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Mastering Lettuce: Tips and Tricks for Growing, Sowing, and Protecting Your Crop
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- Опубліковано 16 сер 2024
- Lettuce plants can produce for months when harvested by hand (no knife!) and kept tidy (fewer slugs!), I show you the method here. You also see the results of an experiment with different composts for sowing, how to plant and the use of covers to protect from weather and pests. Plus the beds are no dig for few weeds and high quality growth.
Varieties at the end are Saragossa and Bijou.
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Mix of compost, an experiment
08:25 Pricking out a week later
13:11 Planting out
22:31 Fleece and watering
23:39 Harvesting
Seed Saving video • Seed Saving
Filmed at Homeacres by Edward Dowding edowdingfilms.o..., spring 2017.
More information in my books and on my website, for example this page of sowing dates for all veg through the year charlesdowding...
My website www.charlesdow... has time and money saving tips.
Follow me on Instagram @charles_dowding, TikTok @charles_dowding, Pinterest @charlesdowding and FB @CharlesDowdingNoDig.
When you make a purchase of products I recommend, please use this link to my page on Crocus tidd.ly/44dEU7d, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
MORE FROM CHARLES
To buy one of my online courses charlesdowding...
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To join an in person Day or Weekend course at Homeacres charlesdowding...
To join my channel as a member, use this link / @charlesdowding1nodig
As a member, you can watch a new video each month, which is exclusively for members. Your payments support my promotion and teaching of better, easier gardening. I can offer bursaries for day courses and online courses, through individuals in charge of community gardens/allotments and school gardens. Contact us through my website to enquire about bursaries charlesdowding...
To buy the module trays I designed with Containerwise, use this link containerwise....
The Refill Room also hold stock of the module trays, www.refillroom...
The Farm Dream for buying trays in Europe thefarmdream.c...
To buy t-shirts and hoodies with my exclusive no dig designs, use this link charlesdowding...
#nodig #lettuce #lettucegrow #healthyfood #growyourownveggies
I thought you might like to know that my 5 year old daughter was watching with me today and watched the whole thing. 3/4 of the way through she says “this is interesting”. ❤️
Wonderful!! Thanks.
What a wonderful thing to teach children. Imagine how much further ahead she will be than me just learning in my 40’s
Lydia Gastin a season for everything
Perfect age. My 8 y.o. grandson loves to help me in my raised garden boxes. Last week he said “I need my own tools and gloves so maybe I can do some chores and we’ll go shopping” ! So happy you have, or will have, a little helper. 😉
Awesome! Im thinking of doing this and hoping my 3yo girl is interested too!
Having your videos to watch is like having a friend who has tons of experience taking me through his garden. Thanks, so much!
Thanks Heather, go for it
Charles - I don’t know how many of these comments you read, but you are an inspiration. I’ve learned so much from you and am genuinely thankful for all that you’re sharing with us. I could only dream to have a garden like yours but mine (even at only 3 seasons old now) is already so much better because of what I’ve learned from you.
Thank you !
Jonathan I read all the comments, they reassure and inform me and I love to hear feedback such as yours and questions too, which help me understand what people need to know more about.
I am thrilled to hear of your good results.
Jonathan Winters, I believe Charles reads all the comments because every time I had a question he has answered it! I tell you, he is one of the few that does!
Yes - He answers all of mine also. This is my first year using his no til method. I put the compost on in late fall. I have 2 greenhouses and have several things growing in it and all looks very good so far.
Alan Fogle that is great! I wish I had a green house but I don't. So far my mom it's working in the yard and so hard to convince her to change her ways. I have to work on my health in order to be able to work on the garden! I truly believe that no dig method is the best! I have been trying to get some woodchips for the yard but even though they say it's not necessary to pay for it, I see that without money they don't bother.
@@camicri4263 he's a gem!❤
I can't believe videos like this are free! THANK YOU!
Nice you appreciate it
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for the video! It's awesome that we have this kind of knowledge at our fingertips, and such a shame that there are so many homeless people who would rather be homeless than buy a small plot of land with a well and start gardening to feed themselves and maybe even some others.
A shovel, a rake, a spade, a hoe, two sticks with a nail for making holes for planting, a watering can, a bucket, and maybe gardening gloves, is most of what is needed for gardening. At most, you would only need a tray for seeding inside, a few sticks and a few rolls of clingwrap to make makeshift greenhouses, and some ground-covering textile material to cover the ground while allowing the water to go through, and a very economical small fridge which opens from the top (which doubles as food storage, aside the seed-starting).
