How to Grow More Vegetables : And Fruits, Nuts ... - Shroomery

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at a later point in time. We have found this soil preparation
process greatly improves plant health and yields immediately in
poor, compacted and heavy soil. It is often worth the extra
digging time involved. However, it does use an insustainable
amount of organic matter.
The U-bar dig can be used as a substitute for the ongoing
double-dig in soil that is in reasonably good shape. This usually
means after one normal double-dig or more. The 18-inch-long
U-bar tines (see page 13) do not prepare the soil as deeply as a
spade and a spading fork used to double-dig 24 inches deep, but
the lower 12 inches of the growing bed compact more slowly
over time than the upper 12 inches. Also, the U-bar appears to
have the advantage of mixing up the soil strata much less than
double-digging with a spade and a spading fork. It aerates the
soil less, however. This is an advantage in looser, sandier soil
and can be a problem in tighter clays. If you use a U-bar regularly,
do a normal double-dig as often as increased compaction
Ongoing Double-Dig
A primary difference between
the ongoing and the initial
double-dig is that the compost
is put on after the digging
process in the ongoing
double-dig.
1. The bed is shown after
harvest with a slightly raised
mound of partially recompacted
soil and residual
compost. When the soil is
lightly moist, loosen the entire
top 12 inches of the area to be
dug with a spading fork, and
remove any weeds.
2. Remove the soil from the
upper part of the first trench,
and place it in a soil storage
area for use in making
compost and flat soil.
3. Loosen the soil an additional
12 inches. (See Note below.)
4. Dig out the upper part of the
second trench, and move it
forward into the first upper
trench.
5. Loosen the lower part of the
second trench.
6. Continue the double-digging
process (repeating steps 4 and
5) for the remaining trenches.
Rake after each 3–4 trenches
to ensure even bed height.
7. Shape the bed by raking it.
Evenly spread a 1-inch layer
of compost and any needed
fertilizers over the entire area.
Sift in compost and any fertilizers
2 to 4 inches deep with a
spading fork.
Note
After the lower trench has been
loosened, potatoes may be placed on
its surface on 9-inch centers using
offset spacing (see “Seed Propagation,”
pages 63–65). The soil from
the next trench’s upper level may
then be moved forward onto them.
This is the easiest way we have
found to plant potatoes. (Mark the
location of the potatoes with stones
or sticks in the outside paths before
covering them with soil. This will
indicate where potatoes should be
placed on the surface of each
succeeding lower trench.)
BED PREPARATION 15