Succession planting ideas after harvests

[@joydavis4087]

Another wonderful video. Thank you for sharing your ideas on succession planting. There’s lots to learn. I’m getting there. Your book on No Dig has been a tremendous help.❤❤❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@timflatus]

I've just started planting out hardier veg (under fleece), but my garlic I planted at the end of last year is doing well, broad beans got hit by recent winds, but I have another row coming up I sowed in February. I used to watch your videos and get despondent that my garden didn't look like yours. This year I'm feeling happier with my efforts. Thank you so much for your expert guidance!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That's great Tim, I want to encourage you😀

[@chuggermagic]

My cheap plastic greenhouse has blown over in stormy gusts twice in 3 weeks, destroying most of my March and early April seedlings. It's videos like yours that keep me motivated to persevere and move on, still plenty of time and still lots to sow!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear that, hope you can find something strong, plant raising is such an important part of success

[@konstantink.7627]

I just like Charles Dowding so much - he is such a nice and positiv person! 😊😊😊 Keep on going, Charles! I enjoy watching your Videos so much. You know what you're doing and you do it awesome! 👏👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How lovely thanks Konstantin :)

[@aqueminiarts]

Just finishing sowing my onions and potting up some melons, back in the house just in time for a new video from Charles. 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great!

[@markhoverd4993]

Succession planting is the area of gardening that I struggle with the most. I tend to plant up my vegetable garden and then as things finish my plot gradually shuts down towards the winter. I wish I was organised enough to grow things all year round so videos like this are super helpful. I especially like the idea of sowing between plants that will be finishing soon.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I am glad you found it helpful Mark

[@Sue-ec6un]

My early garden is all planted and growing well and my peppers and tomato seeds are already sprouting! I'm concentrating this year on my timing...so far so good, though I did start my early spring seeds too early! But the ones I was more dedicated to are doing really well. I also started using Charles's little seed starting containers...I admit, they are performing amazingly well! Seed starting is a whole lot easier with the optimized systems! Thanks Charles, you have helped turn what at times was a chore into the most amazing and fruitful hobby! With no backache! No Dig and Charles have stolen my heart ;)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How lovely to see this Sue 🌱

[@maristermcsorley4203]

Charles I have to say that cat 🐈 is stealing your show 😂😂😂 thank you again for very informative video

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I know!! Planning to retire soon 😂

[@notforwantoftrying1]

In my opinion this spring was better than last year. Last year there was no rain at all for 6 weeks, then it snowed in SE England in mid-April. This year it has not stopped raining and there has rarely been any sunshine, but I prefer that to what we faced last year. I'm hoping for a nice long heatwave this summer to give a bumper crop of all of the heat loving plants, I really think it's going to happen.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are lucky to have had less rain, good luck with the heat 😎

[@denniskatinas]

Here in Holland we’re picking snails all day, still, every day their numbers grow… 😂

[@franksinatra1070]

I'm trying to simplify my succession plantings by repeating things I've had success with in the past. My fall and winter carrots go in my onion bed which is harvested in July, my sprouting broccoli or brocclini goes in after my cauliflower is harvested in early summer, my winter spinach go in my potato bed with maybe a crop of turnips or beans in between etc.. This cuts back on my planning. I may try some late potatoes after I harvest my garlic this year. Always trying to get as much food as possible for as long as possible. Thanks Charles you're a great inspiration!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good thinking and planning Frank 💚

[@demoisellelenina]

Hi just to tell you i learned very much since last year my allotment had improved alot. Thanks alot.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear of your success Lenina 🙂

[@GreenEarthGardener]

I love your cat 🐈 awwwwwwww ☺️ 🥰

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😎 she's a natural on camera! Called Minty.

[@amandar7719]

Apart from two big beds that are just about free for outdoor paste tomatoes, dwarf beans and sweet corn, all our beds are also full. Saving seeds this year from various….so space is scarce. ☹️ We’ll be following on potatoes/onions/garlic with your succession tips. 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Amandar

[@ammmarali3466]

I think the spinach flowers depending not just on the heat but how many hours of light in the day.. It would be a good idea to deprived it from sun light to to keep it on 12/12 schedule..