Even housing only needs a minimum of making cob bricks and applying an outer layer of plaster or cement on the outside to increase it's resistance to rain erosion for at least the few years needed to hopefully make enough money to make enough money to build a proper house to live in, with a kitchen and a tiny bathroom with a bathtub (since it's more economical).
Yet we still live in a world where poverty is widespread, but knowledge is plentiful and easily accessible.
@@SapioiT Glad you appreciate it. I always want people to grow more,
@@CharlesDowding1nodig One thing which I have not (yet) seen on your channel, and which I think would be interesting to see, is having one video in which to show everything about a certain type of crop in particular, seed to harvest and harvesting seed included. You would need to keep videos in your computer for up to a year (if you include how you prepare the soil), or going back through your videos and reusing the relevant parts.
The video might end up longer, but some people would rather have a 3 hours long video called "Lettuce - Prep to Seed to Harvest", than have to look for a playlist or a series of videos on that. The best part would be that you don't need to use much space for it, in the soil. 3-4 plants is more than enough to exemplify how things work. You could even use pots, for the example, or for some examples, to give the most complete knowledge base someone could hope for.
Plus that youtube favors longer videos, because watch-time counts, instead of the percentage of the video watched. And that can help make your advice easier to get into the watch list of someone who needs (or wants) to watch it. So a 3h video with an average of 30 minutes seen, even with the same number of viewers, is rated much better than a 20 minutes video who is fully seen by everybody.
@@SapioiT Respectfully, he already does this if you watch all the videos, for example, this one.
Vermiculite is expensive but so worth it. I mix it in with all my plants I wouldn’t do without it. I’ve been a keen viewer for around a year and I must tell you my grandparents were avid gardeners, I think that’s why I’m such a greenfinger myself. They have sadly passed away but watching you reminds me of them and it gives me such a lovely, warm, nostalgic feeling. Normally girls my age aren’t interested in flowers or gardening but I’m getting more manic as the years go on lol. This year I’m growing 4 different varieties of lettuce, 6 varieties of peas, beetroot, carrot, tomatoes, basil, mint, strawberries and an array of different flowers. There’s nothing better than being out in the garden with soil ridden hands and an eagerness to grow lots of amazing produce. You truly are one in a million. Thank you!
Lovely to hear this Nat and great that you are in the growing groove 😀, your garden sounds lovely
How anyone can dislike this video is beyond me. The knowledge and expertise you share is gold. Thank you sir 👍
So nice of you thanks.
@CharlesDowding1nodig hi Charles you attribute the better root development to the vermiculite, but it could be the silicon in the vermiculite?
The very day you posted this video, I had my lettuce seed packets on the table ready to plant! I had never had luck with germinating lettuce indoors. I always had to plant in the ground to get anything. I went to the store that very day and purchased vermiculite and followed your directions. I got PERFECT germination and pricked out the seedlings. I now have about 30 plants preparing to be transplanted. Once again: THANK YOU!!
I have been trying your pricking out method with lots of seedlings - bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, parsley - with absolutely no transplanting shock! I LOVE this method! Thank you! I have been heaping soil on a paper plate and sprinkling the seeds on top, then pricking out when seedlings are ready. It's been perfect so far! I've been showing some other organic gardeners in my city how to do the pricking out. I cannot believe how well this works.
Hi Teresa and how lovely to hear this, the kind of result I dream of, helping people work with the simplicity of natural process, and you are enjoying it, not feeling daunted!
Just dirt on a paper plate. Very creative! So easy to overcomplicate things.
@@shakengrain1942 ...Yup, I did that, with some compost from under the mulch when I moved my entire garden area. I was shocked the blessed things all germinated in 3 days, on my window sill. It was unbelievable...but then I did the next step incorrectly...so am here learning how to get it right. I "transplanted" the 1 week old seedlings into tiny pots, put them on trays, put a tiny hoop tunel over them and watched them thrive...for 3 days...until cat got into the closed little tunnel, dog decided to chew it up and that was the end of that experiment...and my expensive little tunnel. The balance of the lettuce not transplanted out, are still growing, and I'll rescue them and do a Charles on them ASAP now I know what really to do and the outcome I'm headed for!
I am obsessed with Charles Dowding! We grew the most beautiful victory garden during quarantine during an uncertain and scary time last March during Covid in upstate New York. You are such an inspiration and so insanely talented! Friends and neighbors came and picked from the garden all throughout the summer and, we made many friends because they were so interested in what we started. Thank you Charles! You are amazing! Thank you for bringing family and friends together outside during such a scary moment in time. - Bethany NY, USA
I am happy to read this Bethany, that sounds a wonderful thing you achieved and especially the part of bringing people together and showing them the possibilities of gardening! I wish you every success ongoing.
