Spacing Plants Efficiently and Effectively with Charles Dowding

You have great flexibility and many options for spacing plants efficiently and effectively. Aiming for the most production of food and foliage from any area, at any time.

Time is a big moving goalposts because some plants mature quickly and vacate space so you can group other parts quite closely towards them. Because you know that they won't be there after a certain time.
This saves space and increases harvests.

It really helps that you grow No Dig because then fertility is stronger and weeds are fewer. This gives you a blank canvas to paste on at any time including by intercropping and overlapping plantings.

#nodig #growyourownfood #nodiggardening

Filmed by Nicola Smith on 12th May 2023, at Homeacres no dig garden.

00:00 Introduction
00:12 Potatoes, with catch crop of turnips between
00:39 Spinach, soon to finish
00:53 Carrots, with a catch crop of radish
01:24 Cabbage, and problems with growing
01:39 The benefits of multisowing, with beetroot as an example
02:26 Lettuce plants, which will be interplanted with carrots, and why no dig helps with interplanting
03:14 Sweetcorn, with wide spacing
03:54 Cumin, planted between garlic
04:11 Multisown chard, and size options when growing
04:52 I demonstrate interplanting chard between garlic
05:36 A look at a small bed, full of plantings to maximise space
06:10 More onion examples – bulb and spring
06:55 Multisown leeks in module trays, soon to be potted on
07:28 A variation on interplanting in the polytunnel – garlic between tomato plants
07:51 Clearing salad plants from the polytunnel, then spreading compost – mushroom on top of horse manure from hotbed
08:18 I explain the garlic interplanting
08:44 Dwarf French marigolds (one eaten by woodlice) – good for filling gaps and the space at ground level
09:21 An example of using over-winter space – a bench over recently cleared salad plants for growing transplants, including strawberry plants
10:05 Melon and pepper, soon to be transplanted – well-spaced
10:38 The importance of leaving enough space between plantings

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[daliacastello]

In the gulf coast region Texas I just planted my third and last round of potatoes before the big heated summer kicks in I’m putting in green onion and pulling up the onion every thing matured early because of the great rain showers and actually performed well now is time for the really heat tolerant stuff melons, okra, eggplant tomato and squash. Mr Dowding really teaches making the most of your space I doubled up on each onion wow iv doubled the onion harvest

[shimilangagardens]

Charles Dowding is the RZA of gardening.

[UrbanHomesteadMomma]

Yes! In NS, Canada with such a short season I need to pack it in as much as possible! I use a high intensity approach and really push the limits by planting lots in any spaces! By mid summer the garden looks like a jungle but such a productive jungle!! ❤

[Kittykatkw]

My 2nd year no dig is doing much better than the last. We're also getting good rains and it hasn't been overly hot. I'm loving it! Thanks again for sharing all you do! :)

[DONE]

I asked you about growing a lot in a small space in a short from last week, so I’m just going to imagine you made this video just for me! 😅
Great information!

[juliamarple]

I never thought about timing before. Thanks.

[robinlj]

Absolutely love your methods and common sense, soulful approach to growing beautiful food and flowers. Deepest thanks for all I’ve learned from you.

[DValentine-lpyr]

I always learn from listening to you, Mr Dowding, thank you very much for sharing your wisdom with us. I also feel better - calmer and happier - after listening to your videos.

[anapaulacrawford]

Woo-hoo. Another great idea to do a productive jungle! Thank you Charles for this awesome tip . God bless.

[BlackDogDesigns]

Your gardens always amaze me, beautiful as ever!

[pumpernikulus]

i love it, thank you. this is what i need: more propositions :) please!

[thatgirlthatgrows]

I had some spare lettuce seedlings and thought I’d chuck them in with the onions just because I didn’t want to throw them 😅 and they’re doing amazing, I couldn’t believe it! I’ll definitely be doing it again next year 👍

[spir]

Thank you for talking about your failures as well as successes. I also had trouble germinating carrots, but it gives me hope when a master grower like you also has failures. We keep trying!

[dawnteskey]

I took your advice about multi-sowing beets a few years ago, works beautifully. Thank you!

[stuartmccloud]

Great Video Charles, thanks, every little nugget of information is like gold :)

[lyndaturner]

I’ve chanced putting two spare tomato plants in a space in a raised onion bed, I’m amazed how fast they are growing, in fact this year because of shortages in the shops I’m growing a lot more, I’ve just planted leeks in a space next to some peas that are already in flower so fingers crossed they will be ok as I’ll just cut the peas off, also the leeks are on the sunny side of the peas not shaded. I couldn’t have done any of this without you Charles you are my gardening Guru.❤️

[bambiileanachandler]

Charles, I grow corn in the midwest in the states. I grow them closer together about 8-10 inches apart. The same spacing between rows. I see big farms doing it so I tried it. They're such a heavy feeder if you want nice corn. I layer old manure thickly like 3-4 inches deep.. Lots of water. Fantastic corn.

[pascalxus]

i love the twig trellis for the peas at the end of the bed.

[peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo]

Brilliant info, Charles ❤
I've been picking Giant Japanese Red Mustard Greens for the past 2 months.Cut and come again, of course! And I'm picking tomatoes 🍅
Happy Gardening, My Friend 💚
❤Peggy❤

[sebasforest]

I'm always amazed at how fast and healthy your seedlings grow!