Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: rowlandwells on September 18, 2022, 17:13

Title: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: rowlandwells on September 18, 2022, 17:13
for those of you out there who subscribe to Which Gardening did you read the article in this months Which by Bob Brown No dig? [I like digging]

Bob's humorous approach to the no dig was in my opinion  spot on couldn't have put it better myself and he was correct in what he said about the cultivation pan  100% correct been there got the tea shirt he says he likes digging so do I although I have to admit some of the ground is ploughed by tractor same as digging but much easier on the back  :D I love to see the ground turned over or dug to overwinter even better when green manure is turned in I know I can shut the gate till spring only visiting the allotment to pick a few brussels and then come spring the cultivation and planting starts all over again
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: snowdrops on September 18, 2022, 18:54
No RW I haven’t & as I don’t subscribe won’t see it. For my two penorth worth I’m not sure why no dig is so hotly debated? I have dug, double dug and all but started no dig seriously 5 years ago, so feel that as I have done both ( I dug for near on 35 years) I am very able to promote the fantastic benefits of no dig with experience. Now RW I’m not saying you haven’t done both or Bob no dig in which, but as some of the benefits are better environmentally, plants grow better, less weeds.

Edited by Admin to remove comment unnecessary comment.
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: mumofstig on September 18, 2022, 19:16
Only speaking for myself here, but it seems to be advocated as gardening with much less effort than digging, so anybody who doesn't do it must be really stupid?
After wheelbarrowing loads of manure, up hill, for just 1 bed, it really didn't feel like any less effort tbh. Plus that bed didn't perform any better than the dug ones - so gardeners and soils are different, so their choices depend on their circumstances
It's not the Holy Grail of gardening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2c-X8HiBng (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2c-X8HiBng)
 :D



Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: Snow on September 20, 2022, 19:47
I've not seen that but I've seen nothing but benefits since adopting it after being sceptical. Less weeds, less watering, less mess, higher yields in general I think although I've not done a direct comparison. The only time I get the spade out now is to lever out the parsnips and the fork to spread and turn compost.

Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: rowlandwells on September 20, 2022, 20:19
well of cause everyone to there own mum but I don't consider myself stupid for not wanting cover my ground with a load of cardboard and so called mulch maybe I mite even call myself a traditional gardener and  that's the way I was learnt to garden and as for  slavery or inventing the wheel is concerned that holds no water with me what a load of baloney though I do know we don't send children up chimneys anymore I think they banned that some time ago

and  its been proven this year after all that dry summer the ground has formed a solid crust so farmers are ploughing there fields  deep for cultivation to break up that pan that's formed in the ground with the absence water or the  lack of rain therefore  breaking up that pan and letting the rain penetrate  the ground but of cause the no dig club perhaps wouldn't know that because the no dig way automatically breaks up the ground  or does it :D

and I don't need to barrow loads of manure year on year just one covering of manure to put back  humus  in the ground then I follow on with a good green manure at the end of the growing season again feeding the ground putting a good growing base for spring sowings this never fails to producing good veg on our plots and that's  rite the no dig way is not the holly grail so won't be hanging up the spade just yet :D or selling my plough   :lol:
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: snowdrops on September 20, 2022, 21:17
 Good for you RW, enjoy your ploughing and digging cos that’s what it’s all about in the end. Each to there own
  :)
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: New shoot on September 20, 2022, 21:23
You are building your soil up every year Roland, so definitely not stupid.  Whether people dig, plough, mulch or do incantations while scattering mystic herbs, if it works, then all power to you.

I was at the plot over the weekend digging a patch that had grown potatoes.  I always feel you are missing one of life’s real pleasures if you don’t turn over the soil where potatoes have been, as they leave it in such good condition.  One plot neighbour who has small raised beds all over their plots and is no-dig came over as was enviously eyeing up my soil saying it was much nicer than theirs  :lol:  They are gardening only a few metres away, so it is the same soil  :wacko:

That patch has been a no-dig area in the past when I have had compost to cover it, it has been a dug area more often I would say and also been home to green manure, which it has just been sown with again.  It is good soil because it always get some attention and treatment every year. The actual specifics of what I do matter very little tbh  :)
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: rowlandwells on September 21, 2022, 09:25
your replies are  like a breath of fresh air new shoot because we all have our ways of working some  win some we loose its all part of growing whatever you grow and I definitely wouldn't tell those who believe in the no dig system to change back to digging

people ask me how to grow veg and I always say I don't tell people how to grow veg I always say this is the way I do it then its up to them if they want to follow my way and if you like the no dig who am I to try to stop you from doing so we all have our opinions some you like some you don't but it don't stop one having  constructive criticism over some issues does it?
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: Snowboar on September 30, 2022, 23:02
Done both prefer digging no dig is not a miracle cure if your ground is a lawn the cover with card and compost away ya go try that over couch grass or
Bindweed etc you will have some fun digging it out in the end so I would conclude if ya allotment is in a state there’s no escaping the proper prep before hand  I’m a traditionalist and like old ways . I enjoy preparing the ground as much as growing but it does work if you have taken serious weeds out an great for older people,but it’s not the magic cure like it’s made out to be in my opinion 😀👍
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: New shoot on October 01, 2022, 08:34
try that over couch grass or Bindweed etc you will have some fun digging it out in the end

Been there, done that  :lol:  I had to dig out and relocate a heavily mulched no-dig soft fruit area on my plot when the neighbouring plot let bindweed, couch grass and brambles get out of control.  There was only a narrow grass path between us and even sacrificing a strip along the edge and digging that every few weeks didn’t keep them out. 

I have done both dig and no-dig and still do.  As with all gardening and growing, you are dead right, there are no miracle cures, just what works for you  :)
Title: Re: Bob Browns no dig
Post by: Aunt Sally on October 01, 2022, 17:55
Whatever works for you is the right method.


THE BEST FERTILIZER IS THE GARDENER’S SHADOW  :D