I have given up trying to grow lettuce, I didn`t even buy any seeds this year, and then I watched your video. I could see exactly what was the problem, the watering was where I was going wrong.I feel re-energised and can`t wait to have another go. Thank you Charles.
Good to hear Anne
I have tried this method Anee and it is excellent! I am so amazed at how much one can learn from these YT videos. Hope you grow fantastic lettuce this year.
The harvesting of the outer leaves has been fantastic for productivity in my garden, plus I love how tidy it keeps the plants. It is a simple thing that everyone can do, my favorite type of tip!
Wow alone this sentence "Just the main thing is you understand what you're doing and what the result will be." is so prophetic and true for almost all things in life. I admire your positive way of life and how respectful you handle everything. I love to learn from you
Gardening therapy, thank you. There’s so much more fun and knowledge from your videos than watching some inane TV show or soulless movie.
Nice thanks :)
I love the fact that you don’t have any complicated irrigation piping all over the place. I my self enjoy spending time watering each day as I get a chance to see what’s going on in the garden. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom Sir. Your knowledge is invaluable to me 🙏🏼
Great point Paul and yes, I am about to water and see what is going on!
I have never seen anyone else plant or pick lettuce like this before. It looks incredible! I am going to try it this way next Spring. Thanks so much for sharing. I especially like how you show every stage, from initial sowing to the harvest.
Good, and there is still time Miranda to sow lettuce now for some autumn harvests
20:05 I GEEK out on the variety’s! I love when Charles describes his favorites and his growing experiences with the different varieties he has available.
A whole hour long episode on just his favorites would be great!!
💚
I've had absolutely NO luck with head lettuce. You have just made it so much more understandable that I can prick out the babies separately and let them grow on to develop a head. Thank you!
Great to hear, succeed now!
What an amazing video going through everything from sowing to harvest.
The very day I watched your video I took a pack of lettuce seeds and sowed them in a small tray like you do. I used some potting compost and mixed it with some peat I found below an evergreen tree. Below the natural mulch of brown needles on the ground I found some well-rotted material which I partly used for the sowing compost.
I followed what you did when sowing your lettuce and am now waiting for the seeds to germinate and start pricking them out and putting them in individual modules in about a week. Hope this works with me as much as I see it does with everyone else!
Thank you Charles for sharing your knowledge and experience for free and for the good of the people around you!
This video changed the way I grow lettuce. My lettuce has been a failure in the past. Used this method and now have a nice dense, fluffy tray of Bibb lettuce seedlings to pick apart today. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
How nice to hear 🥬
That's obviously different amount of germination in those 2 materials. Thank so much for sharing ♥️
I just got a small, unheated greenhouse last fall. After having great success last year in my garden with your lettuce methods, I decided to give winter lettuce a try in the greenhouse. It’s been great fun and very productive. I used large plastic storage bins, about five inches deep, for growing, and multi-purpose potting mix. In two bins of these bins I have over 20 plants, and I probably could have planted a bit more densely. Here in St. Louis MO USA we had one really bad week of sub zero F temps in January, which required running a heater in the greenhouse, but the rest of the time the lettuce has done fine with no added heat. It’s so neat to go out on a chilly day in Feb and cut lettuce for supper. After years of very lackluster lettuce, I am now an enthusiastic grower thanks to your awesome instruction! Just started seed trays for spring lettuce and can’t wait for pricking out day. It’s my new stress relief!
How exciting and thanks for sharing your productive feedback. Good ol' lettuce!
