To see a sample, click on the ‘Look Inside’ button to the right of this page.
The calendar is A4 opening to A3, with photos from Charles’ garden – a large one and a small one for each month, with explanatory captions.
Enjoy the seasonal beauty of Homeacres vegetable garden, all year round.
Charles has written a vegetable growing summary for every month, 170 words or so. There are four extra pages for 2021: one about the benefits of no dig, and three about where to buy seeds, and which varieties to sow.
Each month has Charles’ favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, at their best times of year. Every date is based on decades of fine tuning.
Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
The calendar sowing dates are for a Zone 8b climate in southern UK. Sow later by 1-4 weeks in spring if your climate is cooler, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
Sowing dates are based mainly on season/climate, and partly on moon phases. My main advice is to sow at the best time of year for each different vegetable. Within that best time, there are sometimes even better times!
Solar and lunar
I combine two moon aspects for calculating my sow dates. One is the phases of root-flower-leaf-fruit, based on whether the moon is passing through an astrological sign with earth-air-water-fire qualities. The other is waxing and waning: where possible I sow on a waxing moon for faster emergence and stronger growth, especially just before full moon.
Sun and moon give us a framework of action, it’s not a rigid rulebook. There are few dates when all good aspects are present.
32 pages printed on 200gsm Premium Gloss Paper, with 350gsm cover.
Hole-punched, for hanging on a wall.
Please be aware that postage costs for international orders may be higher than you expect. We use the Royal Mail app, so shipping costs are in line with their latest prices.
For international orders, the Book Depository (Which is I believe run by Amazon) offer free shipping, and this is their page for my 2021 Calendar.
New calendar for 2021, first shipping early September 2020.
The calendar is A4 opening to A3, hole punched to hang on a wall, with photos for each month from Charles’ garden.
Charles gives a veg growing summary for every month, plus his favourite sowing dates for each vegetable at their best times of year, based on decades of fine tuning. Use these dates to make it more likely that you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through the seasons.
24 reviews for Charles Dowding Gardening Calendar 2021
Rated 5 out of 5
Suella Postles (verified owner)–
Wonderful Calender! I buy them yearly. but this year has some extra advice and information. This is not just a handsome, beautifully produced piece, but of great value to people who are working Biodynamically and/or including working with the moon. In the back pages of the calender is important information as well. I suggest looking at that first and not accidentally discovering those worthwhile pages at the end of the year.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mandy –
Hi Charles we have an allotment and have limited time to garden as I care for my dad with dementia and he can’t be left alone. I think I spotted no dig on Gardeners’ world so 3 years ago we decided to give it ago but we’re overtaken by perennial weeds such as grass bindweed dandelions and creeping buttercup. We didn’t have beds but grew in rows. Last autumn we decided to buy a trailer load of compost to cover the whole of the allotment but covered with cardboard first. We have one or two raised beds but as I keep watching your videos everyday I learn more. So we will be getting rid of raised bed sides. I just can’t wait to get going. In December I bought most of my seeds so I could begin early. Last year with lockdown I tried to buy plants and it was so difficult to find them. So I growing my own I hope. All the space on windowsills etc are full. We have a shed with window and a small greenhouse. I think I might have sown some things too early. I went by the packet but you sowed later. Anyway my question is can my pricked out seedlings go into the cold shed and greenhouse from our house windowsills. We have sharp frosts still here in Northamptonshire.
I love your videos I couldn’t find how to sow and plant parsnip(none of mine came up last year) and celeriac. I watch you all the time I just so excited to get out on allotment and grow. We are going to get a small poly tunnels to grow toms peppers cucumbers and aubergines. Thankyou keep the videos coming.
Charles –
Hi Mandy
Sounds more organised, well done. Yes early something often is not a good idea and it depends according to each vegetable when they can go in say a greenhouse with colder nights.
