Looking for garden ideas

[Frnc]

You've probably seen the thread viewtopic.php?f=21&t=17543
Full of useful advice. You'll soon figure who the experts and newbies are.

You are just at the right part of the year to get started. Google or search this forum for "dig free" gardening, "Charles Dowding" and give thought to adapting and adopting all sorts of containers for planters or raised beds, which could be as simple as scavenged paint pots or rubble bags.

If you like your greens, then you'll find salad crops the easiest. Spuds seem hungry for sunlight. I won't repeat all of that thread here, but if you can get some decent compost and a few planks, and a bit of cardboard, you can be eating your first crop 90 days from now without lifting a spade.

Oh.... and speaking of shade... google "sun mapping your garden" there's some handy websites out there.

Cheers for all the advice. Currently watching a video on no dig gardening. Will check out that thread. What are the planks for?

[ForgeCorvus]

Raised beds, filled with compost means no digging.

The cardboard is (probably) to stop the grass moving in...... Tell me if I'm right Jenny?

[jennyjj01]

Raised beds, filled with compost means no digging.

The cardboard is (probably) to stop the grass moving in...... Tell me if I'm right Jenny?

Simple as.... You can chuck the cardboard over your bit of weedy lawn and that suppresses the grass and weeds long enough for your crop in the compost layer to get established, then the cardboard just decays into the ground. Seems to be largely a matter of timing. The planks and more cardboard are a barrier for grass and weeds creeping in from the sides. four minutes in... https://youtu.be/JtIZyJ15cpg?t=239

My first planters/raised beds had wooden bases, but we live and learn. Not only not needed, but better left out.

The BIG problem is sourcing enough good cheap, weed free compost.

ps. I've kept saying "dig free" should be "No Dig"

[jansman]

Raised beds, filled with compost means no digging.

The cardboard is (probably) to stop the grass moving in...... Tell me if I'm right Jenny?

Simple as.... You can chuck the cardboard over your bit of weedy lawn and that suppresses the grass and weeds long enough for your crop in the compost layer to get established, then the cardboard just decays into the ground. Seems to be largely a matter of timing. The planks and more cardboard are a barrier for grass and weeds creeping in from the sides. four minutes in... https://youtu.be/JtIZyJ15cpg?t=239

My first planters/raised beds had wooden bases, but we live and learn. Not only not needed, but better left out.

The BIG problem is sourcing enough good cheap, weed free compost.

ps. I've kept saying "dig free" should be "No Dig"

Be aware though,the rotting cardboard sucks the nitrogen from the soil.

[jennyjj01]

Be aware though,the rotting cardboard sucks the nitrogen from the soil.

Interesting. I googled it and you are right. Bacteria 'borrow' nitrogen from the soil while they are doing their thing and release it back as they die, causing a temporary reduction. Plus card can draw water away and evaporate it off like a wick. I've found that with my card pots which need more watering than plastic ones.
What a font of knowledge we have here. Thanks again.

[British Red]

Be aware though,the rotting cardboard sucks the nitrogen from the soil.

Interesting. I googled it and you are right. Bacteria 'borrow' nitrogen from the soil while they are doing their thing and release it back as they die, causing a temporary reduction. Plus card can draw water away and evaporate it off like a wick. I've found that with my card pots which need more watering than plastic ones.
What a font of knowledge we have here. Thanks again.

Same caveat applies to hardwood chip. Applied as a deep mulch on the surface it's awesome. Retains moisture, acts as a barrier to weeds and gradually decomposes massively enriching the soil. But fig it in and it stuffs up the nitrogen. There's an American chap on YouTube did a video on it years ago called "Back to Eden". A lot of religious stuff but worth watching - he harvests spuds by just pushing in a hand

It's not scalable of course. We've done it on some beds and after a decade of adding woodchip in 4" layers the soil is like fruitcake - black, rich and moist. You need a lot of chip, not a few cubic metres, trucks full. But if you do have friends who just want rid of it, it can yield spectacular results after a few years - and for free!

[British Red]

*Dig it in, not fig

[Frnc]

Simple as.... You can chuck the cardboard over your bit of weedy lawn and that suppresses the grass and weeds long enough for your crop in the compost layer to get established, then the cardboard just decays into the ground. Seems to be largely a matter of timing. The planks and more cardboard are a barrier for grass and weeds creeping in from the sides. four minutes in... https://youtu.be/JtIZyJ15cpg?t=239

My first planters/raised beds had wooden bases, but we live and learn. Not only not needed, but better left out.

The BIG problem is sourcing enough good cheap, weed free compost.

ps. I've kept saying "dig free" should be "No Dig"

Awesome, decided to do a raised bed version, ordered a 1 sq m kit and 200 litres of compost. Just got to decide what to plant and buy seeds or whatever. If I get into it I can add another one next year. Will fork the lawn a bit and put cardboard down first.

[Frnc]

Be aware though,the rotting cardboard sucks the nitrogen from the soil.

Interesting. I googled it and you are right. Bacteria 'borrow' nitrogen from the soil while they are doing their thing and release it back as they die, causing a temporary reduction. Plus card can draw water away and evaporate it off like a wick. I've found that with my card pots which need more watering than plastic ones.
What a font of knowledge we have here. Thanks again.

Well, if it's only temporary, doesn't sound too bad. Cardboard does seem to be the norm.

[GillyBee]

Looking at Charles Dowding's blog I dont think the amount of nitrogen robbed by the cardboard can be very significant since he is using it at the moment to convert pasture into market garden and his market garden would not pay if it did not produce.

His blog for this month has a summary of his no dig system for new starters.

https://charlesdowding.co.uk/march-2022 ... onfusions/