You could not have timed this any better!! :) I have a tray with 100 lettuces that are extremely leggy, about 5-6cm of stem, they can't even stand up straight anymore and everytime I water them they bend and can't get up. Now I know what I have to do :)
I just finished. All 100 are only showing leaves now :D
You are my very favourite gardena. I have felt so encouraged to do a no dig garden.. Thank you so much 😃
Nice to hear and thanks
CHARLES DOWDING YOU ARE A REAL TEACHER. YOU HAVE PATIENCE LIKE ME, AND EVERY DAY I SEE YOUR VIDEOS, AND I DREAM OF HAVING A GARDEN LIKE YOURS, AND I BEGAN TO SEARCH IN CITIES FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND I FOUND ONE, I WAS VERY LUCKY, AND THEY WERE DELIGHTED WITH ME WHEN I TOLD HIM I DON'T USE CHEMICALS OR FERTILIZERS, BECAUSE MINE IS ALL ORGANIC, AND I ALSO TOLD THEM I DONT DIG TO PLANT, AND THEY WERE VERY HAPPY, AND THEIR ASSISTANT ALSO LOOKING AT ME THEY SAW THE SOIL THAT I ADDED " FUNGAL BASED COMPOST MEDIUM AND LEAF MOLD COMPOST MIDIUM, AND THEY SAW THAT IT WAS BLACK EARTH AND THEIRS WAS REGULAR EARTH WHITE COLOR, AND SOME OF THEM SAID YOU KNOW HOW TO PLANT, THE NEXT DAY THEY SAW MY LETTUCE PLANTS AND MY CHILI PLANTS AND PLANTS TO MAKE MY TEA"S MINT AND 4 OTHERS, AND EVERY DAY I GO TO SEE THEM, THESE TWO WEEKS HAVE RAINED A LOT AND I WANT TO COVER THEM BUT THE WATER DOESN'T LET ME, BUT THE PLANTS LOOK VERY HEALTHY AND THE LEAVES ARE WELL CRIPY AND THE CELERY IS 12 AND THEY LOOK JUST AS GOOD AND THANKS TO YOU CHARLES DOWING BUT LIKE TO HAVE THE STICK TO PLANT, YOU DO IT SO EASY, WHERE YOU BUY IT ?? THANKS CHARLES
That sounds amazing, and delightful, congratulations! And thanks. I wonder if you are in the United States because there is a seller of my long handled debit in Houston, Texas allaboutthegarden.com/collections/hand-made-gardening-tools, and in Europe try www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/charles-dowding-long-handled-ash-dibber/?v=79cba1185463
I used your method and advice last summer and had endless lettuce leaves for months with only 3 showings! Fed not just myself but lots of others too. Am now hooked on growing own lettuce, even got some in the greenhouse for over the winter! Many thanks 😊
*sowings not showings lol
Ah brilliant Christine, that is lovely to hear!
I happened upon your channel while searching for interesting gardeners and I am happy I found you. I am in the USA, Louisiana zone 8b. I have been doing no dig for a couple of seasons and my crops seem to have improved dramatically. In any case I am enjoying gardening much more with less work. The only difference I see in our gardens is that I mulch with chopped leaves and pine straw. I rake it out of the way to sow, or just dig through it if putting down plants. I did learn the value of a dibbler from you and will be using one from now on. Thank you.
All good Joe, especially less work.
Possibly you have less slugs than here, where I fond compost mulches best for not offering them habitat.
Thank you for a very informative show. I normally collect egg shell, dry them in the oven, crush them and scatter them generously around my lettuce, swiss chard etc... this keeps away slugs and snails.
Using the stick for holes has saved my back as well and creates beautiful plant holes.
Wonderful!
First time and experienced growers can learn so much from this lovely softly spoken man.
Also fun and makes nothing look difficult to grow. Has a wonderful laidback approach.
I see why so many comments and compliments . Blooming marvellous teacher 👌👏
Much appreciated John, happy to help
Thank you for sharing how you grow lettuce in your garden. Just love seeing all the varieties and colors you've planted. Have a great today! Catherine
Thanks Catherine
I like that; having fun and sharing seeds and plants with friends and neighbors.
Charles, every time I watch your great videos it makes me hungry for salad! I really enjoy your channel!
Thankyou and that is healthy!
New subscriber here. Not only are you interesting and informative, but soothing too! Thank you
Many thanks Natasha
Awesome job! I particularly appreciate the way you follow up each stage as these plants grow and are transplanted, and then as you begin to pick. It really helps you to build a well rounded knowledge base in such a way. Very few of the mentors here on UA-cam follow up on their projects, and in my opinion this puts you at a cut above the rest. Thank you so much!
Cheers Toby 🥬
I always look forward to watching your inspirational gardening videos - thank you.
Me too.
Just how I sow my lettuce with vermiculite and multi purpose compost. Works a treat!
The process from seedling to first pick is spectacular.
I'm Going NO DIG this year for my second season growing thanks to this channel. spot on Charles as usual :)
Great to hear and thanks
I am starting a no dig garden this year. I am trying to prep my beds now, but not sure what kind of compost to use. I was ready to get a bulk drop of mushroom compost, as I don’t have enough to start my no dig. I was told from the farmer that planting my vegetables in mushroom compost would burn my plants because the compost is too rich. I have been researching, which advises against it, but saw in a video that Charles has used mushroom compost. Can you direct me?
I just found you. Love all the advice! My first video was of your potato plants. I will be retiring in about a year at 63 and want to get back into gardening both flowers and vegetables. I am a nurse and have just worked too much to do any of it for years. I wanted to just say once a nurse always a nurse, you have amazing veins!! I could hit those with a 14 gauge from across the room.
