Links
See this page for more information on my recommended gardening products such as the wires
Where to buy my books and gardening products in other countries
Ireland
- Books and module trays from Quickcrop
The Netherlands
- Books and module trays from The Farm Dream – can be shipped to EU countries
Denmark
- Books from Saxo
- Module trays from FantastiskeFroe
Norway
- Module trays from Lindholm gård
USA and Canada
- Books from Chelsea Green Publishing (self-published books only, though at present not including my Calendar or No Dig Cookbook)
- Module trays and long-handled dibber from All About The Garden
Australia and New Zealand
- Module trays from J & E Stevenson in Tasmania.
Amazon also sells my books and calendar, for shipping internationally.
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Recommended Reading
- I have a page on Shepherds Books where I list books that have helped and inspired me.
- Silent Earth. Insects are essential for life as we know it – without them, our world would look vastly different. Drawing on the latest ground-breaking research and a lifetime’s study, Dave Goulson reveals the long decline of insect populations that has taken place in recent decades and its potential consequences, and asks for profound change at every level.
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Compost & Mulches
- Compost etc for beds from Woodland Horticulture, based in Somerset and delivering widely.
- I have trialled and like this compost for propagating from Pete’s Peat Free.
- Wowcher have deals on compost.
- AllGrowSupplies sell excellent compost for raising plants: it contains some peat, a waste product from Yorkshire water filtration.
- Corker is a family-run nursery in Kent that offers mushroom plus other composts and excellent service.
- Online turf sell mushroom compost by the cubic metre, also bulk composts and soil.
- Viridor sell green waste compost.
- Mulch material to kill weeds, made of wool in N. England by ChimneySheep.
- Biodegradable mulch materials from Hy-Tex, for weed control.
- www.carbontrap.org sell Miscanthus Bedding/Mulch – this is shredded grass, half way between straw and wood chips, white in colour.
- Arbtalk is a website in the UK dedicated to helping tree surgeons find tip sites for wood chips or waste tree surgery timber. You can register as a site wanting delivery of wood chip, if you have the space to accommodate a load.
Reporting Aminopyralid Contamination
If you think your garden or allotment has been affected by aminopyralid or clopyralid residues in manure or compost please do report the problem using this link. Please note this form is only for the UK and Ireland. I am assured this information is reviewed by the UK government 6 monthly to assess the effectiveness of the aminopyralid ‘stewardship’ program which is a condition of the UK license.
For more information on contaminated compost, see this page.
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Seed & Plants
- www.realseeds.co.uk for seeds and info ion seed saving
- Bingenheim Seeds of Germany offer a catalogue with organic and biodynamic seeds. They no longer ship directly to individuals in the UK due to the extra customs regulations. They have partnered with two UK companies which offer a comprehensive product range of their open pollinated organic varieties. They are Tamar Organics and Seed Co-operative.
- Culinaris from Germany offer unusual kales, blight resistant tomatoes et al
- www.seedsofitaly.co.uk for seeds, especially endive & chicory
- Delfland near Ely is a plant nursery where you can buy wholesale amounts of excellent transplants
- Pennard Plants of Somerset sell cuttings of Taunton Deane kale plus other great plants
- Hopes Grove Nurseries in Kent sell native hedging plants and more
- www.walcotnursery.co.uk sell organic fruit trees
- Royale Organic‘s tips on seed saving introduce the easier vegetables to try
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Bees & Wildlife
- Solitary bee observation nest boxes from Nurturing Nature
- Fragrant flower ideas, for attracting bees to your garden
- Arena Flowers site has great information on bees and beekeeping
- www.carymoor.org.uk for learning about/demos of habitats and different wildlife
- more information on bees with some useful links
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Useful extras
- Bacillus thuringiensis from ProGreen.co.uk – sold for Box trees and hedges, also kills brassica caterpillars. If this link is broken, type ‘Bacillus thuringiensis caterpillars’ or ‘Dipel’ into a Search bar.
- better plants.ie sell excellent dried and powdered seaweed, from Irish beaches
- Agralan sell basalt rockdust in 20kg sacks.