For example I have not sown tomatoes, cucumbers et cetera yet although I have sown pepper and aubergine, which are still on the windowsill germinating, then go to a hotbed in the greenhouse. Best of luck!
Rated 5 out of 5
Barbara Plattner –
Hi Charles, my boys and i love your calendar and your books!!! Thank you!
When do you recommend planting? I sowed on the dates indicated, but planting on waxing or weaning moon or when they are big enough indipendent the moon phase?
Greetings from Italy!
Barbara
Charles –
Cheers Barbara, and plant when your plants are ready! I don’t wait for any moon signals because the main thing is to get them in the ground when they are ready for it, by their size and by the season i.e. weather not moon
Rated 5 out of 5
Alexandra Wahl –
Ben Hartman lives in my town believe it or not! What are the chances we’re both from Goshen, IN? I’ve actually chatted with him at the farmers market before.
Rated 5 out of 5
Leslie –
I just received my copy of your beautiful calendar. I feel a bit foolish for asking but are we to sow as often as you say? For example, you have peas for shoots on 2/15, 2/24, 3/4, 3/13. I’m trying to figure out how much space this would require if we sow as often. Thanks for your help.
Charles –
Ah no!!
My aim was to give options, sorry if it’s confusing. What I was hoping to avoid was having only one date, which people might not be able to use and then they give up thinking they have missed all opportunity. It’s best used as a framework of options!
Rated 5 out of 5
Alexandra Wahl –
Charles,
Your wonderful!
(I’ve never had such compost envy! haha) We my parents and my husband and I, have purchased 5 acres in Indiana, USA and are starting a homestead in the next few years on previously used farm land. It’s will be a challenge to use our clay soil that’s been so over depleted. We have left it to rest for the past 3 years and let nature take its course. I plan to do our no sign beds exactly as you have instructed. We have many Amish with horses near by as well as pigs and cows. Which manure do you prefer? I feel you’d say horse. We plan to also use chickens at the end of the season to clear up the debris and fertilize them. Thank you for changing how I garden, no more raised beds or tilling for me.
Fellow Green Thumb,
Alexandra Wahl
Charles –
Sounds good Alexandra!
I should be happy to use either horse manure or cow. Whereas I don’t know much about pig manure!
It’s a long shot but check out Ben Hartman at Lean Farm in Indiana. I met him last January, no till market garden, really nice guy.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ailsa D Chastenay –
Dearest Mr Dowding,
I recently and quite by accident found your YouTube channel and I am smitten! I love the gorgeous gardens and soothing presentation and camera work. I live in South Hero, Vermont USA near our large lake, I think we are 44.6n latitude. I look forward to getting your books and calendar to figure out what works well here. Oh! and I have dreams of opening a community composting system. Thank you for sharing so freely on your you tube.
You guys are the calm in this storm right now.
❤🌱❤
Ailsa
Charles –
Thank you Ailsa, this is lovely to hear and I wish you every success in creating what sounds a great resource for your community. I am sure it will involve a fair amount of explaining what you can and can’t compost!
Rated 5 out of 5
Julie Harradine (verified owner)–
Hi Charles. I love your channel and find watching you very relaxing. I’ve just ordered your calender for 2021. I have an allotment in Manchester I think that’s zone 7. When should I sow my seeds. Is it two weeks later than you.
Keep up the good work.
Julie H
Charles –
Thanks so much Julie I am happy to hear that!
Yes I would sow a little later but only a week or two, until May when it’s the same. Then August onwards, sow one week earlier.
Rated 5 out of 5
Vee –
Dear Charles, we live in London, and cultivating 2 medium sized raised beds on an allotment and also large containers in garden : how would your suggesting sowing calendar timelines be affected – how much earlier and later would you advise ? And would suggested timings affect our growing set-up ? Last year was our first season of growing, so lot’s of hit and miss. The calendar looks like a great idea, and will be purchasing it. Many thanks. Vee.