That is so funny, never knew about my veins, and I am happy you like the videos, good luck growing great food
40 years as a nurse??? 😱💪 or did you get into it later? Congrats on retiring!
Thank for this video, Charles. I'm new to gardening and I'm struggling to get my lettuce bed to grow. I live in hardiness zone 9a (USA) and it's apparently, (I have since learned), not a lettuce-friendly zone, given the hot sun and dry conditions. I'm at the point where I am thinking of just ripping the lettuce bed out.
Recently, I contacted a couple of other UA-cam gardeners about what to do with my lettuce woes...no response from one and the other said my environment was too foreign to him and he had no idea how to help me (ya, thanks).
After watching your video, I realized that my soil may be the issue and that I sowed the seeds too densely.
So I hit the garden this morning (it was still cool), and I pulled up a small bunch of the lettuce with a chop stick and, sure enough, the roots were all bound up. I carefully separated each tiny plant and replanted elsewhere.
Makes total sense to separate them out!!!
We'll see what happens, but I believe thinning each row and/or replanting a good portion of tiny plants, will be the answer.
Thank you for your guidance in the video...it gave me an 'a-HA!' moment:)
That is wonderful Cat.
Also try laying some kind of shade net over lettuce in hot sun/all the time in summer, such as insect netting, but not row cover which is too hot
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for your help!
Actually, I recently placed burlap netting over the top of the lettuce bed which I would pull over the bed during the hottest time of the day; but perhaps the netting is too close to the bed. How high above the raised bed should the netting be?
I did notice a slight improvement in the growth after I tried the netting, but not much.
My deduction being, seeds were sown too close together (and perhaps too many seeds at that).
I have a LOT of thinning out to do! But I don't mind at all. It's part of the learning process:)
@@catbee1452 Well done for working it out. And the netting needs support a good foot above the plants, not to make them too hot.
We grow some of our lettuce in pots on the back porch. When we want lettuce for a meal, we simply pick off the outer leaves, soak, wash, and eat. The plants really do spring back and stay prolific throughout the summer (mid-Atlantic USA). No slugs. The advantage (for us) with the pots is that if sun is too hot for lettuce, we can pull the pots back into the partial shade of the porch. Less scorching that way. The sun does get quite intense here in July and August.
Charles, that dark red variety -- Bijou -- is beautiful. I actually like some bitterness in a mix, as well as several colors. I'll be looking for some Bijou seeds for next year.
Nice you are so well organised.
Bijou may be hard to find, so save seeds from one if you do sow it,
Brilliant! You are the godfather of lettuce! I'm going 'no dig' this year because of all your help and knowledge, thank you.
Thanks frazzid, I shall be a nice godfather
Do notice that there's a sub-category of no-dig called lazy no-dig, which is using a tarp to cover the ground when the field is not in use, and adding things below the tarp, on the ground, to be composted naturally. After planting or transplanting, another tarp cut in strips should be used to cover the space between the plant roots as much as possible, so that weeds cannot grow. The tarp should, however, allow water to pass through, to make the watering easier. This should produce yield with the least amount of work possible. Sure, netting over might still be needed, to protect the plants, or making greenhouse tunnels for helping the plants grow, but this method reduces both the weeding work and the composting work significantly enough to make it economically viable.
I tried growing my lettuce seeds directly into 2 inches of coffee grounds and the lettuce is growing really well !!!!
Smart :)
... I used to watch rap videos and boxing clips on you tube. Since I stumbled on your videos my fingers have turned green and the gym has turned into a greenhouse. Bless you Charles you are an inspiration.
That is awesome Ali, how touching and lovely work by you :)
Awesome video. I went out and bought lettuce seedlings and came home to find this video of yours. Very timely . Thank you for this.
Fantastic video! You answered every question I had for growing lettuce...thank you from N. Georgia, US
Lovely comment thankyou
Portillo Family DNC’s
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This video is so full of information. It’s beautiful. Thank you so much .
Hello from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Instead of fretting about the stock market (the DOW) and other worldly problems I have zero influence over, I'm spending my Saturday learning more self-sufficiency skills to keep my family well fed in times of scarcity. Thank you for the step-by-step instruction, I shall incorporate your videos into our home school curriculum. Carry on!
Good to hear and thanks
Excellent and oh so timely, Charles!! My Feb sown lettuce did nothing; I resowed some last week but I'm going to sow some more right now using your better drainage/root method. Many thanks for your experimentation :-)
Thanks Jane. I hope your first lot of seeds were ok, there are a fair few packets of old seed and it may be worth trying another, unless it was just too soggy
I've been a bit more adventurous and sown 4 types in the same type of single tray as you used rather than just a couple of seeds in each module. I'm optimistic. I've also ordered a couple of new packs and will try to save at least one type of my own seeds. I save tomato seeds. You inspire confidence :-)
Glad to say the lettuce seedlings have germinated well - hurray!! There was also a free p&p offer for Bijou so I've just sent for one pack! Many thanks, Charles.
