No Dig Children’s Gardening Book and 2024 Sowing Calendar, both signed
Published by Welbeck Publishing Group.
You dream of growing your own fruit and vegetables but don't like digging and weeding? This is the one for you! Whether you have a garden, a balcony, or a window box, my no dig method is the perfect way to create a family garden together.
Beautiful and charismatic illustrations by Kristyna Litten are on every page. They bring the possibilities and joy of gardening to life, before you even begin.
I explain how healthy soil will lead to healthy plants, and will grow more of the amazing creatures that live in soil. The book tells you about the magic of compost, the amazing power of seeds, and how to grow flowers that bring in more wildlife.
Read success stories from families and groups that are using my methods. The simple and achievable gardening projects in this book are ideal for parents and young children to do together. My no dig techniques perfectly lend themselves to gardening with little ones. They can't manage heavy digging and quickly grow bored of endless weeding – with no dig, weeds are few!
The projects are explained in easy, step-by-step processes, designed for children. Attractive, full-bleed photography is supplemented with fun illustrations, and fully illustrated factual spreads. Running throughout the gardening projects are extra little facts about plants and wildlife, as well as things to look out for when you are outdoors. And with no dig as a cornerstone method, to make it all easier and natural – see this brief video.
See also my 'Schools' no dig webpage, with a chart for term-time harvests.
Contents:
Dear gardeners / What is no dig gardening? / No-dig mythbusting / What is soil and what makes it healthy? / Microbe power! / What is compost? / How to make compost / Suitable heap enclosures / A no-dig bed in a day / Creating a no-dig bed / Planting a no-dig bed / What is a weed? / Sowing seeds under cover / Sowing for four seasons of food / When to sow and plant common vegetables / A no-dig sensory garden / Raising seedlings / Upcycling in your garden / Attract wildlife in your garden / School gardens in Surrey / Grow a giant sunflower / Grow and carve a Halloween pumpkin / Vegetables need company! / A no-dig market garden / Be a garden scientist / Ten easy flowers / Gardening for children with additional needs / Seed-saving projects / Useful information / Index
———
If you’ve ever tried to garden with children, you’ll know of the constant battle between trying to keep them interested long enough whilst making sure that the jobs are simple enough for them to complete. This is the simple reason that no-dig is ideal for children – a relatively lower level of work (arguably much less work) with even more to show for your efforts!
Within these pages Charles has managed to explain the techniques fully, whilst not speaking down to its target audience – no mean feat really. Starting with explaining why it’s important to respect our soil and how that, in turn, benefits us all in the long run.
Wonderfully this rather slim book takes in both vegetable and flower growing, with fun projects such as growing a giant sunflower and pumpkin carving, that will have the children hooked for years. Speaking from experience with my own children, a giant sunflower is enough to induce a love of all things plants forever more.
Accompanied by a swathe of illustrations Kristyna Litten, this is one book that’ll not only teach, it’ll look beautiful on either an adult or children’s bookshelf too!
Adam Kirkland, January 2023
———
Calendar of Vegetable Sowing Dates 2024
My best sowing dates to hang on your wall. Each month of the growing season has my favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, to increase the likelihood of successful harvests. Every date is based on decades of fine-tuning from observations and learning.
- Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
In this year's calendar, I share my tips for successful sowing. Enjoy more success.
We have also created a yearly sowing overview table. An overview of all the year, to help you plan which vegetables are best to sow at different and carefully selected times.
As well as sowing dates, I give a brief vegetable growing summary for every month, to help you keep on track. The calendar is also illustrated with beautiful and informative photos from my garden at Homeacres.
The 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 one to four weeks in spring, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
My recommended dates are not always the same as you will read on the packet of seeds! For some reason, they pay little attention to flowering dates. For example, I do not recommend sowing spinach, as in true spinach not leaf beet, from late April through to late July. That way you avoid its flowering season. By sowing either very early in the year or in August, you are far more likely to enjoy a long season of harvest. For a monthly summary of which seeds are best to sow when, in a temperate climate, see my sowing timeline. There is also a version for the southern hemisphere.
We also offer an advice newsletter, a weekly reminder of what best to sow, transplant, harvest and other jobs, for the week ahead. It's £5 monthly from February to October, and includes contributions from new grower Anna, who helped with this calendar, and from other no dig gardeners who are enjoying success around the world – see also our International page.
