Description

Charles Dowding (the guru of no dig gardening) shares his organic, no-dig approach to soil and plants. He reveals revealing the techniques that enable him to grow healthy, vibrant crops while 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 sustainably and organically: what to choose; when to sow, plant and harvest; and how best to avoid pests and diseases. 

About the Author

Charles Dowding has written many books on vegetable growing and contributes regularly to many magazines, including Permaculture, Gardeners’ World, Gardens Illustrated & Grow It!. He gives regular talks, advising gardeners on best practice and runs courses on organic, no-dig gardening. He is a regular guest on radio and TV. A veteran organic grower, he has practised no-dig gardening for years, providing produce for local and London markets, running a small farm in France, then producing salad on surface-composted, undisturbed clay soil, which grew bountiful crops and few weeds. He has run experiments to compare differences in growth between vegetables on dug and undug soil, discovering different patterns of growth in most seasons, with slightly lower yields and more weeds and slugs on the dug beds.

Photo: Stephanie Hafferty

Praise For…

"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." —Kitchen Garden magazine

"If anyone can convince gardeners that vegetable plots do not need digging, it is this author - his methods are at times contrary to standard advice, but he is not dogmatic and has a gift for clear explanation." —Sue Stickland, RHS The Garden

"Charles is a passionate and accomplished gardener, who grows vegetables of amazing flavour." —Raymond Blanc OBE World renowned chef and restaurateur

"One of our most respected vegetable growers... Now ordinary gardeners can benefit from his years of practical experience." —Joy Larkcom, author of Grow Your Own Vegetables

"This book will undoubtedly become the 'no-dig' bible, as was its predecessor." —Pushing Up Dandelions website