Options for fertility, compost and cover crops

Рет қаралды 65,356

Күн бұрын

Ways to increase soil fertility, or maintain it at least. With and without living roots through the coldest months.
Sometimes in winter, visitors look at my beds and comment that the soil is bare. This is not the case.
Because with no dig, the soil is always covered with organic matter. Composted material on beds and small woodchip on paths.
In autumn, beds are almost all full of vegetables still growing, In any newly empty ones I sow cover crops, also called green manures. So that there are roots in the soil, for extra soil life and an eventual residue of organic matter.
My top tip: sow mustard Sinapis alba from September to mid October. Then it dies in winter weather and we see examples here, including where garlic is now visible.
Mustard is a Brassica and some gardeners worry, because that then interferes with their rotation. However, with no dig, the soil stays very fertile and disease-free, so I do not worry about that aspect of it.
Another plant I use is broad beans, could also use field beans, both are Vicia faba.
Learn more in my No Dig book www.charlesdowding.co.uk/prod...
00:00 Introduction
00:44 A bed with a cover crop of mustard, killed by frost
01:03 Planting garlic with the mustard
01:51 Broad beans and peas as cover crop, on my dig/no dig trial beds
03:13 Harvesting broad bean tops and pea shoots
03:26 Another bed of broad beans sown in September - not for overwintering
03:59 My preferred option for overwintering beds - mulching with compost
05:35 Winter job - a very light raking of the surface
05:51 Using homesaved seeds for cover crops
06:02 My No Dig book and online courses
Filmed 20th February at Homeacres, Somerset UK by Edward Dowding. Zone 8 climate near the Atlantic Ocean.
See my website for details of reducing weeds www.charlesdowding.co.uk/educ...
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
/ @charlesdowding1nodig
#covercrop #covercrops #nodig #broadbeans #mustard #overwintering

Пікірлер: 258

@Eoc203 3 ай бұрын

I need to be honest: My ears are completely focused on Charles Dowding but my eyes are focused on his cat the entire time.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Cute!!!

@carolewarner101 3 ай бұрын

I was feeling the same way. Such a beautiful calico. She seems to be very sweet and affectionate, whilst not being too demanding about it. The perfect kind of kitty.

@fourdayhomestead2839 3 ай бұрын

Agree. My boy Meece wouldn't be as mellow (he'd be on my shoulder & in my face).😊

@nachiketa3629 3 ай бұрын

That’s the cats main objective 😹

@eadjh98 3 ай бұрын

Mine too! 🐈

@L9INO9166 3 ай бұрын

You should definitely keep the new co-host!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

😂

@projectoldman3383 3 ай бұрын

Minty is one persistent cat, a most excellent kitty indeed.

@ItsSweetLew 3 ай бұрын

You can tell a good soul by how a cat acts around them. Minty is as always very welcome in your content Charles!!!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you

@veriseoul8756 3 ай бұрын

Oh my gosh, we LOVE a Minty episode!! 🥰 She's seriously the cutest little companion~

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

😍

@franksinatra1070 3 ай бұрын

That's a great trick of planting the garlic with the cover crop. Amazing how the timing works out so well with planting them together at the same time.

@paulnjackson 3 ай бұрын

Yes, and I wonder if it will help prevent rust which always reduces my overwintered garlic harvest.

@artistlovepeace 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for producing and sharing your reality. Your channel, Charles Dowding, is astonishing, education and hopefully inspiring others to start growing and being in touch with the seasons. You influence me to keep trying to grow food in my yard and teach me with every film you share. I appreciate you and your team.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for your kind words. I am glad you enjoy the content.

