Just wanted to say thank you for getting me gardening, Charles! I did your garlic course back in November 2021 -- literally just chucked down some boxes, stuck a small wooden frame around some compost - and everything developed from there. Now I have turned half my garden into a veg patch! The transformation has been amazing and I've been so happy out there all year (there's a video on my channel if you want to see what you helped create.) You've honestly changed my life! I hope you have a lovely Christmas ☺
Whenever I feel a little down on gardening all I have to do is watch one of your videos. I immediately feel calm and remember why I started gardening in the first place. Much love to you Charles!!!
The Coastal area of Northern Maine is very Brutal in the winter months especially near the opening to the Bay of Fundy where i operated my 23 acre farm. I could barely grow any field crops and mostly produced in Greenhouses with Thermal ground based heating until i sold the farm in 2021 after my wife's passing and moved to Central Virginia where i can year around crop almost anything in Greenhouses and outside due to it's classification of being a sub-tropical zone. I'm building three new greenhouse, one i just completed this past week and i'm starting the next identical Gothic style 20'ft. by 45' Foot GH, And the third GH will be a new self cooling design referred to as a NVAC overlapping roof venting style Greenhouse. Thanks for the most relaxing stress relieving videos on TH-cam Charles.
What an amazing history and how interesting. That does sound like a difficult climate, and it's so good you've managed to upgrade! Not to mention the exciting greenhouse designs. I'm really pleased you like my videos and wish you a good year ahead.
Good morning Charles! You are gardening like a Canadian this year. My greenhouse is still producing lettuce but will have to shut it down soon cold and snow is coming before X-mas. Thank you for all you do on your channel. South West Ontario.
Wow! That's incredible! You make me want to build a green house, im from Québec I thought it was a little bit a waste of time to do so. Definitely worth it as I can see.
Glad to hear you mention Eliot Coleman, such a classy move. He really did a great work at turning a lot of people on to good growing practices. Interesting to see you incorporate a bit of technique that was important to them, but modified to your particular climate and situation. Well done, Charles, and well explained, made perfect sense to me. Thanks!
Thank you for being so authentic. I always feel like it's a tug a war in gardening world. Do this, don't do that. You make it real with your trials and comparisons. I built new compost bins with your example and having so much fun playing with it. You are a gift. Thanks for making the world a better place and using your time to make all of us that found you better humans! Have a healthy and happy holiday season.
As a gardener in a northern continental climate this video was very insightful on how to deal with cold weather. The garden here is currently buried under snow... I am still attempting to overwinter a few things though. Your books and videos help me get through the long winter season. Thank you so much for all you do!
Thank you so much. I am going to miss it, being with you in the garden for the next weeks. It has become my great pleasure since I started watching your channel this late summer. Have a wonderful time yourself!
I love your videos! My garden is a mess right now. Oh well, it's winter. I didn't plant a fall garden this year. My spring and summer garden were so successful that I really didn't need more! Oh yes, no dig is the BEST! I grow potatoes in leaf compost and wow, easy and productive. Thanks for making it all make sense. I was doing no dig before it was cool :D
As always, so informative. It is simply delightful to see so much happening in what might otherwise seem like ‘the dead’ of winter. To all of your team a happy and blessed Christmas from Vancouver Island.
So good to see you and visit your garden. It's been crazy weather in 2022, blazing heat and now record breaking freezing temperatures. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Charles!
Thank you for helping me start my vegetable growing adventure with confidence and success. Your channel was the first I came across (multi sowing onions!) and I fell in love with your approach. All my beds are new, started with cardboard and old horse manure/compost. Its been such a rewarding journey supported along the way by your video guidance, books and calendar. Thank you so much. Happy Christmas to you and your team. Here’s hoping it’s a great season for everyone growing next year! Karen x
Thank you so much Charles and team. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all your videos this year and I’ve learnt so much!!! Which I have put into practice and have produced some great crops of salad,potatoes and a few more. I got my timings wrong this year and I’ve learnt that timing is very important from seed to planting, so that’s my goal for next year and not forgetting to work on the composting. I’m hoping Santa will be bringing me your new books 🤗. I’d like to wish you all a very Blessed Christmas and New year. Thank you for all you do, God bless.
I started Winter gardening about 12 years ago. Our climate here on Whidbey island is similar to yours. What inspired me was your book I found at the library and then bought How To Grow Winter Vegetables and a pamphlet on the same topic from West Coast Seeds in BC Canada. I've been Winter gardening every since and in some ways prefer it. Very satisfying getting fresh vegetables without going to the store. Thank you
Love all your videos! Maybe we could see a pretty unstructured video of a normal day in the running of your garden, to see the weeding, harvesting and other jobs you do on any given day.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Yeah, but you get everything free right? like all the students from the agri college. I'm sure there are plenty of students with the requisite skills...
A big virtual hug and season greetings Sir Charles. With your infectuos (?Genglish) enthusiasm I have managed first time this year to get fully compost independant with almost 4 full cubicmeters that I can happily spread on to the beds now. Your no dig cook book arrived eventually in Germany and I tried the pumpkin beet root feta roast first. So simple and yet so delicious. The left overs were mashed and serve as a spread on home made bread. You are my inspiration, all the best!
Thank you so much for all your hard work in bringing no-dig to us via your videos. Always so inspirational ! My no-dig project in SW France is going strong! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !
As always, very interesting and so informative video. Thank you Charles! There is strong winter in Poland this december. For week snowing and now there is 30 cm of snow and still freezing (last weekend -14C). So now I watching your videos and planning my no dig veggie garden for next season. Happy Christmas for you and all your team.
Oh wow! I think, though the snow is better for your plants, I was looking at mine this morning and after -9 C, with no snow and therefore no protection, some of them look so sad! I shall do a follow-up video, maybe after Christmas about how plants have survived or not
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Currently, the garden is covered with snow, which I'm very happy about. In the coming days there will be strong frosts again. I'm most worried about my roses, which I haven't had time to cover. 🙆♂At least now they have a chance to survive this time. In addition, snow will help in the fight against drought, because we have a huge problem with hydrological drought. I'm waiting for the video. Thank you again and best regards.
Thanks for all your video's! So much information. I bought your sewing calendar for 2023 and I am looking forward to starting a new (better organised) vegetable garden at my new home. Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023..
Hey Charles, always enjoy your videos. Wondering if you have considered using chickens in your battle against wire worm? I've seen people use a coop over a bed for a period of time to get rid of pests. Hopefully they'd have a good rummage and do the hard work for you!
Thanks, and for anybody with hens and the ability to make a mobile coop, that's a good idea. I don't want chickens and also we have a lot of foxes here, so they would not last long.
Thanks Charles for this beautiful winter NoDig gardening video. Winter is a period when soil life moves deeper into the soil. To go back to the topsoil with warmer temperatures. A nice time of year for warm winter meals.
