I agree. Charles is up there with David Attenborough in my books, as one of the most wholesome people to absorb information from. He doesn’t get any air play here in Australia but I’m so glad I found his content
Charles, this is my second year doing No-Dig here in Nashville, TN. I feel like a disciple 😂 everyone thought I was crazy, now everyone wants to know where I learned this, the answer is always, Charles Dowding! Thank you my friend!
I always enjoy and appreciate all of your videos. My wife and I retired here to Kentucky and this year have begun our NO DIG gardening Journey. We have built 6 - 20 foot rows thus far and I have sewn early peas, beet root, lettuce, radish. I have several raised beds with turmeric, ginger, horseradish, spring onions, garlic and have established an asparagus bed. We have planted apples, peaches, grapes, pears, figs and elderberry bushes. Our Greenhouse is being built next week and I am as excited as a Child at Christmas. I have been able to share the no dig method of gardening with others and then I promptly direct them to your channel. Cheers my Friend.
No me voy a cansar de decirlo...espero que no te canses Charles... tus videos son hermosos... no sólo aprendo y confirmo mis intuiciones.. sino que tu manera de cultivar me resulta toda una filosofia de vida y escucharte me produce una rara calma y esto es tan poco frecuente en la loca carrera de esta sociedad moderna... mi huerta es pequeña 3 bancales... pero es gigante... fuente de alegría y comida... y prácticamente no hago nada... este verano no he tenido ni una plaga... nada... impecable y siembre todo mezclado y flores... Gracias Charles
Estoy muy feliz de leer esto Grise y poder ayudarte, gracias por tus comentarios. En los próximos tiempos la comida se volverá más valiosa y es tan buena que ya tienes un jardín.
I've picked up from one of the soil science videos that soil does not like or need to be "rested", so I'm trying to keep live roots in the soil all year. This usually means green leafy crops in the cooler months, but also flowers, like violas and pansies. I've seen lots of insects and even a couple of frogs sheltering in my spent winter crop plants so I think I'll leave them there over winter as well. The plants are still just ticking over.. This is a terrific no dig video again Charles!
On of the neatest sayings I've seen is that, "Mother nature doesn't like to be naked, so cover her up." Whether covered with plants or mulch (compost), the soil loves to be covered year 'round.
Hi Charles my name is Leigh ngamoki and I'm from New Zealand, and I just want to let you know that your methods of no dig have inspired me to turn almost an 1/4 acre into a no dig garden and ultimately have fed and will continue to feed alot of family's struggling through covid. What a blessing you are, Thank you very much.
Fantastic Charles! After watching your videos I've been practicing mostly no dig but every once in a while I need to dig a little for whatever reason. It's just a soft dig if I need to ... the rototiller will never see my garden again. No dig worked well for me last year so you converted me :)
Thanks for another very informative video, Charles. The time saved by no dig is certainly significant, as it takes me no more than a couple of hours to spread a layer of compost on my seven 1.2x3.3m beds, compared to at least a day's digging. As for weeding; It took me at most 30 minutes today to hand pull, not hoe, all seven beds & the total volume of weeds might have filled a coffee mug - that's two weeks' growth. My late father used to say "never let a weed see a Sunday" & though I don't often manage that, it's not a bad base to start from.😊
I have followed your channel for more than two years and I have learned a lot. My first garden experience was really good because your methods of “no dig “Today I start from cero because I just bought my new place. I hope to have the same luck as two years ago. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. 🍀🍀🍀
Here in Canada we are just coming into spring it will be another month before we can plant. This will be season 2 of no dig and I am so looking forward to getting started. My first season was so good harvests were so much bigger than with tilling adding stuff to help the soil with out seeing much of a difference. I will never go back to dig. Selling the tiller I had as it is no longer needed. Still working on producing enough compost for what I grow. Enjoy every video you make. This way of growing works no matter where you live.
Fellow Canadian here! Almost ready for peas and carrots and brassicas to go out. This week in southern Ontario looks promising…. Then I can start my summer crops. I agree the the no dig method has been adopted in my garden as well. Trying hard to produce enough compost as well, giving mushroom compost a try this year hopefully next year I won’t have to buy compost again.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge iam just starting this year for the first time doing no dig so your videos are very valuable.Ive lots of seedlings waiting to be planted but the weather here has just turned very cold with snow and frost
It's a pleasure Sandra, and it looks like as with last year, April will be a difficult month. If you can use fleece covers, that will help your seedlings, as in this video ruclips.net/video/xwcQ4THPeaM/видео.html
The best part of a no dig garden aside from being relieved of the back breaking work, is how many earth worms have come! I love just adding newspapers or garden/paper bags & compost and my perennial gardens are thriving! I’d found your channel a few years ago, and was encouraged to try “no dig”. Trying to educate other gardeners, too. I add mulch to keep weeds at bay, but they aren’t as excessive as when I “dug out” my gardens. They don’t require as much watering either, unless drought during summer. Watching from Canada, near Niagara Falls. Love watching your progress, year after year!
Charles, firstly thank you for your channel. It along with your books have helped me discover a whole new world. I'm in France, and as you speak French I wanted to share with you some of the resources here that compliment your own work. I've been studying and training with ver de terre production and arbre et paysage 32. I believe that some of their work on maraichage Sur sol vivant would interest you and vice versa. You are all together doing us a great service empowering us to not only grow our own food but also take care of our soils!!! The future looks bright! Merci beaucoup! M
Прекрасное начало выпуска, почти по Шекспиру! To be or not to be! To dig or not to dig!😄👍Приятно видеть отличный результат вашей работы, сэр Чарльз, в виде подрастающих рядов растений! Дай Бог чтобы погодные условия были благоприятные весь сезон! 🇷🇺💖
Just today, I mentioned you in my comment on another video clip. I look forward to your presentations and multitude tips. They are so helpful. Thank you
I have an allotment and I question everything… unsure of the best methods and conflicting information from my personal inexperience. When you have the experience from trial and error you have a moment.. I can only explain it as a matrix moment… (I’m a heating engineer and it took about 8 years to just have this moment in my profession) Charles just fully understands this formation through and through. Amazing
Thanks so much I surprise myself sometimes with how clear it all feels and I feel privileged to have ability and platform to share what I've learnt. I like your description of matrix moment - the right kind of matrix 🌱
I love the updates on this project, currently im doing a light till on my heavy clay thats had compost added last year, then adding 2-3 inches on top. My biggest issue is compaction leading to poor drainage so im hoping to have that worked out this year so next year I can just topdress with compost and rock on
Sounds great Justin. True compaction is a deeper issue and I'm intrigued that your light tilling can make a difference, it might be interesting to leave a small area and see how that works 😀
Another wonderful video Charles. Our cool weather crops are doing very well here in Central Ohio under the fleece row covers and we have had some nasty cold nights. Learned it from you on your row cover vids!!! My husband did away with hoops and now uses two stakes at each end of the beds with a rope down the center and we put the row cover over the rope and wt it down on the sides with bricks. He starts them low then raises the rope up to keep the covers off the plants, hoping to be able to take the fleece off in a few weeks and replace with mesh netting, hoping that is, frost date for us is still 5 weeks or so out!!! We certainly enjoy watching your vids!!!
