Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Spring growth had been steady until 10th May, even advanced. Then cold weather arrived here in SW UK, and suddenly growth slowed. Even there were frosts causing damage. It was life and death for the tender, warmth loving plants.
Most of thom coped admirably, but not all. See the damage to my vines! For vegetables we used covers of fleece to prevent most damage to cucurbits, tomatoes, potatoes and more. Not all were planted out, but I like to set plants out as early as possible because our summers are not hot or long. The average temperature in July is 22°C / low 70s Fahrenheit.
That's the background to this video, enjoy the processes you see.
Growing in greenhouse and polytunnel charlesdowding.co.uk/products/greenhouse-and-polytunnel-growing
No dig online course, for starting out charlesdowding.co.uk/products/no-dig-growing-for-beginners-online-course
Dig / No dig trial charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/trials/dig-no-dig-trial-2019-2022
Three Strip Trial charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/trials/three-strip-trial-2014-current-no-dig-forking-different-composts
Potting compost I recommend groworm.co.uk/collections/black-gold-50-litre-compost/products/black-gold-peat-free-organic-compost-40l
My April video shows how growth has progressed in one month youtu.be/Rtpf2vmU6fQ
Grow Urban Festival, 12th June
charlesdowding.co.uk/products/a-talk-at-grow-urban-festival-in-london-friday-12th-june-4pm?variant=54495634620739
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Plants in the polytunnel – cucumbers
01:56 Aubergines and melons on warm side of tunnel
02:18 Tomatoes, interplanted with garlic
03:00 Basil - different types
03:42 Endive for seed
04:20 Outside - lettuce, peas for shoots and calabrese/broccoli
05:22 Peas, sown early, and cabbage Goldenacre
06:14 Melons in greenhouse, Emir and Malaga
06:36 Propagation in the greenhouse - tomatoes for the pyramid
07:18 Garlic - how to know when ready
08:30 Surplus plants, and leeks just potted on
09:06 Dig/no dig trial beds - comparisons
10:18 Kohlrabi, Quick Start, interplanted with dwarf French beans
11:06 Dwarf French marigolds, some frost damage
11:46 More kohlrabi, early harvests
12:10 Compost bays
13:18 New planting of courgettes - watering to revive plants
14:13 Three-strip trial beds - harvests
15:52 Broad beans in the trial beds, and frost damaged grapes
16:59 Currants and artichokes
18:00 Path soil, used by plants
18:38 14-year-old asparagus bed
19:32 Elephant garlic
20:03 Squash, different types, and courgette plus beetroot planted between garlic
21:14 Tree roots affecting growth of strawberries, and some grown from seed
22:07 Weeds and weeding, raspberries slowed by mushrooms
22:55 Oriental poppy in its 9th year, and corn for sweetcorn
24:09 The new pyramid under construction, and a sauna!
24:47 Talk at Grow Urban Festival, 12th June
#nodig #gardentour #vegetablegardening #greenhousegrowing #polytunnel #growyourownfood
Spring growth had been steady until 10th May, even advanced. Then cold weather arrived here in SW UK, and suddenly growth slowed. Even there were frosts causing damage. It was life and death for the tender, warmth loving plants.
Most of thom coped admirably, but not all. See the damage to my vines! For vegetables we used covers of fleece to prevent most damage to cucurbits, tomatoes, potatoes and more. Not all were planted out, but I like to set plants out as early as possible because our summers are not hot or long. The average temperature in July is 22°C / low 70s Fahrenheit.
That's the background to this video, enjoy the processes you see.
Growing in greenhouse and polytunnel charlesdowding.co.uk/products/greenhouse-and-polytunnel-growing
No dig online course, for starting out charlesdowding.co.uk/products/no-dig-growing-for-beginners-online-course
Dig / No dig trial charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/trials/dig-no-dig-trial-2019-2022
Three Strip Trial charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/trials/three-strip-trial-2014-current-no-dig-forking-different-composts
Potting compost I recommend groworm.co.uk/collections/black-gold-50-litre-compost/products/black-gold-peat-free-organic-compost-40l
My April video shows how growth has progressed in one month youtu.be/Rtpf2vmU6fQ
Grow Urban Festival, 12th June
charlesdowding.co.uk/products/a-talk-at-grow-urban-festival-in-london-friday-12th-june-4pm?variant=54495634620739
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Plants in the polytunnel – cucumbers
01:56 Aubergines and melons on warm side of tunnel
02:18 Tomatoes, interplanted with garlic
03:00 Basil - different types
03:42 Endive for seed
04:20 Outside - lettuce, peas for shoots and calabrese/broccoli
05:22 Peas, sown early, and cabbage Goldenacre
06:14 Melons in greenhouse, Emir and Malaga
06:36 Propagation in the greenhouse - tomatoes for the pyramid
07:18 Garlic - how to know when ready
08:30 Surplus plants, and leeks just potted on
09:06 Dig/no dig trial beds - comparisons
10:18 Kohlrabi, Quick Start, interplanted with dwarf French beans
11:06 Dwarf French marigolds, some frost damage
11:46 More kohlrabi, early harvests
12:10 Compost bays
13:18 New planting of courgettes - watering to revive plants
14:13 Three-strip trial beds - harvests
15:52 Broad beans in the trial beds, and frost damaged grapes
16:59 Currants and artichokes
18:00 Path soil, used by plants
18:38 14-year-old asparagus bed
19:32 Elephant garlic
20:03 Squash, different types, and courgette plus beetroot planted between garlic
21:14 Tree roots affecting growth of strawberries, and some grown from seed
22:07 Weeds and weeding, raspberries slowed by mushrooms
22:55 Oriental poppy in its 9th year, and corn for sweetcorn
24:09 The new pyramid under construction, and a sauna!
24:47 Talk at Grow Urban Festival, 12th June
#nodig #gardentour #vegetablegardening #greenhousegrowing #polytunnel #growyourownfood