A very good non hybrid brussel sprouts variety I grow is called "Auslese Sativa", it is a variety cultivated by Sativa, a Swiss-German organic seeds company. I can highly recommend it. The brussel sprouts are smaller but they are very regular and the plants are beautiful, not messy at all, and VERY frost hardy. Unfortunately the deer think they are excellent as well....
Hi Charles, So much information shared out with a passion that naturally oozes towards your audience during the tours around "Homeacres". Truelly grateful, as you have transformed my gardening outlook. Having a tour around our plot - the moles have ploughed up the woodchip pathways, easily raising the surfaces by 5 - 7 cm in places. Pricisely following the paths with 20 cm high "hills" dotted along. I suspect a hidden worm slaughter has taken place during the last freeze! Merry Christmas to you and all your supporting team. Will be unwrapping your "No Dig" book on Christmas day - Peter
Thank you, Peter, I'm glad to be helping and sorry about your moles! Interesting how they are following the pathways, suggesting that wood chips are encouraging a higher worm population! Enjoy No Dig 🎄
Dear Sir. Firstly I wish you a very happy Christmas and a happy new year. I have been a forester for 40 years and I have been watching this channel for the last few years and I have to say that it has jogged my memory on a few of the things that I have learned 40 years ago… thank you sir
Espero que tengas buen Invierno.En mi zona baja sólo a 6 grados en la noche y se puede plantar muchas hortalizas .He visto muchos vídeos tuyos y así me atrevo a plantar muchas cosas 😂😂😂 Saludos desde Tenerife !! Buenas Navidades para ti y tu familia !! 👏🏻🌸🥕🐞🥦🌿
Nice winter garden, growing amongst the death season…. I can’t believe the southern UK has similar temperatures to Toronto ON, we’ve generally been getting warmer over the recent years, which is unusual. Good idea on the winter shed storage for cold crops, cheers!
U nas w Polsce ciemno, dni krótkie, dużo śniegu. Mam jarmuż, brukselkę, sałatę, kapustę pekińską zasypane śniegiem. Siedzę przy kominku , oglądam i planuję warzywnik na nowy rok. Życzę Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku.
Hi Charles, thanks for sharing! Wireworms seem to really dislike Buckwheat and Brown Mustard, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada recommend a rotation with BW and BM to reduce damage in potatoes. I can't seem to source BM for myself, but BW is surprisingly the better option anyways luckily it was already my favorite cover crop, one more reason to plant it now especially since I'm reclaiming some lawn myself
Charles I giggled with the tomatoes. I pulled up my peppers because our season is so short and oh my goodness we have beautiful fresh peppers in the house in the depths of winter! 🙂
Popped over early from the newsletter, thank you! This was a very special tour to end the year, thank you. I’m encouraged and look forward to seeing the fruits of all of our labours next year! I’m looking forward to Monday here (Thursday now) as I’m finished work and the temperature is hopefully warm enough to spread more compost. Take care Charles and team. The merriest of Christmasses! Tracy 💚
Hi Charles , good to see your garden surviving the frost , but that's only one side of this unusually cold weather . My plants , broad beans , onions , garlic , and all the brassicas have been under 8-10 inches of snow , for a few days now . IYO will any of them survive ??
They actually have a better chance of surviving than mine Andy, because the snow is protecting them from the very low temperatures, which are above the snow!
Since your new ground was grassland for so many years, the wireworms will exist in huge numbers. I think you should try the natural nematode for getting rid of them. You may need to treat for 2 or 3 years, once a year treatment. I've read that the wireworms typically lives very deep in the soil, around 2ft, and comes up to feed about 3 times in the year. I wouldn't use the potato traps, as it's been shown to merely encourage them to reproduce.
Lovely walk around your amazing plot Charles. Re: wood pigeon, yes they are a real menace here and will destroy every brassica plant unless netted 😡 Best wishes Woody 👍
Lovely and inspiring as always! I really appreciate the ways you share your wealth of knowledge. I am just planting some garlic (I live in Florida), and the company I purchased the bulbs from recommends soaking them in peroxide or alcohol for 10 minutes before planting. I am wondering if that would reduce the chance of rust on your plants?
Thank you, Rebecca, and how interesting. As I understand it though, the rust is from the atmosphere, not the soil, rather like potato blight, when it's wet.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig something I've done to eradicate blight is to water the soil with 1-30 to 1-60 , 5% hydrogen peroxide to watering cans in our polytunnels, a good soaking costs a bit but did an amazing job! Better than the huge job of replacing the soil. A stronger solution wipes out pests but likely all soil microbials, unfortunately. However the upshot is it oxygenates the soil and spreading some clean compost rejuvenates the mico-bio thingies... one hopes. Anyway, it worked and the plants are thriving so it's all good. 💖🙏🌻
We have had nothing but constant rain and stormy weather in NZ. BUT when the sun peeks through it is stifling HOT. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing 😅
Hey Charles! Do you think avoiding the cardboard for the initial bed preparation is possible when there is just regular lawn grass underneath? In many places, there are practically no weeds otherwise. kind regards Florian
I come to you under 30cm of snow today! 😁 A nice warm blanket for all my plants. It is a heavy snow though and many of the trees are kissing the ground with the load. All will be well, nature takes care of itself. However you all celebrate the season, I wish it a joyful and restful time for you, your family and your team. It has been a lovely gardening season and everyone has done such a great job. Looking forward to see what 2023 has in store. I can image the team doing a little wassail amongst the beds. Old apple tree we wassail thee And hope that thou shalt bear For the Lord doth know Where we shall be Come apples another year. For to bloom well And to bear well so merry let us be Let every man take off his hat And shout out to the old apple tree. For to bloom well And to bear well so merry let us be Let every man take off his hat And shout out to the old apple tree. Old Apple tree, we worship thee, And hope that thou will bare Hatfuls, capfuls, and three bushel bagfuls A little heap under the stairs. Three cheers for the apple tree: Hip hip horray! Hip hip horray! Hip hip horray! Merry Christmas and a blessed Happy New Year! 😊🍻
I can't believe you haven't hit one million subscribers yet ! If anyone deserves it, it's you. But I'm sure it will happen sooner than later. I can't wait for next spring ! Do you think you can do some winter composting videos ? And some info on soil amendments such as organic fertilizers. IE: Espoma organic vegetable and herb fertilizer, Bone meal, Blood meal, kelp, fish emulsion, etc. 🤔 I value your opinions and expertise. Just spit balling...😁 Stay safe Sir Charles ! 🕊️🙏💟
Thanks so much Robert. Actually I feel like I'm going out of fashion because subscriber numbers are not rising anymore or only slowly. I think the algorithms promote regular short videos. Those ideas ... would be short videos! Because I don't advocate much compost making in winter, nor do I suggest using those organic fertilisers, an interesting topic though!
I've lost so many establishing seedlings to wire worm this year - onions in particular. Do you have any advice in getting rid of them or preventing them from being as numerous next year? Lovely video, as always :)
Thank you so much Charles and your team for sharing your knowledge with the gardening world! I have never been so excited to stop digging and start no dig this Spring. All the way from Canada, take good care!
