Lesson 19: A talk video, and the final quiz Quiz

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Which timing is recommended for spreading compost, for successful growth all year and every year?

1 point

Spread some every three years before growing heavy feeders

Spread some once a year to maintain and increase biological activity in soil

Spread some every time you put in new plants and seeds, to feed that planting

Clear selection

Why do compost heaps need slatted sides?

1 point

They don’t

To allow moisture to pass in and out

To allow entry of air

To let weed roots out

Clear selection

Which answer describes the difference(s) between annual and perennial weeds? Choose the answer which covers the most aspects.

1 point

The roots of perennial weeds survive winter and regrow the following year

Most annual weeds drop seeds before winter and then die, although a few continue as small plants, or even germinate in winter

All of these

Perennial weeds mostly propagate by spreading their roots; annual weeds mostly by dropping seeds

Year one mulches need to exclude light for longer where there are many perennial weeds

Clear selection

Which is the most important factor to consider when deciding how to orientate your beds and paths? Choose the answer which covers the most aspects.

1 point

Slope

North-south alignment

Point of access

Making the best use of your site

A combination and balance of all these

Clear selection

In the preceding question, when would the correct answer have been incorrect? Choose the answer which covers most aspects.

1 point

Any or all of these

If the compost was still warm and steaming

If the compost was loose and fluffy

If the time of year was not correct for the intended sowings and plantings

Clear selection

Second plantings in summer always need some extra compost before they go in the ground. True or false?

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

With no dig, how is it possible to achieve 100% clearance of most perennial weeds?

1 point

Because you dig them out first

Because perennial weed roots get burned by compost mulches

Because undisturbed soil does not need to recover with weeds

Clear selection

Which approach to weeding is recommended in this course?

1 point

A big hit every spring is the main job needed

Weed every month or two, after a big mulching when you start

Little and often weeding all the time – of paths too if there are no sides – after a thorough initial mulch

Keep beds weed free at all times and don’t worry about path weeds

Clear selection

How long would you need to wait before sowing or planting, after you laid cardboard then spread 4–6 in (10–15 cm) of compost on top of a thick mat of weeds?

1 point

One week for the compost to settle

Four months for the weeds to die

No time

Two months for the cardboard to decompose

Clear selection

Choose the only one of these statements which does not define the difference between soil (topsoil) and compost, as described in lesson 15.

1 point

Soil is more dense and maintains the same volume for many years, whereas compost reduces in volume

Weeds pull out of compost more cleanly and easily than out of soil

Wet soil is more likely to squash into a compacted, airless state than wet compost

Compost contains fewer nutrients than the same volume of soil

Clear selection

Why might the four year rotation be less relevant in no dig gardening as described in this course, compared to gardening in dug or tilled soil? Choose the answer which covers the most aspects.

1 point

The soil becomes and stays healthy with a balance of many organisms, resulting in strong growth and healthy plants

The lack of weeds makes it easy and viable to space closely, and to interplant

There is no need for soil preparation specific for different plantings, therefore the same bed can grow many kinds of vegetables

All of these

Clear selection

Soil fertility and successful growth – what determines how plants grow? Choose the incorrect statement.

1 point

Soil fertility is exclusively about nutrients in soil

Roots need air, moisture and space, as much as nutrients being available

Successful growth is enabled by and needs a high level of biological activity

Clear selection

Why do you think that water drains more quickly through undisturbed, no dig soil with a mulch of organic matter? Choose the answer which covers the most aspects.

1 point

The structure is intact, with soil aggregated into crumbs and air passages between

All of these

Surface organic matter absorbs water more quickly than surface soil

There is no interruption in downward flow, from a capillary line forming between dug/tilled soil and undug/untilled soil

Clear selection

Which are the best widths for paths and beds respectively? Choose the answer which covers the most aspects.

1 point

30 cm and 1 m (12 in and 3.2 ft)

40 cm and 1.2 m (16 in and 3.9 ft)

All of these or others, depending how you like to garden

50 cm and 1.5 m (20 in and 4.9 ft)

Clear selection

Which answer best describes a soil type which is no good for no dig?

1 point

Clay

Sand

Stony

Any soil is fine

Clear selection

Which of these are important for decomposing organic matter? Choose the answer which covers the most aspects.

1 point

Bacteria

Fungi

Brandling red worms

All of these

Clear selection

With no dig, why might year one be different to subsequent years? Choose the answer which covers most aspects.

1 point

Perennial weeds often regrow through mulches of organic matter, and the regrowth needs regular pulling

Your need for compost and other organic matter is higher, to build fertility and suppress weeds

Any or all of these

There may be a residual and high population of slugs, and other soil pests too

Clear selection

You can make fine compost without the heap temperature rising above 40°C/104°F. True or false?

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

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