12th February 2020 Featured, Winter

I can feel the energy as daylight increases rapidly. In just one week here, we gain 23 minutes between sunrise and sunset, plus the sun’s arc is noticeably higher. For undercover sowings, this means

26th January 2020 Featured, Winter

February, hold your horses. No sowing just yet. Make the first undercover sowings after mid month and even then no rush. Meanwhile here is a cheerful thought – If winter comes, can spring be far

5th January 2020 Featured, Winter

ND3 New decade, no dig, no dogma. If you aren’t yet using the no dig method, now is a fine time to start – cover the weeds, feed the soil. Then you plant into compost, in early spring. See

5th December 2019 Featured, Winter

December 2019 The new gardening year is already underway, with winter’s simple and quick bed preparation of my no dig method. 1 Clear any plant residues and weeds – or if a lot of weeds la

23rd February 2019 Featured, Winter

It feels like an early spring here, yet it’s still winter, just! Choosing what to sow and plant becomes confused when the seasons go out of order, and generally it’s best to stick with the dates y

9th February 2019 Winter

Be careful of sowing too early, there is no rush in spring because later sowings often catch up as it warms and lightens. For example I plan to sow tomatoes on 18th March this year. In the next two we

18th January 2019 Featured, Winter

Charles' update of seasonal garden jobs which is mainly mulching at this time of year, some winter harvests too, and no sowing yet!

13th December 2018 Featured, Winter

14th December, my last blog/update of the year, and until late January. Plenty to read and digest here, and I shall send another newsletter in early January. I hope you enjoy the new website. We have

3rd December 2018 Featured, Winter

Autumn ends, and it’s been a great season here for rich harvests with more to come. No dig helps so much, for two special reasons this autumn and one as we come into winter: moisture retention in dr

14th February 2018 Winter

Early sowings… it’s still early! The beauty of spring is that there is always more light ahead, and usually more warmth (!), so later sowings often catch up. As well as that, they grow mor

21st January 2018 Winter

It’s midwinter, so we can look forward to spring!! Including to sow seeds, just not yet except for undercover sowings of broad beans and exhibition onions. Wait for Valentines Day/mid February to ma

15th December 2017 Winter

This is the last update for five weeks, as we head into a quiet time for gardening, unless you are making a new garden or clearing ground. I am giving many talks, not least the northern tour Jan 30th