Hello Mia and thank you. I really like the sound of that method, please congratulate your husband. I think it's one of the best things about gardening, how it gives us the chance to be creative. Here also it's five weeks until last frost!
I really enjoy all your videos. It would be interesting to measure the amount of energy and effort put into each bed vs amount of energy out in terms of food harvested ! I bet the time and effort put into the dig bed would be 10x more. Thanks for the videos
I love using this method, I have also been taking a liking to the sheet rolls of paper from my local home Depot instead of cardboard, saves time and I notice I can grow carrots quicker instead of having to wait for the cardboard to break down. :)
I love the intro and the music. I love learning from your experiments and seeing the data. I love just looking at your beautiful vegetables. It’s so soothing and relaxing, listening to your sharing and enjoying your video. Thank you so much Charles!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig He did at least write about the dangers of not taking good care of the land. Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn. King Lear
I was reading that variety is equivalent to magnitudes of fertilizer added . I would love you to try an experimental bed where you only grow a few of each plant currently growing in the garden reflecting a multicultural bed. Weighing the crop harvested against the average of its kind in the beds where they are all planted next to each other .
These beds are indeed multicultural beds, polyculture, companion planting, call it how you wish. I grow all of the same vegetables in different parts of the garden, in beds on their own and notice no consistent difference in harvest. What I do notice is that it's more difficult to protect specific vegetables, for example carrots from fruit flies, and also that harvests from these beds take longer in the context of a market garden, because of small amounts dotted here and there
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Charles, so "What I do notice is that it's more difficult to protect specific vegetables..." Just to understand you correctly here you're saying protecting from pests is more difficult and harvests take longer when veggies are scattered among other veggies ?
So more of a soil-horizon might grow more. My mulch/compost has a PH of 8.1, the top six inch soil-horizon has a 5.4 PH, & below 14 inches the Ph is 4.9. I was researching wetlands to see how many inches I should raise the water-table in my wicking-bed through winter. The winter-flooding(soil-horizons) might make more ammonia or something that the plants want, IDK.
This is easy for you, cause your name is Charles Dowding. Try doing it under any another name, the plants just respect Charles Dowding... May I can change my name, would that work? Respect from Africa 🇿🇦
I’m noticing that the yields of no dig are only slightly greater than digging. Where the gardener gains the most is the work necessary for the dig method, or rather the easier work for no dig.
We've gone from 19C last week, to getting actual snow yesterday. Not much, admittedly, but enough for Doncaster all the same, so I was glad I'd protected my transplants. I'm trying to grow Ranunculus in the Pollinator garden for the first time, so I'm being a bit of a 'helicopter mum' about them lol I do like the jumper!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Yes, it's my birthday in a few weeks, so I'm used to it either being lovely, or freezing. I think I'm in for cold one this time around. However, I'd rather have a bad April, and a good May, than the other way around!
Science involves facts and experimentation that will produce the exact same, measurable, result, each time, as I understand it. I'm sure someone will correct me, if I'm wrong. 11°C? That's a heatwave, here, in Glasgow. 🥵😂 We're expecting our last frost mid May. Thanks for uploading.
Casi todo el mundo cree que hay que cavar la tierra para que crezcan las nuevas plantaciones. Sé y puedo demostrar que no tienes que cavar. y esto es demostrar la evidencia. No excavar ahorra mucho tiempo, es beneficioso para la vida del suelo y la madre naturaleza, y mantiene el carbono en el suelo.
I've created 2 large no dig beds for the first time at the allotment Charles and I'm very keen to get going I've only planted onion sets at the moment but it looks like the surface is drying out quite fast, is this typical of no dig beds do they require more water. I used home made compost plus well rotted bagged manure plus jacks magic. Thanks Charles
Sounds good Neil. The surface may look dry but there should be plenty of moisture underneath. Those composts should be okay but sometimes the fresher green waste ones which are not really ripe, can dry out really fast.
with the no dig method and autumn has arrived is it best to just cut the plant as close to the ground and leave the roots still under the soil and dont remove the roots so the soil isnt disturbed ?
querido mister charlie!.. tu cama de cultivo que tan alto debe de ser para un buen desarrollo de mis plantas? estoy en un proyecto escolar.. tengo muchas iluciones para ver esas caritas ilucionadas de mis infantes!.. abrazo de oso para ti y tu equipo..TJ amanecio con lluvia y algo de frio!..
This will be my third year doing a no dig garden that was started on heavy clay soil that had been compacted by heavy machinery. I just expanded it a bit and my friend wants me to borrow her tiller and till the new bed to see “how I like it”…I wonder if it would make a difference because of how compacted it is to till it first and then proceed with no dig after that? Worth it? Or should I just lay my cardboard and start building up? Also I am getting so many dandelions popping up in the garden. I do try to get down and remove their taproot as best I can…it’s not really in places I can just lay cardboard and for weed control. Even with all the dandelions, I am excited for spring, finally! Lettuce, cabbages, onions, coriander, multisown radish and beets are in! Oh and peas :)
Well done This word compaction!! It refers to soil damaged by heavy machinery usually, when it was very wet, and the result is a total lack of air and life, which could not possibly be improved by tilling! Even no dig might struggle without an initial forking to perhaps 25 cm/10". Maybe more. Fortunately there are very few soils with this problem and mainly they are on building sites, as gardens of new houses. In my view, I would totally avoid having any Rototiller in your garden!
Thank you, Charles. There is life in the soil..even in the heavy clay, I find the worms around the roots of the weed clumps I pulled up in the new section. I am having issues with potatoes though in the clay…would you have any tips? I could build up with extra top soil/compost??
Also should note that when I started my garden it was at our new house building site and it was very wet that year. But it’s only improved each season!
Charles how do you deal with such things as broccoli stumps that are left in the ground from last year? I cut them off at ground level in the fall thinking they would decompose over the winter. The ground is just emerging from the winter freeze and what I’m calling stumps from broccoli and corn stalks are still very sturdy. Would you leave them or go under with a spade to cut them out?