@richstone2627 3 ай бұрын

Short and sweet but full of valuable information. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time. Love the kitty.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@Brik-in-the-sticks 3 ай бұрын

WOOHOOO, my compost finally reached a temp of 65⁰C within a day! Chipping a balanced mix of leaves, stalks, flowers, coffee ground and piles of comfrey leaves, then piling it all on top of each other in a 0.9 x 0.9 x 1.2 mtr crate covered with woven weedcloth. I know you have been teaching me this all along, but my setup finally kicked in. I'll turn this batch in 2 months and work perpetual from now on. Finally, I can make enough compost for ½ Acre in 8 months.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

That's great to hear of your success 🙌

@jsbadger 3 ай бұрын

I'm enjoying that you addressed this, as options. It can help those with more of one resource, and perhaps less of another, decide which way would best benefit them. Bless you, Charles.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thanks 💚

@KK-FL 3 ай бұрын

Kitty is looking so regal sitting between the broad bean beds! 👑

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

💚

@garydenner6253 3 ай бұрын

More co host involvement please 🐈 my cat does the same when I'm in the garden too, although he tends to roll over my freshly planted seedlings in my no dig beds.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

So does Minty!

@LarisSurvival 3 ай бұрын

I follow you many years, i like your videos somuch! Greetings from Slovenia!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

@oregonfelder1 3 ай бұрын

Hello from Arkansas, USA. So glad to have received my No Dig copy a couple of weeks ago. First sowings completed, and compost mulch spread. Can’t wait to get them transplanted in the coming weeks.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@rubyquinonez5966 3 ай бұрын

mister charly hoy disdrute mucho tu video.. y a mintie.. yo estoy enamorada de ella.. 🤫😍.. cada dia aprendiendo de sus trasmisiones 🖐️👍

@Wrightworth 3 ай бұрын

Great strategies, and that cat is so sweet! 😸

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

💚

@mojavebohemian814 3 ай бұрын

The best videos on the web have a lovely pet (especially a calico cat)!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

We agree!

@jeuandavidjones 3 ай бұрын

My question for Charles is: how do you keep your cat from making toilets in the beds?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

I cannot, so she does, so I left them and put them on the compost heap in the middle

@jaskaran-ll3xk 3 ай бұрын

love your cat

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you

@louishesketh2482 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Charlles. I always tune in and share your content. I appreciate the knowledge you share with us.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Cheers Louis that is nice

@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing lots of great tips and ideas.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

You are very welcome

@andyc972 3 ай бұрын

More great tips, thanks for this Charles !

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Happy to help

@suzannecrowe5701 3 ай бұрын

Thank you as always Charles 🍄

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

You are welcome Suzanne

@naomi2646 3 ай бұрын

Good morning Charles, I enjoyed the visit. I hope you are enjoying this time of year, so much to look forward to. Take care.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Naomi 🌱

@emmaschipper6339 3 ай бұрын

Awww, such a cute cat 😍😍😍😍💕

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

She adopted me, is a joy!

@emmaschipper6339 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Know that feeling! We have another edition to the family since last summer. And so happy she came around. 💕💕💕💕 Still can not understand the kind of person that dumps their cat like that...

@robertziawinski6554 3 ай бұрын

Keep inspiring us!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

💚

@Testing329 3 ай бұрын

Gloria a ti,señor,por todo/ viva Christo Rey

@suttonsplash14 3 ай бұрын

Such a simple system its brilliant really

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

💚

@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920 3 ай бұрын

Such a brilliant balance 🧄🌿🧄

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

💚

@tinkeringinthailand8147 3 ай бұрын

A wonderful update. Thanks, from 40 degrees C Asia 🙏

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

@teresathomley3703 3 ай бұрын

What a beautiful little calico you have!! My Dad has a beautiful little calico called Angie.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Great name 🐈

@helene2737 3 ай бұрын

Great Charles, again a nice good video 👍 Helene in Sweden

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Helena

@garydenner6253 3 ай бұрын

OUTSTANDING INFO, Govner. Hoping to do all your courses asap to further educate myself although I hate study since being in the army. However you as a teacher it'll be a wonderful experience & can't wait. Keep up the great work! Gary 7th generation 1st fleet convict from down under 🇦🇺

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Cheers Gary, that's nice and I love how you sign yourself!

@smas3256 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for the "show" notes. Much appreciated. Zone 6B. East Coast USA. An exciting time. Last fall: first time saving marigold pods. Today I'm testing for viability. Thanks for sharing and introducing to us all experiences. Cool cat. ;)

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Lovely to see and good luck!