Charles –
Thanks Vee, and in London your dates are very close to mine here, perhaps just two weeks earlier for frost sensitive vegetables such as courgettes, because your last frost in spring will be probably late April rather than my mid May. I hope your season goes well!
Rated 5 out of 5
Dan McGovern (verified owner)–
Hi Charles,
I’ve just purchased your calendar as I’m inspired by your work, and very excited to grow vegetables as good as yours (or half as good as yours!)
I live in Cornwall, I just wanted to ask whether you think that would effect my sowing times much?
Cheers
Dan
Charles –
Hello Dan, nice to hear and I would sow at the same times.
Your last and first frost dates are earlier and later respectively, but also you have more wind probably, so that balances out.
One thing I would try in your situation is early potatoes, plant soon around mid February. You have the chance of a decent harvest by the end of May. Unless you are on Bodmin Moor!
Rated 5 out of 5
Lin & Mel –
Hello Charles We have been following you on YouTube as we are moving soon to Norfolk and have a larger garden with a poly tunnel our daughter brought us the calendar for Christmas. We can’t wait to get started on our no dig garden thank you!
Charles –
Great to hear and may your new garden grow well 🥦
Rated 5 out of 5
@iva.grasa.ig –
🌿One of the most useful gardening tools out there!
Beautiful to look at too!
🌿I’m from Slovenia (zone 6b – 7a) and can use aprox the same sowing dates with great success!
🌿I also love that there is plenty of space to add my own notes. The size of the calendar is also great, as I can store it as a notebook after the year is over! I go over it again and again during the winter months…
I just ordered the new one and am looking forward to getting it in the mail!
🌿So thank you, Charles, for all your love end effort you put into sharing it with us!
Charles –
So happy to read this Iva and have a lovely Christmas in beautiful Slovenia!
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisbeth Halse –
I live at 62°N, on the Norwegian coast, and I pretty much follow Charles’s sowing dates. But the summer sowings I do a few weeks earlier. Having this calendar is so helpful, and I can eat lovely homegrown vegetables for most of the year.
Rated 5 out of 5
Olly –
This calendar has worked so well for us! We have been eating delicious, no dig, organic vegetables all year round. We are based in North Yorkshire and have followed Charles’ planting dates and not altered them on account of being further north and it has worked perfectly. We will buy this calendar every year. Highly recommended.
Rated 5 out of 5
Pippa Sutcliffe –
Love these calendars – this will be my 3rd year of them. Not only do they keep my sowing on track, they’re really inspiring (though sometimes jealousy-inducing).
Charles –
Ah thanks Pippa, and may your garden be beautiful
Rated 5 out of 5
Gabor Simic –
Hi Charles
Are there plans to make the calendar available in a digital format (pdf)?
Charles, I picked some of your organic parsley for you back in would it be 1985 or 1986. My memory says your brother was the dairy farmer and you were the veg man! GN
Charles –
Hi Geoffrey and wow! Yes Oliver was dairy farmer, I had 7 acres of no dig beds then. Sorry I can’t picture you 🙂
Rated 5 out of 5
Patrick Yerby –
Charles you have come into my life fairly recently, in the last year or so. Thanks for everything you do!
I live in Barcelona and am just about to get an allotment 25m2 so I am going to use your small garden ideas to feed my small family, no dig obviously! I think your calender is still very relevant for those who live in warmer climates, I will be adjusting sowing and planting by 3-4 weeks and just keep an eye on the forecasts.
My dad and brother are also getting your calender from me as a Xmas present, they are in Dorset.
Charles –
Thanks Patrick, and I wish you healthy harvests from your Barcelona small garden!