Climate plus natural growth cycles
My sowing dates are based on the season, the climate, and the natural growth cycle of each vegetable. For example, your peas will succeed much better when you sow in spring rather than summer. That's because peas grow most healthily and abundantly during months when the days are getting longer. Sow at the best time of year for each different vegetable.
Dates are based secondarily on moon phases. Within the best seasonal times, the moon cycles sometimes give even better times!
Solar and lunar
I combine two aspects of moon movements for calculating top sowing 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, sow on a waxing moon for faster emergence and stronger growth, especially just before full moon.
Sun and moon give a framework of action, rather than a rigid rulebook. Many dates have sowing possibilities – there are few dates when all of the good aspects are present.
I have your calendar and I use a new one every year. It is the best one out there! It keeps me on track and motivates me to keep planting all year long. I am weeks ahead of all my neighbours using your techniques. David Donegal, 2023
The calendar is 36 pages and is A4, opening to A3. It is hole-punched, for hanging on a wall.
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No Dig Children’s Gardening Book and 2024 Sowing Calendar, both signed
More information
Published by Welbeck Publishing Group.
You dream of growing your own fruit and vegetables but don't like digging and weeding? This is the one for you! Whether you have a garden, a balcony, or a window box, my no dig method is the perfect way to create a family garden together.
Beautiful and charismatic illustrations by Kristyna Litten are on every page. They bring the possibilities and joy of gardening to life, before you even begin.
I explain how healthy soil will lead to healthy plants, and will grow more of the amazing creatures that live in soil. The book tells you about the magic of compost, the amazing power of seeds, and how to grow flowers that bring in more wildlife.
Read success stories from families and groups that are using my methods. The simple and achievable gardening projects in this book are ideal for parents and young children to do together. My no dig techniques perfectly lend themselves to gardening with little ones. They can't manage heavy digging and quickly grow bored of endless weeding – with no dig, weeds are few!
The projects are explained in easy, step-by-step processes, designed for children. Attractive, full-bleed photography is supplemented with fun illustrations, and fully illustrated factual spreads. Running throughout the gardening projects are extra little facts about plants and wildlife, as well as things to look out for when you are outdoors. And with no dig as a cornerstone method, to make it all easier and natural – see this brief video.
See also my 'Schools' no dig webpage, with a chart for term-time harvests.
Contents:
Dear gardeners / What is no dig gardening? / No-dig mythbusting / What is soil and what makes it healthy? / Microbe power! / What is compost? / How to make compost / Suitable heap enclosures / A no-dig bed in a day / Creating a no-dig bed / Planting a no-dig bed / What is a weed? / Sowing seeds under cover / Sowing for four seasons of food / When to sow and plant common vegetables / A no-dig sensory garden / Raising seedlings / Upcycling in your garden / Attract wildlife in your garden / School gardens in Surrey / Grow a giant sunflower / Grow and carve a Halloween pumpkin / Vegetables need company! / A no-dig market garden / Be a garden scientist / Ten easy flowers / Gardening for children with additional needs / Seed-saving projects / Useful information / Index
———
If you’ve ever tried to garden with children, you’ll know of the constant battle between trying to keep them interested long enough whilst making sure that the jobs are simple enough for them to complete. This is the simple reason that no-dig is ideal for children – a relatively lower level of work (arguably much less work) with even more to show for your efforts!
Within these pages Charles has managed to explain the techniques fully, whilst not speaking down to its target audience – no mean feat really. Starting with explaining why it’s important to respect our soil and how that, in turn, benefits us all in the long run.
Wonderfully this rather slim book takes in both vegetable and flower growing, with fun projects such as growing a giant sunflower and pumpkin carving, that will have the children hooked for years. Speaking from experience with my own children, a giant sunflower is enough to induce a love of all things plants forever more.
Accompanied by a swathe of illustrations Kristyna Litten, this is one book that’ll not only teach, it’ll look beautiful on either an adult or children’s bookshelf too!
Adam Kirkland, January 2023
———
Calendar of Vegetable Sowing Dates 2024
My best sowing dates to hang on your wall. Each month of the growing season has my favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, to increase the likelihood of successful harvests. Every date is based on decades of fine-tuning from observations and learning.
- Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
In this year's calendar, I share my tips for successful sowing. Enjoy more success.
We have also created a yearly sowing overview table. An overview of all the year, to help you plan which vegetables are best to sow at different and carefully selected times.
As well as sowing dates, I give a brief vegetable growing summary for every month, to help you keep on track. The calendar is also illustrated with beautiful and informative photos from my garden at Homeacres.