@lukasnightmare 3 ай бұрын

This week I went to the crountryside near my city and got some dry cow manure, they needed to get rid of it before winter. Gonna start to use it this fall. Thanks for your help Charles.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Great to hear Lukas

@agarsorchids7708 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing!❤ Lovely female cat, I assume from her colouring…🙂

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Yes, thanks, she is Minty

@cliffjenkins6419 3 ай бұрын

Very good information and love that cat. I garden in a very similar manner and my mate in the vege garden is a ginger cat called Bodi. We need more old gardening practitioners. Good on you. Cheers from HB NZ

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Cliff 🌱 🐈

@luisagarcia3961 3 ай бұрын

Boa noite obrigado Charles ❤

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

De nada

@user-tb9oo1uc5v 3 ай бұрын

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at the folk café

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

😎 a great venue!

@elinolden1927 3 ай бұрын

Thank you ✌🏻💜✌🏻

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

You are welcome

@APRICITY963 3 ай бұрын

I didn't know that mustard work like beans as cover crops till today. Thank you! Mustard would come in handy, they produce a lot of seed. Your garden is so tidy, I don't see any weed, yet so bountiful at growing season. Lucky you!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

I pull quite a few weeds where necessary! But thanks to no dig there are many fewer

@APRICITY963 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig TIL that! Thanks!

@manuelrojas4483 3 ай бұрын

Tienes al mejor gato granjero de Inglaterra 😂😂🐈🐈🥬🥦🫑🌸👏🏻👏🏻Saludos desde Tenerife!!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

😍 🐈

@rhysjaggar4677 3 ай бұрын

My experience of mustard growing this past autumn is that it does well after harvesting squash (Crown Prince and Red Kuri); well after harvesting outdoor cucumber (here that happens mid-to-late September); I grew field beans in modules before transplanting out where Butternut squash was harvested (mid-to-late October) and they have done well too. I'm about to sow phacelia in the squash beds, as it will be mature and ready to pull by the time that squash is planted out (mid to late May).

@qiubick 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for valuable advice, Mr. Dowding. Your No -Dig method and the bedding system works great in my garden, but here in Poland, where I live, we sometimes have severe winters even to -25 degrees, and I noticed that in my garden I need soil covering with compost and on it an additional layer of e.g. fallen leaves , or straw, although for soil life, ground cover plants will work even better, as long as they can be sowed as you said early. I also noticed that the compost soil protected with a cover layer is more resistant to freezing and raises faster to live in spring, and when I remove the protective layer at the end of February or March, the ground will warm up in the rays of the sun. Greetings from Poland :)

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Lovely feedback thanks so much! 💚

@veganchiefwarrior6444 3 ай бұрын

For what it's worth, I think I put 2 much fine compost 2 thick over time on my fruit trees and it all compacted and either suffocated the soil or is stealing nitrogen that would otherwise go to the trees to break down so I'm just letting it all break down hopefully and going 2 keep it at the 2 inches recommended, also I clicked on this video when I seen it was only 6 mins, Ive noticed I tend to click on videos more when they are around 5 minits, great video Charles hope you are doing well legend 🙂

@tamaragonzalez7234 3 ай бұрын

Buenisimo😊

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

🙂

@christianerardt3705 3 ай бұрын

Thx for your always great advice 👍🏻💚🌱 I had the some trouble with my broad beans. After sowing in October, they took the first hard frost (-15°C) with lots of snow mid of December pretty well under their fleece cover. Then we had a pretty warm period end of December till mid January. So they grew pretty high 20-30 cm. The next frost (-7°C) survived a third of them. But frost in the end of February killed them all. That was really pitty. Now i have new seeds sown and hope they will survive the aphids. I hoped to pass them by winter sowing. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Maybe next year...

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Yes for February, 20 to 30 cm is making them vulnerable and I would sow next year right at the end of October.

@javorgeorgiev6130 3 ай бұрын

I have plenty of compost, but I'll be experimenting with companion planting around my veggies so the soil around the plant is covered with something that's alive. I have a lot of extra herb/flower seedlings that I don't mind leaving "stunted" under my hot peppers. I don't keep old seeds, so everything extra will be planted somewhere.

