Deleaf Plants for Six Great Benefits

[@sandrabishop5671]

"You might be wondering ... what the hell is he doing?" HA! I have no doubts Charles knows exactly what he' doing, and most importantly, I appreciate that he never fails to explain WHY he's doing it. That is so valuable to me because knowing why really helps me learn and retain knowledge. That he takes the time to patiently demonstrate the processes is evidence that Charles is a natural encourager as well as an experienced, confident expert. How lucky we -- and our gardens -- are to have this amazing access to his wisdom and skills.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Sandra, I'm delighted to help

[@alangdon5678]

Charles...your videos are so helpful with gardening tips as we need them. You have helped me so much in this gardening process! I went right out and put to practice your advice. Thanks so much for all your efforts!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah wonderful to hear, and no time like the present!

[@lifeisgood9175]

Thanks Charles for answering my burning question about the health of the leaves for compost. I have definitely wasted too much great compostable materials. So hot here in Northern California now, I have so many plans for extending my no dig gardens, too little (cool enough) time. Lol.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad to help and good luck with early morning gardening!

[@lifewiththelightlys2119]

I am so wary of taking the cover off my brassica tunnel due to cabbage white butterflies at the moment can you suggest a specific time of day when it could be safe to do so? Apart from night time of course 😁

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I understand that and yet… Once the plants reach a certain size, I feel there is not much benefit because there is a risk of butterflies laying eggs through the cover. I just noticed it yesterday evening on exactly the cabbage in this video and I'm just about to remove it, and spray Bacillus thuringiensis - see this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJPJaHduZc9opdU

[@lifewiththelightlys2119]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you I will certainly watch that one 🙏😁

[@Im-just-Stardust]

Years ago I had the dream of growing my own organic food, but it seemed impossible. Then after studying Charles for 2 years I decided to go for it, what did I have to lose anyway, Charles even told me ''GO, YOU!''. So I had to... Well, it's my first year, and my 2 little 4x8 no dig beds are producing more food than I can eat! Cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, lettuce, spinach, zucchinis and more, ohhh my ! My grocery bills dropped 50% for the last 5 weeks, no jokes. It's ... incredibe. Everybody should grow their own organic food, what are they waiting for. GO YOU!. You plant, you let mother nature do her thing, and you eat!

[@barbarasimmons4158]

Imagine not going organic-I mean you might as well just buy what they have in the store.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That cheers me up! Thanks for sharing, I hope this encourages more Go You!

[@dianeladico1769]

Congratulations on your great success! Charles is an outstanding teacher and a steadfast cheerleader.

[@ximono]

I could tell more or less the same story :) Start small and simple, and read up on the do's and don'ts, and I think almost everyone could grow their own vegetables with this method. I've scaled up my garden to 100 m2 over the past 2-3 years, and I plan to double that for next season. I wouldn't have been able to do this without all the invaluable knowledge so generously shared on this goldmine of a channel. I'm forever grateful!

[@lifeisgood9175]

Nice to hear! This is my first year of trying more than tomatoes and peppers. I was just planning my next no dig bed for Fall crops. What a joy! My husband is very supportive and thanks me when I harvest fresh veggies to eat.

[@RalfyCustoms]

Charles, you are truly my inspiration, after a few decades away, I've recently started growing my own veg again, and boy what a wonderful experience it is, delicious organic and satisfying on so many levels, thank you so much for sharing

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful to hear!

[@beedabong2186]

I like your daily life in farming and follow you from Thailand.

[@iteerrex8166]

Would’ve been cool if we could do that, remove the old leaves and stay a teenager 😂

[@amandar7719]

😂

[@mamazeeto623]

What a super video so helpful for a rookie vegetable gardener. I have followed your tutorials since the beginning of my vegetable adventure and I never fail to be inspired ! so thank you 🙏🏼

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That's nice thanks

[@K4HLER]

Those are beautiful and healthy looking. Very well done.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

As you kind of hinted, Charles, we only really need to take off powdery mildew leaves for our own vanity or pride. And, yes they are prickly, I suffer too LOL

[@fanjiang9317]

Beautiful cabbage. I have groundhog lately. They love brassica family😭I can’t catch it.