Hi Jason, I either pull them out while standing on the soil so they snap off mostly and leave the smaller roots in the ground. Or use a spade as you suggest, just below the main stem
Bare soil is counter-productive; it loses stored carbon, water, absorbs heat, becomes compacted, etc. The plants of different families do not compete with each other for nutrients (Jones, Ingham); and the fungal hyphae appreciate the different exudate resources: so either grow in roller-crimped beds through the litter or in an established low and complete ground cover. That basically encapsulates the whole point of Regenerative Agriculture, do not disturb the fungal base. earthworms
Hi Charles ,I'm sure you've already considered this but just in case ! Have you considered a " no plough" experiment on a small field ? I think it would be really interesting to see how a " field crop " performs compared to a ploughed one ?
Charles I’m starting my first No Dig bed. The ground as far as I can tell is an old forest floor. Leaves, bark, moss and twigs for many inches deep. I plan to use cardboard because some trees have been removed so the area can receive sunlight. And sunlight can promote growth but not the kind I want 😂. Can you please tell me how many inches deep the compost should be? Or what would be ideal? I have a never ending supply of compost and want to plant immediately after the compost is down.
Sounds great! And from what you describe, I see no need for the cardboard because weed growth is slight. Plus you can add say 4-6 inches compost which smothers the weeds. I see no advantage in spreading more than 6 inches/15 cm because healthy plant roots also benefit from easy access to the soil below, which of course becomes integrated with the compost over time. That compost initial depth is fine for sowing or planting any vegetables. Straight away!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Charles I’m delighted that you took the time to reply 😁. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I can’t even begin to describe how excited we are to finally garden once again. Have a wonderful day getting your hands dirty.
I have a soil full of the severed roots of small trees where I want to start my garden. It’s impossible to make any bed without removing the roots standing above the ground. Extracting the roots is almost the same as digging. What is the safest way to do this for the soil?
It's exceptionally difficult Michael, if not impossible without causing quite a bit of damage to both trees and soil. I hope that you might be able to find somewhere further away from any trees!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks! The trees are gone anyway, only the roots remain. The trees were cat ca. 15cm above ground with some machine by previous owner of the property. Now I am trying to deal with it. So far I have just tried to tear the roots out by hand and dig as little as possible only when I have insufficient power in my hands to tear out without digging. I hope it will not make too much harm to the soil.
Out of curiosity, on the dig bed , have you tried just covering the bed with compost then hoeing it into the top 3 or 4 inches? That gives the bed a 50/50 mix of compost and soil. I did it with some old seed compost when the garden was too moist and sticky then covered the patch with card the keep the rain off and I had to hoe again be fore sowing but that half row did better. This year I’m just going to weed first then cover with seed compost because I can’t dig.
Yes that would make more sense than digging in the compost. However the point of this trial is to illustrate the difference between no dig, and the traditional methods of digging with incorporation of the compost. Good luck with your no dig.
Thanks nice to hear. The initial compost depth depends on your soil quality and weed numbers, on average 3 to 4 inches/7 to 10 cm, which sets you up for many years. See this page of my website for more details charlesdowding.co.uk/start-here/
Thanks for another wonderful video, Charles! I'm a complete convert (well, tbh, I never liked digging LOL). I love seeing updates on your trial beds. (...and you really have coriander outside in winter?)
Interesting video for sure enjoyed it quite a lot. In my country dig bed would look like hills and valleys and not this lovely. People go in with motocultivators and put little bit of compost sometimes and that's it. Its mostly native rocky soil with very little compost (few bags on acre). I'm first in my family and in my area going for no dig and the opposition is strong 😂 Btw I got lots of bags of worm compost for my beds and also got few bags of pure sheep manure (not mixed with anything), I'm just curious is it safe to put lets say 80-100 liters in 3m*1.2m bed mixed with worm castings or is pure sheep manure bit strong for beds of that size?
Well done you and good luck. Although really no one should oppose such a practice which is good for soil and the environment. The amount of pure sheep manure sounds okay to me as first dose, for soil which perhaps has had very little organic matter. In future years you will need less.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for your response, I'm building my beds tomorrow and really been enjoying everything so far. Till now gardening was always obligation, I enjoyed eating organic veggies but now I'm really exited about everything.
I used to dig the whole of my veg plot over at the start of winter and then leave it for winter to do its work. I then bought a rotovator 4 years ago and I now find I get much better growth by rotovating in my compost. By doing that it mixes it more into the top 12" rather than burying your compost however deep you dig.
Basically yes! I don't understand the value of that because although you are adding organic matter, you are destroying structure and soil organisms. I would add it to the compost heap
'Allo Bertrand. Au fait j'ai payé pour les sous-titres français sur cette vidéo et vous cliquez simplement sur l'icône d'engrenage, puis vous voyez le menu des langues et cliquez sur français.
I have a question about the no dig system. I ran out of compost and get it from a local site where they compost with yard debris. Its really black and comes still hot. I have a section where I was not able to complete and a new section where I would like to complete but I don't think I have time to let compost finish composting. The weeds are coming in and its a big chore to weed. Here is the question, I am thinking of tilling that section so I can plant. I have run out of no dig planting space and need to put in my cucumbers, beans, squash and other items soon to come. What would you suggest? I am thinking of tilling. How long will the ground take to recover once going to no dig after tilling? Should I use a cultivator? does this do less damage? Thank you for your input. David
I would add just 3 to 4 cm, not much more than an inch of that compost which will keep the surface soft, make weeds easy to pull them out if they grow, and you can transplant through it into the soil below, without tilling
Hello Charles, I am watching your channel for a long time and I love your content! I have couple questions for you: - Are there any woodchips and tree/shrub offcuts that should be not composted? Some say that they can be toxic or to acidic to use. - If the soil is very compacted/clay is it worth to dig at the first season before using no dig approach? - I have an allotment and I tried no dig in my greenhouse to start with but my plant growth stunned in comparison to dig beds, what could be the reason? Thank you!
Sounds good, thanks. I use any type of woodchip as in according to whatever tree it came from, is fine. My preference very strongly is for small rather than large wood you and for younger softer wood, rather than old dry wood. Compact it is a value judgement and usually it's just that the soil is firm, which is normal. If damaged, you could fork it before beginning. For your greenhouse, that is difficult to say without knowing any of the circumstances which include how are you converted to No-Dig and how much you water for example. I'm guessing you had a comparison dug bed in the greenhouse.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you for your answer Charles! I will be adding a woodchip to my compost heap from now on, there is a lot on my allotment from the council. I will fork lightly before adding compost to the top. For the greenhouse, I think that my plants needed heardening before planting there, especially cucumbers, I will know better for next season.