@mojavebohemian814 3 ай бұрын

Here in northeast Arizona, we had snow yesterday and today! March 8.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

I hope it warms soon :)

@cpoco 3 ай бұрын

My family weren't too fussed with the broad beans I grew last year (and they are a bit fiddly to prepare anyway)... so I think I might see if I have any of the seeds left and I'm might just plant them out now while our Autumn weather is still quite warm and they can feed the soil instead as you said :D Thanks as always.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Top plan!

@rwg727 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Charles! I always love your videos... Please , would you tell me what kind of shoes you were wearing ing in this video? Thank you

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Muck boots, no name on boot!

@pguk83 3 ай бұрын

Your kitty is adorable 🙂

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thanks

@walkingbacktogardening381 3 ай бұрын

love video bomb from the kitty 😺.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

💚 🐈

@StayPrimal 3 ай бұрын

Amazing video Charles ! Loved it. I'm BEYOND excited for this season to begin :) Sorry for the long question. Charles I have a problem with my medium when I sow seeds indoor in containers. Sometimes there is a 1 centimeter crust forming on top of the soil. Its like if all the organic matter on top glued together, forming a crust. It happens within the first 3 days of sowing. I'm not talking about alguea or muchrooms growing on top of the medium, everything looks very clean, its just a solid crust of soil on top, preventing seedling to reach surface. I'm not sure what cause this crust to form, have you ever experienced such thing?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Cheers, and that sounds like you have too much soil in your mix. Fine soil will cap together like that on top. So that's the advantage of using 90% plus compost, with very little soil.

@StayPrimal 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you !!!

@pascalxus 3 ай бұрын

Another excellent post! I really like the idea of using green manures and cover crops because they reduce the amount of external inputs needed. Question: Can green manures replace the need for compost and external inputs entirely? If not, how did your ancestors do farming? I imagine they couldn't afford to haul a bunch of organic matter across country for their farms.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

My ancestors would have had lower output per square metre, that's my main consideration and it means you would need to spend more time for less food on a larger area. Some of them would have had animal manure which is compost, and very effective

@eileenalexander3650 3 ай бұрын

The local farmer does green manure in winter. Looks much better than bare soil. Greetings from north germany. Thanks to Anna for putting me on the no dig map. xx

@hollydimig3998 3 ай бұрын

Nice.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Holly

@Shadysideofsouthview 3 ай бұрын

Evening Charles, another really useful educational video. Just woundering, I know you said you keep and save some of your own mustard seed for cover cropping but just woundering if there is anywere that mustard seed can be purchased in big quantaties for the purpose of cover cropping? I can only seem to find small packet which I am presuming I would need large amounts of to cover an area of 300m2. Thanks

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, and yes, try Kings seeds in the UK, but you might need to open a commercial account. Otherwise maybe an agricultural store or merchant of some kind. I have also saved seed from 20 plants and that worked well, harvest in July

@turtle2212 3 ай бұрын

Talking sweet animals: my new podenco mix from the animal shelter has just beheaded my purple sprouting broccoli, seems to be a gourmant😮

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

🥲

@daveswords2112 3 ай бұрын

Great video Something I'm trying to figure out What winter type cover crop to plant for using as compost material as early as possible way spring time.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Depends on your climate, but broad/field beans are worth a try

@daveswords2112 3 ай бұрын

Many thanks Sunny Hampshire is home

3 ай бұрын

So cool can watch this all day!would love to see a trial on white clover as a cover crop. I use it in a garden that has no composting possibilities, on a 2,5m by 2,5 square im growing 5 fruit trees and some shrubs. They need lots of nitrogen which the trifolium seems to capture and deliver. Im really curious what would happen in a vegetable garden case. Either a sow in a green patch of white clover. Or the "sow&capture, destroy& release kinda preworked bed.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

I'm looking for cool season cover crops and white clover does not grow much in the winter. In a vegetable garden it's incredibly invasive, I know people who have sown it and regret it! Be careful. For sure it's great under trees and bushes.