Rated 5 out of 5
Gordon Hutchison (verified owner)–
My 2021 calendar has arrived. What a labour of love it appears to be. Glossy and heavyweight with beautiful photographs but also comprehensively packed with timely task and sowing date recommendations. I could not be more pleased – it’s perfect, thank you for all the time taken to create it, Gordon
Rated 5 out of 5
Cathy Rice –
I have loved having this on my fridge this year–it helps me to remember when to plant things, and the photos are an inspiration. Looking forward to using next year’s
Rated 5 out of 5
Hilary Denman (verified owner)–
Dear Charles
So pleased with your calendars and monthly info. A lovely piece of work. January the quiet month to the bustling of February and the beginning of a new year of growing.
It’s all so exciting for the anticipation of another year of No Dig grow your own.
Many thanks and good wishes.
Rated 5 out of 5
spenceredwards (verified owner)–
A really beautiful calendar. Vital for planning sowing times, and for inspiration and guidance throughout the year. I bought as early as possible so I can look forward to next year! An excellent gift for someone who is not yet convinced by “No-dig”.
Rated 5 out of 5
Derek Walker (verified owner)–
Hi Charles i received my calendar today (Mon 8th Sept) and i couldn’t resist a peek. The quality of the paper alone is superb. The photo’s are first class and the information you’ve crammed into it is all very useful. I love the colour under the dates as well. To be honest it’s the best calender I’ve seen in all my 65 years. Thank you.
Rated 5 out of 5
Thomas Buckley –
I’ve been following your YouTube and practicing no dig myself
Suella Postles (verified owner) –
Wonderful Calender! I buy them yearly. but this year has some extra advice and information. This is not just a handsome, beautifully produced piece, but of great value to people who are working Biodynamically and/or including working with the moon. In the back pages of the calender is important information as well. I suggest looking at that first and not accidentally discovering those worthwhile pages at the end of the year.
Mandy –
Hi Charles we have an allotment and have limited time to garden as I care for my dad with dementia and he can’t be left alone. I think I spotted no dig on Gardeners’ world so 3 years ago we decided to give it ago but we’re overtaken by perennial weeds such as grass bindweed dandelions and creeping buttercup. We didn’t have beds but grew in rows. Last autumn we decided to buy a trailer load of compost to cover the whole of the allotment but covered with cardboard first. We have one or two raised beds but as I keep watching your videos everyday I learn more. So we will be getting rid of raised bed sides. I just can’t wait to get going. In December I bought most of my seeds so I could begin early. Last year with lockdown I tried to buy plants and it was so difficult to find them. So I growing my own I hope. All the space on windowsills etc are full. We have a shed with window and a small greenhouse. I think I might have sown some things too early. I went by the packet but you sowed later. Anyway my question is can my pricked out seedlings go into the cold shed and greenhouse from our house windowsills. We have sharp frosts still here in Northamptonshire.
I love your videos I couldn’t find how to sow and plant parsnip(none of mine came up last year) and celeriac. I watch you all the time I just so excited to get out on allotment and grow. We are going to get a small poly tunnels to grow toms peppers cucumbers and aubergines. Thankyou keep the videos coming.
Charles –
Hi Mandy
Sounds more organised, well done. Yes early something often is not a good idea and it depends according to each vegetable when they can go in say a greenhouse with colder nights.
For example I have not sown tomatoes, cucumbers et cetera yet although I have sown pepper and aubergine, which are still on the windowsill germinating, then go to a hotbed in the greenhouse. Best of luck!
Barbara Plattner –
Hi Charles, my boys and i love your calendar and your books!!! Thank you!
When do you recommend planting? I sowed on the dates indicated, but planting on waxing or weaning moon or when they are big enough indipendent the moon phase?
Greetings from Italy!
Barbara
Charles –
Cheers Barbara, and plant when your plants are ready! I don’t wait for any moon signals because the main thing is to get them in the ground when they are ready for it, by their size and by the season i.e. weather not moon
Alexandra Wahl –
Ben Hartman lives in my town believe it or not! What are the chances we’re both from Goshen, IN? I’ve actually chatted with him at the farmers market before.
