No till gardening

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by adam.ca, Jan 13, 2019.

  1. adam.ca

    adam.ca In Flower

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    446
    Location:
    Montreal, QC, Canada
    do you practice the no-till method?
     
  2. Loading...


  3. mart

    mart Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,582
    Likes Received:
    4,139
    Location:
    NE Texas
    We do not till at all,, we plow :) !
     
    Gail-Steman likes this.
  4. adam.ca

    adam.ca In Flower

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    446
    Location:
    Montreal, QC, Canada
    sounds worse
     
    Gail-Steman likes this.
  5. Kazzawazza

    Kazzawazza Seedling

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2018
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    343
    No I don't.
     
    Gail-Steman likes this.



    Advertisement
  6. DeepWoods

    DeepWoods In Flower

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2010
    Messages:
    358
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Zone 7
    Yes and have for almost 8 years...better yields, no plowing or tilling, a lot less weeding and no muddy harvesting after rains, I now have rich soil and not clods of dirt, earthworms and good natural organisms at work in the soil because they are not killed by plowing and/or tilling. Look in the forest and fields, the Creator does not plow or till and the forest and fields are lush and full of life and growth.

    IMG_2871-copy.jpg
     
  7. mart

    mart Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,582
    Likes Received:
    4,139
    Location:
    NE Texas
    Not sure where you are located Deepwoods but here in Texas we have to turn the soil in some way or no planting would get done ! As to our forests and woodlands,, well I am sure you have not seen them !
     
    adam.ca and Gail-Steman like this.
  8. adam.ca

    adam.ca In Flower

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    446
    Location:
    Montreal, QC, Canada
    back to Eden method has great reviews, seems to work for everyone. @mart just add more much / woodchips. it would be interesting to see if it could work in Texas. I'd encourage you to try in a small spot in your garden.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2019
    Gail-Steman likes this.
  9. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,059
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Texas has 12 ecological regions, so there is a possibility that the method will work in some parts of the state.
     
    adam.ca and Gail-Steman like this.
  10. mart

    mart Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,582
    Likes Received:
    4,139
    Location:
    NE Texas
    Which one Toni ? Take a guess ! Certainly not in mine ! I have tried the wood chips and wound up with more bugs than I could kill !
     
  11. adam.ca

    adam.ca In Flower

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    446
    Location:
    Montreal, QC, Canada
  12. DeepWoods

    DeepWoods In Flower

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2010
    Messages:
    358
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Zone 7
    No till works anywhere..I live in the west TN/north Ms area, zone 7, red clay and sandstone packs as hard as concrete after a rain.
    And yes I have seen your area, your forest and woodlands, I was a truck driver for many years.
    No till will work there too...plenty of people use it in areas far worse than NE Texas.

    This is the same garden as the prior photo I posted but this is what the dirt looked like before I started no till....hard clods of red clay and sandstone.
    IMG_4454BellPepper.jpg
     
  13. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    20,114
    Likes Received:
    18,642
  14. adam.ca

    adam.ca In Flower

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    446
    Location:
    Montreal, QC, Canada
    why till when you can just not till.
     
    Sjoerd likes this.
  15. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    20,114
    Likes Received:
    18,642
    Not tilling just will not do in our lottie. There are too many weeds...serious-types of weeds. But aside from that, I prefer min tilling to aerate the soil which I feel is an important factor. To totally neglect the soil and not disrupt it at all is not realistic for me. I also like working-in my green manure to speed up the composting process as well as add structure to my soil. Further, I believe that if I don't crack the soil whilst min-tilling; breaking up the crust, that too much water will run off, taking the superficial nutrients with it.
     
    Cayuga Morning likes this.
  16. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,059
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Mart I have no idea which sections of the state would be benefit from that gardening system. I live on the Blackland Prairie and even a tiller will not cut through the hard as concrete black clay here in summer or drought conditions. I have no lawn, pulled up all the grass years ago to create the gardens, put lots of mulch everywhere and after 13 years I still have to use a heavy duty gardening fork to get through it to plant anything.
    Only thing I have found that works is forking in compost but to get really digable soil I would have to scrape off the top 5 inches of clay and replace it with good soil/compost.
     
    Sjoerd likes this.

Share This Page