I kinda mostly stopped watching his utoob stuff a year or two ago*, but I still use this Charles Dowding 2023 calendar as a rough sowing guide. Shown here is April. It's a convenient physical format simple single page reference & lives next to the bed, though I do also regularly refer to other online sources. (I don't really like the popuar "what I am sowing this month" videos, I do watch some, preferably shorter simpler ones, more Plot 37 Jessie style than the OTT intensity of Outgrow Steve.)

This weekend I am planning to sow a pea gutter, a second set of broad beans in root trainers, cornflowers, nasturtiums, a tiny amount of lettuce, multi-sown spring onions and I'm hoping to get some carrot and radish direct sown down the #allotment tomorrow.

I am considering getting in early with the nasturtiums too, and maybe doing a top-up sowing of sunflowers as I had a few fails in the last round.

Better crack on I guess, the long weekend is well more than halfway gone. I have a lot to do.

This is what I’m trying to emulate with my gardening. This was three years ago. I have not grown the like before or since, but once you’ve seen it you know it can be done.

Six bean pods formed from the same node.

No pesticides, insecticides, artificial fertilisers, no dig, in soil with a large worm count, seeds initially soaked and then fed with LAB, nettle FPJ, comfrey feed and worm cast extract.

#Gardening #GrowYourOwn #HomeGrown #Allotment #SoilHealth #SolarPunkSunday #NoDig

Planted out gypsophila and gladioli today, first time growing them. And the row of tulips are making me happy.

The slight mound/s of wood chippings in both photos are keeping my dahlias warm in the ground. I brush the chippings back in early May and place a large plastic bottle over the top (with the base cut out and the lid off) to use as a cloche. I then remove after a couple of weeks when the plants are outgrowing them. #allotment

I actually planted my potatoes on Good Friday this year. One of my potatoes was really a stone. Make of that what you will. #allotment

(These are Charlotte. Also going in today were Red Duke of York and Casablanca. Picasso and Sarpo Mira to follow.)