I love this method of vegetable gardening. As you might have guessed,
there's no digging. This method of vegetable gardening is particularly suited to
people with physical disabilities or older people. But I mostly prefer it because I think it’s better for the soil.
When soil is dug over it destroys the soil structure. By creating a no-dig plot you are not disturbing the
soil at all - which means that the worms, soil microbes and creatures can continue doing what they do best in your garden.
To get the best results in your garden, you want to aim for no compaction of the soil.
Nutrients, water and air all travel through the soil by pathways made by worms and plant roots. When
you compact the soil these pathways are destroyed.
If you design you plots to be no more than
about 1.25metres (4 feet) across (by however long you want), you won't
need to stand on your plot.
If you start with a small bed, (1.25m x 2.5m / 4’ x 8’) you can
leave space so that you can expand when you are ready.
No matter where you live, a "no-dig" veggie garden is a great option.
It doesn’t matter what type of soil you are starting out with, as the layering of materials over the surface will continue to
add nutrients and improve your soil. Eventually you will end up with dark,
rich soil.
Skinny plots work best.
A no-dig garden plot is made on top of the existing ground. It can be built over
garden beds, lawns and hard or rocky ground – even cement. You need to
position it in an area that receives at least six hours sun a day and
where there is good drainage.
When preparing the plot you don't need to pull up lawn or an existing garden,
because you will be ‘smothering’ what is already there.
Building your plot
I like to install irrigation before layering the materials of my plot as I find it saves me so much time.
Trickle or soakage irrigation (used with a timer) is a far better way to water than by
having to do it by hand or by moving sprinklers.
Please remember when handling manures or fertilizers, soil or any organic matter
for that matter, to always wear tough gloves to protect you from coming
into contact with any nasties. Washing your hands thoroughly when you’re finished in the
garden is always a good idea.
1. Form the walls of your plot. You can use logs, old timber planks
(non-treated), bricks, stones, pavers, sleepers - even straw bales etc. If you have
any disabilities you might want to get help with this.
2. Start with a thick layer of wet newspaper (I have an old baby bath
I use, filled with water to soak the newspaper), making sure to completely
cover your plot. It should be a minimum of 6mm (quarter inch) thick and
needs to overlap by about 75mm (3inches). This smothers any weeds and
prevents more from growing. Only use newspaper as most glossy, coloured paper has
toxic chemicals.
3. Lay out pads (segments, or biscuits) of pea straw, lucerne hay or
other organic straw, making sure there are no gaps between the pads.
4. Add a 20mm (¾inch) layer of good organic fertilizer (mature
chicken manure is fantastic).
5. Cover with about 200mm (8inches) thick of loose straw or hay type
material.
6. Add another 20mm (¾inch) layer of good organic fertilizer (perhaps
blood & bone or organic pelletised fertilizer etc).
7. Finish off with a top layer of compost, about 100mm (4inches)
thick, buy it if you don't have your own compost - it will make all the
difference.
8. Water your plot well and allow a few weeks to settle.
9. Plant out your vegetable seedlings after two or three weeks (not seeds).
Some of the benefits of creating a no-dig, raised plot include:
In your new garden some easy veggies to try are potatoes, lettuce, brassicas
(cabbage family) and cucurbits (cucumber family). It's better to leave
root crops until your plot has matured a little.
A
mature plot, just planted out.
Mixed plantings of vegetables and herbs are beneficial in vegetable
gardens, rather than long rows or a whole bed of one type of plant. Companion Planting
provides benefits to your vegetable garden in many ways, including having healthier, more vigorous
plants with higher yields, as well as pest and disease control.
Each season you need to top up your plot with additional layers of compost
and / or mulch to help prevent weeds, retain moisture and promote healthy
growth and great yields.