Hi Charles loving your vlogs. Can I ask a question. I bought some compost yesterday and when I was spading it out on my beds I noticed it was still hot, how long should I wait before I plan in it, I'm a bit worried as I've put it on all of my beds and I have hundreds on babies waiting to go out. Regards
Because the soil is usually damp and therefore full of life near the surface which is happy to eat the new compost. Plus it's the time, in late autumn, when beds are often cleared of final harvest and therefore it's easier to spread the compost. Plus the compost serves as a protective mulch over winter, on top of soil and all its life which remains healthy and invigorated, ready for spring. Plus any lumps in the compost, in cooler climates, are broken by frost and are easy to knock into small pieces in spring with a rake, making it easier to sow and to plant
Hey Charles!, I was wondering if you have any tips for dealing with the grass getting into your beds? It takes over my beds during the growing season lol. thanks in advance
Charles, can I ask what length and thickness the wire is that you use to support the covers please and where did you get them from? Many thanks and another great video as always. Love your channel, so much useful information, it was you that inspired me to start my own growing garden three years ago. Thank you. 👍
First time for me to attempt a no-dig bed. Our bind weed is atrocious here in southern Wisconsin. I have access to loads of cardboard. Would it be advantageous to use 2 or 3 layers of cardboard before laying down the compost on top?
Yes that would slow down the regrowth, until maybe late summer when it can push up through the decomposing cardboard, and then you need to keep removing it, for long-term success. Make sure to mulch/cover pathways and edges, as well as beds
Thanks for sharing, after learning from you I mostly practice no dig and encourage others to do so. May I ask would the broad bean set pods if you would kept it for few more months? Thanks
Thank you, that would be nice but the company we use do not offer Danish I'm afraid,. You should be able to get it as a Google auto translate? Click on the gear icon et cetera
Hi! Is anyone else having trouble accessing the website? I have only one lesson left in the online no-dig course, and was hoping to complete it today, but the site won’t load for me. :(
Update: I finally got it to load using Safari on my laptop. I hope no one else is having problems! Thanks for all the valuable information on this channel.
I'm sorry to hear that Joan. It sounds like a question of the apparatus more than the website, which other people have been accessing as normal. I'm glad you enjoyed the course, and this channel
I have adopted many of your methods, no dig as the main principle... I just can't understand why you can agree to use hybrids and on the other hand use the Demeter 'shit horns' preparation at the same time (whati also think is abracadabra)... is that extra yield realy worth it to sell your autonomie to the those hybrid seed producers? sorry I just had to mention it, because I have the feeling that you use more hybrids in last two years... if you have to fill up lost income for the lost onsite trainings, due to the pandemic... I would understand... but in my opinion hybrids are very very bad
Interesting and thanks Sascha. I use hybrids mainly for cucumber, sweet cherry tomato Sungold, broccoli. Nothing in this video for example. 85-90% of the garden does not grow hybrids. This year not aubergine or pepper. So I can\t agree that I use them a lot. And I have suffered poor crops from not using them, such as early beetroot. I saved my own seed, shall see what happens this summer!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig : I had the feeling that it is more, I didn't want to say 'a lot' ... but maybe I just became more aware now... And pls don't be offended... that was not my intention... for me it is totally okay, to agree that we disagree on the topic of 'are hybrids a valid opinion'. We have a frost with snow here in Germany/Cologne this night. Hope you are having no frost...
It makes me so happy when I see a new video from you Charles. Thanks very much, you're helping me so much to create my own amazing garden
Thanks and I'm happy to hear that!
Same
I agree. Charles is up there with David Attenborough in my books, as one of the most wholesome people to absorb information from. He doesn’t get any air play here in Australia but I’m so glad I found his content
Same
I enjoy these videos as well
Charles, this is my second year doing No-Dig here in Nashville, TN. I feel like a disciple 😂 everyone thought I was crazy, now everyone wants to know where I learned this, the answer is always, Charles Dowding! Thank you my friend!
That is awesome John and I'm really happy that word is getting out, well done for embracing the change!
I always enjoy and appreciate all of your videos. My wife and I retired here to Kentucky and this year have begun our NO DIG gardening Journey. We have built 6 - 20 foot rows thus far and I have sewn early peas, beet root, lettuce, radish. I have several raised beds with turmeric, ginger, horseradish, spring onions, garlic and have established an asparagus bed. We have planted apples, peaches, grapes, pears, figs and elderberry bushes. Our Greenhouse is being built next week and I am as excited as a Child at Christmas. I have been able to share the no dig method of gardening with others and then I promptly direct them to your channel. Cheers my Friend.
That all sounds amazing Billy and your climate also sounds great! I wish you well and thanks for sharing the information.
U live in lovely
No me voy a cansar de decirlo...espero que no te canses Charles... tus videos son hermosos... no sólo aprendo y confirmo mis intuiciones.. sino que tu manera de cultivar me resulta toda una filosofia de vida y escucharte me produce una rara calma y esto es tan poco frecuente en la loca carrera de esta sociedad moderna... mi huerta es pequeña 3 bancales... pero es gigante... fuente de alegría y comida... y prácticamente no hago nada... este verano no he tenido ni una plaga... nada... impecable y siembre todo mezclado y flores... Gracias Charles
Estoy muy feliz de leer esto Grise y poder ayudarte, gracias por tus comentarios. En los próximos tiempos la comida se volverá más valiosa y es tan buena que ya tienes un jardín.
Al fin un comentario en español xD.. Ya me sentía solito
I've picked up from one of the soil science videos that soil does not like or need to be "rested", so I'm trying to keep live roots in the soil all year. This usually means green leafy crops in the cooler months, but also flowers, like violas and pansies. I've seen lots of insects and even a couple of frogs sheltering in my spent winter crop plants so I think I'll leave them there over winter as well. The plants are still just ticking over.. This is a terrific no dig video again Charles!
Nice to hear this Alison!
On of the neatest sayings I've seen is that, "Mother nature doesn't like to be naked, so cover her up." Whether covered with plants or mulch (compost), the soil loves to be covered year 'round.
Hi Charles my name is Leigh ngamoki and I'm from New Zealand, and I just want to let you know that your methods of no dig have inspired me to turn almost an 1/4 acre into a no dig garden and ultimately have fed and will continue to feed alot of family's struggling through covid. What a blessing you are, Thank you very much.
Hello Leigh, thanks so much for writing and that sounds a wonderful job you are doing.
I wish you ongoing success
You mean CONvid, no, lol?
I so enjoy listening to Charles.
Really glad you do, thank you!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. What a treasure to have someone like you to learn from. 🙂
🌱 thanks
You and your garden are an oasis of calm, peace and abundance in our crazy world ❤ THANK YOU
Thanks so much 💚
Fantastic Charles! After watching your videos I've been practicing mostly no dig but every once in a while I need to dig a little for whatever reason. It's just a soft dig if I need to ... the rototiller will never see my garden again. No dig worked well for me last year so you converted me :)
You did it your way xxx
Rock on Frank
Thanks for another very informative video, Charles.