The 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 one to four weeks in spring, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
My recommended dates are not always the same as you will read on the packet of seeds! For some reason, they pay little attention to flowering dates. For example, I do not recommend sowing spinach, as in true spinach not leaf beet, from late April through to late July. That way you avoid its flowering season. By sowing either very early in the year or in August, you are far more likely to enjoy a long season of harvest. For a monthly summary of which seeds are best to sow when, in a temperate climate, see my sowing timeline. There is also a version for the southern hemisphere.
We also offer an advice newsletter, a weekly reminder of what best to sow, transplant, harvest and other jobs, for the week ahead. It's £5 monthly from February to October, and includes contributions from new grower Anna, who helped with this calendar, and from other no dig gardeners who are enjoying success around the world – see also our International page.
Climate plus natural growth cycles
My sowing dates are based on the season, the climate, and the natural growth cycle of each vegetable. For example, your peas will succeed much better when you sow in spring rather than summer. That's because peas grow most healthily and abundantly during months when the days are getting longer. Sow at the best time of year for each different vegetable.
Dates are based secondarily on moon phases. Within the best seasonal times, the moon cycles sometimes give even better times!
Solar and lunar
I combine two aspects of moon movements for calculating top sowing 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, sow on a waxing moon for faster emergence and stronger growth, especially just before full moon.
Sun and moon give a framework of action, rather than a rigid rulebook. Many dates have sowing possibilities – there are few dates when all of the good aspects are present.
I have your calendar and I use a new one every year. It is the best one out there! It keeps me on track and motivates me to keep planting all year long. I am weeks ahead of all my neighbours using your techniques. David Donegal, 2023
The calendar is 36 pages and is A4, opening to A3. It is hole-punched, for hanging on a wall.
Published by Welbeck Publishing Group.
You dream of growing your own fruit and vegetables but don't like digging and weeding? This is the one for you! Whether you have a garden, a balcony, or a window box, my no dig method is the perfect way to create a family garden together.
Beautiful and charismatic illustrations by Kristyna Litten are on every page. They bring the possibilities and joy of gardening to life, before you even begin.
I explain how healthy soil will lead to healthy plants, and will grow more of the amazing creatures that live in soil. The book tells you about the magic of compost, the amazing power of seeds, and how to grow flowers that bring in more wildlife.
Read success stories from families and groups that are using my methods. The simple and achievable gardening projects in this book are ideal for parents and young children to do together. My no dig techniques perfectly lend themselves to gardening with little ones. They can't manage heavy digging and quickly grow bored of endless weeding – with no dig, weeds are few!
The projects are explained in easy, step-by-step processes, designed for children. Attractive, full-bleed photography is supplemented with fun illustrations, and fully illustrated factual spreads. Running throughout the gardening projects are extra little facts about plants and wildlife, as well as things to look out for when you are outdoors. And with no dig as a cornerstone method, to make it all easier and natural – see this brief video.
See also my 'Schools' no dig webpage, with a chart for term-time harvests.
Contents:
Dear gardeners / What is no dig gardening? / No-dig mythbusting / What is soil and what makes it healthy? / Microbe power! / What is compost? / How to make compost / Suitable heap enclosures / A no-dig bed in a day / Creating a no-dig bed / Planting a no-dig bed / What is a weed? / Sowing seeds under cover / Sowing for four seasons of food / When to sow and plant common vegetables / A no-dig sensory garden / Raising seedlings / Upcycling in your garden / Attract wildlife in your garden / School gardens in Surrey / Grow a giant sunflower / Grow and carve a Halloween pumpkin / Vegetables need company! / A no-dig market garden / Be a garden scientist / Ten easy flowers / Gardening for children with additional needs / Seed-saving projects / Useful information / Index
———
If you’ve ever tried to garden with children, you’ll know of the constant battle between trying to keep them interested long enough whilst making sure that the jobs are simple enough for them to complete. This is the simple reason that no-dig is ideal for children – a relatively lower level of work (arguably much less work) with even more to show for your efforts!
Within these pages Charles has managed to explain the techniques fully, whilst not speaking down to its target audience – no mean feat really. Starting with explaining why it’s important to respect our soil and how that, in turn, benefits us all in the long run.
Wonderfully this rather slim book takes in both vegetable and flower growing, with fun projects such as growing a giant sunflower and pumpkin carving, that will have the children hooked for years. Speaking from experience with my own children, a giant sunflower is enough to induce a love of all things plants forever more.