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Associations & Learning
- I recommend workshops on soil microbes and microscopy with Eddie Bailey at his Cotswold home
- Monthly gardening advice from Which? UK, includes my articles – special offer
- You Tube channels for growing flowers, a nice selection by Dipto Ghosh of Flowers Across Melbourne
- Budcasts from Sarah Wilson at Roots and All, includes an interview with Charles epidote 47, type “budcast sarah wilson charles dowding” into Search
- www.biodynamic.org.uk for biodynamic information
- Help with career change to gardening, and learning through Skills Day – contact WFGA
- Learn more about earthworms with the Earthworm Society of Britain
- www.lunarorganics.com for calendar of moon phases
- www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk for news, ideas and forum of commercial growers
- A look at the Grand Solar Minimum of 2020-2053: how cool might it get?
- Educational Resources on Life Skills for Wellness
- ‘No till farming’ event in Herts Groundswell at the Cherry’s no till farm
- www.rootsandshoots.org.uk for horticultural training in SE London
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Research
- Frontiers in Environmental Science reports how soil biology (invertebrates etc) is damaged by pesticides
- How compost helps soil biology to conserve nutrients and reduce leaching, by Tom Willey
- Scientists at Rothamsted in 2020 are observing the benefits of more soil life, and endorse no dig
- Minnesota University photos of weedkiller/herbicide damage to leaves – helps identify any problem
- WRAP info on bioassays for pyralid herbicides in composts – check with field beans
- Tips on using Bacillus thuringiensis from Kentucky College of Agriculture
- Benefits of gardening to cancer and mental health sufferers
- Research comparing ‘traditional composting’ with bokashi fermentation, assumes traditional means repeat turning!!
- Garden without pesticides, advice from PAN UK
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Charities supporting soil health and gardening
- Tiyeni, a Malawian NGO (with a UK fundraising team), trains communities in Deep Bed Farming – a low tech, low cost method to sustainably and rapidly increase yields.
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Somerset Activities & Eateries
- www.millonthebrue.co.uk for children’s organic activities
- www.atthechapel.co.uk for excellent meals in Bruton and bread from their wood fired oven
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Other
- www.cotna.co.uk for a great holiday, wwoofing, compost loos…
- Something different, lovely pictures and mirrors from old wood in Germany
- View microscopic soil life in digital art! By Katelyn Weel, soil scientist in Norway
- Teemil – sweatshirts and T shirts with Charles’s own no dig designs, in organic cotto
- Mesothelioma Hope – an advocacy organisation that provides free educational resources, support, and information to anyone that may have questions about asbestos-related diseases
Hi Charles,
Gonna look a little foolish if I’ve missed it but came here to look for links to the wire you use for making your tunnels. In the YouTube videos I’ve seen (I think) you refer to it as 4mm wire. Problem is from what I can gather there’s a million and one options using that description, do you have a specific supplier you use for yours and if so, can you give a link?
Thank you,
Love your work.
Jamie
Hi Jamie, here is the link you need and it was a little hidden, I’ve tried to make it more clear. There’s so much information on my website.
I’m glad you like the videos.
What are your thoughts about Bokashi ?
I’m no fan of anaerobic fermentation and do not like the common recommendation to dig in the resulting material. However, I can see its usefulness for transforming food waste in situations where there is no compost heap.
Hi Charles
I don’t see you refer to hardening off, it’s something I struggle to get right. Do you not feel there is a need for this Steve? Any advice would be great.
Many thanks
Sarah
Thanks for reminding me Sarah. I need to mention it! You have guessed correctly, that I don’t do it much, and in fact mostly we put plants straight in the ground, then fleece over. In spring, the fleece serves as a kind of hardening of method.
Hi
Will the calendar be available in Ireland before Christmas? Because customs with Ireland is such a hassle…
Will the calendar bei available in Switzerland too?
Thank you!
Hi Veronika
I’m so sorry to hear this. Customs are giving anything from Britain a very hard time so I can’t promise that I’m afraid.
For Switzerland, I suggest you look at the Farm Dream website in the Netherlands. We ship boxes to them and then they sell books / Calendars without the customs problem.
Charles ,
Looking for the new calendar but I cannot find a USA vendor of it. I believe I bought straight from you last year? How can I get the 2023 calendar to Seattle Wa USA
Thanks Rose
Hi Rose
Yes, we don’t have a distributor in the USA and this is the link to buy it from me
https://courses.charlesdowding.co.uk/product/charles-dowdings-calendar-of-vegetable-sowing-dates-2023-signed/
And if you’re interested in the cookbook, we offer them together at a reduced price https://courses.charlesdowding.co.uk/product/no-dig-cookbook-and-2023-calendar-both-signed/
Have a great Christmas / festive season 🎄
I’m reviewing this years calendar 2022 which i purchased. i have just discovered that the month of October the days/dates are incorrect so i’m very disappointed if i had noticed it when i bought it last year i would have sent it back.
