Ten years of no-dig gardening: how to boost soil fertility without constant tilling
In short: Charles Dowding provides a tour of his Homeacres vegetable garden during its tenth summer of no-dig cultivation. This video demonstrates how to maintain high productivity through methods like intercropping and consistent compost application, offering a practical look at how soil life supports strong plant growth.
Filmed on 16th June in Somerset, UK, the tour highlights the results of long-term no-dig practices in a temperate oceanic climate. Dowding showcases various experimental trials, including comparisons between dug and undug soil, as well as techniques like no-rotation and intercropping. A central focus is the use of compost to stimulate soil biology, with an annual application of about 2.5cm (1 inch) supporting two successive plantings.
The video emphasizes that second plantings often require no additional compost, as the existing soil ecosystem provides sufficient nutrients for growth into the autumn. The footage also includes a demonstration of the site's composting process and references specific propagation techniques using CD60 module trays.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: No dig tour in June, summer number ten at Homeacres and see the exciting methods
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