Equinox Makeover.Small Garden March 2023

Pick Plan Prep Plant for a transformation. No dig makes it quick, and possible in the rain.

1. I make a rough plan of what to plant where.
2. I harvest remaining vegetables of winter.
3. Prepare ground where there has been no compost for a year or so. I spread a little compost and rake beds level.
4 Transplant and sow!

In the video, you see new plantings I had made the day before when it rained. Now on the following day, is just before we cover them with fleece as weather and pest protection. It can be very windy at this time, covers make great protection.

Lastly, I give ideas of what the second plantings might be during summer. Everything in the ground currently will finish before the middle of July. So it's good to have seed and transplants ready.

20th-21st March 2023 at Homeacres, Somerset UK.

00:00 Introduction
00:34 Harvests in Nov/Dec – radicchio, carrots
01:02 Harvests in Jan/Feb, not huge because of cold winter
02:08 Final winter harvests and clearing, then soil preparation and planting
02:52 Plantings made the day before (in the rain), and concerns about slugs
03:44 The benefits of transplanting small
04:08 New plantings – cauliflower, beetroot (after leeks), lettuce for leaf harvests
05:06 Multisown onions Globo – trialling different seeds and different composts
06:12 Parsnips
06:44 Savoy cabbage
06:54 Swedes
07:40 Adding compost to a bed
08:09 Charlotte potatoes from homesaved seed, and peas from two different sowings, both are Tall Sugar
08:55 Brassicas – kohlrabi Lanro, cabbages Derby Day, broccoli
09:21 No hardening off, and covering with fleece
10:01 Spinach, coriander and chives
10:29 Two varieties of carrots, Napoli F1 and Vitella
10:48 Strawberries Marshmello
11:06 Sorrel, and no more Taunton Deane kale
11:29 Fig tree removed, tayberry planted instead
12:21 Ideas for succession plantings, and thoughts on planning
13:55 No need for rotation

For more on succession and rotation, see this knowledge pack:

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[ploom]

Charles, I've struggled a lot with anxiety since lockdown and I didn't know how to deal with it. I started watching your videos and have been turning out acre of lawn into gardens. It's given me so much meaning and wow, being out in the fresh air and sun and getting my hands in the dirt has almost completely cured me. I'm also incredibly lucky to live in a 9b zone so I can grow pretty much year round so I've got plenty to keep me busy. Your simplistic and achievable approach to garden has really changed my life. Thank you so much

[veganpowergirl]

You’re the gardening Dad I never had ❤ I learned so much from your wisdom in under one year already!

[iwonagronska]

Charles, I started watching your films and I'm absolutely amazed! I have completely changed my approach to the gardening, I've got now a very small no-dig garden in the forest allotment of my father and it saves my life after the whole working day teaching English😅. Thank you so much!

[juliegoodge]

I’ve just subscribed I’ve been watching your videos for a while your enthusiasm is infectious I started gardening in lockdown I’m a community nurse and found it such a wonderful hobby to come home to …I now find myself so looking forward to any free time being out in the fresh air come rain or shine and the No dig method has made it such a pleasure I would love to attend one of your courses you are an inspiration

[andykyriakides]

Suddenly i don't feel as devastated at losing the large majority of my overwintering plants in that unusual winter we had . Even the best like Sir Charles suffered casualties .

[ssJS]

Honestly you really did change my life! I was always a bit useless at gardening, although it’s always something I’ve loved, but so many books make it so complicated. During lockdown I obsessively watched so many of your videos and learnt so much! I got a small allotment and couldn’t believe how well it worked. This year I’ve turned most of my front garden into no dig beds and have plants ready to grow! I would never have done any of this without all your amazingly generous videos. THANK YOU!

[TheWholesomeGardener]

I always watch Charles when I need something wholesome! I love this small garden update - so helpful! Thank you so much!

[keithandrews]

Another fab video Charles, and Edward, cheers😊

[anapaulacrawford]

The best knowledge man I have known...
Thank you so much Charles. God bless.

[gardenonthemoors]

The small garden series is my favourite you do! I'd love for my little veg patch to be as productive as this 😁

[Chet_Thornbushel]

It’s very endearing to see you still using that white styrofoam planting module through all these years. Just goes to show that the best gardening tools are the ones you have! It doesn’t need to be about getting the newest and greatest gimmicks, which so many other YouTube channels seem beholden to. I love this small garden series and I recommend the playlist to so many new gardeners that seem overwhelmed, thanks for sticking to it!

[ttsang]

What a joy to watch your updates on this small garden❤

[ardenthebibliophile]

I just love the passionate plant-nerd you are. So inspiring to see your genuine excitement

[lyndaturner]

I love watching you work on the small garden, it’s more of a true reflection of many of us home gardeners, I don’t get 6 hours of sun in most of my garden due to high native hedges and trees in the neighbouring fields, but stuff grows if I plant appropriately. I was shocked to see your Taunton Dean had been killed by frost, I’m in North Cornwall and we had frost this year but I think the coldest was a minus 6 and most of my garden survived due I suppose to the sheltering hedges and trees, I always refer to you as my gardening guru, Thanks again Charles for sharing you vast experience and knowledge.❤️

[Im-just-Stardust]

I'm always amazed at how much a star you are. When I started studying gardening 2 years ago I watched you and only you. But after watching literally all your video multiple times, I had to search for other channels. Of all the channels I found in the past year and love, most of them stated your name at least once. You are truly a reference in the gardening world i'm glad I found your channel first and learned everything from ya.

[ilienicolae]

What a beautiful meeting it would be between Dr. Elaine Ingham and Charles Dowding on the subject....

[toneyjohnson]

I really enjoy the small garden updates, its amazing how much food you get out of the small plot. I always learn so much from you and your books. Thanks

[PPH-GARDEN]

I can see your love in the little garden ❤🎉🔔

[sarahjohnston]

I just love this part of your garden. As a home gardener, to see gardening on this scale is so helpful.

[latentheinz]

I love this small garden. So many veg to harvest all year round 🥰🤩