Morning Charles, I’m always jealous when I see your garden. Ha. I love all the winter veggies. Brussel sprouts looked great. Take care my friend. God blessings to y’all. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
Thank you for being so honest with your trials! I’ve been struggling with things not going right and seeing that it’s not perfect even for season pros gives me a bit of hope so thank you! Have a lovely Christmas and New Year!
Charles your book is just magic & I am half way through as I like to absorb knowledge from your writings. Wow it looks cold over there- we are having 35c days but I am loving it- Garden not so much - but still surviving. Merry Christmas to you & all of your Family, I hope it is a beautiful time for you. Love your Friend Denise- Australia.
That's lovely feedback Denise, and happy Christmas to you as well. I'm pleased you have the warmth because I've heard a lot from other parts of Australia and New Zealand where it's been cold and wet, even in mid-summer.
It was very interesting to see how much frost some things can survive. I live in Cornwall and don’t remember having frost that doesn’t thaw by lunchtime before , it’s been frozen for a week or more, fortunately I put a thick mulch on my Dahlias, so fingers crossed they will survive. But I was worried my Broad beans won’t survive this much frost. I’m hopeful now they may come through it, I thought I may sow more indoors in January to boost the crop. Thanks again Charles without you I would never have been able to continue gardening I’m 74 but no dig means so much less work .Happy Christmas and a healthy Prosperous new year to you and your family xx
Great tour, certainly gave me ideas for this coming season. I think it's been at least 35 yrs ago maybe 40, Eliot and Barbra had a garden show on public tv, I loved watching them. I remember one winter segment, they trudged thru 8 - 10 inches of snow to their poly tunnel where they were growing root veg, he commented they lived in zone 5, but it was zone 7 inside the tunnel. I'm 64 and remember so much from those shows, as with your videos, I remember so much from you too. Thank you again for sharing all your knowledge as well, really do appreciate it. Charles, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Seasons greetings from the west of Ireland! Thank you Charles for all your videos and generosity in 2022. I am already looking forward to my 3rd year of no dig.. I wish you and yours all the best for 2023 !!
👏👏 well done . I took your advice and planted carrots 🥕 for our fall crop and even tho the hole spacing was wide using landscape fabric we had a bountiful harvest
We are still under several inches of snow. The netted cage suffered a major collapse but the plants underneath are all OK but a bit frozen! Great to see how well the no dig plot did re the dug bed. My experience of fleece used on the East facing bit of the garden was disastrous- no plants surviving due to loss of light I think. Seasons greeting to you. I can't wait for the new season to start. No dig is so exciting!
It's lovely to hear your excitement, and also that's interesting about fleece on the east side. It's true that it keeps light off and I'm looking forward to rolling it up on Sunday when is going to be warmer
Thank you Charles for all of your help throughout the year. So glad I found you here and on Instagram. A very Happy Christmas to you and yours from me and mine. Stay safe ☺️
It's starting to get a little chilly here now, in comparison to the tropical temps of summer (14 degrees C at night and about 27 in the day). My friend came to see my no dig raised beds and he was gobsmacked as to how healthy my plants looked. My 2 year old bed is just outstanding, it is producing some great Swiss chard, Chinese radish and also fairly big cauliflowers (they seem to start bolting around fist size) with very little pest damage :) I think I now know why my tomato plants died so rapidly, I had them planted in between a lot of Cauliflowers, radish and kale, I have been told that tomatoes don't companion well with brassicas so I think this, as well as the heat, did for them. I am constantly learning. Great video Charles, thanks. P.S. I am really enjoying your new book, I just love the cover :)
I added a couple of beds to my backyard garden. I put them in right around no-dig day, with turnips, cauliflower and spinach. They are growing slow but have roots in the ground. Thank you for all your guidance and encouragement. Happy holidays!
charles. im curious why do you prefer your wider beds the 1/5meters as opposed to thinner beds. is it less work? i always found the thinner rows are easier to harvest. THANK YOU
My favourite width is 1.2 m with 40 cm pathways. That makes a good use of space with not too much path as % of area.. Plus, 1.2m width makes good use of 2 m wide covers, that's an efficient use of time and space. I have a few beds, 1.5 m and find them a little wide, but easy to harvest from because we sometimes walk on beds. You can put your foot on the beds, that does not compact soil with no dig
A great big thank you for all the great video’s throughout the year,we too have spread our compost on our beds & you have converted us to no dig,happy Christmas to you all from a very cold Wolverhampton.
Rusted garlic (Puccinia sp). You might apply tea of nettles over their leaves, I have studied that it activates defensive system of some plants. I think that it is not 100% effective but it could reduce the intensity of this fungy illness. I am going to test it on my garlics.
Why does the world DIG? Large scale agriculture would never have enough compost to support No Dig practices. The best they can do is grow a cover crop and turn it in before planting. There is much talk about soil loss and reduced organic matter due to large scale agriculture practices. We can only hope it gets sorted out because the alternative is Grimm.
I must emphasise Jason that here, I am talking about gardeners and anyone working on a hand scale. I an v aware of the different emphasis in scaling up, I have grown 7 acres of vegetables in the 1980s, for example. And I used less compost. Plus if you notice in that trial here, the same amount of compost gives this year 20% more food with No-Dig, meaning that you need less compost when you switch to No-Dig.
I am in zone 9 in the US. On cold dry nights, the areas of my lawn that have tree cover don't accumulate frost, while areas that have an unobstructed view of the cold vacuum of space, do.
That's a very good point. If only trees and tree roots worked better with vegetables! This summer near to my cherry tree, plants were small, because it was so good at pulling out the moisture!
You must have a German visitor recently bringing you a new fleece and gloves. It appears that all Germans get there work clothing from that brand. My parents live 30min from there outlet. You need to get one of there gardening trousers, I wear them all the time not only for gardening.
Thank you for the December tour Charles. I'm intrigued to see what has survived in our garden come the thaw today and tomorrow as the salad in our polytunnel looks very sorry for itself as do the beetroot outside. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Another great video, thanks Charles. I grew some oca myself and had great foliage throughout the season and was looking forward to trying them for the first time. I left it all in place until after the harsh frosts and the ground had defrosted a bit only to discover that there was nothing at all in the soil, I think that the mice had taken the whole lot. Not sure what can be done, mice get everywhere and there aren't many cats at the allotment!
I'm so sorry to hear that, and it has happened to me in the past as well. Just possibly there would have been a harvest before the cold weather, but mice seem to find them often just before we do!
Thank you for sharing anything and everything Charles. I have learned a lot from you since I started my allotment now into my third year. Im not fully no-dig but I’m converting each bed I took over on the plot as I can. Getting the right compost and the compost right is big step 1. My surrounding traditional allotmenteers think I’m a bit of a nut following some bloke on TH-cam! But they have looked covetously at some of my results, with less weeding I might add! Minus their rotovators. I gave up Christmas several years ago and I’m not going to wish you a good rest because I doubt you do much of that! But thank you very very much for sharing all you have learned. 26:05
The radishes look fantastic, and I hope your Mammoths are doing just as well. I was totally amused by the thought of you having a haunted Poly Tunnel too 🤣
@@CharlesDowding1nodig I really like them, and yes they don't have the traditional Radish pep to them. I find they taste like the part closest to the skin on a water melon. Also great for me in place of potatoes in stews/soups.