I tried to leave a comment on the calendar section where it can be reviewed ?
Sometimes the comments to calendar don’t come through for some reason, and I’m glad you found this way of connecting.
We were obviously gutted to discover this ourselves, and it was only after we had sent out thousands of calendars
So I ordered a reprint last autumn, and we sent out thousands more! But we cannot connect with people who ordered the calendars elsewhere, including yourself obviously.
Please send your address to admin@charlesdowding.co.uk, and we will organise a free calendar for you, 2023 version.
Hi Charles do you always grow leeks in the same bed after you have harvested the Charlotte potatoes.
Hi Barry, not always but it’s a succession that works well. They can also follow broad beans, peas, lettuce etc
It looks like the Budast link to your podcastwith Sarh Wilsn is broken. Hope you can fix it?
Hi Suella, it seems the podcast is not on her website anymore, but I found it by writing in search “budcast satah wilson charles dowding” and that took me to apple.com podcasts
Hi
I as wondering if you can recommend insect mesh suppliers in the EU!
Spring now arrived in Northern Sweden and I would like to protect my kale etc which was destroyed last year with caterpiller.
I found the modules and the books but cant find the fleece/mesh.
Oh dear and I wish I could help. Am sure somebody is selling it.
Hello Charles
The copper tools are available in Europe from Dictum Gmbh and delivery costs are somewhat less than from the UK.
I have no commercial interest in the company but have bought woodworking tools fom them in the past.
Regards
Paul
Where can I buy your seed module please jan x
Here Jan
Hi Charles, is the Bosch chipper really robust enough for your use at Homeacres? Have you had it for a while? It gets really mixed reviews on Amazon…
thanks
Catherine
I would not recommend it if it was not serving us well! I bought it full price and have no commission or affiliation to Bosch, but appreciate the quality of this tool, now six years old
Hello Charles
I was at the opening of Roots Allotment plots in Bath yesterday and wanted to buy the book you had on sale, but you had sold out. You said it’s available to buy on your website so I looked for it but since didn’t see the book, I’ve no idea which one it was.
Please can I have the name of it, or perhaps the best general one of yours that you can recommend to help follow the no-dig method.
I am not new to gardening, not a beginner, but am to this method.
Thank you
Mary George (plot-holder at Roots/Bath)
Hi Mary George
Yes lots of enthusiasm there!
It’s Skills for Growing, has summary of no dig.
The no dig book has more about no dig specifically.
Hello Charles,
I’m a big fan of your work and I was very interested in the bargain bundle advertised on you tube. However I was very disappointed to see after a quick Google of the other creators/writers that your wok has been aligned with creators who actively support and spread covid misinformation and other “deep state” related conspiracy theories. Do you share these views?
Interesting assessment. It’s your call which of these bundles to read, but the ones we checked out have loads of useful information about being more independent.
Hello Charles,
I was wondering if you would be so kind to provide a link and description of your Davis WLL weather station. I did find their website (link might interest others?) but was confused as to all the choices they have VS what your weather link shows online.
Hi Leah
Think it was this one!
Thank you so much!
Good Afternoon,
I am the proud owner of Charles new book, ‘Skills for growing’. I am a new (ish) veggie growing and it is simply brilliant.
I live in the Shropshire Hills, which are quite windy, and as a consequnce I am really interested in the hoops Charles uses. Are you able to recommend a supplier for the pre-cut 4mm galvanised high tensile wire?
Thank you
Kate
Hi Kate
Thanks for your message and I should love it if you would post a review of the Skills book on the product Page? I’m glad that you’re enjoying the book
Those wire hoops are made by Reddifast Steel, they are 4 mm, galvanised, high tensile wire which is also straightened which means it won’t spring back into a coil. Easy to use. Expensive but last a lifetime.
Hi there, just wondered if you got beehives last year and if so which hives are you using and why. Thank you
Yes, as in video
Nationals, recommended by Black Bee who use them a lot, it’s easy to manage the bees
Good day
Can anyone confirm whether Charles Dowding is at Spier in Stellenbosch for a workshop in March 2022? With all the scams these day I would LOVE to book but can’t find confirmation that he.