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes light more than warmth. Not so easy to keep light off!

[@javorgeorgiev6130]

This year I'm trying to have different plants flowering during all the growing months. It's still succession planting, but I also try to keep my dad's bees fed along with attracting predators for the pests. It's working out well so far. The few cabbages I left to flower are incredibly popular. I do have actual flowers planted, but so far the cabbage is winning the popularity contest among the bees and white butterflies by a large margin.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That's a great plan and you are so right, flowering brassicas are loved by many insects. Good luck with your flowers through the year.

[@southernhemispheregal]

This is all wonderful, thank you for the tips. Your leeks are monsters! You featured two of my absolute favourites...purple sprouting broc and true spinach (I call it Popeye spinach). Here in NZ (mid Autumn) I'm still going gangbusters in the polytunnel & g/house with capsicums, chillies and tons of lettuces. Just waiting for the pesky cabbage butterflies to feck off before putting the brassicas in the outdoor beds. Will be doing better successional planning this year! 😃🌱🌾🍁🥦🥬

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you like those, and see if you can buy Bacillus thuringiensis agains the caterpillars. It's simply a soil bacteria, which makes leaves indigestible to caterpillars only, with no effect on mammals or other insects.

[@glassbackdiy3949]

Great tips, cheers Charles. following spuds with carrots in 30L tubs works well (the only succession I've got down pat lol) you can start the spuds early in the GH moving them out post last frost date, carrots follow in the used medium (just draw a sprial seed drill in the tub) then can be moved into the greenhouse to store in the tubs as the summer GH crops finish, harvest tru the winter as needed. Next yr there's enough room in the tubs to add 1/2 a tub of fresh compost to start again. I've just found insect net bags that fit over the tubs so I should be carrot fly free this yr!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

What brilliant succession advice, thanks so much! I have a few others read this.

[@anneonimus7204]

So appreciate these videos Charles, they always seem to come at the right time. I seem to get lost in my admission for what is growing that I can forget to think ahead. By the way your tortoiseshell cat is adorable....😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear and thank you Anne 🐈

[@georgeasgautr]

I think succession growing is such a cool method, you get two or more crops from the same space, you can finish harvesting and then plant on the same day and its fun planning for it during the winter. Thanks for sharing, Charles 😁👍🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers George

[@SkyRiverhawk]

Always incredibly helpful, thank you:) I wrote up this year's planting calender with succession charts, this morning. 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@nazimchowdhury7307]

Your lawn looks lush! Would be good to show how to maintain your lawn too 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Nazim, see this short we made kzbin.infoWG1NbGW6GN0

[@nazimchowdhury7307]

@@CharlesDowding1nodigthank you Charles! 😊

[@kimr4005]

In our area north central Texas USA we have a very long growing season separated by extreme heat. When my carrots, cole crops come out I plant okra watermelon and southern peas.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for sharing. It is so different to here and I hope your summer is not too hot

[@manuelrojas4483]

Con las sucesiones de cultivo y manteniendo el suelo ocupado se consigue mucha más producción y además conserva la humedad.Teniendo compost la agricultura es más facil y productiva.Se aprende en cada uno de tus vídeos .Saludos desde Tenerife!! 🤙🏻🫑🥕🐞🌸🥬

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Si si!

[@camicri4263]

You have more consistent weather even if it is cooler. We had freezing temperatures than in the 70s, than cold again, then 80s or close to it. We had rain a lot of it and now we have almost 10 days with no rain. I tell you, it's no winning. I hope that my fruit trees will fruit. Thank you Charles. Blessings ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you for the perspective, Cami! Not easy in your climate.

[@theenglishherbalist]

Thank you so much for the newsletter with this link in. An absolutely great informative film - with a tumbling tortie 😻. An all round wonderful package! ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed them both!

