Back in spring last year I went to visit Charles Dowding on his well-established ‘No Dig’ farm in Somerset. I’d read his books on ‘No Dig’ gardening, packed full of useful advice and information, but it was wonderful to see first hand how well his vegetables (and fruit) were growing on soil that had never been dug over.
However, this year Charles has moved a few miles away to a new farm, Homeacres, and I popped by recently to see how all was progressing. I was amazed to see how well everything is growing only months after creating his new beds.
Charles has used a 50:50 mixture of well-rotted manure (broken down over about 18 months) and the council’s recycled green waste compost to grow in, building up the new beds on top of grass to approximately 6 inches high. These new areas have been contained and defined using scaffolding boards and netting has been used to keep off pesky badgers.
Charles admits that it takes a lot of effort to initially build up the fertility of his soil, and luckily he had a plentiful supply of well-rotted manure from his previous farm. He keeps a sharp eye on perennial weeds, such as couch grass, thistles, bind weed and buttercups, pulling these out as they pop up through the newly composted beds, and eventually these will be weakened enough not to return. 
Apart from a few experimental areas, all his new beds (outside and in his greenhouse) are ‘No Dig’, never once disturbing the structure of the soil beneath the beds, and his lettuces and other veg have been growing impressively well this spring and summer. 
As ever, Charles has been trying out some interesting growing methods. Above are some hot beds, created by filling palettes with fresh cow manure and then adding a 6 inch topping of his well-rotted manure and green waste mixture to plant into. As the manure starts breaking down, heat is given off and this allowed him to sow as early as January, growing and cropping carrots, lettuce, spinach and early peas within 6 weeks (I think these were covered in fleece too). A rampant Uchiki Kuri squash has now replaced the earlier crops and is romping away in these rich growing conditions. 
Unlike in his previous farm, Charles doesn’t have electricity in his new greenhouse for a heated propagating mat, so he’s used another hot bed palette (roughly measuring a metre square) to start off seeds in small modules. He’s found that this method works really well, but he needs to re-fill the palette with fresh manure after 6 weeks for a constant supply of heat. He recommends Jack First’s book on hot beds for more information on this intriguing topic. By the way, the leaves above are Puntarelle and Treviso chicories (available from Seeds of Italy).
As I wandered through the greenhouse, I thought this ‘No Dig’ method had miraculously produced larger than usual Sungold tomatoes, but they are actually a new hybrid called Sungella that Charles has been trialling. These are a cross between Sungold and “a larger fruited orange skinned heirloom favourite” (with seeds available from Thompsons and Morgan).
It’s always great to hear about new veg to grow and I also loved the look (and idea) of Daubenton’s perennial Kale (stem cuttings are available from Alan Carter’s fab Scottish Forrest Garden website). Once your own plant is established, cuttings can be easily taken to grow more plants and Alan Carter also supplies a gorgeous variegated variety too.
As I marvelled at many new (to me) varieties of lettuces and other veg, Charles informed me that many of his seeds come from the Real Seed Catalogue, the Organic gardening Catalogue and Seeds of Italy, and flicking through these exciting websites, I’ve started to make a list of more varieties to try out next spring.
As in previous years, Charles is supplying local businesses with fresh leaves and seasonal vegetables, but plans on concentrating more on teaching from his new farm. There are still places on courses this October and November and next year he’s running monthly mentoring courses from March until November. With an intimate 8 people on each course you’ll learn a lot and you’ll pick up new practises that could change the way you garden forever. I felt truly inspired after attending the course last year and have hugely enjoyed my own knock on experiments. I had great success with ‘No Dig’ potatoes last year and find that I pile on the compost rather than digging it into the soil wherever possible these days. Better for my back too, although a stables across the road (or cows grazing in Finsbury Park) and a large compost area would also be rather advantageous!
How funny. Just this moment I’ve posted about no-dig potatoes, as inspired by your experiment last year. Looks like a lovely visit to see Charles.
Hi Helen, Glad your ‘No Dig’ potatoes grew well this year. I found mine were ok this year, but a fox keeps digging them up too. Also, I didn’t water them this year, but I think last year the yields were much higher due to all that rain we had.
Had a great visit with Charles. Like many gardeners, he is very generous with his time and knowledge and I came away, as before, much the richer for it.
Perennial kale appeals to me and could sit in the same bed as my Jerusalem artichokes and my recently sown from seed Globe artichokes. It’s always great to experiment with different annual veg but comforting to have produce that returns each year with simply a feed and regular weeding.
Hi Sue, perfect put and strangely I’ve planted my new Daubenton Kale alongside my Jerusalem artichokes too! Very impressed that you’re growing Globe Artichokes from seed.
I love the fact that the beginning of each year you have a semi blank canvas to try out new veg and new varieties, but am also really appreciating my perennial veg and fruit more and more as the years go by. X
Oh that must have been an inspiring place to visit Naomi and you must have come away with your head buzzing full of ideas. Thanks for the link to Alan Carter’s site. I have been looking for the variegated Daubenton’s kale for some time so will contact him. I went to the Ludlow Food Festival this weekend and was most excited to come away with a perennial wild rocket which packs a lot of taste into a small leaf 🙂
Hi Anna, yes definitely inspired and chomping at the bit to try out all sorts of new lettuces etc. I love the look of that variegated kale. Almost looks like a giant hosta, and Alan Carter has a great recipe for eating these too (if only I could ever grow them!)
Went on a day’s workshop with Charles at West Dean College last year & it revolutionised our allotment growing. The old timers (several of them nearer 90 than 80!) have been particularly impressed by my carrots – lovely & straight but they had previously maintained that you can’t grow ‘decent’ (i.e.large in their case) due to heavy clay soil.
Currently holidaying in France &, although having a great time, am in withdrawal for my allotment and garden!
Have just found this site – love it!
Hi Jacqueline, There’s a lot to be said for raised beds on heavy clay soil. I think actually it’s the only way to go, as your carrots amply illustrate!
Also in France at the moment, staying in the Loire. Can’t seem to get my fill of delicious goat’s cheese and sumptuous wines. Staying at a freind’s house and just popped out to pick a number of fantastic looking tomatoes for lunch, so no allotment withdrawal symptoms as yet. Yesterday we went to the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere where they’re growing 630 varieties of tomatoes. Heaven!! Didn’t count them all, but did get to taste a few. Great fun! (blog post to come on our return). Other gardening highlights so far are Jardin Plume in Normandy and the Prieure D’Orsan in the Cher region. All very different but all totally inspiring. Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. V.best Naomi
Perennial kale appeals to me too! Some of my fellow allotmenteers created a hot bed in their poly tunnel and it was practically tropical in there, they grew all sorts of interesting things. I have been experimenting a bit with a ‘cautious’ no dig method and have had good results. I’m not a fan of tons of manure though. I had a big heap delivered once and it was not something I enjoyed dealing with!! But in general not digging the ground too much and applying a mulch of some sort seems to work pretty well for me and improves my soil structure. Really interesting post Naomi 🙂
Hi Anna
If only I had the space to rot down tonnes of manure! Living in a terraced house, all composts etc. have to be dragged through the house. GRrr…
Love the fact that Charles Dowding is always experimenting. My Daubenton’s Kale is now happily growing away and I should be able to take more cuttings next year to expand my crop (and give to neighbours and friends….. ). N x
[…] on the corner plot, a small cutting of Daubenton’s perennial Kale, acquired from Charles Dowding, has come on marvelously. Looking forward to taking my own cuttings come spring and popping this […]
Great post. I have read his book, but how interesting to visit and see and learn first hand.