[@naomi2646]

Me too, tricky little creatures

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear that

[@kuiperbeltdropout8791]

Everything's looking amazing Charles!! Props to you for all the knowledge you bestow and all the people you inspire

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks

[@tinathene]

Thank you for these important tips - and message about developing a close as in (just about) daily relationship with the plants 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@afriendtoo6971]

" The best thing for the soil in a garden is the farmers shadow. "

[@markleakey1797]

Charles is an incredible human being and a world class teacher. His teachings are a real gift to humanity 🙏🙏🙏

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Mark 😀

[@franksinatra1070]

Thanks for the motivation Charles. I do try and clean up my plants regularly but it gets so hot around here this time of year I don't like being out much pass 10 or 11 in the morning. I have a question on storing root vegetables. I've been harvesting a lot of onions and potatoes, curing them and putting them in mesh bags. I don't have a root cellar so I have two options this time of year .... store them in the refrigerator or on the basement floor next to our AC unit where it is low humidity and around 68-72 F. This is the first year I've grown so many root vegetables so don't have much experience which option works better. Any advice?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes they store fine in warmth! That's a great option. Onions need dry air, and potatoes do not sprout until triggered by cold, as autumn advances, then cool is better

[@taffpatch1]

Thats life ! , Frank xx It had to be you xx

[@sharronwood3639]

Oh you have made me feel soooo much better! I retired at Christmas and this is my first summer with a greenhouse and 4 raised beds. I’ve 9 swedes that I stripped some lower leaves from - did instinctively and then wondered whether I’d done the right thing. I hadn’t thought about doing the same with the lettuces though and yet it makes perfect sense … such a great way to lengthen their time in the beds whilst still enjoying a harvest. 👍🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear Sharron

[@WarmVoice]

Superb teaching. Your channel is my go to for education and entertainment, even surpassing Gardener's World.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much

[@SamStone1964]

Benefit seven - free food for your chickens. Chickens love their greens especially brassicas.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great point Sam

[@debrocs1]

you talk about powdery mildew, well I have, and always have had a massive problem with it. Peas, beans, calendula, pumpkin etc. I have tried just about everything, but to no avail. any tips please?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes, water more in general. Peas get it from midsummer, therefore sow them early so that growth finishes before mildew arrives - it's one reason I don't try to crop peas in summer. Sowing dates matter, and soil quality.

[@clairegillies]

I only grow a few plants , and I've already taken bottom leaves from sprouts, cabbage and broccolli, however I am doing this so I can eat them , if a leaf was discoloured or too damaged by slugs/beetles then I would compost it.

[@nickhammersonrocks]

NO DIG HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH ABUNDANCE, THAT WE’VE HAD TO GIVE A LOT OF VEGETABLES AWAY TO FAMILY MEMBERS!!!!!! EVEN THE FAMILY MEMBERS WE DON’T LIKE !!!!!!!

[@marykappesser5145]

Great information Charles, as always. That closing shot of your poly tunnel reminds me of the hanging gardens of Babylon.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How nice thanks!

[@nikkster01]

dont forget all this goes into the compost bin for next season I bravely made a 1m x 1m x 1m bin and it takes every bit of greenery you can find to fill it

[@C.L.Hinton]

14:07 "Harvested one hour later; Delicious!" I really enjoy the bits of humor that y'all inject into the educational information on your channel! 😁

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah thanks!

[@r.n.t]

Thanks a lot for your advices!! 👍💖❗

[@lisabevans8107]

Charles, I nearly fell out of my seat when you said you're probably thinking wth is he doing. 🙃 Your brassica are gorgeous. For the first time mine just aren't doing great. Hopefully, with less heat they will feel better. Hagd!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lisa 😁 hope yours recover

[@lisabevans8107]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig aww ty so much!

[@biffoswilly]

Hi Charles ..love the show! I am setting up a 3m x 6m polytunnel at my allotment as I had very poor success with Peppers and Aubergines this year. My tomatoes suffered with blight in September so they will be housed inside. Cucumbers were prolific, grown outside. My real concern is how do I get necessary polinators in, when the thing will be largely closed off when I am not there?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck, and I would leave at least one door open. I very very rarely shut mine

[@naomi2646]

Thank you Charles, I enjoyed the visit to your garden. You have a beautiful garden. I am letting my garden continue, the heat here is going to drop next week. Hopefully I will see some harvest. Look forward to the next visit to your garden.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Naomi, best of luck

[@livus3787]

In case of tomatoes, all other kinds of tomato plants can be treated like this, removing old leaves from down to up?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes and no because bush tomato plants grow sideways as much as up. If you can reach the yellowing leaves at the bottom, it is a good idea to remove them but sometimes that knocks off a few fruits. Often we find slugs underneath them so it increases good harvests in the end.