Leslie –
I just received my copy of your beautiful calendar. I feel a bit foolish for asking but are we to sow as often as you say? For example, you have peas for shoots on 2/15, 2/24, 3/4, 3/13. I’m trying to figure out how much space this would require if we sow as often. Thanks for your help.
Charles –
Ah no!!
My aim was to give options, sorry if it’s confusing. What I was hoping to avoid was having only one date, which people might not be able to use and then they give up thinking they have missed all opportunity. It’s best used as a framework of options!
Alexandra Wahl –
Charles,
Your wonderful!
(I’ve never had such compost envy! haha) We my parents and my husband and I, have purchased 5 acres in Indiana, USA and are starting a homestead in the next few years on previously used farm land. It’s will be a challenge to use our clay soil that’s been so over depleted. We have left it to rest for the past 3 years and let nature take its course. I plan to do our no sign beds exactly as you have instructed. We have many Amish with horses near by as well as pigs and cows. Which manure do you prefer? I feel you’d say horse. We plan to also use chickens at the end of the season to clear up the debris and fertilize them. Thank you for changing how I garden, no more raised beds or tilling for me.
Fellow Green Thumb,
Alexandra Wahl
Charles –
Sounds good Alexandra!
I should be happy to use either horse manure or cow. Whereas I don’t know much about pig manure!
It’s a long shot but check out Ben Hartman at Lean Farm in Indiana. I met him last January, no till market garden, really nice guy.
Ailsa D Chastenay –
Dearest Mr Dowding,
I recently and quite by accident found your YouTube channel and I am smitten! I love the gorgeous gardens and soothing presentation and camera work. I live in South Hero, Vermont USA near our large lake, I think we are 44.6n latitude. I look forward to getting your books and calendar to figure out what works well here. Oh! and I have dreams of opening a community composting system. Thank you for sharing so freely on your you tube.
You guys are the calm in this storm right now.
❤🌱❤
Ailsa
Charles –
Thank you Ailsa, this is lovely to hear and I wish you every success in creating what sounds a great resource for your community. I am sure it will involve a fair amount of explaining what you can and can’t compost!
Julie Harradine (verified owner) –
Hi Charles. I love your channel and find watching you very relaxing. I’ve just ordered your calender for 2021. I have an allotment in Manchester I think that’s zone 7. When should I sow my seeds. Is it two weeks later than you.
Keep up the good work.
Julie H
Charles –
Thanks so much Julie I am happy to hear that!
Yes I would sow a little later but only a week or two, until May when it’s the same. Then August onwards, sow one week earlier.
Vee –
Dear Charles, we live in London, and cultivating 2 medium sized raised beds on an allotment and also large containers in garden : how would your suggesting sowing calendar timelines be affected – how much earlier and later would you advise ? And would suggested timings affect our growing set-up ? Last year was our first season of growing, so lot’s of hit and miss. The calendar looks like a great idea, and will be purchasing it. Many thanks. Vee.
Charles –
Thanks Vee, and in London your dates are very close to mine here, perhaps just two weeks earlier for frost sensitive vegetables such as courgettes, because your last frost in spring will be probably late April rather than my mid May. I hope your season goes well!
Dan McGovern (verified owner) –
Hi Charles,
I’ve just purchased your calendar as I’m inspired by your work, and very excited to grow vegetables as good as yours (or half as good as yours!)
I live in Cornwall, I just wanted to ask whether you think that would effect my sowing times much?
Cheers
Dan
Charles –
Hello Dan, nice to hear and I would sow at the same times.
Your last and first frost dates are earlier and later respectively, but also you have more wind probably, so that balances out.
One thing I would try in your situation is early potatoes, plant soon around mid February. You have the chance of a decent harvest by the end of May. Unless you are on Bodmin Moor!
Lin & Mel –
Hello Charles We have been following you on YouTube as we are moving soon to Norfolk and have a larger garden with a poly tunnel our daughter brought us the calendar for Christmas. We can’t wait to get started on our no dig garden thank you!