Добрый день. Скажите, как вы боретесь с личинкой майского жука, который живых в почве? У меня на грядке живëт жук косильщик. От него можно избавиться только если копать грядки.
Is it me or has Floris Books dumbed down the Maria Thun BD Calendar? A call from me demanding the old pamphlet format won't get far; maybe they'll listen to you.
Mi piace molto il tuo canale e il contenuto dei tuoi video!! Molto presto sperimenterò anche io il compost! Intanto provo a fare l'orto. Grazie per i tuoi consigli.
Charles, the wooden posts used to hold the pigeon netting, do you set them in concrete? Im guessing not but idk. Is the depth of their hole 1/3 the length of the post? Im sure you have heard that rule of thumb, but perhaps you found something else more to your liking for that particular application. Thanks! I ask because I have always wanted to put up bird netting over my entire garden 8 feet high, but have always balked at the cost. I might do it one day. But in the meantime a more localized approach like you do is something I will try. Thanks again!!!!
Actually Ted they no more than a foot in the ground. The horizontal cross-support battens give stability and also the soil here is heavy and dense, no dig (!) so that holds them well.
Thank you and Happy Christmas 🎄. I'm wondering, on the over winter cauliflower...if the pigeons do eat the leaves will it come back? I had a chicken get out and get into my overwinter cauliflower. She really did a number on my plants.... can't figure out how she got in because it's netted. Thanks
Gah, those eggs are expensive then! They should have nice orange yolks, and the plants will probably grow back, but the ultimate harvest will probably be smaller!
I blamed my chicken...it was a rabbit. Very destructive! I had netted my winter crops and we have a perimeter fence to keep them and deer out. Rabbit still found a way to get in. Much was lost, but what wasn't chewed to the ground I reinforced and left to see if they'll still produce something. This is overwintering cauliflower and broccoli. I noticed yesterday that they are sprouting at the top of their leafless stems! So I'm hopeful I'll get something.
Thanks Charles for your priceless guidance throughout the year. Next years calendar is already hung up and ready to rock and roll. Wishing you and your family (and your family by extension-us) a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hopefully a few relaxing days off!
I hope you have a Happy Christmas and Merry New Year. This also goes to your team that help make all this amazing content happen. I am just starting a No Dig vegetable garden thanks to your videos, it will be 7 beds each about 4 ft wide by 40ft long, I am just waiting for the ground to thaw a bit so I can start work. Your No Dig methods make so much sense and I hope that many other people start using them over the coming years. If you ever come over to the Isle of Man to do a talk, I will be there! Enjoy your time off and stay safe and warm.
So interesting! 💚 Will try mustard as green manure after this. Would be awesome if it can help keep of wireworm! And that radish looks really tasty! Would love to try that aswell. Wonder if I can find seed for that here in Sweden... 🙃 Thank you Charles! 🌷
Just wanted to say thank you for getting me gardening, Charles! I did your garlic course back in November 2021 -- literally just chucked down some boxes, stuck a small wooden frame around some compost - and everything developed from there. Now I have turned half my garden into a veg patch! The transformation has been amazing and I've been so happy out there all year (there's a video on my channel if you want to see what you helped create.) You've honestly changed my life! I hope you have a lovely Christmas ☺
That's amazing Katie, I had a quick look and love your down-to-earth attitude.
May your garden continue to develop nicely
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks Charles. What an honour 😊🥰
Whenever I feel a little down on gardening all I have to do is watch one of your videos. I immediately feel calm and remember why I started gardening in the first place. Much love to you Charles!!!
Thanks so much Valerie, happy to help! 💚
The Coastal area of Northern Maine is very Brutal in the winter months especially near the opening to the Bay of Fundy where i operated my 23 acre farm. I could barely grow any field crops and mostly produced in Greenhouses with Thermal ground based heating until i sold the farm in 2021 after my wife's passing and moved to Central Virginia where i can year around crop almost anything in Greenhouses and outside due to it's classification of being a sub-tropical zone. I'm building three new greenhouse, one i just completed this past week and i'm starting the next identical Gothic style 20'ft. by 45' Foot GH, And the third GH will be a new self cooling design referred to as a NVAC overlapping roof venting style Greenhouse. Thanks for the most relaxing stress relieving videos on TH-cam Charles.
What an amazing history and how interesting. That does sound like a difficult climate, and it's so good you've managed to upgrade! Not to mention the exciting greenhouse designs.
I'm really pleased you like my videos and wish you a good year ahead.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you my friend.And the same good luck to you and yours.
Good morning Charles! You are gardening like a Canadian this year. My greenhouse is still producing lettuce but will have to shut it down soon cold and snow is coming before X-mas. Thank you for all you do on your channel. South West Ontario.
Wow! That's incredible! You make me want to build a green house, im from Québec I thought it was a little bit a waste of time to do so. Definitely worth it as I can see.
Cheers Dave, glad you have the early winter mild!!
@@Im-just-Stardust You don't have to spend a lot of money. It can give you 8to 10 weeks on your growing season.
@@daveknight1154 Impressive! Will definitely keep my eyes open for material for it.
@@Im-just-Stardust I posted mine recently @ dave knight 1154
ROCK ON BRUSSELS SPROUT LOVERS OF THE WORLD !!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear you mention Eliot Coleman, such a classy move. He really did a great work at turning a lot of people on to good growing practices. Interesting to see you incorporate a bit of technique that was important to them, but modified to your particular climate and situation. Well done, Charles, and well explained, made perfect sense to me. Thanks!
Cheers Ted! Happy to hear that
Thank you for being so authentic. I always feel like it's a tug a war in gardening world. Do this, don't do that. You make it real with your trials and comparisons. I built new compost bins with your example and having so much fun playing with it. You are a gift. Thanks for making the world a better place and using your time to make all of us that found you better humans! Have a healthy and happy holiday season.
Ah so nice Lori thanks 😀, and I hope to reach many more next year 💚, happy 🎄
wow wow wow. auf so vielen ebenen ein mega projekt! Ich wünsche dir alles gute!
🏆 danke
As a gardener in a northern continental climate this video was very insightful on how to deal with cold weather. The garden here is currently buried under snow... I am still attempting to overwinter a few things though. Your books and videos help me get through the long winter season. Thank you so much for all you do!
Cheers Derek. The good news is that snow protects from cold!
Thank you so much. I am going to miss it, being with you in the garden for the next weeks. It has become my great pleasure since I started watching your channel this late summer. Have a wonderful time yourself!
That's nice! I have videos to post :)!