The time saved by no dig is certainly significant, as it takes me no more than a couple of hours to spread a layer of compost on my seven 1.2x3.3m beds, compared to at least a day's digging.
As for weeding; It took me at most 30 minutes today to hand pull, not hoe, all seven beds & the total volume of weeds might have filled a coffee mug - that's two weeks' growth.
My late father used to say "never let a weed see a Sunday" & though I don't often manage that, it's not a bad base to start from.😊
Great to hear and that is a fine saying, certainly easier with no dig!
I have followed your channel for more than two years and I have learned a lot. My first garden experience was really good because your methods of “no dig “Today I start from cero because I just bought my new place. I hope to have the same luck as two years ago. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. 🍀🍀🍀
That's great Andrea. You will have another good experience because this is cooperating with natural process, can feel lazy and lucky bit it's not 💚
Here in Canada we are just coming into spring it will be another month before we can plant. This will be season 2 of no dig and I am so looking forward to getting started. My first season was so good harvests were so much bigger than with tilling adding stuff to help the soil with out seeing much of a difference. I will never go back to dig. Selling the tiller I had as it is no longer needed. Still working on producing enough compost for what I grow. Enjoy every video you make. This way of growing works no matter where you live.
Great to read this and may your spring be good and productive. You must feel like a coiled spring!
Fellow Canadian here! Almost ready for peas and carrots and brassicas to go out. This week in southern Ontario looks promising…. Then I can start my summer crops. I agree the the no dig method has been adopted in my garden as well. Trying hard to produce enough compost as well, giving mushroom compost a try this year hopefully next year I won’t have to buy compost again.
Charles Dowding is such a wonderful teacher. Wow! Thank you Charles and producers.
Our pleasure Crush :)
Dear brother Charles,
Wonderful comparison between the dig and no dig systems. Thank you for sharing
I appreciate the comment, thank you so much for the support!
Hola Charles, que interesante y adorable como explicas, gracias 🇨🇱
Mi placer 💚
Thanks for sharing your knowledge iam just starting this year for the first time doing no dig so your videos are very valuable.Ive lots of seedlings waiting to be planted but the weather here has just turned very cold with snow and frost
It's a pleasure Sandra, and it looks like as with last year, April will be a difficult month. If you can use fleece covers, that will help your seedlings, as in this video ruclips.net/video/xwcQ4THPeaM/видео.html
The fleece has made a difference growing bokchoy and salad greens this year. Thank you.
💚
The best part of a no dig garden aside from being relieved of the back breaking work, is how many earth worms have come! I love just adding newspapers or garden/paper bags & compost and my perennial gardens are thriving! I’d found your channel a few years ago, and was encouraged to try “no dig”. Trying to educate other gardeners, too. I add mulch to keep weeds at bay, but they aren’t as excessive as when I “dug out” my gardens. They don’t require as much watering either, unless drought during summer. Watching from Canada, near Niagara Falls. Love watching your progress, year after year!
Thanks so much and I'm heartened to read your comments. It's nice that you want to help other people with these easier methods 💚
Charles, firstly thank you for your channel. It along with your books have helped me discover a whole new world. I'm in France, and as you speak French I wanted to share with you some of the resources here that compliment your own work. I've been studying and training with ver de terre production and arbre et paysage 32. I believe that some of their work on maraichage Sur sol vivant would interest you and vice versa. You are all together doing us a great service empowering us to not only grow our own food but also take care of our soils!!! The future looks bright! Merci beaucoup! M
Thanks Mella. I used to live in France and I'm familiar with most of these resources which are brilliant, so thank you!
Прекрасное начало выпуска, почти по Шекспиру! To be or not to be! To dig or not to dig!😄👍Приятно видеть отличный результат вашей работы, сэр Чарльз, в виде подрастающих рядов растений! Дай Бог чтобы погодные условия были благоприятные весь сезон! 🇷🇺💖
Спасибо, Ольга, отличное сравнение! Посмотрим 😀
Great video Charles. I can't wait to see your work in the UK spring and summer, busy busy busy :P
You and me both!
I love when a new Charles video pops up, thank you for sharing 🌱
You are so welcome!
Just today, I mentioned you in my comment on another video clip. I look forward to your presentations and multitude tips. They are so helpful. Thank you
Thanks Raji 😀
I have an allotment and I question everything… unsure of the best methods and conflicting information from my personal inexperience.
When you have the experience from trial and error you have a moment.. I can only explain it as a matrix moment… (I’m a heating engineer and it took about 8 years to just have this moment in my profession)
Charles just fully understands this formation through and through.
Amazing
Thanks so much
I surprise myself sometimes with how clear it all feels and I feel privileged to have ability and platform to share what I've learnt. I like your description of matrix moment - the right kind of matrix 🌱
Interesting 🤔 thanks Charles! 🙏
Thank you so much for watching my videos.
I love the updates on this project, currently im doing a light till on my heavy clay thats had compost added last year, then adding 2-3 inches on top. My biggest issue is compaction leading to poor drainage so im hoping to have that worked out this year so next year I can just topdress with compost and rock on
Sounds great Justin.
True compaction is a deeper issue and I'm intrigued that your light tilling can make a difference, it might be interesting to leave a small area and see how that works 😀
Nice video Charles thank you
Another wonderful video Charles. Our cool weather crops are doing very well here in Central Ohio under the fleece row covers and we have had some nasty cold nights. Learned it from you on your row cover vids!!! My husband did away with hoops and now uses two stakes at each end of the beds with a rope down the center and we put the row cover over the rope and wt it down on the sides with bricks. He starts them low then raises the rope up to keep the covers off the plants, hoping to be able to take the fleece off in a few weeks and replace with mesh netting, hoping that is, frost date for us is still 5 weeks or so out!!! We certainly enjoy watching your vids!!!
Hello Mia and thank you. I really like the sound of that method, please congratulate your husband. I think it's one of the best things about gardening, how it gives us the chance to be creative.
Here also it's five weeks until last frost!
Wow Your Garden is Beautiful. Thank you for sharing your Garden tips.
Thanks for visiting!
I really enjoy all your videos. It would be interesting to measure the amount of energy and effort put into each bed vs amount of energy out in terms of food harvested ! I bet the time and effort put into the dig bed would be 10x more. Thanks for the videos
It would! Tricky to measure though.
I love using this method, I have also been taking a liking to the sheet rolls of paper from my local home Depot instead of cardboard, saves time and I notice I can grow carrots quicker instead of having to wait for the cardboard to break down. :)
That's a great idea Luke, when weeds are not too strong!
I love the intro and the music. I love learning from your experiments and seeing the data. I love just looking at your beautiful vegetables. It’s so soothing and relaxing, listening to your sharing and enjoying your video. Thank you so much Charles!