Thanks and I should be, or on a farm nearby.
The uncertainty has been from travel restrictions resulting from Covid measures in the UK, which might be imposed on me when I return. They are now being reduced and we are looking to confirm within the next five days, so watch this space!
Intrigued re. your link: A new venture?
Suella
Reverse Disease with Personalised Nutrition summit airs today
Such a useful talk to an important group of practitioners and attendees.
Thank you.
What a useful way of spreading the whole no-dig word further.
National Treasure indeed!
Hi Charles, have you ever co considered using biochar to increase the microorganisms in your soil?
I have in the past used a little charcoal and did not absorb much difference. I add a little to the compost heap. This word biochar, what does it mean?!
I think biochar is either the same as charcoal or similar. I’ve watched videos on it by several different people. One of the key things though, is to “charge” it with some kind of liquid. People use manure or compost tea, liquid fish/seaweed fertilizer or other such liquids and let the char absorb nutrients from the liquid for a couple of weeks. This prevents the char from absorbing nutrients from the soil or compost and delaying availability to the plants. That’s my basic understanding, but I have no personal experience with it yet.
Hi Jenny, I have been learning more about it, that true biochar is made with a clean burn at high temperature which produces no methane or smoke, and then you are right it needs charging so we are putting it in the current compost heap. All of the tiny spaces within each piece of biochar can absorb lots of microbes and nutrients. And at that point it is a really useful thing to spread, with the compost, for long-term fertility.
Hi, I would like to know if there are any course for people living in the Amazonia, because the weather and the ecosystem is different.
Thank you.
Hello Juna, nice to hear and I don’t know of such, can only wish you success with your growing.
Many of the principles I teach are universal but how to apply them will vary. We do have some lovely comments from places like the Philippines where no dig and mulching with compost is working very well.
Thank you for the Calendar of 2022 that I recieved in the mail! That was very kind of you. Merry Chistmas and a happy new year from Sweden! //Basilious
Hello Charles,
I just recently discovered your site, and especially your Youtube channel, thanks to an interview you did with Sean James Cameron. I’m working my way through your videos – thanks so much for the information you share!
I realise you’re in the UK, but I wondered if you might have any links to companies and the like in the USA?
Thanks again.
Hi Colin, nice to hear, and I have no links to any US companies.
Hi Charles, do you recommend any greenhouse suppliers by any chance?
I can’t actually, I have no experience of better or worse ones
Dear Charles,
In every video I saw your lovely watering can, I’m thinking I’d love to have that one too. Could you please share the name of the manufacturer and possibly the model? It has such a long nozzle and a fine spray, brilliant for seedlings.
Thank you for the inspirational content. Besides it being informative, it also has a high aesthetical value. Lovely to watch, you created a little gardener’s paradise.
Kind regards
Michael
Thanks Michael, and it’s a Sankey, 17 years old now.
Re: Quickcrop-
7-10 days deli info on website, but now 14 days before dispatch min at present?
Very slow with dispatch at present or communication?
Ordered 11th Feb Payment completed , order confirmed and order number provided- No reply to email or update still as of today.
Info to those who wishing for fleece or mesh to cope with cold snap that’s forecast!
Sorry to hear this and they are good people, but probably overwhelmed by demand, like everybody else in gardening especially vegetable gardening, good luck
Hi Charles I got some wire to make hoops. What is a good length for a 4 foot bed. I did a bit of pi times diameter divided by 2 😁and added a bit for sticking in ground and came up with 2.1 metres.
Safer to cut 2.3m in case more height needed
Hi Robert or Charles, just wondering if this is the kind of 4mm galvanised wire you refer to Charles, please? I wasn’t sure if this would give enough curvature? Presumably some types of 4mm wire will just flop not keep its curved form? https://www.amazon.co.uk/GYZD-Galvanised-Florist-Modelling-Fencing/dp/B08GHZ2TW3/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=galvanised+wire+4mm&qid=1614019181&sr=8-13
Thanks in advance
David,
Hard to be sure without feeling it but it looks correct to me, good luck.
The wire I use springs back to being straight once we pull it out of the ground, which makes it very easy to store as lengths of wire
Hi All.
Rain and more rain here on the Essex/Cambs border at moment
Re Update bacillus thuringiensis.
I ordered received the next day this below. Smaller quantity for many? I presume this ok Charles?