[@livus3787]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks a lot!

[@mikaellindqvist5599]

I understand from a buisness standpoint you want even sized fruits. Straight cuecumbers etc. But in all honesty this is something we must evolve beyond because it is just plain awful. And a fruit with a bit of scarring for example is been proven to have more of certain nutrients in them compared to the ideal "commercial produce" in other words its just a disservice for all of us. The European union throws tons of fruits and veg on a daily basis because being the wrong size, have some scars or wrong shape. On top of that they claim theres not enough food for everyone on this planet. Absolute rubbish! I dont understand how anyone could believe that kund of nonsense. Sorry for my rant. You have one of the best channels of youtube (all categories) and i have learned alot from you. And i love how you just teach gardening compared to all the rest who sounds like theyre working with marketing, pr and commercials.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Mikael and I understand your comment. There is still a certain joy in growing beautiful looking harvests, and we do not waste the deformed fruits because there are lots of people who like to eat them!

[@corkion]

great vid i have tons of tomatoes in my tunnell but a lot of the fruit is soft

[@fbenbow2197]

Dear Charles Dowding, I have been appreciating your videos for a couple of years and I respect you and your attitude a lot. The way you talk in this video and the last couple of videos makes me deliberate however whether to say something or not because you sound as if you really need a holiday. Maybe you can ask people to do your stuff for 2 or 3 weeks and get away and do nothing at all and then maybe something else besides gardening. You look more and more tired and the way you speak is more and more drawn out with unusual pauses. Please take care of yourself and not only your plants and your money. I hope you won't take offense but you are wearing yourself out. And your viewers can see it. Go on holiday!!!! Sorry to be so blunt. And thank you ever so much for your teaching.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I appreciate your concern. I don't feel this, but yes I am doing a lot. Often we film after I have done a day's work and it may be more that: I am less fresh for the video work.

[@Silvereagledude]

My chickens love the brassica leaves I cull from the plants….makes for happier birds and I suppose for healthier eggs

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yup great recycling 😀

[@nannacarton7171]

Thanks for all the good advises.

[@Alviarm]

Hello Charles, i find your videos terrific, by the way, are you growing Calendula on ground under the indoor tomatoes. All the best Alison

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and no, they are dwarf French marigold, which self-sow much less :)

[@philipkimber6302]

Thanks Charles for answering another question without us asking. But Charles, down i nthe south of England we have not had rain for weeks. The top 4 inches is so dry and in many cases hot. How are we going to undo the damage this heat wave has done? Another video perhaps maestro?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Philip, let's see but in the next tour I shall report, it's not good

[@Rihards1992]

I have a huge spider mite problem with cucumber in the greenhouse this year. Tried some organic soap water. Still they thrive. Can you suggest something besides removing all the affected leaves? Thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh no! I had it on aubergines last year in the greenhouse and lost them. A friend told me that she cut off almost all the leaves and then watered the plants and they regrew. It's the only thing I know to do, such a difficult pest.

[@ferhang6590]

Yeşil tırtıklı marul cinsinden bendede var 😁bahçenizi görünce içim ferahlıyor 🍀🌿🌱🍀☘️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Duymak güzel!

[@anilkapur1584]

Hi Charles, have often wondered, how pollination takes place in the Polyhouse?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Doors always open, insects free to enter and leave 😎

[@christinemendenhall4942]

Here in the cental valley of California with our weeks of 100 plus temps I am careful about removing too many leaves as they shade the ground and protect the fruit from sun burn. I do remove the ones that show yellowing but by then there are plenty more healthy ones to leave on the plants.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Very good point Christine, thanks

[@karinrodger1952]

How do you stop worms from invading your cabbage hearts, this has happened to mine for the last two years and I end up throwing them onto the compost heap, what a waste!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I so agree, hence I use Bacillus thuringiensis which is just a soil bacteria, see TopBuxus for box hedge caterpillars, and my video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJPJaHduZc9opdU

[@peterduncan-smith463]

I love your knowledge that you have shared with us, but the salad leaves I have struggled this year to much heat I watered twice a day and still no where near as good as yours and you say you have watered but only a little I live in Oxfordshire UK by the way many thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh no! Sounds like you need a thicker milch of organic matter. Yes a difficult summer for lettuce especially. We give them a good watering every day when hot.