Lovely comment, thanks Jules
You are fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so so much. Appreciate it
O tak! Ciekawe rozwiązania, warto się uczyć dziękuję 👍💚💚♥️♥️
To dig, or not to dig? That is the question. :-) Been no-dig for a long time, and can't imagine going back to tilling the soil.
Yes I wish that Shakespeare had written about it!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig He did at least write about the dangers of not taking good care of the land.
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
In our sustaining corn.
King Lear
Great video it's surprising how well no dig does over the dig bed, although the winter one there not a lot of difference between the 2
Thank you so much!
Your the Master Gardener!
💚
When Charles says hardly any weeds he really means it. Most folk can hardly believe when they see my no dig garden how I have no weeds. 😂
Nice to hear. Funny how most people dig, and are not seeing this connection for wonderful results. I can't believe they love weeding.
@@CharlesDowding1nodiges relativo, es desestresante en cierta forma xD
Wonderful as always.🙂
I'm delighted!
Hi ya!. Thanks
Hello! Thanks to you!
I was reading that variety is equivalent to magnitudes of fertilizer added . I would love you to try an experimental bed where you only grow a few of each plant currently growing in the garden reflecting a multicultural bed. Weighing the crop harvested against the average of its kind in the beds where they are all planted next to each other .
These beds are indeed multicultural beds, polyculture, companion planting, call it how you wish. I grow all of the same vegetables in different parts of the garden, in beds on their own and notice no consistent difference in harvest.
What I do notice is that it's more difficult to protect specific vegetables, for example carrots from fruit flies, and also that harvests from these beds take longer in the context of a market garden, because of small amounts dotted here and there
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Charles, so "What I do notice is that it's more difficult to protect specific vegetables..." Just to understand you correctly here you're saying protecting from pests is more difficult and harvests take longer when veggies are scattered among other veggies ?
So more of a soil-horizon might grow more. My mulch/compost has a PH of 8.1, the top six inch soil-horizon has a 5.4 PH, & below 14 inches the Ph is 4.9. I was researching wetlands to see how many inches I should raise the water-table in my wicking-bed through winter. The winter-flooding(soil-horizons) might make more ammonia or something that the plants want, IDK.
Сердечно благодарю🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 thank you 🥦🥬🌾🌿🍅🌱
So nice, thanks Ekaterina
This is easy for you, cause your name is Charles Dowding. Try doing it under any another name, the plants just respect Charles Dowding... May I can change my name, would that work?
Respect from Africa 🇿🇦
😅 you could try it Charles
Great video, best regards from forest ! :)
Many thanks!
Gracias
Gracias a ti!
I’m noticing that the yields of no dig are only slightly greater than digging. Where the gardener gains the most is the work necessary for the dig method, or rather the easier work for no dig.
We've gone from 19C last week, to getting actual snow yesterday. Not much, admittedly, but enough for Doncaster all the same, so I was glad I'd protected my transplants. I'm trying to grow Ranunculus in the Pollinator garden for the first time, so I'm being a bit of a 'helicopter mum' about them lol I do like the jumper!
Good luck with them, and the weather is a shock, setting up for a difficult April
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Yes, it's my birthday in a few weeks, so I'm used to it either being lovely, or freezing. I think I'm in for cold one this time around. However, I'd rather have a bad April, and a good May, than the other way around!
Science involves facts and experimentation that will produce the exact same, measurable, result, each time, as I understand it.
I'm sure someone will correct me, if I'm wrong.
11°C?
That's a heatwave, here, in Glasgow. 🥵😂
We're expecting our last frost mid May.
Thanks for uploading.
Hi Billy, it's still heatwave here then!
Same methods and parameters but not the same result, usually!
hello charles how cute huerts I didn't understand a question you have to dig the land or not please I send you greetings
Casi todo el mundo cree que hay que cavar la tierra para que crezcan las nuevas plantaciones. Sé y puedo demostrar que no tienes que cavar. y esto es demostrar la evidencia. No excavar ahorra mucho tiempo, es beneficioso para la vida del suelo y la madre naturaleza, y mantiene el carbono en el suelo.
Good day 👋
Good day to you too!
I always find those comments annoying but now I'm super excited that I'm first to comment 🥳
Pondering on what to type has left you in 6th place lol
I am glad you are! Thank you!
Forgot to mention great footage from the SpicyMoustache
He thanks you Justin!
Dziękuję
😀
Teşekkürler🍀🌿💚
I've created 2 large no dig beds for the first time at the allotment Charles and I'm very keen to get going I've only planted onion sets at the moment but it looks like the surface is drying out quite fast, is this typical of no dig beds do they require more water. I used home made compost plus well rotted bagged manure plus jacks magic. Thanks Charles
Sounds good Neil. The surface may look dry but there should be plenty of moisture underneath. Those composts should be okay but sometimes the fresher green waste ones which are not really ripe, can dry out really fast.
Hello from Turkey 👋🏻
Welcome Hasan!!
with the no dig method and autumn has arrived is it best to just cut the plant as close to the ground and leave the roots still under the soil and dont remove the roots so the soil isnt disturbed ?
You have it right Tom!
querido mister charlie!.. tu cama de cultivo que tan alto debe de ser para un buen desarrollo de mis plantas? estoy en un proyecto escolar.. tengo muchas iluciones para ver esas caritas ilucionadas de mis infantes!.. abrazo de oso para ti y tu equipo..TJ amanecio con lluvia y algo de frio!..
This will be my third year doing a no dig garden that was started on heavy clay soil that had been compacted by heavy machinery.
I just expanded it a bit and my friend wants me to borrow her tiller and till the new bed to see “how I like it”…I wonder if it would make a difference because of how compacted it is to till it first and then proceed with no dig after that? Worth it? Or should I just lay my cardboard and start building up?
Also I am getting so many dandelions popping up in the garden. I do try to get down and remove their taproot as best I can…it’s not really in places I can just lay cardboard and for weed control.
Even with all the dandelions, I am excited for spring, finally! Lettuce, cabbages, onions, coriander, multisown radish and beets are in! Oh and peas :)
Well done
This word compaction!! It refers to soil damaged by heavy machinery usually, when it was very wet, and the result is a total lack of air and life, which could not possibly be improved by tilling! Even no dig might struggle without an initial forking to perhaps 25 cm/10". Maybe more.
Fortunately there are very few soils with this problem and mainly they are on building sites, as gardens of new houses.
In my view, I would totally avoid having any Rototiller in your garden!
Thank you, Charles. There is life in the soil..even in the heavy clay, I find the worms around the roots of the weed clumps I pulled up in the new section.
I am having issues with potatoes though in the clay…would you have any tips? I could build up with extra top soil/compost??
