No-dig?

[Marsalimay]

I have recently taken over an allotment and am quickly learning that one of the most controversial things you can mention is "no-dig" gardening. Am I just being a leftie-liberal-eco-crusty-hippy or is it a valid choice?

Our plot was waist-high in brambles and nettles. Where we have cleared and planted some potatoes, it's quickly covered in thistles. Where we have cleared and covered with cardboard, mulch and manure (whatever we can get our hands on) there are no weeds. This seems the obvious way forward. But fellow allotmenters say it's a lazy choice / encourages slugs / isn't real gardening.

What am I missing?

I've heard similar responses, but it is definitely a valid choice! I do a bit of both on my allotment, and the no dig part is certainly easier to manage. On the rest I'm constantly battling weeds. If you can buy compost/manure in bulk and have it delivered why not? I cover and mulch the whole allotment over winter after digging it over in the autumn, which amounts to a similar thing anyway!

No dig is fabulous. But does rely on a steady stream of mulch. I was getting grass cuttings from people, seaweed, spent mushroom compost and all sorts to kick it off.

I do both, Initially no dig allowed easy set up and quickly gEating growing; difficulty getting compost in large quantities has meant that I dug over a Couple of beds properly and weeded them-did this in the winter when ground was softer and things weren’t growing so fast. Both approaches are fine-do what suits you and your plot.

My sister swears by it. I’m starting a large veg / fruit area (15m x 15m) in my garden this Autumn and I’m definitely going to consider it! I’m going to research it over the Summer.

It just seems to have made the weeds, brambles and nettles manageable. But the old, male allotmenteers just say it’s lazy.

The guys at my brand new allotment all advised me to get a couple of raised beds going with the cardboard, mulch and bought compost.
And to cover the rest with black membrane (tarpaulin?) to suppress the weeds.

Then I can slowly dig it or not bit by bit. Meanwhile the no dig raised bed will provide me with encouragement.

They were all hardcore guys with beautiful beds of vegetables growing in dug beds - so I'm taking their advice. They knew their stuff.

They also shrimmed (?? - cut the grass and brambles) for me so I'm well chuffed.

I think the difference is that they have had a high turnover of people and the council is threatening to re purpose the land. So they are all about encouragement.

It's just different styles, that's all. And everyone of course thinks that theirs is the best.
At our small site, of the occupied sites, we have:

30% blokes who build. They all have lots of wood piles, massive sheds, greenhouses. They build stuff, loudly and often. They spray weed killer about like it's insence in a church. They Dig, Annually. Half of these are successful growers.

20% people just doing whatever they've got time for. A bit of weed killer, maybe a raised bed. Often grow cucamelons. Usually a bit weedy and lots of tarp down.

30% no dig, no weed killer. No killing things. Mostly women.

20% amazing growers. No fuss, no particular ethos, no big buildings but amazing results. Oddly all 3 are foreign born.

Do other no-diggers find any problem with slugs or woodlice?

Do other no-diggers find any problem with slugs or woodlice? Woodlice on their own aren't a problem - where you find them in holes in plants, the damage has usually been caused by something else.

Oh, yes! Such a good point.

Even slugs, I have a huge problem with them at home and not a piece of cardboard in sight.

"Not real gardening"!
No it's way less painful. They're just annoyed someone found an easier way which now their collective pride won't allow them to try.

Real gardening is doing what works to grow the stuff you want to grow. It sounds like these guys are set in their ways and set in the belief that their ways are the best/only way. Of course no dig is a valid choice! I guess you know Charles Dowding? His videos are really inspirational and he's been doing it incredibly successfully for years.

He reckons it's raised beds that encourage slugs.

Yes, I’ve been watching and reading his stuff. Need to put my efforts in to thinking about compost long term.