[@robb5984]

I'm curious if you recommend the same type of "pruning" for things like parsnips? At least in my garden, while newer growth shoots straight up, the oldest growth of them tends to sprawl outwards, making it difficult to navigate my already tight pathways. This season, I've put raised string lines about 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) parallel to the ground to try and hold those leaves up and leave room for my feet! It's working a bit, but there's still several months left to go, so we'll see.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice job Rob! And yes you can remove those leaves which certainly sprawl. Wear long sleeves if it's sunny, parsnip leaves give off a prickle then

[@rubyquinonez5966]

hey!que vamos hacer con tanto repollo😯?...hagamos algo de comer!..sopa,ensalada,que se yo!..las hojas son muy buenas para la composta?..como quiero estar ahi en tu huerta mister charly yo seria como tus conejos me comeria toooooooodo!😉..bueno soy tu fan n1

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Me haces sonreír Ruby!!! Gracias

[@rubyquinonez5966]

como hacer cosquillas?

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

A wonderful video Charles. As it has been quite cool this summer here in Thailand (early 30's C), I am thinking of starting my brassicas, beetroot and radishes. I have also managed to get hold of some Swiss chard seeds so I'm going to try them too. A lot of monsoon rain here so I lost all my cucumbers and Cantaloupe :(

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck with those interesting conditions. A cool summer!!

[@TheFeelButton]

Looking after some great growth this year! Cheers Charles!!

[@andreahorsch286]

I have found that I can prune zucchini if I bend the back by the leaves and cut the leaf off at the stalk. Much less contact with spines

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Andrea, nice tip

[@mariakraska5738]

Wspaniale przekazuje Pan swoją ogromną wiedzę i doświadczenie, gratuluję, podziwiam i wciąż się uczę, pozdrawiam cieplutko

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Miło z twojej strony, że mówisz Maria 💚

[@glassbackdiy3949]

good talk, cheers Charles

[@laurazunigatorres4979]

Hermosa abundancia, saludos Charles🥬🥒🥦🍅💚💚💚💚💚💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gracias Laura

[@TimForber69]

I've heard that tomatoes ripen, off the plant. Do you ever do this?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes absolutely, when you have picked them at the first sign of colour, they are already quite ripe inside and finish ripening of the plant. Flavour is good!

[@tiffcat1100]

💖😊💖

[@potagermalo]

Magnifique potager bravo 👍 👍 👍 👍

[@nbeizaie]

I wish I knew what kind of loop he is using to hold the covers.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

See this website sharanya.co.uk

[@lyndaturner6686]

Thanks Charles , I always worry about removing too many leaves, especially on tomatoes outside . Also would you remove leaves on Aubergine plants?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes Lynda, but less as they are so slow by comparison, just the ones losing colour

[@whatifitnt]

Thanks again, Mr Charles 💝

[@waynesell3681]

Gardening as a lifestyle. Backyard gardener here. Getting closer to a better understanding thru you Charles. Would be great to be able to develop my garden beds and grow some beautiful healthy plants. Another year another chance to grow!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Arriving soon!

[@waynesell3681]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks I'm getting more excited about this year!

[@joebannigan4997]

Hi Charles, I was wondering if you could help, I have bindweed in my back garden I have covered the infected area. my question is how long do I need to cover it for? I was hoping to grow some potatoes in there next year. also do you think covering it will be sufficient? I think I've got to it before it has matured seeds. Thanks Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Joe, the cover will help but you won't get rid of the bindweed like that because it takes about two years. However you need to eat and for sure you can grow potatoes next spring, just be prepared for the bindweed to regrow and keep removing it. That's a habit to acquire and slowly it then weakens.

[@joebannigan4997]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig This helps a lot, Thanks very much Charles

[@starlenestarlene]

Thanks for your videos. I’ve learned so much from you. I just have a little backyard garden in Vancouver BC Canada. So far this is my best year ever. I still have much to learn. I wish I had more space. I would love to visit your garden one day. It’s amazing.

