In message , Sacha
writes
On 26/1/09 09:47, in article ], "Chris"
] wrote:

I heard on Gardeners Question time that one should dig as little as
possible.
They were against winter digging.
But I notice that farmers plough deep.
What are the considerations?

Digging in what circumstances? If making a new bed, or clearing out an old
one, I don't see how you can avoid it.

Not necessarily, there are non-dig approaches using mulches to kill off
weeds etc.

Plenty on the web searching on 'no dig gardening'

And you have to turn the soil to get
a workable tilth for veg etc, surely

Again not necessarily. Young plants can be planted straight into the
soil, for seeds you can make a drill and sow into compost. Or you might
just do a bit of light cultivation for this. But really you want to use
a bed approach, so that the soil does not get compacted by being walked
on etc.

Not that we are exactly no-diggers, more like, not-much digging, if for
nothing else it's easier and takes less time. Though I think if you have
poor soils, an initial dig probably helps get them into a better state
quicker - I dug the beds in our old heavy clay Leeds garden for example,
but after that they weren't regularly dug.
--
Chris French