Salad mixes are easy to sow too. Super vids Charles! You are clearly knowledgeable in this field and communicate your ideas with simplicity and clarity.
Thanks Ali
Wow! Such a fantastic video! Learnt so much from it! Now I'll be planting lettuce differently for a better harvest! Thank you for your great work in this field! Much appreciated!
Happy harvests and thanks
That is certainly the most informative & interesting item I've ever seen regarding growing salad crops, especially the part on leaf picking, rather than harvesting the whole plant.
Too late for me to try this year but I'll certainly go that way in 2021.
Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
I think one of the most calming things about your videos, and working in the garden, is no phones! Just outside with nature. Even though you are obviously in some type of neighborhood it sure is quiet! I love that life and am looking forward to when I can do the same.
Always good teaching steps to follow...great speaking voice...Thank you Charles!😊😘
Thanks Eve!
I suppose that’s why the selfsown lettuce on the pathways always does so well 😂❤️
Hi Charles! Thank you so much for all the content. We live in the high desert in Utah (5600ft altitude), although I am originally from South West of Scotland. We just converted a frustrating weedy/grassy 250 sq ft to a no dig garden! We go from -26F in the winter to 97F in summer! Sourced the cardboard from my work and purchased our soil from a local family run business and built tunnels over each bed which was mostly made from leftovers from other projects. You're method to garden beds is so much easier, will be investing on the course at some point! Thanks again for all the information! I've been sharing it with everyone!
Ah this is good to hear and well done for spreading the word.
Some climatic adaptation there!!
Charles Dowding we’ve been focusing on creating xeroscape scape gardening with sedums, cactus, etc. We’ll be be adapting your bed prep advice for these too.
Hi Charles, Yours is the first channel I turn to when I get online! Can't watch too many gardening videos.
I'm currently assembling a 6m x 1.5 m x .75 m hotbed, composting in layers, then will be casing that with some old composted stable manure mixed with imported rich red soil and mulching with pine needles. Shall put a low polytunnel over this.
Following the success of my cold frame salads (per your good self) last year, I am intending to keep even more winter vegies going down here in the antipodes.
My 2 horses are producing a cubic metre of manure per week, so I began collecting it instead of leaving it for the wonderful dung beetles to dig under, and Mount Poomore is now impressively large! Have found sources of bulk coffee grounds, am clearing out the chicken shed, scything weeds, raking up deep layers of mycelium-rich pine needles from beneath my massive trees. I must say though, barrowing all this wonderful raw material around doesn't really feel like "no work" even if it will eventually be "no dig"!
I wonder whether you have seen this video by a fellow Tasmanian John Steed of "Homesteading Down Under", about a lovely garden made by someone following your techniques?
"Visiting a Fantastic No-Dig Garden!"
ua-cam.com/video/jEaT_tEPVyE/v-deo.html
Thanks for that Ruby.
To make heat you need straw/cellulose as well as horse poo.
Good luck with that, and all the work is constructive!
Yes of course, forgot to mention there's also a large volume of partially-composted woodshavings that used to be calf bedding from the dairy farm next door for the cellulose. Plus layers of scythed weeds which includes juicy buttercups and dry grass straw. All good!
This was a video that was perfectly timed for me as I have lettuce plants ready to go out. Thank you. I didn't know that they can take frost.
Thanks for this great video! I was hoping for lettuce to be the next topic you would cover and just on my birthday you did =) What a nice present!
My birthday wishes to you!
Charles Dowding Thank you very much!
This video is exactly what I needed. I had already watched it about a week or two ago but it goes to show these videos you are making need to be watched many times over by me in order to remember the information. So much to take in. Thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful and yes, all details count 🥬
the man; i'm almost a no dig convert, and am considering a greenhouse, pricking lettuce from many sewn seeds, and am always mentally stimulated and envisioning growing possibilities when watching chuck ;P
I am so glad I found you! Currently all of your videos from the beginning and taking notes. Also got your book Garden Diary and can’t wait to read it. You are a true inspiration.
Lovely to hear Ann happy gardening
Perfect weekend viewing. It's made me want to sow some other varieties now, inspiring stuff. Very interesting how much the vermiculate improved early growth rate. I quite like some bitter leaves mixed in salads so I'm going to look for that Bijou variety, great colour.
