I’ve been gardening organically since 2011, using raised beds (so not digging), but I found out about proper No-Dig around 5 years ago. I’ve had limited success with vegetables and didn’t understand why, but I took Charles’s ‘Skills’ book on holiday last year and read it cover to cover, which has been a huge inspiration and education.
Learning about sowing indoors and having things ready to plant out, spacings, and succession planting has already started to make a difference. The wooden sides of my raised beds are rotting, so I’m currently removing them instead of replacing them, which is a huge job, so will supply a photo next year! (2025)
In 2024 I have had great success with potatoes, garlic, rhubarb, spinach, chard, broccoli, cauliflower and broad beans. Other beans are less successful – a challenge for 2025 – and the wet summer has beaten the sweetcorn, but will try again next year. The compost has been enhanced by the purchase of a shredder also.