Accompanied by a swathe of illustrations Kristyna Litten, this is one book that’ll not only teach, it’ll look beautiful on either an adult or children’s bookshelf too!
Adam Kirkland, January 2023
———
Calendar of Vegetable Sowing Dates 2024
My best sowing dates to hang on your wall. Each month of the growing season has my favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, to increase the likelihood of successful harvests. Every date is based on decades of fine-tuning from observations and learning.
- Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
In this year's calendar, I share my tips for successful sowing. Enjoy more success.
We have also created a yearly sowing overview table. An overview of all the year, to help you plan which vegetables are best to sow at different and carefully selected times.
As well as sowing dates, I give a brief vegetable growing summary for every month, to help you keep on track. The calendar is also illustrated with beautiful and informative photos from my garden at Homeacres.
The 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 one to four weeks in spring, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
My recommended dates are not always the same as you will read on the packet of seeds! For some reason, they pay little attention to flowering dates. For example, I do not recommend sowing spinach, as in true spinach not leaf beet, from late April through to late July. That way you avoid its flowering season. By sowing either very early in the year or in August, you are far more likely to enjoy a long season of harvest. For a monthly summary of which seeds are best to sow when, in a temperate climate, see my sowing timeline. There is also a version for the southern hemisphere.
We also offer an advice newsletter, a weekly reminder of what best to sow, transplant, harvest and other jobs, for the week ahead. It's £5 monthly from February to October, and includes contributions from new grower Anna, who helped with this calendar, and from other no dig gardeners who are enjoying success around the world – see also our International page.
Climate plus natural growth cycles
My sowing dates are based on the season, the climate, and the natural growth cycle of each vegetable. For example, your peas will succeed much better when you sow in spring rather than summer. That's because peas grow most healthily and abundantly during months when the days are getting longer. Sow at the best time of year for each different vegetable.
Dates are based secondarily on moon phases. Within the best seasonal times, the moon cycles sometimes give even better times!
Solar and lunar
I combine two aspects of moon movements for calculating top sowing 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, sow on a waxing moon for faster emergence and stronger growth, especially just before full moon.
Sun and moon give a framework of action, rather than a rigid rulebook. Many dates have sowing possibilities – there are few dates when all of the good aspects are present.
I have your calendar and I use a new one every year. It is the best one out there! It keeps me on track and motivates me to keep planting all year long. I am weeks ahead of all my neighbours using your techniques. David Donegal, 2023
The calendar is 36 pages and is A4, opening to A3. It is hole-punched, for hanging on a wall.
No Dig Children’s Gardening Book and 2024 Sowing Calendar, both signed
Published by Welbeck Publishing Group.
You dream of growing your own fruit and vegetables but don't like digging and weeding? This is the one for you! Whether you have a garden, a balcony, or a window box, my no dig method is the perfect way to create a family garden together.
Beautiful and charismatic illustrations by Kristyna Litten are on every page. They bring the possibilities and joy of gardening to life, before you even begin.
I explain how healthy soil will lead to healthy plants, and will grow more of the amazing creatures that live in soil. The book tells you about the magic of compost, the amazing power of seeds, and how to grow flowers that bring in more wildlife.
Read success stories from families and groups that are using my methods. The simple and achievable gardening projects in this book are ideal for parents and young children to do together. My no dig techniques perfectly lend themselves to gardening with little ones. They can't manage heavy digging and quickly grow bored of endless weeding – with no dig, weeds are few!
The projects are explained in easy, step-by-step processes, designed for children. Attractive, full-bleed photography is supplemented with fun illustrations, and fully illustrated factual spreads. Running throughout the gardening projects are extra little facts about plants and wildlife, as well as things to look out for when you are outdoors. And with no dig as a cornerstone method, to make it all easier and natural – see this brief video.
See also my 'Schools' no dig webpage, with a chart for term-time harvests.
Contents:
Dear gardeners / What is no dig gardening? / No-dig mythbusting / What is soil and what makes it healthy? / Microbe power! / What is compost? / How to make compost / Suitable heap enclosures / A no-dig bed in a day / Creating a no-dig bed / Planting a no-dig bed / What is a weed? / Sowing seeds under cover / Sowing for four seasons of food / When to sow and plant common vegetables / A no-dig sensory garden / Raising seedlings / Upcycling in your garden / Attract wildlife in your garden / School gardens in Surrey / Grow a giant sunflower / Grow and carve a Halloween pumpkin / Vegetables need company! / A no-dig market garden / Be a garden scientist / Ten easy flowers / Gardening for children with additional needs / Seed-saving projects / Useful information / Index
———
If you’ve ever tried to garden with children, you’ll know of the constant battle between trying to keep them interested long enough whilst making sure that the jobs are simple enough for them to complete. This is the simple reason that no-dig is ideal for children – a relatively lower level of work (arguably much less work) with even more to show for your efforts!
Within these pages Charles has managed to explain the techniques fully, whilst not speaking down to its target audience – no mean feat really. Starting with explaining why it’s important to respect our soil and how that, in turn, benefits us all in the long run.
Wonderfully this rather slim book takes in both vegetable and flower growing, with fun projects such as growing a giant sunflower and pumpkin carving, that will have the children hooked for years. Speaking from experience with my own children, a giant sunflower is enough to induce a love of all things plants forever more.
Accompanied by a swathe of illustrations Kristyna Litten, this is one book that’ll not only teach, it’ll look beautiful on either an adult or children’s bookshelf too!
Adam Kirkland, January 2023
———
Calendar of Vegetable Sowing Dates 2024
My best sowing dates to hang on your wall. Each month of the growing season has my favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, to increase the likelihood of successful harvests. Every date is based on decades of fine-tuning from observations and learning.
- Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
In this year's calendar, I share my tips for successful sowing. Enjoy more success.
We have also created a yearly sowing overview table. An overview of all the year, to help you plan which vegetables are best to sow at different and carefully selected times.
As well as sowing dates, I give a brief vegetable growing summary for every month, to help you keep on track. The calendar is also illustrated with beautiful and informative photos from my garden at Homeacres.
The 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 one to four weeks in spring, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
My recommended dates are not always the same as you will read on the packet of seeds! For some reason, they pay little attention to flowering dates. For example, I do not recommend sowing spinach, as in true spinach not leaf beet, from late April through to late July. That way you avoid its flowering season. By sowing either very early in the year or in August, you are far more likely to enjoy a long season of harvest. For a monthly summary of which seeds are best to sow when, in a temperate climate, see my sowing timeline. There is also a version for the southern hemisphere.
We also offer an advice newsletter, a weekly reminder of what best to sow, transplant, harvest and other jobs, for the week ahead. It's £5 monthly from February to October, and includes contributions from new grower Anna, who helped with this calendar, and from other no dig gardeners who are enjoying success around the world – see also our International page.
Climate plus natural growth cycles
My sowing dates are based on the season, the climate, and the natural growth cycle of each vegetable. For example, your peas will succeed much better when you sow in spring rather than summer. That's because peas grow most healthily and abundantly during months when the days are getting longer. Sow at the best time of year for each different vegetable.
Dates are based secondarily on moon phases. Within the best seasonal times, the moon cycles sometimes give even better times!
Solar and lunar
I combine two aspects of moon movements for calculating top sowing 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, sow on a waxing moon for faster emergence and stronger growth, especially just before full moon.
Sun and moon give a framework of action, rather than a rigid rulebook. Many dates have sowing possibilities – there are few dates when all of the good aspects are present.
I have your calendar and I use a new one every year. It is the best one out there! It keeps me on track and motivates me to keep planting all year long. I am weeks ahead of all my neighbours using your techniques. David Donegal, 2023
The calendar is 36 pages and is A4, opening to A3. It is hole-punched, for hanging on a wall.
No Dig Children’s Gardening Book and 2024 Sowing Calendar, both signed
Published by Welbeck Publishing Group.
You dream of growing your own fruit and vegetables but don't like digging and weeding? This is the one for you! Whether you have a garden, a balcony, or a window box, my no dig method is the perfect way to create a family garden together.
Beautiful and charismatic illustrations by Kristyna Litten are on every page. They bring the possibilities and joy of gardening to life, before you even begin.
I explain how healthy soil will lead to healthy plants, and will grow more of the amazing creatures that live in soil. The book tells you about the magic of compost, the amazing power of seeds, and how to grow flowers that bring in more wildlife.
Read success stories from families and groups that are using my methods. The simple and achievable gardening projects in this book are ideal for parents and young children to do together. My no dig techniques perfectly lend themselves to gardening with little ones. They can't manage heavy digging and quickly grow bored of endless weeding – with no dig, weeds are few!
