One of the major aims of organic gardening is to keep cultivation to a minimum. This preserves and increases the natural fertility of your soil and reduces weeds. A good soil structure may be maintained or improved by the addition of manures and other organic fertilisers derived solely from the remains of plants and animals.

The No-Dig System

This technique works on the principle that over-working your garden soil can encourage weeds to flourish and may also cause its natural structure to deteriorate. The no-dig system means that the majority of gardening work is carried out using a trowel and makes great use of mulches for suppressing weeds and conserving moisture. This may not only save you time and effort, but can also help to save your soil from becoming overworked, or excessively trampled.

1. On a bed cleared of all weeds, spread a 15-20 cm (6-9 in) layer of garden compost.
2. Cover the compost with either black plastic, old carpet, landscape membrane and fix down securely.
3. Space out the vegetables you want to grow in this area.
4. Use a garden knife to cut crosses in the mulch and plant the vegetables through these holes.
5. If you plan to grow potatoes using this method, make sure that the layer of compost is at least 20 cm (9 in) deep. Push the tubers down to the bottom of this layer through the holes in the fabric mulch.
6. To improve the look of a mulched area, cover plastic or other membrane with a layer of bark or gravel.

The Deep Bed System

Alternatively a deep bed system may be used. Cultivate your ground thoroughly, digging in plenty of organic material. With your spade blade, scratch out the edges of the beds you will cultivate. Make these no more than 1.5 m (5 ft) wide, with a shape and length to suit the size of your garden. Limiting the width of the beds means that you can work them easily without trampling the soil.

Mark out at least 4 beds to allow for crop rotation, and mound the surface with topsoil taken from the area around so that the growing area is slightly raised. To create deeper beds, or to provide an attractive finish, create a timber edging as described in our section on raised beds.

As your soil will be in much better condition than in a conventional bed, you will be able to plant much more densely.