Do you dig?

[Laura Hillier]

Hi all,

We were just wondering - once your veg has been harvested and any winter crops have been started, what do you do with any empty space left behind, and why? Do you dig it over? Or are you more in favour of no-dig principles?

Answers may be edited and published in the October issue of Grow Your Own.

Laura

[Martin H]

I don't walk on my beds so don't feel the need to dig as a rule. Any empty space will be covered either with a green manure or a compost mulch until needed.

[bearded bloke]

I am "no dig",so as the raised beds are emptied I deep mulch with either homemade compost,well rotted manure,old MPC or a combination of any or all. It keeps the soil structure open,feeds the worms & helps maintain a little warmth in the soil below.

[mothhawk]

No digging here either. In Autumn, the whole garden has lots of H/M compost spread on the surface, plus the compost out of pots and hanging baskets that have been emptied.
When the runner beans have finished, I pull out the canes to let the vines flop to the ground, then chop the vines into small pieces using hedging shears and leave them to decompose in situ.

[WPG]

No, I don't even possess a spade. The green manure phacelia does all the 'digging' for me, it's great for loosening my clay soil over the winter. Then I just lightly fork it in come the spring.

[veggiechicken]

I don't dig but I voted Other because I don't have "empty space". When something comes out, something else goes in. Maybe a quick rake over and some extra compost, then more seeds or plants fill the bed.

[ButternutSquash]

I voted no dig and that is what I will do by preference. I have some very well established field bind weed in some beds, which I have been removing for the last two years. In that case, once a veg bed is cleared, I will use a fork to remove all roots down to a spade's depth. Hopefully in a few years it will be exhausted.

[alldigging]

No dig for preference. Will be sowing some green manures in space not being used and also using some heavy mulching. I might even find some well rotted manure to go on some beds too.
There will be no naked soil on my plot!

[Penellype]

A mixture for me so I voted other. My proper veg beds and raised beds are no dig, so they just get topped up with compost between crops. The flower beds (which double as veg beds) are prone to compaction from standing water when we get heavy rain as they are very heavy clay. I dig compost into them in the hope of eventually creating soil soft enough to plant in, but currently it dries into a very solid crust if I don't keep breaking it up.

[sequoia]

All my beds are raised so I work on a no dig,raked and composted system,except the Brassica bed which have been trodden down and well firmed,after harvesting these beds are then forked over.

[Bren In Pots]

The only digging I do is to dig out my parsnips, carrots and potatoes. other than that I mulch and try to keep my beds in production all year round.

[arpoet]

I voted Other as I do let SWMBO dig from time to time as she thinks its good for her weight loss.
I cover bare soil with cardboard and last years hos muck and spent hops and let the worms dig it in for me. My soil is very heavy clay.

[Greenleaves]

I do both but predominantly dig, the only bed that will not be dug is the bed for brassica's. I was introduced to gardening by my grandad and still to this day follow what he taught me. My grandad believed that digging the soil exposed pests to the birds and ensured the soil was well aired again in the belief this reduced the likelyhood of fungal deseases.

My childhood memories are of super tasting vegetables that he grew. I dont care about science and modern day thinking, if it was good enough for him its good enough for me.

Plus I really enjoy digging the plot.

[Alison]

I double dug all the beds at the start although I prefer to use a fork rather than a spade. Since then I don't dig at all except to plant out or harvest.

On a different note, is there a voting thing on this thread (sounds like it from some of the earlier posts) and, if so, is it viewable on the app?

[bearded bloke]

On a different note, is there a voting thing on this thread (sounds like it from some of the earlier posts) and, if so, is it viewable on the app?

Yes there is a poll on this Alison,if someone using the app can confirm either way please,if deffo not visible I will inform the tech bod's.