TO dig or not to dig, that is the quandary.

When we took over our allotment four years ago, we inherited vast amounts of pernicious perennial weeds such as couch grass, bindweed and dock. The only way out was to dig (chemicals are not an option for an organic grower), and apart from a few stray patches of couch grass around the edges, the plot is now relatively clear. During the past four years we have consistently added compost, manure and leaf mould as crops are cleared or used one of the green growing manures.

Last autumn, the decision was taken to try the ‘no dig’ school of growing, where a thick layer (at least two inches) of mulch in the form of compost, manure or leaf mould is left on the surface. This has been much helped by the delivery of free leaf mould by Salisbury City Council to allotment sites, which has helped to finish off the now cleared beds.

Soil fertility is essential for good vegetable growing and included in that is the work of worms. Worms provide aeration and drainage channels so essential for good soil and they can work their magic quite happily with mulch on the surface.

Walking on the beds, particularly when it is wet, is not a good idea because of compaction, but planks can be used for digging out the parsnips. So, yes there is still digging to be done as you cannot grow some crops such as potatoes without that process, but it is greatly reduced.