Organic Gardening: The Natural No-dig Way full colour edn

Charles Dowding

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0857840894 ISBN 13: 9780857840899

Publisher: Green Books, 2013

Charles Dowding has been practising no-dig organic growing for over 30 years. In this new, full colour 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; Organic matter is best spread on the surface - just leave it on the 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 3-12 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 of a system of permanent, slightly raised beds, Organic Gardening 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:

One of our most respected vegetable growers. Now ordinary gardeners can benefit from his years of practical experience. --Joy Larkcom

Charles is a passionate and accomplished gardener, who grows vegetables of amazing flavour. --Raymond Blanc

Charles's crops positively glow with health, in testament to his methods ... he conveys a deep reverence for the soil, which has fuelled his no-dig ethos. --The Kitchen Garden

Charles is a passionate and accomplished gardener, who grows vegetables of amazing flavour. --Raymond Blanc

Charles's crops positively glow with health, in testament to his methods ... he conveys a deep reverence for the soil, which has fuelled his no-dig ethos. --The Kitchen Garden

About the Author:

Charles started growing organic vegetables commercially in 1982 and was an early pioneer of vegetable boxes. He runs organic gardening courses from his farm in Somerset, where he grows an extensive range of vegetables and year-round salads for local shops and restaurants. He is author of Salad Leaves, and How to Grow Winter Vegetables, both published by Green Books. He regularly writes for the RHS magazine, Grow It! and Blackmore Vale magazine and many other periodicals. His website is www.charlesdowding.co.uk