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I’ve just taken on an extra bit of (grass) ground alongside my very productive no-dig allotment, which I want to use for fruit and flowers. Two questions I’d appreciate any thoughts on please. First, do I need to remove the grass and dig to start off with? I would like to be able to plant fruit bushes ready for next summer. Secondly, I could move some fruit bushes I already have on the current plot, but would I be better to invest in some new stock instead? I am more keen to have.an unbroken supply of fruit than to save a relatively small amount of money (compared with buying all my fruit next summer).
I’ve looked on the site and fora but if this has already been answered then I missed it!
Fine to simply plant into the pasture, then mulch with any combination of cardboard and compost. Or mulch first and plant through it as I did here http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/content/december-2012-updated-16th. If doing that again I would put cardboard on the compost before covering with fabric, and the fabric is optional – it excludes less light than I had realised before I bought it.
Second, I would buy new canes/small plants as they will crop healthily by their second year and be much easier to plant.
This is not a no dig question but… I have just acquired a small fruit cage and bought some canes. I gather I can get more crops of raspberries using the “double fence” technique. Any advice on this and/or how to build a support system for the raspberries in the most economic way?
Congratulations on the award, Charles. Well deserved!
Paul
Thanks for your comments Paul.
Raspberries – it depends, are they autumn fruiting? I guess so from your question. If your site is sheltered you may not need supports. I don’t use any here and it is breezy. Yes I lose some fruit in any windy spells (they bruise in blowing atound) but on balance I am happy with that, for less hassle. Also I have space to play with and supports are good where space is tight.
Great news Deborah, that heartens me more than anything.
More productive, less work.
See you next year.
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