I love your videos! My garden is a mess right now. Oh well, it's winter. I didn't plant a fall garden this year. My spring and summer garden were so successful that I really didn't need more! Oh yes, no dig is the BEST! I grow potatoes in leaf compost and wow, easy and productive. Thanks for making it all make sense. I was doing no dig before it was cool :D
Sounds great, except for weeds now 😫 would bother me!!
Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you Charles and the team.
Cheers Simon
As always, so informative. It is simply delightful to see so much happening in what might otherwise seem like ‘the dead’ of winter. To all of your team a happy and blessed Christmas from Vancouver Island.
Thanks Edward
So good to see you and visit your garden.
It's been crazy weather in 2022, blazing heat and now record breaking freezing temperatures.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Charles!
Oh wow! Hope the cold is ok for you and thanks Naomi
WE HAVE A FEELING HE ALMOST ATE THAT BRUSSELS SPROUT !!!!!!!
Thank you for helping me start my vegetable growing adventure with confidence and success. Your channel was the first I came across (multi sowing onions!) and I fell in love with your approach. All my beds are new, started with cardboard and old horse manure/compost. Its been such a rewarding journey supported along the way by your video guidance, books and calendar. Thank you so much. Happy Christmas to you and your team. Here’s hoping it’s a great season for everyone growing next year! Karen x
Bravo Karen, I'm delighted you found the videos and wish you a great 2023
Thank you so much Charles and team. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all your videos this year and I’ve learnt so much!!! Which I have put into practice and have produced some great crops of salad,potatoes and a few more. I got my timings wrong this year and I’ve learnt that timing is very important from seed to planting, so that’s my goal for next year and not forgetting to work on the composting. I’m hoping Santa will be bringing me your new books 🤗. I’d like to wish you all a very Blessed Christmas and New year. Thank you for all you do, God bless.
What a lovely comment and I wish you even better results next year. Happy Christmas Helen Helen
I started Winter gardening about 12 years ago. Our climate here on Whidbey island is similar to yours. What inspired me was your book I found at the library and then bought How To Grow Winter Vegetables and a pamphlet on the same topic from West Coast Seeds in BC Canada. I've been Winter gardening every since and in some ways prefer it. Very satisfying getting fresh vegetables without going to the store. Thank you
That is wonderful! Good ol' libraries
Love all your videos! Maybe we could see a pretty unstructured video of a normal day in the running of your garden, to see the weeding, harvesting and other jobs you do on any given day.
Thank you, that's an interesting thought, and would need a videographer to be here all day, or we could work something out!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Yeah, but you get everything free right? like all the students from the agri college. I'm sure there are plenty of students with the requisite skills...
Watched a video on tools and using them in the garden that was really good!
A big virtual hug and season greetings Sir Charles. With your infectuos (?Genglish) enthusiasm I have managed first time this year to get fully compost independant with almost 4 full cubicmeters that I can happily spread on to the beds now. Your no dig cook book arrived eventually in Germany and I tried the pumpkin beet root feta roast first. So simple and yet so delicious. The left overs were mashed and serve as a spread on home made bread. You are my inspiration, all the best!
I'm so happy to see this, and congratulations because 4 m³ is a lot. Your English is excellent by the way 💚
Thank you so much for all your hard work in bringing no-dig to us via your videos. Always so inspirational ! My no-dig project in SW France is going strong! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !
You are welcome Sue and that is good news.
I was 6 years in Astaffort 47!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Astaffort is just about an hour away from me! I am the other side of Agen, near Villeneuve sur Lot! Small world. 😊
@@CharlesDowding1nodig and my family are in Somerset!!!
So funny, and I know Villeneuve for sure, a lovely area
As always, very interesting and so informative video. Thank you Charles! There is strong winter in Poland this december. For week snowing and now there is 30 cm of snow and still freezing (last weekend -14C). So now I watching your videos and planning my no dig veggie garden for next season. Happy Christmas for you and all your team.
Oh wow! I think, though the snow is better for your plants, I was looking at mine this morning and after -9 C, with no snow and therefore no protection, some of them look so sad! I shall do a follow-up video, maybe after Christmas about how plants have survived or not
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Currently, the garden is covered with snow, which I'm very happy about. In the coming days there will be strong frosts again. I'm most worried about my roses, which I haven't had time to cover. 🙆♂At least now they have a chance to survive this time. In addition, snow will help in the fight against drought, because we have a huge problem with hydrological drought. I'm waiting for the video. Thank you again and best regards.
Thanks for all your video's! So much information.
I bought your sewing calendar for 2023 and I am looking forward to starting a new (better organised) vegetable garden at my new home. Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023..
Cheers Monique, and that sounds good. Have a great 2023
Wow, you always do an amazing job. You've inspired me. One day, I would love to visit England again and actually see your garden in person.
Cool hope to see you 🍀 and thanks
Hey Charles, always enjoy your videos. Wondering if you have considered using chickens in your battle against wire worm? I've seen people use a coop over a bed for a period of time to get rid of pests. Hopefully they'd have a good rummage and do the hard work for you!
Thanks, and for anybody with hens and the ability to make a mobile coop, that's a good idea. I don't want chickens and also we have a lot of foxes here, so they would not last long.
Thanks Charles for this beautiful winter NoDig gardening video. Winter is a period when soil life moves deeper into the soil. To go back to the topsoil with warmer temperatures. A nice time of year for warm winter meals.
A very good non hybrid brussel sprouts variety I grow is called "Auslese Sativa", it is a variety cultivated by Sativa, a Swiss-German organic seeds company. I can highly recommend it. The brussel sprouts are smaller but they are very regular and the plants are beautiful, not messy at all, and VERY frost hardy. Unfortunately the deer think they are excellent as well....
So interesting thanks, sorry about the deer!
Hi Charles,
So much information shared out with a passion that naturally oozes towards your audience during the tours around "Homeacres". Truelly grateful, as you have transformed my gardening outlook. Having a tour around our plot - the moles have ploughed up the woodchip pathways, easily raising the surfaces by 5 - 7 cm in places. Pricisely following the paths with 20 cm high "hills" dotted along. I suspect a hidden worm slaughter has taken place during the last freeze! Merry Christmas to you and all your supporting team. Will be unwrapping your "No Dig" book on Christmas day - Peter
Thank you, Peter, I'm glad to be helping and sorry about your moles! Interesting how they are following the pathways, suggesting that wood chips are encouraging a higher worm population!
Enjoy No Dig 🎄
The moles get in and around alot been puzzled what to do about them!?
Dear Sir. Firstly I wish you a very happy Christmas and a happy new year. I have been a forester for 40 years and I have been watching this channel for the last few years and I have to say that it has jogged my memory on a few of the things that I have learned 40 years ago… thank you sir
Well, this is a nice comment and it's my pleasure Philip
Espero que tengas buen Invierno.En mi zona baja sólo a 6 grados en la noche y se puede plantar muchas hortalizas .He visto muchos vídeos tuyos y así me atrevo a plantar muchas cosas 😂😂😂 Saludos desde Tenerife !! Buenas Navidades para ti y tu familia !! 👏🏻🌸🥕🐞🥦🌿
How did the mustard growing over the garlic turn out?