I have recently found your channel on youtube. Although i am not working in horticulture now i was for over 20 years as a propogator, and i find that your channel has the most useful information to date that i have seen.
Thanks Hob Grob I appreciate the compliment from a professional
Know I know what I did wrong and why my little lettuces didn’t do so well. I’ll be getting some vermiculite this winter! Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge
Good luck Alli!
you've hit expert mode when you're watering with two cans.
My favorite UA-cam channel!
Thankyou O L
Likewise
awsome work! tnx for sharing... i'm in the process of binge watching the channel... i have been 'off' gardening for about 25 years and now relearning it...
Thanks Sascha and nice to hear
I grew up in the city, and moved a lot, yet fantasized about gardening, and farming, since reading The Secret Garden as a child. At 39, I've raised my kids in the country, and we've gardened, and have some animals, yet I've always felt pretty lost and uneducated. These videos are gold,a real godsend! I have hard clay here in Washington state, and am going to try this method.
Thanks Charles!!!
I am very happy to read this Jessica and wish you every success, and great harvests for your family
Wow thank you for this video !! Please can you do more of those explaining 1 veggie at a time !?
I second that request!
Thank you for such an informative video. I love seeing the whole process in one go :)
Inter-plant them with garlic, that's a nice combination. The garlic grows tall, but thin, light can reach the ground to support lettuce, and lettuce acts like ground cover for the garlic.
yes we do it with overwintered lettuce, free crop!
These videos are wonderful for an inexperienced gardener. Thank you!
Impressive results with the vermiculite. I've never used it before and never really saw the point. I may well buy some if I come across it. :)
All mineral rock like vermiculite, perlite, etc is generally for the purposes of soil aeration, insulation and root anchoring all when you mix it in. It does add the compost an extra punch as well, particularly vermiculite which you can grow cabbages and kale in purely on it's own; I've tried it and it works.
Perlite is made from volcanic glass. Vermiculite is a mineral. Both are used for aeration but vermiculite holds water so more than perlite. Both should be wet down before using so the dust does not get in your lungs. One of its main purposes because it is not organic is to hold off fungus from growing so that your seedlings are less prone to root rot
Thanks so much, I was wondering where I was doing wrong, you have solved it...to much water! you are a great teacher
Cheers David
Hi Charles. My first comment here.
I’ve watched all your UA-cam videos now and feel very inspired by them. Many thanks for them.
Very satisfying to learn your method. I’ve always wanted to stay away from all the artificial fertilisers with NPK proportions, pesticides, and all that. You simple way of growing veggies is beautiful for its simplicity.
Also good to see your scientific spirit in testing different methods (ie no dig vs dig, crop rotation need, etc.)
If I lived nearby I would aim to visit your farm.
I just got hold of an allotment last December and this will be my first season! (I’m in Lancashire).
Many thanks once again for your inspirational work
Eugenio
A pleasure Eugenio and thanks for saying that, enjoy your allotment.
Your videos have helped me immensely. Back problems have shadowed my love of gardening but you have rekindled an urge to try again. Your no dig method will help make it possible again.
Happy to hear that and go Brandon!
Another fabulous video. ...thanks ☺
This is off subject, but do you talk to your plants and give them “affection”? I grow plants under grow lights in my basement. For two grow cycles for one type of fruit I grow, I noticed production was 1/2 & 1/4 of the usual yield. I realized I was traveling a lot and under a lot of stress. When I fed them, I wasn’t always in the best of spirits. This past cycle, I showed them extra love, always made sure to have a positive attitude before feeding and upkeep, and would touch and compliment the plants and share my gratitude for them. Result: I’ve never seen such beautiful flowering in my 4 years of indoor growing. The yield was tripled this cycle and was the highest quality I’ve ever grown. It seems like a silly thing to a lot of people, but the plants seem very responsive to positive and negative vibes/words/attention.
Thanks again for another great video. I can’t wait to implement everything I’ve learned from you, into my outdoor gardens. I hope your harvests this year are better than ever. Blessings.
Safe House You should read some of Mr.Emoto's books :)
Healthy Roots & Strong Wings thanks, I’ll check that out. 🙂 Do you have any experience with that in your garden? I like hearing people’s stories on how they interact with their plants.
Thanks both and yes, Masamu Emoto has the answers to this, through his trials with water.
I reckon that what you describe is another version of "Grren Fingers" or "Green Thumb". Growing plants is an invitation to us, to engage with and love our plants, and soil I reckon.
