No Dig Potatoes

[JennieAtkinson]

I can't find the thread where we discussed the no dig method. But just to report that having now dug up my potatoes it has really worked!

I had cut the grass, covered it with cardboard, piled on farm manure and covered it with membrane. Planted the potatoes through the membrane and in the manure - a maincrop, but didn't unfortunately write down the name. Covered the lot with grass cuttings and basically just left them to it.

The potatoes were fantastic, although some a little green where the grass had blown away and some a little eaten by slugs (I should have harvested them about 3 weeks ago but been on holiday).

And the soil - absolutely fantastic! It looks as though I have spent years digging it over. No sign of the cardboard or any grass.

Will certainly try it again. Did it work for anyone else?

[multiveg]

Try Nemaslug for next year?

[bramble]

Well done Jenny, is'nt it great when something really works for you. I don't suppose you will be digging any more now.

[JennieAtkinson]

Unfortunately Bramble, that was my last bit of the garden to dig! Although I've got loads more land, I don't think I can cope with a larger veg area. Great that it worked though.

[Earthbabe]

Sounds like a great idea. Only just caught up on it. May need to try it for next year. Will see how the digging goes over the winter.

[CarolineSonning]

JA this sounds fantastic

How deep was the manure and was it fresh or rotter? Also now much grass and did you bank it up as the potatoes grew?

Can't wait to try this next year as my ground is very stony and very hard work to dig .

I can't find the thread where we discussed the no dig method. But just to report that having now dug up my potatoes it has really worked!

I had cut the grass, covered it with cardboard, piled on farm manure and covered it with membrane. Planted the potatoes through the membrane and in the manure - a maincrop, but didn't unfortunately write down the name. Covered the lot with grass cuttings and basically just left them to it.

The potatoes were fantastic, although some a little green where the grass had blown away and some a little eaten by slugs (I should have harvested them about 3 weeks ago but been on holiday).

And the soil - absolutely fantastic! It looks as though I have spent years digging it over. No sign of the cardboard or any grass.

Will certainly try it again. Did it work for anyone else?

[stv]

Jenny, what sort of grass did you cover over? - i have a lot of couchgrass and would love to think it will work on ridding my plot of this...

[JennieAtkinson]

In answer to your questions Caroline and STV

The manure was about 6/8" deep. It was farmyard manure (mainly straw bedding from housing the sheep during lambing I think) and had been standing in the yard for about 9 months.

The grass was just grass cuttings from the first few cuts of the year. I wished I had put more on though as the year progressed. I didnt bank anything up and that's why some the potatoes were a bit green on the top. The grass had blown off in some places and I think the potatoes could have been put a bit deeper in the muck.

Hope this helps - wish I could find the original threads. I'm even wondering if there was an article about it in an early GYO, but I also saw it on the Allotment DVD I got for Christmas. I have to admit I was really sceptical, but thought it worth a try. I only did a relatively small area though.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Well done Jennie! It's always satisfying when something works out well isn't it? DDL

[Welshie]

I also saw it on the Allotment DVD I got for Christmas. .

Jennie,

Can you give me some information on this DVD as it sounds like it might be quite interesting - I've been looking for one that's worthwhile for a long time, so any info. on it would be of use.

Thanks,
Welshie

[cotton54321]

Hi Welshie
I have the dvd too and its really good taking you through month by month and lots of time saving tips. Its 3 dvds, total 5.5 hours of footage. Take a look at www.allotment.info to order.
Happy watching

Mel

[Welshie]

Many thanks, Welshie

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks Cotton! Its a good DVD isn't, I enjoyed it and want to watch it again this winter as I'm sure its one of those things that you see something different each time.

[CarolineSonning]

Jennie,
I keep thinking about this as I can't believe that it will really work .

How deep did you plant the seed potatoes? as I didn't think that potato roots went down very far, so how did your original soil get improved.

Sorry to be so questioning, it just seems too good to be true, especially with the state my ground is in!

Thanks for all your help - Caroline

In answer to your questions Caroline and STV

The manure was about 6/8" deep. It was farmyard manure (mainly straw bedding from housing the sheep during lambing I think) and had been standing in the yard for about 9 months.

The grass was just grass cuttings from the first few cuts of the year. I wished I had put more on though as the year progressed. I didnt bank anything up and that's why some the potatoes were a bit green on the top. The grass had blown off in some places and I think the potatoes could have been put a bit deeper in the muck.

Hope this helps - wish I could find the original threads. I'm even wondering if there was an article about it in an early GYO, but I also saw it on the Allotment DVD I got for Christmas. I have to admit I was really sceptical, but thought it worth a try. I only did a relatively small area though.

[JennieAtkinson]

Caroline - I think I got the potatoes as far down as I could in the muck. But they seem to have "risen" while they have been growing. I dug the area over again on Sunday, and have to admit it is pretty good. I haven't double dug it, but the fork went down lower than single digging and there were no weeds (and my garden is FULL of perennial weeds). Unfortunately the soil is a bit clagging at the moment due to the recent damp weather, so I am not seeing it at its best.

Why not try a small bit of ground, see if it works. We do have a very peaty soil with good drainage, perhaps it might not work on some soils (?)

Can you get a copy of the Allotment DVD and see it on there?