Do I need to double dig?

[giley69]

Hi there,

We got our plot last year, which had not been used for a few years.The ground was rotivated and the area that we are using this year (1/2 of the plot) we did not use last year.

I have some lovely 3 yr old manure which I would like to add into the beds (3m x 1m beds) & would like to know if we need to double dig or just incorporate the manure in some way... we have just put a blanket of manure of one of the beds but I plan to start sowing/planting in a few weeks.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Giley

[Capsid]

I wouldn't think double digging is necessary if there it has been cultivated in the past. Double digging is only necessary if you have a pan underneath the topsoil where long rooted plants (shrubs) can't get their roots deep enough and suffer through lack of moisture. Most veg we grow are not long rooted enough to be of concern.

[Snadger]

Double digging is for masochists!

[Eyren]

I've been single-digging my plot to clear the couch grass roots, but as Capsid said, double-digging is only needed if the ground is really compacted. If you don't have any problem with invasive perennial weeds, I would just put the manure on top as you have been doing, and leave the worms to it. Their tunneling will make better soil structure than anything you can do yourself!

[giley69]

Thanks for your replies...I am soooo glad to hear it too

We are off up the plot later and I think I'll just carry on putting manure blankets on my beds.

Will it be ok to just fork into the soil just before I sow/plant or shall I do this now? (I will be planting my onions sets & second earlies in a few weeks)

Giley