No Dig.

Would you like up to 20% extra crops on your plot?

If so, 'No Dig' might be of interest to you. It is increasingly used by allotment growers and gardeners as a method of producing more crops with reduced effort in digging (or double digging).

No Dig gardening avoids, or greatly reduces, disruption to the soil life - the important microorganisms, fungi and worms, that help feed plant roots, and maintain soil structure. Within your soil are mycorrhizal fungi that have a symbiotic relationship with your plants, and they improve root nutrition uptake. Fertilisers interrupt this relationship and also many make the soil more salty.

One great source of No Dig gardening information and knowledge is Charles Dowding, an organic grower who has been at the forefront of the no dig movement for many years and has many books and a YouTube channel on the subject. He runs annual trials on two beds treated exactly the same apart from one bed is a dig bed and the other is no dig. The no dig bed has produced up to 20% more crops over the last 10 years. Rather than explain it here, have a look at a few of his videos on YouTube and see for yourself.

Some things you will find if you start with No Dig, you will:

• Still get weeds, but a lot less and it will be easier to keep on top of them.

• Start collecting lots cardboard.

• Be thankful to the Maintenance Team for providing free woodchip for your paths

• Start trying to create as much compost as you can.

• Not need fertilizer.