Course description

1. Save time with quicker and more productive methods. A look at many misunderstandings, which have a common theme: they waste the gardener’s time, especially digging and other unnecessary soil cultivations. Charles explains how these misunderstandings have arisen, and you will learn quicker ways to achieve the desired result of healthy, happy plants, which includes sowing vegetable seeds at the best and most efficient dates.
   
   
2. Salad leaves all year How to grow and pick large and repeat harvests from a small area, even in winter, exploring the wonderful range of plants to grow for salad leaves. Charles emphasises two ways, above all, of increasing harvests: i) Sow the right plant for each different season, for example, sow salad rocket in August, not April. ii) Give plants sufficient space, so that outer leaves can be picked over a long period. This also reduces slugs and disease. There will be lots of illustrations to demonstrate these points, with an explanation of the benefits of no digging and compost mulches.
   
   
3. Succession planting and winter vegetables You will learn tips to ensure food in winter and the hungry gap, both from fresh harvests and from stored vegetable harvests. A look at garlic, onions, potato, parsnip, leeks and brassicas, as well as salads, broad beans, spring onion and cabbage for the hungry gap. Charles will cover the value of good soil preparation, without digging, of making and using compost and of sowing at the best time, especially after midsummer, when shortening days mean that you reap rewards from adhering to precise sowing dates.

Please note this course will take place in The Old Library, at West Dean College, so please use the College car park. Please arrive between 9.30-9.45am. The course starts at 10am and ends at 4pm. Lunch is included.