12th February 2021 Featured, Uncategorized, Winter

Cold weather has been gripping much of the northern hemisphere this February so far, but days are lengthening! Some sowings can happen now, but there is no rush and see my comments below, where also I

29th December 2020 Featured, Uncategorized, Winter

Winter has finally arrived here with frost most nights. and days noticeably colder, as low as 2 C 36 F maximum. This is okay! Much better to have cold now than in the spring, and all being well you ha

15th August 2020 Featured, Summer, Uncategorized

Early August has been unusually warm here, night minimum temperatures averaging16C/61F and day maxima averaging 27C/81F. Growth is fast as long as one waters – we use a hose, which takes time w

28th February 2020 Featured, Spring, Uncategorized

Early spring: March comes in like a lion, a little warmth of strong sunshine tempered by a lot of cold winds and nights. Then March goes out like a lamb, well let’s see! Stick to your known best

31st May 2019 Featured, Summer, Uncategorized

Summer begins now, but don’t bank on too much fine weather this summer is my hunch. The soil is dry here at the moment and plants look well except for rusty garlic outside: garlic and leek rust is e

5th December 2018 Articles, Uncategorized

Imagine a vegetable garden in winter, and you’ll probably conjure up an expanse of bare earth alongside a frosted-up greenhouse. But market gardener Charles Dowding’s plot couldn’t be more diffe

8th December 2014 Uncategorized

Welcome to the website of Charles Dowding, innovative gardener and author of nine books on caring for soil and growing vegetables. Plus I share knowledge through talks, courses and magazine articles: