There’s no doubt that ‘no dig’ gardening is becoming more popular. I’m increasingly hearing it talked about by gardeners and know of several allotment holders who are using it as a way of growing without disturbing the soil.
It also formed the basis of a feature garden at the RHS Hampton show last year with a No Dig Vegetable Garden designed by leading experts Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty.
Instead of digging over vegetable plots, the method uses cardboard or thick layers of compost to smother weeds. This top layer of compost is topped up annually, creating ideal growing conditions without upsetting the soil’s structure.
Now, Charles, who has championed this method of growing for more than 40 years, is launching a national No Dig Day. It will be held on November 3 every year and aims to put the spotlight on a way of growing that he believes is better for the garden and the gardener.
“No dig saves time and allows gardeners to enjoy themselves more, while a simple annual mulch of compost improves soil fertility, its ability to hold carbon, and feeds the soil ecology, for a healthy balance between pests and predators,” he says.
The idea of the annual day is to get people who already follow no dig principles talking about it while encouraging those who’ve never tried it to give this method a go.
Gardeners are being asked to share their experience using the hashtag #NoDigDay on social media, or by hosting a ‘No Dig Lunch’ to show friends how they grow.
Those who’ve never tried it are being urged to start a no dig bed – Charles believes November is the ideal time and you can start growing broad beans or garlic now.
As part of the No Dig Day, he’s offering free downloads (on November 3 only) for some of his online courses and discounts on others.
No Dig Book
The campaign coincides with the publication of his new book No Dig, which distills his 40 years’ experience into one volume.
(I was given a copy of the book in return for a fair review.)
Covering everything from why you should use no dig – “taking easier approaches that work well is clever rather than lazy” – to how to get started, it is an encyclopedic volume.
There’s advice on the best way to sow seeds and the size of containers needed – sowing into modules saves time – a discussion on what to use to as protective covers over crops, and which tools are essential – surprisingly, it includes a spade. Interplanting makes the most of space and helps to prevent gaps in harvests.
There are sections on the science behind gardening, including soil structure and how plants take up nutrients.
Possibly the most useful section is the vegetable and herb directory. This gives tips on varieties, and the best growing methods along with how to prevent problems. More importantly, there’s a guide to when to sow, transplant and harvest.
I’ve reviewed Charles’ No Dig Gardening Course 1 book in the past. (You can read the review here.) This is a more comprehensive look at the way to use no dig in your own garden, making it ideal for the beginner.
No Dig by Charles Dowding is published by Dorling Kindersley with a RRP of £30. You can buy it here for £23.45. (If you buy via this link, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.)
You can find out more about No Dig Day here.
Enjoyed this? You can read more of my gardening and garden-related book reviews here.
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