No-Dig

pclark42

I have reached a place in the garden where the soil is not so lush (the garden was neglected for years, and overgrown when I moved here) and so I have decided to have a go at the no-dig method, I have seen the video'sand thought I would have a go myself, I have loosened the ground beneath, however, I wouldn't think a carrot could penetrate it with success, so I will only plant Brassica in this plot and maybe lettuce, I started with 3 layers of Corrugated card, then the frame and finally compost which is 12 cm deep, but I have some more to add to take it to approx 16 cm. Would anyone like to comment?

GemmaJF

16 cm is plenty deep enough for a carrot, try some. 

Brassicas take up a LOT of space and may fall over in shallow compost, you wouldn't get many plants in there.

So perhaps go with carrot and lettuce.

In time the soil underneath should improve if the only lining is cardboard and then you could plant something deeper rooting.

pclark42

Hi GemmaJF

Thanks for responding, carrots I have already got those in a special area which I dug really deep, then mixed in some grit, then as I saw on a Youtube film, I pushed a rod in about 18 inches deep and waggled it about to make a cone-shaped hole, I then filled that hole with a very light sandy soil, and planted my carrot seed in the top, I have about 50 on the way, all looking good, so not worried about those, lettuce I have also but will put some in the no-dig, I have spring onions on the way, and plan to plant those in clumps of about 6 like Charles Dowding shows, I do have Basil and Corriander on the way, maybe I should plant those in it 

BobTheGardener

Basil needs consistent warmth or it will die - I wouldn't plant them outside in Leics until late June and usually only grow them under glass.  Coriander should be ok by the time it arrives I would think.

Other things worth trying in a bed like that are beetroot, chard and kohlrabi, all of which are usually trouble-free.

rachelQrtJHBjb

Beetroot, onions from seed, cut and come again lettuce, rocket, herbs, radishes, fennel, leeks, chives, kohl rabi.

I tried the no dig method last year to create new borders. The ground was hard from foot traffic and I did as you did: cardboard straight on the grass, compost (in my case topsoil/compost mix) on top to depth of 10". I've had no problem putting in 3 litre shrubs and perennials this year (12 months on from when I started) plus a few larger plants. Ground here is very stony and I didn't fancy the effort of stripping the grass and digging it all over.

I've just started a new veg bed in exactly the same way but to overcome lack of space and desire for deeper rooted crops I have placed a smaller frame on top and filled that too. This will enable me to grow parsnips, etc.

B3

I'm trying Chinese cabbage. It's very fast growing and looks pretty healthy so far.