[@thomasantonsen8628]

Always nice to see your videos Charles. Thank you. My garlic looks nice and strong. I have put some early potatoes in the ground but we are still having frost during the night in Denmark so I am afraid to sow too much right now. I am growing in pots and trays in my green house and cover it with fleece during the night. During day time we have 10-18 C. Can’t wait for the night frost to finally let go.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Thomas. The weather you describe is what we shall be having over the next 10 days or so, we are forecast a slight frost every night from now! So it's still very much spring and you are right to be cautious.

[@thomasantonsen8628]

Exactly the same here. The weather is tricky right now. I am not at all happy with the big difference between day and night temperature. Hope it gets better soon. 🤞

[@Andrew-ww9uk]

We generally grow in Winter what you grow in Summer in sub tropical QLD, Australia.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is impressive, two fantastic seasons!

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

Now filled 3 out of my 4 beds looks like I will need to start another new one or two very soon.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good plan!

[@sylvieradecki3793]

Thanks a lot Charles, now I know what I will place between the garlic 😀 great idea.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@alanchamberlain4173]

Thank you Charles. Garlic and onions doing well here, and my broad beans looking good too. Early potatoes up. But I've been too early with parsnips yet again, and nothing is coming up. Found some garlic rust yesterday. I assumed (unlike you in your latest newsletter) that it was the dry last ten days that had done it (as with mildew) and did some watering, after taking off the affected outermost leaves. Hope I haven't made things worse!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Alan, except for the parsnips and garlic rust. I would sow parsnips early June, worth a try, say after spinach. And I used to think that about the rust now I'm convinced it's the other way round because of how they do not catch it in the polytunnel, or very little. I'm so disappointed to see it so early.

[@terrydunn8504]

Thanks!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much :)

[@Jeff-st9km]

I own most of Mr Dowding's books and I have to say No Dig is just phenomenal. I keep it on hand always as a reference. I have learned so much! Thank you again, Mr Dowding

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely to see this Jeff and thanks

[@rhysjaggar4677]

Charles - last season I found Brussels Sprouts followed on very well from broad beans, I also transplanted out beetroot and swede plants on a later sowing of broad beans which finished harvesting the first week of July. They too did very well. I started a new bed three autumns ago with horse manure as over-wintering compost, then planted, in succession: Sarpo Mira potatoes; Aquadulce Claudia Broad Beans over the winter (roots left in the ground after harvest); Brussels Sprouts; and now I'm sowing onions for competition (already put some Kelsaes in the ground, Ventos and more Kelsae to go out 21st April to fill the bed). I only put new compost down this February, after growing three crops really, really well over 18 months. I do find that a 5cm batch of horse manure seems able to feed three crops, whereas 3cm of home-made compost seems to only feed two. For those with access to horse manure, I've found the following do very well if fed with it: asparagus and rhubarb; maincrop potatoes and winter squash (it also works well for berry/currant bushes too). I tend to grow those crops using horse manure and use my home-made compost for other things like carrot, beetroot, parsnip, onions, cucumber, tomato, sweetcorn, courgette.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Your plot is so productive Rhys. There is one addition to all this, that you need to start a KZbin channel! London No Dig Allotment :)

[@CatLNC]

I learn so much from you, dear chap❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear Catherine, I am glad 🌱

[@keithomelvena2354]

I see the cat has pounced through your frost fleece.🙂

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yerss, she likes it too much!

[@GARDENER42]

This is something I've been spending a lot more time looking into of late (bought your book for that reason), as I all too often in the past ended up with areas of bed empty for several months. Of course the weather needs to improve before I can do much outside but the polytunnel is still producing spinach, lettuce, rocket, mizuna (both now heading to flower), radishes & coriander.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Promising

[@jeshurunfarm]

Thank Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🌱

[@fundakurt2452]

Benim için çok faydalı bir video oldu, teşekkürler💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Memnunum 🌱

[@CatLNC]

So, carry on, dear Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Catherine

[@salilsahani2721]

Thank you :)

[@garydenner6253]

ALWAYS good quality information & reminders about succession planting Guv! Glad you got my cat shot in there at the end of minty. Hope all is well with her, you & your family charles. Gary,7th generation 1st fleet convict from 🇦🇺

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Gary, many thanks and yes the cat is happy on my fleece!