I was hoping for an update in the May tour, but can't spot it.
Nice winter garden, growing amongst the death season…. I can’t believe the southern UK has similar temperatures to Toronto ON, we’ve generally been getting warmer over the recent years, which is unusual. Good idea on the winter shed storage for cold crops, cheers!
How odd, you are warmer than Tennessee I think, and I'm afraid it won't last! Have a great Christmas
I want to thank your tips for vegetables garden in cold weather . You've inspired me . Merry Christmas to all !
Thank you! You too!
Thank you, sir, I love your work. Merry Christmas and prosperity to you and everyone around you!
U nas w Polsce ciemno, dni krótkie, dużo śniegu. Mam jarmuż, brukselkę, sałatę, kapustę pekińską zasypane śniegiem. Siedzę przy kominku , oglądam i planuję warzywnik na nowy rok. Życzę Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku.
Bardzo ładnie Ci idzie Marta!
Hi Charles, thanks for sharing! Wireworms seem to really dislike Buckwheat and Brown Mustard, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada recommend a rotation with BW and BM to reduce damage in potatoes. I can't seem to source BM for myself, but BW is surprisingly the better option anyways luckily it was already my favorite cover crop, one more reason to plant it now especially since I'm reclaiming some lawn myself
Thanks for the info!
Charles I giggled with the tomatoes. I pulled up my peppers because our season is so short and oh my goodness we have beautiful fresh peppers in the house in the depths of winter! 🙂
So funny Lisa, good to hear!
Thank you for tour. Hope your Christmas is a happy one. God bless.
🎄thanks Sonnya
Popped over early from the newsletter, thank you! This was a very special tour to end the year, thank you. I’m encouraged and look forward to seeing the fruits of all of our labours next year! I’m looking forward to Monday here (Thursday now) as I’m finished work and the temperature is hopefully warm enough to spread more compost. Take care Charles and team. The merriest of Christmasses! Tracy 💚
So cool Tracy, enjoy your pre-Christmas gardening 🎄
Hi Charles , good to see your garden surviving the frost , but that's only one side of this unusually cold weather . My plants , broad beans , onions , garlic , and all the brassicas have been under 8-10 inches of snow , for a few days now . IYO will any of them survive ??
They actually have a better chance of surviving than mine Andy, because the snow is protecting them from the very low temperatures, which are above the snow!
Since your new ground was grassland for so many years, the wireworms will exist in huge numbers. I think you should try the natural nematode for getting rid of them. You may need to treat for 2 or 3 years, once a year treatment.
I've read that the wireworms typically lives very deep in the soil, around 2ft, and comes up to feed about 3 times in the year.
I wouldn't use the potato traps, as it's been shown to merely encourage them to reproduce.
Thanks Clare
Lovely walk around your amazing plot Charles. Re: wood pigeon, yes they are a real menace here and will destroy every brassica plant unless netted 😡
Best wishes
Woody 👍
Cheers Woody. Bah pigeons.
Gracias por sus interesantes explicaciones.
Su trabajo y dedicación son admirables y aprendo mucho desde España!
Feliz Navidad!!! :)
I am happy to read this Feliz 💚
For the depths of winter Homeacres is looking well kept and organised, even whilst the weather is working against our efforts for a few months.
Thanks so much 🎄
Lovely and inspiring as always! I really appreciate the ways you share your wealth of knowledge.
I am just planting some garlic (I live in Florida), and the company I purchased the bulbs from recommends soaking them in peroxide or alcohol for 10 minutes before planting. I am wondering if that would reduce the chance of rust on your plants?
Thank you, Rebecca, and how interesting. As I understand it though, the rust is from the atmosphere, not the soil, rather like potato blight, when it's wet.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig something I've done to eradicate blight is to water the soil with 1-30 to 1-60 , 5% hydrogen peroxide to watering cans in our polytunnels, a good soaking costs a bit but did an amazing job! Better than the huge job of replacing the soil. A stronger solution wipes out pests but likely all soil microbials, unfortunately. However the upshot is it oxygenates the soil and spreading some clean compost rejuvenates the mico-bio thingies... one hopes. Anyway, it worked and the plants are thriving so it's all good.
💖🙏🌻
We have had nothing but constant rain and stormy weather in NZ. BUT when the sun peeks through it is stifling HOT. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing 😅
Does not sound good to me, mostly the lack of sunshine reduces growth
Hope you have a happy holidays Charles, if we don't see you before Christmas, have a nice one my friend.
So nice thanks
Thank you Charles!!! Your videos are so inspiring to me!!!
💚
Thank you for the rich information you give in your videos and I wish you, your family and collaborators a great Christmas!
Thank you 🎄
Hey Charles!
Do you think avoiding the cardboard for the initial bed preparation is possible when there is just regular lawn grass underneath?
In many places, there are practically no weeds otherwise.
kind regards
Florian
Yes, absolutely, as long as there is a good 7 to 10 cm, 3 to 4 inches of compost on the grass
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you very much Charles, will do that!
I come to you under 30cm of snow today! 😁 A nice warm blanket for all my plants. It is a heavy snow though and many of the trees are kissing the ground with the load. All will be well, nature takes care of itself.
However you all celebrate the season, I wish it a joyful and restful time for you, your family and your team. It has been a lovely gardening season and everyone has done such a great job. Looking forward to see what 2023 has in store. I can image the team doing a little wassail amongst the beds.
Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hope that thou shalt bear
For the Lord doth know
Where we shall be
Come apples another year.
For to bloom well
And to bear well so merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout out to the old apple tree.
For to bloom well
And to bear well so merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout out to the old apple tree.
Old Apple tree, we worship thee,
And hope that thou will bare
Hatfuls, capfuls, and three bushel bagfuls
A little heap under the stairs.
Three cheers for the apple tree:
Hip hip horray!
Hip hip horray!
Hip hip horray!
Merry Christmas and a blessed Happy New Year! 😊🍻
I can't believe you haven't hit one million subscribers yet ! If anyone deserves it, it's you. But I'm sure it will happen sooner than later. I can't wait for next spring ! Do you think you can do some winter composting videos ? And some info on soil amendments such as organic fertilizers. IE: Espoma organic vegetable and herb fertilizer, Bone meal, Blood meal, kelp, fish emulsion, etc. 🤔 I value your opinions and expertise. Just spit balling...😁 Stay safe Sir Charles ! 🕊️🙏💟
Thanks so much Robert. Actually I feel like I'm going out of fashion because subscriber numbers are not rising anymore or only slowly. I think the algorithms promote regular short videos.
Those ideas ... would be short videos! Because I don't advocate much compost making in winter, nor do I suggest using those organic fertilisers, an interesting topic though!
Thankyou Charles,you have inspired us through 2022,we wish you the very best for the festive season and look forward to your next post
Nice. thanks
Thanks for the tour of your garden and good info along with it.
SYNAPSIS !!!! THE BRAIN MUSTARD !!!!!
