Details on using a no-dig bed

[Richard Freedman]

Hi, I have just finished preparing 1/2 of my allotment with no-dig beds by spreading compost over it, see picture.

My question is about the sowing process. With my old method, i would dig the bed, firm the ground and then create a furrow, spread the seeds, cover and water. Now I have spread the compost over the bed, do I firm the ground before I sow the seeds as before?

[charles]

Looks good.
Big beds, so you will need to walk on them to reach the middle anyway, and yes the compost wants to be firm, not fluffed up or loose.
In dry weather like over most of the UK at present, I would even walk on the beds now, evenly and methodically. This conserves moisture and means that when roots develop, they are not suddenly stranded in mid air.
You cannot compact compost unless its sludgy and poor quality.
To sow, draw a drill as usual, water IN the drill only, unless it’s v damp weather, sow seeds, then draw the surface compost back over.
In dry weather ongoing, walk on the drill after sowing, or tamp firm with a rake.
Job done, do not water until seedlings are growing strongly.

[Richard Freedman]

Thanks for the advice. I agree that the beds are large, I was thinking of cutting them in two to make a path down the middle, which will allow me to get to most of it without walking on the beds.

[sue.oldham]

Hi everyone.
I have two trampoline nets that have been made into brassica cages and I did no dig in both of them . The old men on the site tutted and shook their heads at my trendy method but soon changed their opinion when I grew the best Cauliflowers on the site that year. The nets are brilliant and nothing gets through them . I especially love the zip opening . My question is this . They are fixed structures so i can’t crop rotate so do I need to remove some soil and replace with fresh every year ? Is that sufficient to stop any nasties building up in the soil.? I love the No Dig concept , it makes such sense and I’m happy to say others are now trying it on my site . Thanks in advance for your answers

[charles]

Sue I think you can do this. Maybe a catch crop or interplant of spinach, lettuce or anything different between growing cauliflower, to keep a wider range of soil life interested.
I would definitely never remove and replace soil. Just add the two inches per year of compost as cauls’s are hungry for food of all kinds.
See my video on rotation for more info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXQNnJOBQJc

[sue.oldham]

I didn’t think about interplantung but I will try that .
Everyone said that Caulies are difficult and as you say heavy feeders but mine grew so well I didn’t feed once !! They were fantastic so my soil must have been spot on.
All I did was cardboard , leaf mould , 2/3 inches of garden compost and then a bag of bought stuff
The trampoline nets are amazing
The light is dappled inside and not a single leaf was damaged .
I also used them cages to contain my Grandkids if they misbehave !!!
Thank you Charles

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