[@Maria-maduixa]

A very interesting video. Wonderful vegetables. Thanks Mr. Dowding

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are welcome Maria

[@GrandmomZoo]

Lovely informative videos. You are a blessing.😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you!

[@helenfielding7870]

Lovely video Charles. As always ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I am glad to hear this Helen, thank you

[@ofrecentvintage]

Oh my! I was recently trying to figure this succession sequence out (i.e. "what should follow what") for my garden space. I so appreciate extra guidance! 🎉💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Im-just-Stardust]

Thank you professor!

[@MamaZeeto_623]

Thank you for your help and guidance 🙏💜

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

you are welcome Karen

[@smas3256]

Hi Charles and Crew and Kitty Cat. So glad you suggested carrots between garlic. I'll try that if weather cooperates tomorrow. Too much rain. Onions must have gotten a transplant shock but are recovering. So many gnats in a bush near gold fish pond and close to where onions went in. I sprinkled wood ash top dressing. That may help with gnat eggs and larvae. Have to repeat ash. Thunder storm and wind last night. I refuse to get discouraged. Your gardens and advise are top notch beautiful. Zone 6b USA.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much, that's a lovely comment

[@lorainemcguire5795]

Thanks Charles for another extremely helpful video I'm still getting to grips with my succession planting ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad to help Lorraine

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

You are truly amazing! Thanks for your garden ideas.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you so much 🌱

[@SteviesAllotmentGarden]

Love your land U can grow so much

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you

[@matthewdoughty7752]

Thanks a million! About planting carrots between the garlic, doesn't the garlic need to mature or dry a little and by planting carrot seeds between them and thereby watering them, the garlic wouldn't have this chance to dry out whilst still in the ground

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Matthew, and garlic is not dry at point of harvest, it dries afterwards. The leaves are still green and this is not a problem. Also, when they are seedling stage, carrots need very little moisture.

[@matthewdoughty7752]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig that's a fair point. Thanks!

[@ximenaisabeljimenezgalindo9044]

Hola Charles que gusto saludarte ,hermoso video grayvpor tu exelente informacion 🇨🇱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

My pleasure Ximena, gracias

[@anabravo3581]

Hello Charles, I have been following your great videos. Thank you for that. I'm taking them almost literally when it comes to climate, as I live in a region of the Netherlands that is on the same latitude as Somerset. I hope I'm doing it right. It's just a very small allotment, 100sm, but hope to be very productive this 2nd season. Thank you again.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for your lovely feedback and good luck this year

[@RawLondonGardener]

Absolutely amazing video, keep it up 👍👌🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you 🙌

[@michaelboom7704]

Always thinking what I can grow in succession in this area, made a homemade greenhouse for a number of plants that are cold hardy.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely job Michael

[@tommyfallon236]

Just growing broccoli and Brussels sprouts in a 1/2 bed, carrots next to them...and I’ve planted rocket and spinach with succession plantslast week...now, I don’t know how they’ll be, but...

[@stevenbp101]

I wondered what was wrong with my spinach. It’s still small and just doesn’t look like it’s going to do much. Thanks Charles for the info. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear this Steven. I'm wondering what is in the rain now and whether that is having an effect, am organising some tests

[@stevenbp101]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Boy, I never thought about that. Please do a video on it if you find out something. Thanks.

[@martinhorridge4794]

Excellent video as usual Charles thank you. Information would be useful as a chapter in a book so I/we could refer to it later

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds good idea Martin

[@infinitelove3221]

Endless possibilities😍😍.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😍

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

I am an avid fan of succession growing :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

And you have the climate!