😂 good brain you have!
Merry Christmas to you too.
Thanks for all of your posts this past year. I continue to learn and be inspired by your efforts.
You are appreciated!
Happy to hear that 💚
I've lost so many establishing seedlings to wire worm this year - onions in particular. Do you have any advice in getting rid of them or preventing them from being as numerous next year? Lovely video, as always :)
Thanks Isla and I am not sure!
Thank you so much Charles and your team for sharing your knowledge with the gardening world! I have never been so excited to stop digging and start no dig this Spring. All the way from Canada, take good care!
Our pleasure and lovely to see this :)
Hope you do well in Canada! This will be my first year of trying no-dig also here in Michigan. Very interesting Man, Thank you Charles!
Morning Charles, I’m always jealous when I see your garden. Ha. I love all the winter veggies. Brussel sprouts looked great. Take care my friend. God blessings to y’all. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
That time when jealousy is OK and welcome
Thanks so much Steven. From what you say here, Arkansas has colder winters, or perhaps some lower temperatures. We are pretty fortunate here
Thank you for being so honest with your trials! I’ve been struggling with things not going right and seeing that it’s not perfect even for season pros gives me a bit of hope so thank you! Have a lovely Christmas and New Year!
You are so welcome!
Charles your book is just magic & I am half way through as I like to absorb knowledge from your writings. Wow it looks cold over there- we are having 35c days but I am loving it- Garden not so much - but still surviving. Merry Christmas to you & all of your Family, I hope it is a beautiful time for you. Love your Friend Denise- Australia.
That's lovely feedback Denise, and happy Christmas to you as well. I'm pleased you have the warmth because I've heard a lot from other parts of Australia and New Zealand where it's been cold and wet, even in mid-summer.
It was very interesting to see how much frost some things can survive. I live in Cornwall and don’t remember having frost that doesn’t thaw by lunchtime before , it’s been frozen for a week or more, fortunately I put a thick mulch on my Dahlias, so fingers crossed they will survive. But I was worried my Broad beans won’t survive this much frost. I’m hopeful now they may come through it, I thought I may sow more indoors in January to boost the crop. Thanks again Charles without you I would never have been able to continue gardening I’m 74 but no dig means so much less work .Happy Christmas and a healthy Prosperous new year to you and your family xx
This is encouraging Lynda, good idea to sow more beans and happy Christmas to you! x
Great tour, certainly gave me ideas for this coming season. I think it's been at least 35 yrs ago maybe 40, Eliot and Barbra had a garden show on public tv, I loved watching them. I remember one winter segment, they trudged thru 8 - 10 inches of snow to their poly tunnel where they were growing root veg, he commented they lived in zone 5, but it was zone 7 inside the tunnel. I'm 64 and remember so much from those shows, as with your videos, I remember so much from you too. Thank you again for sharing all your knowledge as well, really do appreciate it. Charles, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks Wendy, and I'm honoured to be bracketed with Barbara and Eliot, what a great couple, Clara too
Seasons greetings from the west of Ireland! Thank you Charles for all your videos and generosity in 2022. I am already looking forward to my 3rd year of no dig.. I wish you and yours all the best for 2023 !!
That's nice, and happy new year!
👏👏 well done . I took your advice and planted carrots 🥕 for our fall crop and even tho the hole spacing was wide using landscape fabric we had a bountiful harvest
Good to hear!!
Merry Christmas Charles and a wonderful New Year to you and yours!! 😁🎉🎊🎁
Cheers Roy
We are still under several inches of snow. The netted cage suffered a major collapse but the plants underneath are all OK but a bit frozen! Great to see how well the no dig plot did re the dug bed. My experience of fleece used on the East facing bit of the garden was disastrous- no plants surviving due to loss of light I think.
Seasons greeting to you. I can't wait for the new season to start. No dig is so exciting!
It's lovely to hear your excitement, and also that's interesting about fleece on the east side. It's true that it keeps light off and I'm looking forward to rolling it up on Sunday when is going to be warmer
Thank you Charles for all of your help throughout the year. So glad I found you here and on Instagram. A very Happy Christmas to you and yours from me and mine. Stay safe ☺️
You are very welcome Vicki, nice to hear, may the sun shine on you
It's starting to get a little chilly here now, in comparison to the tropical temps of summer (14 degrees C at night and about 27 in the day). My friend came to see my no dig raised beds and he was gobsmacked as to how healthy my plants looked. My 2 year old bed is just outstanding, it is producing some great Swiss chard, Chinese radish and also fairly big cauliflowers (they seem to start bolting around fist size) with very little pest damage :) I think I now know why my tomato plants died so rapidly, I had them planted in between a lot of Cauliflowers, radish and kale, I have been told that tomatoes don't companion well with brassicas so I think this, as well as the heat, did for them. I am constantly learning. Great video Charles, thanks. P.S. I am really enjoying your new book, I just love the cover :)
Haha a cool 27!!
Great advert for no dig.
“Why does the world dig”? Words to live by for all of us “in the know”!
Thank you Charles and team for the fantastic content! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and all the success for the new year! 🎄🎁😊❤️
Thanks, and same to you!
I only have a small garden, and use nasturtiums for green compost
Thanks for all you do to teach us!! Love, from USA
I added a couple of beds to my backyard garden. I put them in right around no-dig day, with turnips, cauliflower and spinach. They are growing slow but have roots in the ground. Thank you for all your guidance and encouragement. Happy holidays!
Sounds great James and thankyou
charles. im curious why do you prefer your wider beds the 1/5meters as opposed to thinner beds. is it less work? i always found the thinner rows are easier to harvest. THANK YOU
My favourite width is 1.2 m with 40 cm pathways. That makes a good use of space with not too much path as % of area..
Plus, 1.2m width makes good use of 2 m wide covers, that's an efficient use of time and space.
I have a few beds, 1.5 m and find them a little wide, but easy to harvest from because we sometimes walk on beds. You can put your foot on the beds, that does not compact soil with no dig
A great big thank you for all the great video’s throughout the year,we too have spread our compost on our beds & you have converted us to no dig,happy Christmas to you all from a very cold Wolverhampton.
Our pleasure Jackie, good to hear
Rusted garlic (Puccinia sp).
You might apply tea of nettles over their leaves, I have studied that it activates defensive system of some plants. I think that it is not 100% effective but it could reduce the intensity of this fungy illness. I am going to test it on my garlics.
Thanks Ismael
Why does the world DIG? Large scale agriculture would never have enough compost to support No Dig practices. The best they can do is grow a cover crop and turn it in before planting. There is much talk about soil loss and reduced organic matter due to large scale agriculture practices. We can only hope it gets sorted out because the alternative is Grimm.
I must emphasise Jason that here, I am talking about gardeners and anyone working on a hand scale. I an v aware of the different emphasis in scaling up, I have grown 7 acres of vegetables in the 1980s, for example. And I used less compost.
Plus if you notice in that trial here, the same amount of compost gives this year 20% more food with No-Dig, meaning that you need less compost when you switch to No-Dig.
