Synopses & Reviews
Charles Dowding has been practicing no-dig organic growing for over thirty years. In this new, full-color edition of
Organic Gardening he shares the wealth of his experience, explaining his approach to soil and plants and revealing the range of techniques that have enabled him to grow healthy and vibrant plants for decades. His success is based on some key principles:
- No-dig enhances soil structure and encourages healthy growth, especially when soil life is encouraged and multiplied through the addition of good compost and manure.
- Organic matter is best spread on the surface - just leave it on top and let the worms take it in, aerating the soil as they do so.
- When starting with weedy soil there is a period of three to twelve months, depending on weed types, when the emphasis is on cleaning and improving the soil.
- Using a no-dig method you can easily control weeds with just a little hand weeding or hoeing every ten days or so, when weeds are small.
Based on this approach and his experience with a system of permanent, slightly raised beds,
Organic Gardening: The Natural No-Dig Way shows you how to grow a delicious variety of fruit and vegetables: what to choose; when to sow, plant and harvest; and how best to avoid pests and diseases without the need to dig.
Review
“Charles' crops positively glow with health, in testament to his methods . . . he conveys a deep reverence for the soil, which has fueled his no-dig ethos.” —Kitchen Garden magazine
Synopsis
Charles Dowding (the guru of no dig gardening) shares his organic, no-dig approach to soil and plants, revealing the range of techniques that enable him to grow healthy, vibrant crops while, with sustainability in mind, maintaining a healthy soil. His success is based on these key principles - No-dig -Spread organic matter on the soil surface -Clean & improve the soil in the first 3-12 months - Weed every 10 days or so, when weeds are small. By using a system of permanent, slightly raised beds, Charles shows how to grow a delicious variety of fruit and vegetables organically: what to choose; when to sow, plant and harvest; and how best to avoid pests and diseases.
Synopsis
The UK's leading no-dig gardening expert, Charles Dowding, shares his organic approach to growing healthy, vibrant crops.
The no-dig approach to gardening - based on the key principle of leaving the ground as undisturbed as possible - has gained popularity in recent years as a more efficient, economical and sustainable way to grow healthy plants.
Packed with easy-to-follow advice, Organic Gardening reveals the art of the no-dig approach and the techniques required to grow organic crops while enhancing soil structure.
By employing the simplicity of the no-dig technique and using a system of permanent, slightly raised beds, Charles Dowding shows how to grow a delicious variety of fruit and vegetables sustainably and organically: what to choose; when to sow, plant and harvest; and how best to avoid pests and diseases.
From sowing seeds and making compost to harvesting summer salads and winter vegetables, this accessible guide is an essential resource for beginners and experienced gardeners.
Synopsis
In this book, Charles Dowding shares the wealth of his experience, explaining his approach to soil and plants and revealing the range of techniques that have enabled him to grow healthy and vibrant crops for decades. His success is based on a key principle of “no dig”—not digging. This enhances soil structure and encourages healthy growth, especially when soil life is encouraged and multiplied through the addition of good compost and manure. Based on this approach and his use of a system of permanent, slightly raised beds, Dowding shows, in this book, how to grow a delicious variety of fruit and vegetables: what to choose; when to sow, plant, and harvest; and how best to avoid pests and diseases.
About the Author
Charles Dowding has been growing organic vegetables commercially for 30 years, without soil cultivation. He is the author of How to Grow Winter Vegetables and Salad Leaves. He also writes articles for several gardening publications, lectures, and runs courses on how best to look after soil and plants.