[@jean-pierregesquiere533]

Hello Charles, Hé oui toujours essayer d'anticiper la prochaine plantation afin que les parcelles soient toujours remplies de légumes 👍 Ce n'est pas toujours évident mais bon on s'y force 😉 Bon WE ensoleillé j'espère Pépé JP de ch'nord

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Merci JP! Oui pas toujours evident. Ici le soleil est atténué par les traînées de quoi que ca soit pulvérisées par les avions ! Hier, nous avons perdu 90 % de notre ciel bleu à cause des sentiers qui s'étendent. J'espère que le ciel reste bleu, chez vous.

[@jean-pierregesquiere533]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig 😲 Ah bon ! Le ciel était bien bleu hier et aujourd'hui le soleil est là aussi 🌞 Profitons car la semaine prochaine ça ne sera pas du tout la même météo... températures qui chutent la nuit et la journée et en plus avec de la pluie 🌧️ 😟

[@Zenza10]

In the last video you talked about planting out hardy stuff early. The ground is still frozen here 10-12 cm down. You wouldnt plant out before that frost has gone right, or can you, since small plants got shallower roots? Last frostdate is normally 18 mai, but it's an oddly early spring here this year and i love it!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice you remember that and I have not tried that, but would give it a go for a few vegetables at least such as spinach, salad onion, lettuce

[@magspies]

great vid. i'm getting more organised about succession sowing/planting. wondering if you ever use rock minerals in your garden, to replenish before it became your no dig?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks nice to hear and no. I tried basalt "rockdust" (more like small gravel!) on a few beds and saw little growth difference. Sometimes add it to the compost heaps

[@magspies]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig interesting, thx!

[@luisagarcia3961]

Charles obrigado pela explicação boa noite ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😎

[@barbarawronska4492]

😅

[@heavymetalbassist5]

Im taking out all my cold weather stuff now. Itll be 90° next week so its all going to bolt before long anyway

[@heavymetalbassist5]

I run collards and mustards under my last sowings of sunflowers for the year. Then those start selling in November

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice undertow and I hope the heat is ok

[@jamesmartin8383]

My chillies have been growing for a while now and started my tomatoes 3 weeks ago there up in my window sill I have shallots but not put them out yet I covered one of my beds with our home made compost which is our first ever lot of compost well I say compost it's been mainly green waste and egg shells with some cardboard , I did have a little look today and seen some mushrooms growing in it not the sort you can eat though and I did notice some worms doing there magic I just wish I put my compost down earlier maybe winter time but didn't feel as it was ready then but I'm hoping the microorganisms will do enough for me when I decide to put some crops in .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That sounds good James. And yes, another time you could spread the compost sooner even in mid winter which allows air to access it and soil organisms to feed when it's milder. Best of luck

[@jamesmartin8383]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thankyou charles 👍

[@ashtonswinburn8414]

In the NE and personally i haven't got anything in the garden, still got inches of standing water.😂

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh no! At least the weather is improving, after Wednesday for you I reckon

[@Ohelojam]

Great video and garden . Iʻm just starting no dig past year. As you can imagine with some difficulty. I live in an area that gets a lot of rain because I live in mountain range area but is also somewhat warm throughout the year(zone 12). My question is do you think your book you talk about in this video would help in how I plan my planting? Enjoy! Thank you for your time in making the videos.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck and that sounds a great challenge, at least you have the warmth. Some of the dates would need modification, while the general principles remain similar.

[@estellavandenende1477]

Hi Charles, is your book only in English available? Will it be translated some time? (dutch 😉) What a greenhouse, amazing...

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and not yet I'm afraid. A Dutch publisher was interested, but found the price is too high for translation and publishing rights. (DK publishers)

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Home acres always looks amazing! What variety of purple sprouting broccoli do you have? Mine has so much smaller 'heads' on them even the side shoots. Mine is Rudolph. Ps love the cat!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks! And it's Claret F1

[@robertayersiii3832]