[@zuzauramek9850]

Milk with water 1l to 10 l water or yeast 100g in 10 l, water plants once in month help prevent powered mildew to happen or help reduce it to a minimum. I checked it on my vegetables and roses ( black spots on roses)

[@debrocs1]

I have tried the milk/water and it has never stopped it. Also baking soda, nor did that sadly

[@tara981]

Danke Charles, Gartenarbeit ist meine Therapie für die Seele. Ihre Ordnung im Garten inspiriert mich immer auf‘s neue. Lg aus der Eifel

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Danke schon Tara

[@littlesuzie6672]

Such perfection!! You are an inspiration, thank you 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are so welcome!

[@chaddamp2894]

Hello Charles,another great post thanks! We have a shredder that is very good at shredding green soft growth..are the shreddings suitable to put on cardboard and start a no dig plot?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That will kill the weeds, but you can't plant into shreddings until they are decomposed. Depends on your timings

[@chaddamp2894]

thanks,I'll start in autumn and see if things are right in the spring

[@nickhammersonrocks]

NO DIG !!!!!!! …….BRINGING ESTRANGED FAMILY MEMBERS TOGETHER !!!!!!!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How amazing, love it. Microbe power :)

[@kayrabey1344]

Thank you for showing how to harvest lettuce.

[@oskars5760]

This is my first season growing veggies and it all turned out so well thanks to you Charles! Thanks you so much!🤞🏼🤞🏼🌿

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely to hear this Oskar

[@plantsoverpills1643]

Your salad cut and come again is the best greens advice I’ve ever gotten. Worked wonders for us. I know you grow produce for sale so a bunch of celery is how you harvest it, but have you ever tried cut and come again with celery?

[@leemiller8730]

It works well.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and yes, you can!

[@plantsoverpills1643]

👍🏻

[@gvwa100506]

🐧👍

[@pennythompson4790]

Great tips thanksxx

[@RenAtkins]

Thank you, I know this will work well in my garden because I also have slug and snail issues.

[@richardhughes375]

What netting you use Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

See this website for options of netting, mesh etc www.gardening-naturally.com/?Affiliate&PaidOnResults&porc=tlGsGAEDgkqtFtGntbGkxqwAsBxGnge

[@AlexandreLollini]

Direct sun does wonder on the melon fruit itself, even if the fruit gets very hot, the taste after that is epic. This year I had some on the ground supported by wood planks. Next year I will try vertical...

[@susangordon1157]

Thank you for all your encouragement and step by step walk throughs Charles. Indeed, you help us to know we can do it too even though on a smaller scale. You truly are an inspiration. ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely to hear Susan, thanks

[@ashaion1777]

Nice!

[@andykyriakides2144]

Hi Charles , i salivate and feel a little jealous everytime i watch one of your videos . You truly are the Elvis of the no dig gardening .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@НатальяКрисанова-е5х]

👍🇺🇦

[@lesliehollands2689]

What a ton of great advice. Be Attentive!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Leslie

[@valerieelfering692]

Do you deal with squash bugs?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fortunately none here

[@carolynmoody9460]

The best channel for great knowledge.. I can't thank you enough

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Carolyn

[@sonnyamoran7383]

I heard your name a few times but never really HEARD your name. I'm now a subscriber and will be applying what I've learned. My first fall garden is on its way. I wish I'd known you for my summer garden. Using these techniques for my Food Forest and my regular beds. Thanks so much. Can't wait for more.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That's nice Sonnya and thanks

[@craigmetcalfe1749]

The shadow of the gardener is the best additive for a healthy harvest!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes, and we say "There is no manure like the farmer's foot'

[@jeffree9015]

I've always read that melons are ready when the tendril coming from the same point on the vine as the fruit stem is completely dried up all the way to the stem. Once that happens leave it a couple of days and it's always ripe. That might only be water melons though.

[@nikkirose1719]

Yes that is only for watermelons. Smell is definitely a reliable indicator of ripeness for all the others, I find also that they come away from the stem very easily when ripe.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So right Nikki, water melons are different 😀

[@scootytoohooty]

Another great video, Charles! Sometimes one needs encouragement to take a knife to a precious plant. I think I'll go hack at my radicchio, which I'm sure is a good candidate for outer leaf removal. I can't think of any reason why not -- you?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and we tidy the radicchios!