Also should note that when I started my garden it was at our new house building site and it was very wet that year. But it’s only improved each season!
@@annadorothygerard4010 Yes that's right, extra compost for them
Charles how do you deal with such things as broccoli stumps that are left in the ground from last year? I cut them off at ground level in the fall thinking they would decompose over the winter. The ground is just emerging from the winter freeze and what I’m calling stumps from broccoli and corn stalks are still very sturdy. Would you leave them or go under with a spade to cut them out?
Hi Jason, I either pull them out while standing on the soil so they snap off mostly and leave the smaller roots in the ground. Or use a spade as you suggest, just below the main stem
I’ll give the step a pull method a try. 👍
Bare soil is counter-productive; it loses stored carbon, water, absorbs heat, becomes compacted, etc. The plants of different families do not compete with each other for nutrients (Jones, Ingham); and the fungal hyphae appreciate the different exudate resources: so either grow in roller-crimped beds through the litter or in an established low and complete ground cover. That basically encapsulates the whole point of Regenerative Agriculture, do not disturb the fungal base. earthworms
Hi Charles ,I'm sure you've already considered this but just in case ! Have you considered a " no plough" experiment on a small field ? I think it would be really interesting to see how a " field crop " performs compared to a ploughed one ?
Thanks and many farmers are doing this already with no till methods. I need my time and resources for what I do already.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Charles and thanks for all the brilliant advice . Best wishes from a " serial experimenter ! "
Charles I’m starting my first No Dig bed. The ground as far as I can tell is an old forest floor. Leaves, bark, moss and twigs for many inches deep. I plan to use cardboard because some trees have been removed so the area can receive sunlight. And sunlight can promote growth but not the kind I want 😂.
Can you please tell me how many inches deep the compost should be? Or what would be ideal?
I have a never ending supply of compost and want to plant immediately after the compost is down.
Sounds great! And from what you describe, I see no need for the cardboard because weed growth is slight. Plus you can add say 4-6 inches compost which smothers the weeds. I see no advantage in spreading more than 6 inches/15 cm because healthy plant roots also benefit from easy access to the soil below, which of course becomes integrated with the compost over time.
That compost initial depth is fine for sowing or planting any vegetables. Straight away!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Charles I’m delighted that you took the time to reply 😁. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I can’t even begin to describe how excited we are to finally garden once again. Have a wonderful day getting your hands dirty.
"To dig, or not to dig -- that is the question!" as W Shakespeare might have said
😀
Muy interesante maestro.
Gracias
I have a soil full of the severed roots of small trees where I want to start my garden. It’s impossible to make any bed without removing the roots standing above the ground. Extracting the roots is almost the same as digging. What is the safest way to do this for the soil?
It's exceptionally difficult Michael, if not impossible without causing quite a bit of damage to both trees and soil. I hope that you might be able to find somewhere further away from any trees!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks! The trees are gone anyway, only the roots remain. The trees were cat ca. 15cm above ground with some machine by previous owner of the property. Now I am trying to deal with it. So far I have just tried to tear the roots out by hand and dig as little as possible only when I have insufficient power in my hands to tear out without digging. I hope it will not make too much harm to the soil.
@@Ktotomozebycnokto ah I see!!!!!!! I would leave them
Out of curiosity, on the dig bed , have you tried just covering the bed with compost then hoeing it into the top 3 or 4 inches?
That gives the bed a 50/50 mix of compost and soil. I did it with some old seed compost when the garden was too moist and sticky then covered the patch with card the keep the rain off and I had to hoe again be fore sowing but that half row did better.
This year I’m just going to weed first then cover with seed compost because I can’t dig.
Yes that would make more sense than digging in the compost. However the point of this trial is to illustrate the difference between no dig, and the traditional methods of digging with incorporation of the compost. Good luck with your no dig.
New sub here, I LOVE your channel! I want to start, but wonder how many inches of compost is good, please? How thick should it be starting out?
Thanks nice to hear.
The initial compost depth depends on your soil quality and weed numbers, on average 3 to 4 inches/7 to 10 cm, which sets you up for many years. See this page of my website for more details charlesdowding.co.uk/start-here/
Thanks for another wonderful video, Charles! I'm a complete convert (well, tbh, I never liked digging LOL). I love seeing updates on your trial beds.
(...and you really have coriander outside in winter?)
Thanks, and yes, though not many new leaves in winter
Interesting video for sure enjoyed it quite a lot. In my country dig bed would look like hills and valleys and not this lovely. People go in with motocultivators and put little bit of compost sometimes and that's it. Its mostly native rocky soil with very little compost (few bags on acre).
I'm first in my family and in my area going for no dig and the opposition is strong 😂
Btw I got lots of bags of worm compost for my beds and also got few bags of pure sheep manure (not mixed with anything), I'm just curious is it safe to put lets say 80-100 liters in 3m*1.2m bed mixed with worm castings or is pure sheep manure bit strong for beds of that size?
Well done you and good luck.
Although really no one should oppose such a practice which is good for soil and the environment.
The amount of pure sheep manure sounds okay to me as first dose, for soil which perhaps has had very little organic matter. In future years you will need less.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for your response, I'm building my beds tomorrow and really been enjoying everything so far.
Till now gardening was always obligation, I enjoyed eating organic veggies but now I'm really exited about everything.
Happy to hear this, means you are connecting to soil, plants, nature 💚
I know you talk about not disturbing the soil...but I need to move the beds from one location to another...how much will this impact the soil?
Obviously a lot of impact but it will recover better if you firm the soil in it's new location and top with a little compost
I used to dig the whole of my veg plot over at the start of winter and then leave it for winter to do its work. I then bought a rotovator 4 years ago and I now find I get much better growth by rotovating in my compost. By doing that it mixes it more into the top 12" rather than burying your compost however deep you dig.
Does a bed become a dig bed when you dig a trench to bury food compost? We use the Bokashi method of composting and you dig a trench and bury
Basically yes! I don't understand the value of that because although you are adding organic matter, you are destroying structure and soil organisms. I would add it to the compost heap
Bonjour bertrand de France bravo magnifique dommage je comprends pas englais
'Allo Bertrand. Au fait j'ai payé pour les sous-titres français sur cette vidéo et vous cliquez simplement sur l'icône d'engrenage, puis vous voyez le menu des langues et cliquez sur français.
I have a question about the no dig system. I ran out of compost and get it from a local site where they compost with yard debris. Its really black and comes still hot.
I have a section where I was not able to complete and a new section where I would like to complete but I don't think I have time to let compost finish composting. The weeds are coming in and its a big chore to weed.
Here is the question, I am thinking of tilling that section so I can plant. I have run out of no dig planting space and need to put in my cucumbers, beans, squash and other items soon to come.