Greetings Mr. Dowding, Thanks for the video. If you have a moment, I have a question about propagation. I do my early season propagation in the house under grow lights. I've been doing this for about 4 years now, and there is one problem, that often occurs around this time of year, that I haven't been able to solve. I typically get the seeds to germinate no problem. But, early on, the color of the plants tends to be all wrong - it is often yellow green, or even yellow. Sometimes the plants grow out of it and return to their normal green color. Sometimes they don't grow out of it. Some plants (such as my brassicas) seem to be particularly susceptible to the problem, while other plants (such as peas) are not. It's also interesting that F1 brassicas seem to have a better chance of growing out of it. I've been struggling to figure out what the problem is - Too much or too little water? Too much light (scorching the plant)? Wrong temperature? Nutrient deficiency (direct or indirect)? Some pest that I can't see? Some disease? Bad potting soil? Some combination of the above? My best guess is too much water, but I have not been able to prove this definitively. Honestly, I really have no idea what is going on, and, since you have more than 10 times as much experience as I do, I figured I would ask you. Any ideas on what it might be or how I might figure out what it is? Thanks in advance, and thank you for all that you have taught me about gardening. Robert

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Mmm tricky - I don't have much experience of growing under lights, and suspect it's to do with that as I never saw such colour discrepancies. Maybe too strong light when plants are small, since that is when you see problems. I appreciate your feedback Robert.

[@hilarywarner7962]

I also noted the broad beans are not in just 2rows how do you apace them, I have one of your books but don't remember seeing this in them.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

They are in rows across the beds, 15cm between plants and 35cm between the rows

[@LaHuertaDelAmor]

Good afternoon. wonderful garden. Excellent teachings. Here we have a family-scale garden mixed with Permaculture. Greetings from Buenos Aires. Argentina. We have a new channel on KZbin. thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck with it, and thanks

[@whatsworthonearth8700]

There is no succession in celeriac, but I am wondering about celeriac interplantings, what and when to plant/ saw. Spring onions or radish seem doable. Or can I even combine celeriac and f.ex. early, under cover stawberries?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm not sure about your strawberry idea, but certainly spring onions works well, and we did that last year, harvesting them by mid July

[@whatsworthonearth8700]

​@@CharlesDowding1nodig I will go with the onions then. I'm not sure about the strawberries, either, maybe a project for later😊

[@hilarywarner7962]

I would love to say things are getting easier but there is so much information now it is starting to seem overwhelming. You said you sowed leeks yesterday but what sort was that Bandit or an alternative type?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear that. It was an early variety called Jolant and a mid season one called Philomène and I shall sow the Bandit in 10 days or so.

[@metubewot]

Hi Charles, Any views on chicken manure pellets. Sometimes my compost must be lacking, as growth is very slow. Can I add chicken manure pellets or Blood fish and bone?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Growth is slow here as well, and it's more about temperature. I would wait until the end of May to be sure that there is 'possibly a shortage of nitrogen', and there may well not be, once it warms up. I prefer not to use them because they discourage soil organisms from working to find nutrients.

[@metubewot]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig . Thank you so much for your reply Charles. I could remember your mentioning of the subject, but not the reason why or why not. Thanks very much for the advice. BTW flooded out here too. Gretna Scotland.

[@jencros1]

Doesn't the cat lying over your fleece affect the plants underneath?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes! I prefer that she does not, but cannot prevent it. She is actually very light, and plants are amazingly resilient. They do not like being squashed, but they do recover!

[@lucybarnard3954]

Thank you for referring to your book which I have because I’ve been working through your calendar sowing things and wondering when to transplant them. I forgot it was in the book which I went through in the winter.my greenhouse is full of seedlings. Could I please ask I got a bag of main crop potatoes and as they don’t need chatting I left them in a dark place they have sprouted, can I still use them and do I need to remove the spouts which are leggy unlike my earlier ones thanks so much for all your advice. Finally what is your beautiful cat called? Xx

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Lucy. It's not so much whether potatoes need chitting, more that if you don't put them in light where they will make chits, they are going to grow those long sprouts instead which are difficult to plant. If they are very long, I would break them off and get those potatoes in the ground now. The cat is called Minty!