I am in zone 9 in the US. On cold dry nights, the areas of my lawn that have tree cover don't accumulate frost, while areas that have an unobstructed view of the cold vacuum of space, do.
That's a very good point. If only trees and tree roots worked better with vegetables! This summer near to my cherry tree, plants were small, because it was so good at pulling out the moisture!
You must have a German visitor recently bringing you a new fleece and gloves. It appears that all Germans get there work clothing from that brand. My parents live 30min from there outlet. You need to get one of there gardening trousers, I wear them all the time not only for gardening.
So funny, I wondered if you might notice and I bought it just recently. I've been using their clothes] for 14 years!
CD, this isn't your usual 4' wide bed. I'll listen carefully to see if the answer is within the video, but, up front, I'm wondering what gives.
Ha ha, yes, I guess you're referring to the flat area where I have broad beans, right and mustard and so far no birds at all!
Thank you for the December tour Charles. I'm intrigued to see what has survived in our garden come the thaw today and tomorrow as the salad in our polytunnel looks very sorry for itself as do the beetroot outside. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Fingers crossed for you. Beetroot I think, kaput!
Another great video, thanks Charles. I grew some oca myself and had great foliage throughout the season and was looking forward to trying them for the first time. I left it all in place until after the harsh frosts and the ground had defrosted a bit only to discover that there was nothing at all in the soil, I think that the mice had taken the whole lot. Not sure what can be done, mice get everywhere and there aren't many cats at the allotment!
I'm so sorry to hear that, and it has happened to me in the past as well. Just possibly there would have been a harvest before the cold weather, but mice seem to find them often just before we do!
Thank you for sharing anything and everything Charles. I have learned a lot from you since I started my allotment now into my third year. Im not fully no-dig but I’m converting each bed I took over on the plot as I can. Getting the right compost and the compost right is big step 1. My surrounding traditional allotmenteers think I’m a bit of a nut following some bloke on TH-cam! But they have looked covetously at some of my results, with less weeding I might add! Minus their rotovators. I gave up Christmas several years ago and I’m not going to wish you a good rest because I doubt you do much of that! But thank you very very much for sharing all you have learned. 26:05
So nice to see Pat, they should get more interested with every succeeding you, and you are almost right!
Happy Christmas!! I took on a new allotment in October and I ve been enjoying setting it up using no dig. Love the green radishes!
Sounds great! and thanks
The radishes look fantastic, and I hope your Mammoths are doing just as well. I was totally amused by the thought of you having a haunted Poly Tunnel too 🤣
Fingers crossed Suzanne! Mammoth are big! less flavour, and thanks
@@CharlesDowding1nodig I really like them, and yes they don't have the traditional Radish pep to them. I find they taste like the part closest to the skin on a water melon. Also great for me in place of potatoes in stews/soups.
Very Interesting tour Charles and wish you & your family & team health and happiness in 2023.
Cheers John and I wish you the same
Merry Christmas Charles! Thank you for all you amazing videos and hard work!
🎄
Добрый день. Скажите, как вы боретесь с личинкой майского жука, который живых в почве? У меня на грядке живëт жук косильщик. От него можно избавиться только если копать грядки.
Я их не терплю! Интересно, есть ли у него хищники, и каждый раз, когда вы копаете, вы их убиваете. Хотя я предполагаю!
I had a few mice and a pregnant rat living in compost bin a few weeks ago so I removed the card covering it. It's now mammal free but rather cold.
The choice!!
Is it me or has Floris Books dumbed down the Maria Thun BD Calendar? A call from me demanding the old pamphlet format won't get far; maybe they'll listen to you.
I have not seen it yet, and I hope not! Dumbing down is the spirit of the age.
Wonderful tour
Your winter garden is the epitome of bounty, even in the darkest days, and hope for the coming season. Very uplifting, thanks for sharing Sir!
💚🎶 thanks Carole
Wonderful inspiration as always (so much produce!) Warmest of regards for the season!
Many thanks!
Mi piace molto il tuo canale e il contenuto dei tuoi video!! Molto presto sperimenterò anche io il compost! Intanto provo a fare l'orto. Grazie per i tuoi consigli.
Grazie per il commento, ed è un piacere per me, bello pensare che stiano accadendo cose belle nel tuo giardino all'italiana!
home school the children and teach them these skills -
Thank you for all the wealth of knowledge you share with us. Merry Christmas!
My pleasure Michelle 🎄
Charles, the wooden posts used to hold the pigeon netting, do you set them in concrete? Im guessing not but idk. Is the depth of their hole 1/3 the length of the post? Im sure you have heard that rule of thumb, but perhaps you found something else more to your liking for that particular application. Thanks! I ask because I have always wanted to put up bird netting over my entire garden 8 feet high, but have always balked at the cost. I might do it one day. But in the meantime a more localized approach like you do is something I will try. Thanks again!!!!
Actually Ted they no more than a foot in the ground. The horizontal cross-support battens give stability and also the soil here is heavy and dense, no dig (!) so that holds them well.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Very interesting, thanks!!
Thank you and Happy Christmas 🎄. I'm wondering, on the over winter cauliflower...if the pigeons do eat the leaves will it come back? I had a chicken get out and get into my overwinter cauliflower. She really did a number on my plants.... can't figure out how she got in because it's netted. Thanks
Gah, those eggs are expensive then! They should have nice orange yolks, and the plants will probably grow back, but the ultimate harvest will probably be smaller!
I blamed my chicken...it was a rabbit. Very destructive! I had netted my winter crops and we have a perimeter fence to keep them and deer out. Rabbit still found a way to get in. Much was lost, but what wasn't chewed to the ground I reinforced and left to see if they'll still produce something. This is overwintering cauliflower and broccoli. I noticed yesterday that they are sprouting at the top of their leafless stems! So I'm hopeful I'll get something.
Thanks Charles for your priceless guidance throughout the year. Next years calendar is already hung up and ready to rock and roll. Wishing you and your family (and your family by extension-us) a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hopefully a few relaxing days off!
Wonderful thanks, lovely message 💚
I hope you have a Happy Christmas and Merry New Year. This also goes to your team that help make all this amazing content happen. I am just starting a No Dig vegetable garden thanks to your videos, it will be 7 beds each about 4 ft wide by 40ft long, I am just waiting for the ground to thaw a bit so I can start work. Your No Dig methods make so much sense and I hope that many other people start using them over the coming years. If you ever come over to the Isle of Man to do a talk, I will be there! Enjoy your time off and stay safe and warm.
Great to hear Paul, thanks
So interesting! 💚
Will try mustard as green manure after this. Would be awesome if it can help keep of wireworm!
And that radish looks really tasty!
Would love to try that aswell.
Wonder if I can find seed for that here in Sweden... 🙃
Thank you Charles! 🌷
Good luck! I made a mistake with the mustard name, it is Sinapis alba. Try Bakers Creek Seeds in the USA for the radish
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for the tip! 💚