Agrinova Xentari® Raupenfrei Box Tree Caterpillar Treatment | Bacillus Thuringiensis | Biological Insecticide Spray Mix (25g) £18.35 next day (Prime) Helpful?
I would still like purchase in bulk as such 500g as previous tried from Italy. (Any pointers Charles?)
Richard, I be happy still to share if a option for you if we could buy in bulk and of help or anyone else that lives near?
Regards
Alan Essex
I am new to caterpillar control other than hours of hand removal, so hit the web to find out about Bacillus Thuringiensis. There appears to be two strains one using Kurstuki and one Aizawai – apparently only first is bee friendly. I only read two different sites regarding this but Charles do you have any further information regarding this please? I would hate to start killing off my visiting bees. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you
Hi Sarah and I do not know about the different strain, I’m a little confused myself but also I am suspicious I must say. I feel that Bt gets a lot of flak for such a harmless product, based on soil bacteria. Meanwhile so few people mainstream worry about pyralid, roundup et cetera
Hi Sarah, I can answer this as I actually did this research last year after talking to charles, there are actually 5 strains of BT just to confuse things but it all depends on what you want to kill.
This link will tell you everything you need to know about them all!
https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/organic/bacillus-thuringiensis/#:~:text=Another%20strain%20of%20Bt%2C%20Bacillus,of%20wax%20moths%20in%20honeycombs.
Happy gardening,
Sam.
Hi Charles
Am shortly to take the plunge and click the biodynamic link, as I’m just sitting down with your calendar and working out my plantings. I wondered if the dates on your calendar account for moon phases please, and if so is it purely waxing/waning, or do they also take into account the four-rhythm approach mentioned in your ‘Organic Gardening’ book please?
Many thanks
Nicola
Hi
I’ve just been looking into buying Bacillus thuringiensis and seen the link to the DiPel ‘brand’ of it. There is also Thuricide as a brand too. However, it looks like it is only sold in UK for agricultural professional pest control use (which Charles may qualify for) but hasn’t been registered for public use and there’s no current home & garden registration in UK. See example here.
https://www.dragonfli.co.uk/blogs/news/beware-illegal-pesticides-available-online
Thanks for this Dave. It seems a way that gardeners can be prevented from using ecological products (soil bacteria) and diverted to synthetic chemicals, or plastic covers.
Like how the photo at the top of that piece is not related to gardening!
Charles, I agree that the picture suggests that the company is likely to push you into buying chemical solutions to pest problems. However, if you look at the rest of the site it is selling biological controls for a variety of pests. I just wish there was something for onion white rot!
Hi Alan
Sorry, only just came back to the thread as was thinking about ordering for next year, but a bit worried about buying through EBay now if unlikely to receive it and hard work getting refunded! Have you tried again since?
Regards
Rich
I have just purchased this small amount (Link Below)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01FKO565Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Unable to find 500g as previous from Italy on ebay if of any help to all.
Appreciate a direction if possible for larger amount (Charles)
Hi Charles
Just looking into bacillus thuringiensis for next year as brassicas got mauled this year! Just wondered how often you spray? Seems crazy to buy 24g, when 500g is only 3 1/2 times the price (but at the same time £38 is quite a big outlay for my small plot!).
Thanks
Rich
Yes it’s a pity somebody does not sell say 100g.
I spray av. 6 times a year, every 16-20 days.
A guy on my open day reckons his still works, ten years after he bought it.
Many thanks! Perhaps I’ll see if anyone locally wants to go halves on the purchase!
Thanks again
Rich
Hi Charles/Richard.
I read this with interest Re Bacillus thuringiensis as I ordered some from Poland 500g and then I had a message they unable to send and presumed it was as we was supposedly leaving the EU end of March this year, which was only a week to go and presumed they could not guarantee delivery time, held in customs? I had to also wait over 4 and half weeks before received my refund via ebay/PayPal.
I would very appreciate a contact/number where I can purchase for next yeas as yes it works, but purchased a very small sachet to get me by this year and yes, my opinion buy a bulk pot as I been told lasts for ten years too.. I thought it was a gardeners allotment joker. Some more creditable info from you Charles re shelf life so Thank you.
Alan this is worrying, I become a conspiracy theorist when I hear of something simple and natural being so hard to buy. It helps us to feed ourselves 🙂 and wish I could help.
Hi Richard
I be happy for you to split half each if rather a large outlay for you if helps you.
Regards
Alan