!) Sometimes I dig them just cos I can! And I quite like digging! ;D ;D

HI Kippers Garden

I used that system last year and it is brilliant!  I did about 6 beds like that and the plus side is that as you have beds which are contoured the light and air gets to the plants better - meaning that you can plant closer together and they get plenty of light.

I would not use anything between the beds - I just had bare earth - which needed tidying a couple of times but really no bother.  Carpets - to me - look a bit messy and there is something in them chemical wise that I would rather not have plus the odd slug could hide there!!

Good luck with it - it is an interesting way to grow - I have not tried the straw method - but have heard that it is very good.

O B

;)

There is only one tenant on our plot uses the 'no dig' approach (plot 7) and all the others use variations of the 'narrow bed' system as you can see on these 26 plots.

The pictures were taken at the end of June this year.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Slide%20Shows/Allotments/allotments.html

Hi Tee Gee what a great site you have.