3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks! Yes im aware of its invasiveness. But apart from that im not aware of the negative sides of the Clover😬 does it steal nutrients away? Of does it do something else apart from appearing everywhere?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Its invasive quality is 100% enough to cause me not to grow it. That is another drain on time, edging. Also it is taking nutrients plus moisture from path soil which prevents vegetable roots accessing them.

@andyward997 3 ай бұрын

Being Cheeky I have a gardening question because I’m sure you will know the answer! I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find an answer! So here’s the question ‘Everything you read tells you that once you plant asparagus crowns you should allow about three years before cropping to allow the plant to build energy, what I can’t find out is, if the crowns where clearly at least 3 years old at the time of planting is so you still have wait further 3 years? Thank you

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

If the crowns were indeed that old, they will be checked by transplanting and lose up to 1 year from that, so it's a good question and I would wait two years rather than three. Also you could pick a few asparagus in May of the second year after plantin

@andyward997 3 ай бұрын

Thank you

@williamhamblin1585 3 ай бұрын

Hi have you ever heard of using table salt in a trench months before you sow beetroot I live in Wales so there is a lot of coal in the ground but all I can find on it is beetroot originally grew on the coast you are a clever man so I wanted your opinion I'm going to do an experiment

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Beetroots are descended from seaside plants, so that might be why it works, I do not do it, but there's no harm in trying! Or seaweed would be even better.

@jamesmcallister3878 3 ай бұрын

I honestly think you should pop a GoPro on your cats collar and film a "tour" video in the eyes of your cat, if your cat will allow it 😂

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

😂

@kerollo5163 3 ай бұрын

I see compost mainly as a cover that prevents moisture to evaporate. The soil keeps longer the needed moisture. Also it is not compacted, allowing easier root development for seedlings. The more roots, the stronger the plant. It is an attractive habitat for worms. Make a hole in the ground, put compost and it attracts worms. Not to speak about the nutrients for them if it is fresh compost. Green cover crops can play that role but in my opinion to a lesser extent. I prefer to throw them on a not too thick heap where they decompose slowly. At that time they are closer to what compost does.

@Lytanca 3 ай бұрын

Oh very food

@andrewnuttall6057 3 ай бұрын

Hi Charles, interesting video as always. You mention that planting a cover crop after the last harvest in the autumn doesn't really give time for the plants to grow much before winter. Does planting the cover crop before the last harvest make a difference? Would that work, or is that what you've already tried? Thanks :)

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Many autumn vegetables have strong leaf cover and it's simply not possible. If there is a chance to sow earlier, I have done that with corn salad for example under delayed cabbage, something to eat

@andrewnuttall6057 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig good to know, thanks :)

@austin2842 3 ай бұрын

Charles, have you experimented with adding alfalfa meal or pellets to the soil?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

It would be expensive for soil, I prefer adding compost, but for containers it works well where you do not have much volume for adding material

@paulday7134 3 ай бұрын

Cats, give me strength, the neighbourhood moggies would shit in my raised beds like mad if I hadnt invested in The RSPB ultrasonic scarer, not nice when you are trying to grow food. I guess Charles cat has a litter tray?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Haha no Paul, I remove them

@tara981 3 ай бұрын

🙏 Liebe Grüße aus der Eifel

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Danke Tara

@Handlehere256 19 күн бұрын

I’m starting new garden beds in soil that’s very sandy and nutrient deficient. I was thinking I’d lay down cardboard, and then a mix of compost/topsoil (it’s what I have) and a cover crop to give it some nutrients and help with weeds and then plant in the spring. Or I have mulch I could put on top instead of the cover crop, or in addition to? Any tips/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 18 күн бұрын

To grow great vegetables on that soil, I suggest you need at least 15 cm or 6 inches of compost, which can be from any origin including animal manure. I would put the soil first and then all the compost on top. I'm not convinced that a green manure will add a huge amount of nutrition, but will add a little carbon. But I would do that, rather than simply mulching with undecomposed organic matter

@Handlehere256 18 күн бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you! Do you suggest I wait until spring to plant anything in it?

