Less Work More Food, a Half Tonne in 2024 from 60 m²
Results over 11 years suggest that, unless you are starting with damaged soil, there is no need for forking to 'loosen' it. Grow more in less space. This area of 60 m²/650 ft.² which includes paths, is 1/4 of a British full-size allotment, for almost a half-tonne of food in 2024. In many climates including here, vegetables mature in half a year, which allows two crops, and without applying any new compost in summer. My climate is zone 8, oceanic temperate, latitude 51° North. STRIP 1 – soil loosened by forking 10in/25cm depth each autumn/early winter without inversion, then 1in/2.5cm compost on the surface. A different method to my other trial where I dig and invert compost. STRIP 2 – no dig and 1in/2.5cm compost is spread on the beds each winter. STRIP 3 – no dig and 1in/2.5cm composted cow manure on the surface each winter. History and details https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/post... Filmed by Carly Dutton-Edwards at winter solstice Thumbnail photo by Guy Grieve Music by: @rorydinwoodiemusic IG: rorydinwoodiemusic My blog of seasonal advice and news https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/blog Module trays in North America https://allaboutthegarden.com/product... Module trays UK https://containerwise.co.uk/product/c... Module trays Europe https://thefarmdream.com/collections/... SUPPORT MY WORK → Shop: https://shop.charlesdowding.co.uk → Online Courses: https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/educ... → Join the channel: @charlesdowding1nodig → T-Shirts & Hoodies: https://charlesdowding.teemill.com LEARN MORE → Cookbook https://shop.charlesdowding.co.uk/pro... →Tips in my newsletter: https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/#new... → Start no dig: https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/reso... → Instagram: / charles_dowding → Substack: https://substack.com/@charlesdowding → TikTok: / charles_dowding → Pinterest: / charlesdowding 00:00 Intro, and comparing results from the forked bed and the no dig bed 01:01 Type of compost added to each strip, and results from a new type of manure 01:53 Some results from the trial 03:53 Good results form 2024, despite some difficult conditions 04:11 Choice of vegetable for good harvests, eg beetroot, turnip and squash, in comparison with lettuce 05:32 Parsnips, another high yielder 05:44 Leeks, as second planting, and spinach 06:10 Dry beans, the lowest yield 06:26 Conclusions, and the potential damage done by forking 07:25 Results of using animal manure vs plant based compost, and toilet manure 08:00 Record keeping You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members: / @charlesdowding1nodig #nodiggarden #nodig #healthyfood #growyourownfood #vegetablegarden