Converting To No-Till Gardening
by John Yazo
No-till gardening needs a good fertile soil structure before it will produce a quality crop. If you have been organic gardening then your soil should be of a good soil structure already but should be tested. If you are starting a new garden then you will need to do a soil test and a soils ph test to see if any amendments are needed to the soil.
Preparing your soil for a new garden you should layout your garden rows, mounds or raised beds. After the garden is laid out double-dig the planting areas and add compost, peat or other organic matter to improve the soil structure. After your garden soil is of good quality soil structure you will be ready to start your no-till method of gardening.
Plant your seeds and transplants to your garden plan layout. The key to a no-till garden is mulching. Mulch keeps the soil moist. It prevents water from evaporating from the soil and a hard crust forming on the top layer. Mulching with organic matter will help life thrive in the soil such as earthworms and other organisms.Compost is the best mulch to use. It is full of nutrients and doesn't contain weed seeds if composted properly.
Mulch should be applied in layers throughout the growing season. It will benefit the soil by adding organic matter to the soil.
During the off season of the garden a cover crop , also known as green manure can be planted. This will help top add nutrients back into the soil. The roots from the cover crop will also help breakup the soil and add pores or channels throughout the soil structure to hold water, nutrients and aerate the soil.
Before planting crops in the location where a cover crop has been planted hand pull the cover crop and put it in your compost pile. Then lay black plastic over the areas to be planted for about two eeks . This will help heat the soil and kill off any weed seeds.
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