@martino515 3 ай бұрын

Charles i have a question: over the years keep adding compost wouldn't build up too much height? How do you deal with that? Thanks in Advance

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Not at all because the compost keeps being eaten by soil organisms and loses volume. Where I add 1 inch/2.5 cm every year, the level does not rise, or just a little if we add more

@lew381 3 ай бұрын

Since watching your vidoes ive become sceptical of alot of other products now what do you think of fish blood and bone? I put itnon my chili plants each year but Im actually wondering its just a marketing ploy because the plants should have all they need with no dig.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Nice to hear, and I agree that most products are not needed, thanks to soil biology making food available

@cadileigh9948 3 ай бұрын

Cat poo ? What do you do with it Charles ? I put it deep under new trees when planting so it's not wasted but also not contaminating compost. I suspect they mostly go up in the wild woods leaf litter though as they don't come indoors

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Since my compost heaps get hot, I scoop up the poo wherever found and add it to them, in the middle, preferably

@nitelite78 3 ай бұрын

Have you tried fenugreek as a cover crop Charles? I was thinking it makes sense because as a legume you can eat the shoots (although not sure how they compare to pea shoots), and they will fix some nitrogen too. But also, because the seeds are a commonly used spice in Indian cookery you can get a large quantity of seeds for very little money. I've tried growing shop bought fenugreek seeds and they germinated well. I haven't yet tried as a cover crop - I just grew them for making curry - but thinking of using them in Autumn as a green manure.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Nice idea, but I'm not growing these cover crops over many months and would not have time for seeds to develop

@nitelite78 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig No, I meant buying seed not growing/saving your own seeds. You can get 1 kilo of fenugreek seeds from a supermarket for just a few pounds. Compared with buying from a seed merchant where it's several times the price.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Good point, but my concern is more that I have no vacant soil until mid September, and by then, something like fenugreek doesn't have time to grow a lot of organic matter before winter, hence I grow mustard

@GoingGreenMom 3 ай бұрын

I borrowed your garden journal from my library and have been reading it today, but can you please explain what drawing a drill means? You are using it quite a bit in March's chapter, but I'm not sure what you mean.

@openmind5973 3 ай бұрын

If you were to get a broom stick (without the broom head), or similar, and drag it along soft earth, the path left by the stick is a drill. That's what you plant your seeds into.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Haha yes, the line of open soil/compost for dropping seeds into

@jean-pierregesquiere533 3 ай бұрын

Hello Charles, Je mets chaque année des fèves en octobre du côté sud contre un mur et je n'ai jamais eu de problème ,elles passent très bien l'hiver 👍 En mars je sème de nouveau des fèves ( toujours mes propres graines) sur plusieurs parcelles ( au milieu de la largeur) et vers le 21 avril je mets 1 route de patate de chaque côté des fèves Quen pensez-vous ?🤔 Comme vous,jaime faire des expériences 😅 Pépé JP de ch'nord

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Pépé c'est fort bon truc, allez-y

@peyrolas Ай бұрын

I find cover crops extremely difficult if all beds are taken the whole year. My problem is that compost is from same year and only half rotted by november. Can i put this on beds already over winter or would you not recommend that? Thanks 4 ur good work and vids. Salutations jardinals des cevennes

@CharlesDowding1nodig Ай бұрын

Merci bien! I agree that cover crops are not easy in a vegetable garden, and that's often not well explained. Compost such as you describe can be spread in November and it will continue to decompose through winter. In late winter, you can rake off any woody pieces and it should have become much softer thanks to frost.

