Charles Dowding’s Skills For Growing and 2022 Calendar
Receive both the book and calendar. The calendar is the fully revised and correct second printing.
In ‘Skills for Growing’ I share the knowledge and techniques you need for success in all aspects of vegetable gardening, based on my decades of experience.
My desire is to save you time, effort and money, through making all your inputs effective. From seeds and water, to the space in your garden. There are three chapters with vital information about spacing, and a harvesting table for easier planning of second plantings to keep space full.
I advise on how to create planting plans, succeed with succession and reduce rotation. There are chapters on saving your own seed, propagation, multisowing, spacing for all common vegetables, methods of harvesting and how they influence growth, watering (both when and how much) and using covers for warmth as well as pest protection. I also describe successful winter gardening, and growing perennial vegetables.
The book is 56000 words and comprises 5 parts for the 17 chapters, all illustrated with beautiful, captioned photos from my no dig, organic garden in Somerset, Southwest UK.
The book is a fantastic resource for anyone wishing to learn new skills, or to improve and tune the skills they already have, in order to grow bigger and healthier harvests from a given space.
“Following your advice has led to a vegetable plot which fills me with joy and pride.” Susan Wolves on YouTube
Learn New Skills – Grow Creatively –Save Time – Enjoy Growing Success!
Each week of the growing season has Charles’ favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, at their best times of year. Every date isbased on decades of fine tuning, with his expert observations and learning.
Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
As well as sowing dates, Charles has added a brief summary for every month, to help you keep on track.. Plus there are pages about the benefits of no dig, where to buy seeds, and which varieties to sow.
The calendar sowing dates are for a Zone 8b climate in southern UK. You can use this calendar in different climates, with a little adjustment to the dates. If your climate is cooler, sow later by 1-4 weeks in spring, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
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Charles Dowding’s Skills For Growing and 2022 Calendar
Charles Dowding’s Skills For Growing and 2022 Calendar
3 reviews for Charles Dowding’s Skills For Growing and 2022 Calendar
Rated 5 out of 5
jolasoltysik (verified owner)–
Hi Charles,
Your videos are turbo-inspiring and you make it all look so easy….
I’m starting my permaculture garden bit by bit now…and impatiently awaiting arrival of your book, which should be on it’s way.
I have a quick question though, I got some fresh horse manure and I’m eager to fertilize with it my soil, that is very weak and sandy… And I thought ,if I put a thin layer of manure as a first level, under the cardboard and compost, would that work to the soil benefit, or should I take it easy and compost the manure first well …???
Thanks in advance and let’s have a great gardening season!!!
Charles –
Thanks for your comment and it is easy, when you get it right!
I would not do that because you would be putting fresh manure in the deeper rooting zone, which might reduce growth while the manure bedding in particular is using nutrients for its own decomposition.
Pure horse droppings might work, try a small area to see. Especially because you’re a soil is sandy and not that fertile.
One more thing to consider with the horse manure is pyralid weedkillers, I’m afraid. Best check this video.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisa –
Just watched a few videos and am excited to learn from your book and calendar. I live in zone 8B in the Sierra foothills in California, so I am very happy to see if this will help us get better results than we have thus far.
Charles –
Hi Lisa
How nice to read this and I wish you successful gardening, with few weeds and the timings working for you.
Probably you could sow a week earlier in the spring and a week later from August. Make sure you keep notes of what you sow and when.
Rated 5 out of 5
Eleiva –
Just purchased this and can’t wait to receive it! I am just getting into gardening edible plants and Charles dowding is just a wonderful teacher from his youtube videous and the grandfather i wish i had!
Blessings from Miami, FL, USA
jolasoltysik (verified owner) –
Hi Charles,
Your videos are turbo-inspiring and you make it all look so easy….
I’m starting my permaculture garden bit by bit now…and impatiently awaiting arrival of your book, which should be on it’s way.
I have a quick question though, I got some fresh horse manure and I’m eager to fertilize with it my soil, that is very weak and sandy… And I thought ,if I put a thin layer of manure as a first level, under the cardboard and compost, would that work to the soil benefit, or should I take it easy and compost the manure first well …???
Thanks in advance and let’s have a great gardening season!!!
Charles –
Thanks for your comment and it is easy, when you get it right!
I would not do that because you would be putting fresh manure in the deeper rooting zone, which might reduce growth while the manure bedding in particular is using nutrients for its own decomposition.
Pure horse droppings might work, try a small area to see. Especially because you’re a soil is sandy and not that fertile.
One more thing to consider with the horse manure is pyralid weedkillers, I’m afraid. Best check this video.
Lisa –
Just watched a few videos and am excited to learn from your book and calendar. I live in zone 8B in the Sierra foothills in California, so I am very happy to see if this will help us get better results than we have thus far.
Charles –
Hi Lisa
How nice to read this and I wish you successful gardening, with few weeds and the timings working for you.
Probably you could sow a week earlier in the spring and a week later from August. Make sure you keep notes of what you sow and when.
Eleiva –
Just purchased this and can’t wait to receive it! I am just getting into gardening edible plants and Charles dowding is just a wonderful teacher from his youtube videous and the grandfather i wish i had!
Blessings from Miami, FL, USA
Charles –
Thanks Eleiva, may you garden grow well! 🥦