What would you suggest? I am thinking of tilling. How long will the ground take to recover once going to no dig after tilling? Should I use a cultivator? does this do less damage?
Thank you for your input.
David
I would add just 3 to 4 cm, not much more than an inch of that compost which will keep the surface soft, make weeds easy to pull them out if they grow, and you can transplant through it into the soil below, without tilling
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you, If I get the compost now I can still use and the plant starts will be okay to go in them right away?
Hello Charles, I am watching your channel for a long time and I love your content! I have couple questions for you:
- Are there any woodchips and tree/shrub offcuts that should be not composted? Some say that they can be toxic or to acidic to use.
- If the soil is very compacted/clay is it worth to dig at the first season before using no dig approach?
- I have an allotment and I tried no dig in my greenhouse to start with but my plant growth stunned in comparison to dig beds, what could be the reason?
Thank you!
Sounds good, thanks.
I use any type of woodchip as in according to whatever tree it came from, is fine. My preference very strongly is for small rather than large wood you and for younger softer wood, rather than old dry wood.
Compact it is a value judgement and usually it's just that the soil is firm, which is normal. If damaged, you could fork it before beginning.
For your greenhouse, that is difficult to say without knowing any of the circumstances which include how are you converted to No-Dig and how much you water for example. I'm guessing you had a comparison dug bed in the greenhouse.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you for your answer Charles! I will be adding a woodchip to my compost heap from now on, there is a lot on my allotment from the council.
I will fork lightly before adding compost to the top.
For the greenhouse, I think that my plants needed heardening before planting there, especially cucumbers, I will know better for next season.
With Ruth Stout method I don't water at all.
Is good eh!
In my climate here I find that her method using old hay results in too many slugs and bad damage to plants. You may be in a drier climate!
Hi Charles loving your vlogs. Can I ask a question. I bought some compost yesterday and when I was spading it out on my beds I noticed it was still hot, how long should I wait before I plan in it, I'm a bit worried as I've put it on all of my beds and I have hundreds on babies waiting to go out.
Regards
Yes you can plant and best if it's not too thick so plants can root into older compost and soil below
Mmm. Where do we get your shirt?
From here Frank charlesdowding.teemill.com
Why is it best to spread compost on a no dig bed in autumn over other seasons? Thanks in advance
Because the soil is usually damp and therefore full of life near the surface which is happy to eat the new compost. Plus it's the time, in late autumn, when beds are often cleared of final harvest and therefore it's easier to spread the compost. Plus the compost serves as a protective mulch over winter, on top of soil and all its life which remains healthy and invigorated, ready for spring. Plus any lumps in the compost, in cooler climates, are broken by frost and are easy to knock into small pieces in spring with a rake, making it easier to sow and to plant
@@CharlesDowding1nodig That is a brilliant explanation, Thank you. And thank you for always taking the time to answer questions, it's much appreciated
Hey Charles!, I was wondering if you have any tips for dealing with the grass getting into your beds? It takes over my beds during the growing season lol. thanks in advance
For sure, scroll to 2nd photo charlesdowding.co.uk/start-here/
Be sure to cover bed edges and this creates a weed free path alongside them
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Charles :)
Charles, can I ask what length and thickness the wire is that you use to support the covers please and where did you get them from?
Many thanks and another great video as always. Love your channel, so much useful information, it was you that inspired me to start my own growing garden three years ago. Thank you. 👍
Cheers Andy and 2.5m from sharanya.co.uk
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you so much. 👍
THE BOSS
I am flattered! Thank you!
First time for me to attempt a no-dig bed. Our bind weed is atrocious here in southern Wisconsin. I have access to loads of cardboard. Would it be advantageous to use 2 or 3 layers of cardboard before laying down the compost on top?
Yes that would slow down the regrowth, until maybe late summer when it can push up through the decomposing cardboard, and then you need to keep removing it, for long-term success. Make sure to mulch/cover pathways and edges, as well as beds
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you for your reply. Truly appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing, after learning from you I mostly practice no dig and encourage others to do so. May I ask would the broad bean set pods if you would kept it for few more months? Thanks
Nice to hear and yes absolutely, they were looking good for a fine harvest!
Do you see less difference between dig and no dig as you get further away from the one dig per year?
I have not tried that but would imagine it to be the case, because of soil having more time to recover 😀
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank-you for taking your time to respond.
hi, is it possible to get you to press Danish, so that here in Denmark you can read what you say in Danish, thank you in advance 🤗🤗👍👍👍
Thank you, that would be nice but the company we use do not offer Danish I'm afraid,. You should be able to get it as a Google auto translate? Click on the gear icon et cetera
What are the wire supports for the frost blanket? How thick are they?
4mm high tensile wire, UK supplier here sharanya.co.uk and not sure if available in the US
What is that cabbage/lettuce at 0:12?
Chicory 'Variegata da Lusia', a radicchio
I love the idea of no dig, but for me unfortunately making enough compost has been virtually impossible
This is always a problem! Even Charles sometimes buys a load of compost. :-)
Hi! Is anyone else having trouble accessing the website? I have only one lesson left in the online no-dig course, and was hoping to complete it today, but the site won’t load for me. :(
Update: I finally got it to load using Safari on my laptop. I hope no one else is having problems! Thanks for all the valuable information on this channel.
I'm sorry to hear that Joan. It sounds like a question of the apparatus more than the website, which other people have been accessing as normal. I'm glad you enjoyed the course, and this channel
👏👏👍😀
Thank you.
💗
thank you!
I’m for no dig gardening. Everything has its place.
😇💚
Thank you!
👍♥️
thank you.
Theres a chart, must be science.
😀
I have adopted many of your methods, no dig as the main principle... I just can't understand why you can agree to use hybrids and on the other hand use the Demeter 'shit horns' preparation at the same time (whati also think is abracadabra)... is that extra yield realy worth it to sell your autonomie to the those hybrid seed producers? sorry I just had to mention it, because I have the feeling that you use more hybrids in last two years... if you have to fill up lost income for the lost onsite trainings, due to the pandemic... I would understand... but in my opinion hybrids are very very bad
Interesting and thanks Sascha. I use hybrids mainly for cucumber, sweet cherry tomato Sungold, broccoli. Nothing in this video for example. 85-90% of the garden does not grow hybrids. This year not aubergine or pepper.
So I can\t agree that I use them a lot.
And I have suffered poor crops from not using them, such as early beetroot. I saved my own seed, shall see what happens this summer!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig : I had the feeling that it is more, I didn't want to say 'a lot' ... but maybe I just became more aware now... And pls don't be offended... that was not my intention... for me it is totally okay, to agree that we disagree on the topic of 'are hybrids a valid opinion'.
We have a frost with snow here in Germany/Cologne this night. Hope you are having no frost...