[@janetsmith9596]

Hi - I understand the benefits of removing mesh from cabbage and deleafing, however when I have disturbed my micro mesh in the past I have introduced white fly which then multiplied under the mesh. Is there a good time to deleaf to avoid this?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

In my experience those whitefly multiply where soil is not fully fertile, for example it cannot hold enough moisture and as your soil improves with some extra compost every year, I think you'll find they become less of a problem. I see them very little here, but used to.

[@lizbethjane7397]

Thanks Charles. I have cauliflowers and carrots in the ground growing under the same mesh cover. If I do this 'outer leaf grooming' with my cauliflowers, will it let the carrot fly in? Is there a good time of day or month when carrot fly aren't around? What do you do to avoid it in your garden, where you don't use the raised beds method to keep this pest away? Many thanks x

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I keep mesh covers over carrots now until winter. Yes I would tidy your cauliflower, for sure

[@branquinhojb545]

I'd like to ask you how do you manage your marigolds. I mean, mine are decaying and they drop lots of seeds. Thanks for sharing and inspiring. Cheers

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear that Brian and it may be from lack of moisture, or lack of organic matter on the soil. I find if they are watered, and occasionally we deadhead them, they keep flowering until even October sometimes

[@claudiavanekeren554]

Thank you Charles, for a great video! I was wondering What kind of mesh you were using on your kale… i did put Some really strong Netting on mine because of the pigeons, but today i went to my garden( after a week) and found a hedgehog had entangled itself in the netting and died…😢

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is sad. To prevent it, rather than netting, the mesh is better which is actually a prevention against insects. It's usable for almost all pest protection and is simply called mesh!

[@eliseamiot5412]

As always, a great video.

[@Ianfish2]

Great advice as always Charles. I'm in my 2nd year of no dig now and surely the best thing is no weeds! I do remove lower leaves on courgettes because i grow them up stakes to save room. As they grow you just remove lower leaves and tie up the top as it grows(Midnight variety, absolutely superb)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Rock on Ian, glad you love the no-weeds-means-time-for-creative-gardening!

[@HighWealder]

Your cabbages looking a lot better than my Sunderland Kale and the Swiss Chard has bolted.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Try sowing new kale, just time! Chard too

[@craigmetcalfe1749]

Hey Charles! I just noticed your hoops. Do you anchor them straight in the earth and if so, what are they made of or do you have some anchor points that you put the ends into. Cheers!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Straight into the ground Craig, as you see on the website which sells them, and their depth in the soil varies according to how you are using them, between 8-18 cm sharanya.co.uk

[@minphang9351]

Another invaluable lesson. Thanks, Charles! I do that to my kale too. The garden just looks so much better and access to weeding is easier.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You bet! 💚

[@Tomelalt]

Thankyou on adv. Super knowledge.....

[@carolclarke2932]

So very helpful. Thank you.

[@goaterruns4959]

Such beautiful gardens. I am going to do that today to cabbage and broccoli…. The dying leaves will go to my chickens/turkeys and I will ferment or dry the rest.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and good!

[@Daniel-mq3qb]

Thank you, that's a very helpful summary. That might help with our aphid problems we have in winter. We can't grow lettuce in winter because we have a big aphid problem, but only in January, February and March.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are very welcome and yes that will help because it removes the burden of growth on the plant. Keep them watered but not over watered and above all, spread a little compost before transplanting the lettuce.

[@Daniel-mq3qb]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you for the tips. This season, we will add new compost in autumn.

[@jamesrichey]

I'm glad to see your garden is doing OK despite the UK heat wave. How are you all managing it?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers James, here is not bad ... and the media need a story. It's more the lack of rain!

[@shineyrocks390]

❤

[@livfitz7840]

Hi Charles, have you tried no dig/ cardboard method as a base to plant wildflower seeds on an old lawn area? Any advice would be welcome. I followed your no dig method to change my back small lawn areas to a flower and plant garden, it's now a haven for butterflies, bees, hover bees etc. I just love it. Many thanks, Liv .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Liv and not exactly but for sure I would use soil instead of compost. There will be "weeds" too!

[@janina7942]

👍🤗