[@kejcz6721]

I know you have a trial bed running for no dig vs. dig. Do you have one for beds planted with/without succession? I feel like having plants in the soil as much as possible has a huge benefit to soil life/health but it would be interesting to see if that is the case when it comes to yield.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes for sure, I'm doing a lot of no rotation trials in my three strip section, see details in the link. I just planted potatoes for the 10th year consecutive in the same soil. The first nine years went very well. www.charlesdowding.co.uk/post/three-strip-trial-2014-2022-no-dig-forking-different-composts

[@iris.inspired]

Would zinnias or climbing beans be good options for interplanting with garlic once they are ready to be planted out?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That could work, nice thought

[@gillpearson2124]

Do your Bandit leeks have allium miner damage?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Not yet Gill although we are pulling and trimming some tomorrow, it's possible as I see leaf miner damage in salad onions

[@seekwisdom5102]

Hi. I live in the Pacific Northwest, sone 8b and just had our last frost. We are almost 45 days late than the rest of the country. I am not sure I understood what you said about spinach. I am determined to grow lots of spinach this year and I have a tray with seedlings just getting their first true leaves. I plan on putting them in the ground in the next 2 weeks or so and maybe start a new batch of seedlings on the same tray to transfer them after the first batch is done. Is it a good plan? Learning from you how to get the most out of my space, I have a trellis where I plant peas on one side and cucumbers on the other, when peas are yellowing, cucumbers are beginning to fruit so it works perfectly. I add more organic matter where the peas were and use the row for beets that I would have growing in trays indoors. I plant leeks and they live indoors for a long time; when I plant them approaching october and they grow beautifully over the winter and harvest them in March. We eat them as a pasta substitute (we eat low carb) and it is delicious.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds amazing and well thought through. I find that spinach generally wants to flower in the summer months, so best value is from sowing it either very early, to crop from now until early June, or from sowing in the first half of August for cropping through autumn, a little in winter, and then again now in spring.

[@julie-annepineau4022]

Is it day length or warmth that causes spinach to bolt?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Day length

[@julie-annepineau4022]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you!

[@proteus1]

Has the weather made a differnece for growing?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It surely has, a difficult spring

[@Chickenchecker19]

MR. Dowding, What Are your thoughts on raised beds made out of metal or wood?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wooden ones soon decay inside and give home to slugs, woodlice and ants. Metal ones less so but they cost even more, so I avoid them unless really necessary.

[@Chickenchecker19]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for the reply

[@yvonnejackson1696]

Maybe you could title your videos No Dig Gardening With Cat. Just give the cat a little more air time and you could get a bunch of cat videos addicts interested in no dig gardening. Just saying.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂 thanks Yvonne!

[@philipcastell8000]

Just out of interest Charles, how do you deal with cat poop? Is it a problem you have?

[@locke6531]

👍

[@Marzena-b6z]

💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@tommyfallon236]

Oh...and I’m in West Virginia..

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice climate Tommy

[@victoriavelasquez3896]

Whats wrong with the beautiful cat? It's lovely to see it there accompaning his owner

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Minty is fine!

[@victoriavelasquez3896]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Dowding. Aldo, thanks a lot for sharing your very valuable knowledge about succession planting! Very much interesting! Greetings from Perú un South América.🤗

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm happy to see this, all the way from Peru and thank you, Victoria

[@carolewarner101]

Great video Charles. Your pussy cat is so adorable relaxing on top of the cloth and having a bath! 😂

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Carole!

[@downtownwashingtondc4131]

There's on 10% rich people they would die without poor people, 1980 rent was responsible put it back the way it us to be and see how better a city will become, its just that easy.

[@raurmanison4877]

What's her name?? Such a beauty!!! 😻😻😻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Minty. Has a lovely temperament too

[@Phil-tv9qm]

@@CharlesDowding1nodigwhat is being crushed? 😢 I’m having moles decide that no dig is just right for them … all those healthy worms.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I ask Adam to trap moles before they take over

[@Phil-tv9qm]

We grow just for ourselves so we can live with our visitors.

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

I can grow tomatoes, but for the life of me, every radish I plant fails.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😮

[@jeil5676]

First!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