@corinne7126 3 ай бұрын

I hope you have catnip and catmint growing

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

‼️ yes indeed

@user-sy8rb2ni9j 3 ай бұрын

Hello Charles! I have just discovered your channel and subscribed. I wonder if I could humbly ask for a piece of advice. I had my hedges removed and the best soil that was left behind, I would like to try and turn into a vegetable patch. Am I right in my understanding that the soil is probably quite poor? it is almost April and obviously I am too late to do any planting for edible vegetables. I have covered it with a black sheet whilst I’m researching what I need to do. I just watched your video on green manure.Should I do just that and plant veg in autumn?What would be the best course of action? Thank you!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

There's a load of stuff you can plant now! Simply rake the ground level, spread any organic matter you can get hold of, rough compost, or fine compost of any kind, your soil will start improving, while you start sowing/planting when the season is right. Check out the sowing timeline on my website for ideas. www.charlesdowding.co.uk/education/sowing-timeline

@user-sy8rb2ni9j 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig You are such a sweetheart for replying to a random person on KZfaq! Thank you !

@user-sy8rb2ni9j 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I just reread my post and want to reiterate that a laurel hedge and a big confier was removed and was told that the soil is probably quite poor.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thank you. And I urge you not to listen to random comments like that, what do they know? And the point more is that you can always improve soil quickly with compost on the surface. It's not poor by definition, whatever that means!

@user-sy8rb2ni9j 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Totally. Listen to the professionals like you! Thank you, one more time.

@martinmcguigan3783 2 ай бұрын

Hi Charles, what is your advice on adding Comfrey to compost bins, I have ordered some plants on ebay but mistakingly though they were Bocking 14 which don't seed, would it be a bad idea to plant these in my garden, will they be invasive and spread to my neighbours garden. Thanks - martin.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 2 ай бұрын

If they are not Bocking 14, I would not plant themyour garden because they will seed and spread. I don't especially value them because they take a lot of space and are quite invasive. Hopefully you could put them somewhere where they are out of the way a bit.

@martinmcguigan3783 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, don't think I'll plant them at all, will maybe use nettles instead in my compost bin as I hear they are equally good to add nutrients. Thanks for help. Martin

@hilshils3426 3 ай бұрын

I find it hard to get my head round cover crops…they take nutrition from the soil to grow & then put it back. So apart from keeping weeds down, & adding organic matter, how does it benefit? Like you I prefer home compost (plus some free well rotted horse manure (as I live in the country!)

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Their roots being alive through winter can help soil biology to stay more active and they are converting sunlight into carbon which is a net benefit for soil. For sure, they're not for every bed or every situation.

@carolynhemstedt52 3 ай бұрын

I am in New England zone 4, can I use your Mustard cover crop strategy here in Maine with garlic?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Yes I would try it although it might not be quite so big by November

@veriseoul8756 3 ай бұрын

I'm in zone 8b, but in Oregon & deal with some pretty heavy clay here. I've been following the no-dig method, and find it works wonderfully, but I'm curious about mulching over the compost in the summer so as to not bake the good organisms in the compost. We don't get any rain at all here from July-September and it gets quite a bit hotter here than in your area. Do you have any concerns about the sun harming the compost or the organisms living in the top layer of organic material since it's not protected by anything Charles? Thanks a ton!!

@yvonnejackson1696 3 ай бұрын

I live in the SE US. I’m curious to hear the reply since I never thought of this occurring due to our blazing hot summers.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, nice to hear, and those organisms can go dormant in heat and in dry conditions, and likewise in cold conditions. They have to otherwise everything will be dead at some point! It's almost a miracle. I do get great feedback from people in hotter climates than here, but also if it is dry and summer, a cover of dry grass or equivalent is I feel a good idea.

@spear4food636 3 ай бұрын

Hi Charles, will growing sinapis alba mustard encourage clubroot at all as it’s in the brassica family?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

When soil is fertile and healthy, the answer is no worry on that score

@EastWind785 3 ай бұрын

I’m curious about the metal hoops you use for supports - where can I buy some please

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

You can see my recommendations here www.charlesdowding.co.uk/store/gardening-products

@nunofyourbizness5975 3 ай бұрын

Hi. Is there a different way to compost cow manure for the garden or is it the same for veg/wood matter?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

It might take longer because it rarely gets hot and how long depends on the bedding, whether it's straw which is best for composting, or wood shavings which take longer