Charles –
Great to hear and may your new garden grow well 🥦
@iva.grasa.ig –
🌿One of the most useful gardening tools out there!
Beautiful to look at too!
🌿I’m from Slovenia (zone 6b – 7a) and can use aprox the same sowing dates with great success!
🌿I also love that there is plenty of space to add my own notes. The size of the calendar is also great, as I can store it as a notebook after the year is over! I go over it again and again during the winter months…
I just ordered the new one and am looking forward to getting it in the mail!
🌿So thank you, Charles, for all your love end effort you put into sharing it with us!
Charles –
So happy to read this Iva and have a lovely Christmas in beautiful Slovenia!
Lisbeth Halse –
I live at 62°N, on the Norwegian coast, and I pretty much follow Charles’s sowing dates. But the summer sowings I do a few weeks earlier. Having this calendar is so helpful, and I can eat lovely homegrown vegetables for most of the year.
Olly –
This calendar has worked so well for us! We have been eating delicious, no dig, organic vegetables all year round. We are based in North Yorkshire and have followed Charles’ planting dates and not altered them on account of being further north and it has worked perfectly. We will buy this calendar every year. Highly recommended.
Pippa Sutcliffe –
Love these calendars – this will be my 3rd year of them. Not only do they keep my sowing on track, they’re really inspiring (though sometimes jealousy-inducing).
Charles –
Ah thanks Pippa, and may your garden be beautiful
Gabor Simic –
Hi Charles
Are there plans to make the calendar available in a digital format (pdf)?
Warm Regards
Gabor
Charles –
Yes Gabor and it is here! in our shop
Geoffrey Nicholls –
Charles, I picked some of your organic parsley for you back in would it be 1985 or 1986. My memory says your brother was the dairy farmer and you were the veg man! GN
Charles –
Hi Geoffrey and wow! Yes Oliver was dairy farmer, I had 7 acres of no dig beds then. Sorry I can’t picture you 🙂
Patrick Yerby –
Charles you have come into my life fairly recently, in the last year or so. Thanks for everything you do!
I live in Barcelona and am just about to get an allotment 25m2 so I am going to use your small garden ideas to feed my small family, no dig obviously! I think your calender is still very relevant for those who live in warmer climates, I will be adjusting sowing and planting by 3-4 weeks and just keep an eye on the forecasts.
My dad and brother are also getting your calender from me as a Xmas present, they are in Dorset.
Charles –
Thanks Patrick, and I wish you healthy harvests from your Barcelona small garden!
Gordon Hutchison (verified owner) –
My 2021 calendar has arrived. What a labour of love it appears to be. Glossy and heavyweight with beautiful photographs but also comprehensively packed with timely task and sowing date recommendations. I could not be more pleased – it’s perfect, thank you for all the time taken to create it, Gordon
Cathy Rice –
I have loved having this on my fridge this year–it helps me to remember when to plant things, and the photos are an inspiration. Looking forward to using next year’s
Hilary Denman (verified owner) –
Dear Charles
So pleased with your calendars and monthly info. A lovely piece of work. January the quiet month to the bustling of February and the beginning of a new year of growing.
It’s all so exciting for the anticipation of another year of No Dig grow your own.
Many thanks and good wishes.
spenceredwards (verified owner) –
A really beautiful calendar. Vital for planning sowing times, and for inspiration and guidance throughout the year. I bought as early as possible so I can look forward to next year! An excellent gift for someone who is not yet convinced by “No-dig”.
Derek Walker (verified owner) –
Hi Charles i received my calendar today (Mon 8th Sept) and i couldn’t resist a peek. The quality of the paper alone is superb. The photo’s are first class and the information you’ve crammed into it is all very useful. I love the colour under the dates as well. To be honest it’s the best calender I’ve seen in all my 65 years. Thank you.
Thomas Buckley –
I’ve been following your YouTube and practicing no dig myself