The projects are explained in easy, step-by-step processes, designed for children. Attractive, full-bleed photography is supplemented with fun illustrations, and fully illustrated factual spreads. Running throughout the gardening projects are extra little facts about plants and wildlife, as well as things to look out for when you are outdoors. And with no dig as a cornerstone method, to make it all easier and natural – see this brief video.
See also my 'Schools' no dig webpage, with a chart for term-time harvests.
Contents:
Dear gardeners / What is no dig gardening? / No-dig mythbusting / What is soil and what makes it healthy? / Microbe power! / What is compost? / How to make compost / Suitable heap enclosures / A no-dig bed in a day / Creating a no-dig bed / Planting a no-dig bed / What is a weed? / Sowing seeds under cover / Sowing for four seasons of food / When to sow and plant common vegetables / A no-dig sensory garden / Raising seedlings / Upcycling in your garden / Attract wildlife in your garden / School gardens in Surrey / Grow a giant sunflower / Grow and carve a Halloween pumpkin / Vegetables need company! / A no-dig market garden / Be a garden scientist / Ten easy flowers / Gardening for children with additional needs / Seed-saving projects / Useful information / Index
———
If you’ve ever tried to garden with children, you’ll know of the constant battle between trying to keep them interested long enough whilst making sure that the jobs are simple enough for them to complete. This is the simple reason that no-dig is ideal for children – a relatively lower level of work (arguably much less work) with even more to show for your efforts!
Within these pages Charles has managed to explain the techniques fully, whilst not speaking down to its target audience – no mean feat really. Starting with explaining why it’s important to respect our soil and how that, in turn, benefits us all in the long run.
Wonderfully this rather slim book takes in both vegetable and flower growing, with fun projects such as growing a giant sunflower and pumpkin carving, that will have the children hooked for years. Speaking from experience with my own children, a giant sunflower is enough to induce a love of all things plants forever more.
Accompanied by a swathe of illustrations Kristyna Litten, this is one book that’ll not only teach, it’ll look beautiful on either an adult or children’s bookshelf too!
Adam Kirkland, January 2023
———
Calendar of Vegetable Sowing Dates 2024
My best sowing dates to hang on your wall. Each month of the growing season has my favourite sowing dates for each vegetable, to increase the likelihood of successful harvests. Every date is based on decades of fine-tuning from observations and learning.
- Use these dates to help you enjoy a regular supply of fresh produce through all four seasons.
In this year's calendar, I share my tips for successful sowing. Enjoy more success.
We have also created a yearly sowing overview table. An overview of all the year, to help you plan which vegetables are best to sow at different and carefully selected times.
As well as sowing dates, I give a brief vegetable growing summary for every month, to help you keep on track. The calendar is also illustrated with beautiful and informative photos from my garden at Homeacres.
The 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 one to four weeks in spring, then sow a week or two earlier in summer and autumn, from the solstice onwards.
My recommended dates are not always the same as you will read on the packet of seeds! For some reason, they pay little attention to flowering dates. For example, I do not recommend sowing spinach, as in true spinach not leaf beet, from late April through to late July. That way you avoid its flowering season. By sowing either very early in the year or in August, you are far more likely to enjoy a long season of harvest. For a monthly summary of which seeds are best to sow when, in a temperate climate, see my sowing timeline. There is also a version for the southern hemisphere.
We also offer an advice newsletter, a weekly reminder of what best to sow, transplant, harvest and other jobs, for the week ahead. It's £5 monthly from February to October, and includes contributions from new grower Anna, who helped with this calendar, and from other no dig gardeners who are enjoying success around the world – see also our International page.
Climate plus natural growth cycles
My sowing dates are based on the season, the climate, and the natural growth cycle of each vegetable. For example, your peas will succeed much better when you sow in spring rather than summer. That's because peas grow most healthily and abundantly during months when the days are getting longer. Sow at the best time of year for each different vegetable.
Dates are based secondarily on moon phases. Within the best seasonal times, the moon cycles sometimes give even better times!
Solar and lunar
I combine two aspects of moon movements for calculating top sowing 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, sow on a waxing moon for faster emergence and stronger growth, especially just before full moon.
Sun and moon give a framework of action, rather than a rigid rulebook. Many dates have sowing possibilities – there are few dates when all of the good aspects are present.
I have your calendar and I use a new one every year. It is the best one out there! It keeps me on track and motivates me to keep planting all year long. I am weeks ahead of all my neighbours using your techniques. David Donegal, 2023
The calendar is 36 pages and is A4, opening to A3. It is hole-punched, for hanging on a wall.
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