I shout at my plants really aggressively as I'm pricking out, giving them all sorts of threats that if they don't grow, I'll eat their parents and such like. I call it the Drill Sergeant approach to gardening. It makes me feel really dominant. As I approach my lettuces, I've often noticed that they seem to lean away from me, like they're frightened, but it could just be the wind.
Rico S haha
Wow!! This is one of my favorite Vege! I love how carefree you are with your plants because you know them too well! 💜
Thanks so much 😊
Good morning Charles, I hope your winter is going well. Peggy Helbling here, in Windermere, Florida zone 9b.
I planted leaf and bibb lettuce 11 days ago in a small square foot garden. I actually used brown paper grocery bags with compost and perlite on top. I also planted radishes, beets, basil and spinach.
The basil is the only seed that still playing "shy" guy! Amazing how quickly I can get useful plants and a nightly salad for 2. Just knowing little tips makes it easy. I so enjoy listening and learning 👩🌾👍🧑🌾
Peggy I am impressed, nice message and you must have great warmth at this time of year already! I so basil early April, strictly in the greenhouse with added heat 😄
I love how you follow one vegetable through the entire growing season. It makes it so much easier to understand that vegetable. BTW, what's up with the alien car in the background of the video where you are planting out the lettuces?
Thanks Laura and it's to do with light entering the camera at a certain wavelength - yes the car is talking!
Watching you from Philippines..
Absolutely mindblowing how deeply you plant those starts! I've always fussed around with trying to plant them NO DEEPER than they were in the plug, and my lettuces always end up falling over. Can't wait to try it this way!
Glad to help Heather
I appreciate the words: "Home-saved." Thanks so very much.
Great video Charles. Extraordinary result by adding Vermiculite for sowing. Why do you not add Vermiculite to the compost to grow on as it makes such a difference to growth?
The difference is seedling stage only. Once established the roots cope with denser and richer compost
I have this Cajun seasoning called Tony Chachere's. It's sitting on my table and it's really good.
Hello Mr. Dowding , an excellent video from you as always ! Your gardens and greenhouse are to die for !! Your calm demeanor and soft voice are wonderful !! Please keep up your great videos :))))
Thankyou Peter
Thanks for all of your help in teaching us how to grow our own food.
A pleasure Christine
22 vermiculites resented being told they "have no goodness"
Vermiculitist😢
great information well done
Hi Charles - I watched this Lettuce video 2 days ago and then i went down to my green house where i had some romaine and buttercrunch lettuce growing and harvested some of the outer leaves for the first time. I believe i am going to like this way of harvest . This is my fist year of using the no dig method, but it is an established garden. I also have beets, spinach, pea's for shoots, snow pea's and white potatoes. And i have some cabbage and broccoli growing Also i have lots of onions that i started in late January as seed sown in the ground. All of this is in the green house. I have some kale growing outside that are doing fine. And everything is looking real good. The weeds are a bare minimum just as you said they would be. I am pretty sure that the no dig method is here to stay in my garden. If there is any looking back it will be wishing i had discovered your website long ago. Thanks for your video's, books and your willingness to give advice and answer questions.
Many thanks Alan for your thoughtful comment, and I love hearing how well your garden is progressing.
Super golden oldie video. Tells and shows you clearly everything you need to know 👍🏼
🥬
Just got mine planted
Anyone else notice the car in the back ground 😂 looks like its breathing 😳
Right? What's going on?
Thank you for this clip Charles. I usually buy lettuces already sprung but after watching this, i am inspired to try from seeds, green fingers crossed. Love your garden 😍
Thanks Rachel and you will enjoy that
I do the pricking out with my tomatoes and peppers. Never thought to do lettuces. And I will stop avoiding vermiculite which I have done for years. Thanks for an awesome presentation.
14:30...what is up with that car? Great vid thanks for your time!
It's so funny isn't it, a trick of the light apparently
@Happy farmer....... you have witnessed the life Charles can bring to tiny lettuce seeds. Bringing life to a car is well within his abilities. Flashing blue means the car is happy, just like those lettuce.
Glad you asked! Have been very curious about that too.
Thank you for asking! I was wondering the same thing. 🤔
I read cat and kept looking for one. 😂😂😂
Thank you for making such informative video! One question: do you uncover the fleece during daytime in spring or does it stay on all the time?
It stays on all the time Ieva, which makes it so simple and easy. Just check for weed growth and remove temporarily to weed if they are appearing.
Thank you! I will try this method too!
Thank you Mr Charles D. These "how to" videos from start to finish on one plant type are brilliant. So thorough, and your enthusiasm is compelling.
You are very welcome 🥬
Thank you for this! I have never has success with lettuces here in Florida. I can now see some mistakes I've made and will adjust this year.