@sarahhughes9914 3 ай бұрын

Minty needs her own ticktok page 😂😂😂😂

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

😂

@sharonphelps 3 ай бұрын

I have been covering the beds at my allotment with about an inch/ 2 or 3cm of compost from mid October last year. I bought organic manure to spread around fruit trees and bushes, as well as the rhubarb bed. I'm not sure if this helps with fertility with fruits, or whether compost would do the same job?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Great work and in my book, old manure is a fantastic compost

@TheD510addict 3 ай бұрын

Can you recommend a mustard variety that kills easily with frost?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Sinapis alba

@matty6720 3 ай бұрын

Hi Charles after you cover the beds with compost for over winter is there no benefit to then covering the compost with cardboard?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

None that I see, plus it would take time and effort, increase slugs too I expect

@matty6720 3 ай бұрын

Ok thanks for replying, and for all your excellent content! All the best

@DianeRogerssydanddianes 3 ай бұрын

I covered my raised beds with straw last fall. 1 bed i planted garlic in. Can i plant right through the straw or wood that need to be removed to the compost pile?? Any ideas?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Straw works for garlic, but less so for say lettuce because it can harbour slugs which eat them. Plus it makes it difficult to sow carrots. So it depends!

@DianeRogerssydanddianes 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig ohhhhhhhh. Thank you!!!! I just planted a few seedlings in through the straw just yesterday! Today, straw be gone!. I just got 2 of your books yesterday with the 3rd, Lettuces, coming today. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge AND answering questions!!!!!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Great to hear and you are very welcome

@jeanetterushton1176 3 ай бұрын

Could I ask your advice please Charles?A few years ago I asked Some travelling gardeners to get rid of my pampas grass. They asked me whether I was using my front garden to grow veg. When I said No they put something on the pampas grass that totally killed it in the middle, although all the outside of it has grown back. Everything else around it is still green. Now years later I would like to grow veg in the front garden but I'm worried that the soil may have been poisoned by what was put on the pampas grass. I don't know what it was. What do you think please?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

It sounds bad Jeanette, but I don't know, partly because you're not 100% clear whether that area is no still empty of anything growing. If it is, that sounds like a bad person! Otherwise, it should be okay.

@jeanetterushton1176 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks so much for answering Charles.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

You are welcome Jeanette

@user-qs9zp5jw8v 3 ай бұрын

Hello Tank you for vidéo Et merci pour votre livre en français, c'est plus facile pour moi 😅 Le plus difficile c'est le compost. J'ai beaucoup de copeaux ( rabotage machine) ça chauffe bien mais il me semble que c'est long à ce décomposer. Sorry for my English very Tank you. Maxime BZH

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Maxime merci, peut être ajoute des graines de cafe, ca fait chauffer

@user-qs9zp5jw8v 3 ай бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig 👍

@mattcouch1692 3 ай бұрын

Does the cat ever use the garden bed as a litter box? How do you deal with that? I've found out a cat in my neighborhood had been doong that, so had to cover my beds.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

She does, and I put it on the compost heap, which is hot in the middle

@moriumanwar6466 3 ай бұрын

Please advise if March is a good month to grow any cover crops. From Birmingham

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

I want to grow only vegetables from this point and use cover crops in autumn mainly, where there might be a few gaps. In spring, the only one might be broad beans where you plan to grow courgettes for example, which transplant later

@jamesosirisb 3 ай бұрын

Can we give a shout out to Minty the Cat?

@SR-vr4sx 17 күн бұрын

Hi. I have three bays in the vegetable garden, behind my house. Brown cockroaches have appeared sometimes and I'm worried about the house being close. What could I be doing wrong to make them appear and how can I solve it?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 17 күн бұрын

As long as your house is clean and tidy, I'm sure you will be fine there and cockroaches are agents of decomposition, so they belong in a compost heap when it's immature

@nickold3078 3 ай бұрын

I have just taken on my first allotment and am looking to have no dig beds. Do you have any tips on how to start without spending a fortune? Buying enough compost all at once would be super expensive

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 ай бұрын

Here you can see my tips www.charlesdowding.co.uk/get-started and here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/osdyi9qAyciznKs.html also www.charlesdowding.co.uk/education/starting-a-no-dig-allotment