To see a sample, click on the ‘Look Inside’ button to the right of this page.
Introduced by Darina Allen
A manual of gardening to inform and inspire you, and packed with illustrations.
Three quarters of the book is Charles’ advice on how to grow great crops. Use it year after year, its an any year diary: store your valuable information, for future reference.
New edition September 2019. Content broadly the same but updated, revised and new photos added.
Charles’ Diary was one of six finalists for Practical Book of the Year at the Gardening Oscars in London, November 2017. The winner was our joint book No Dig Organic Home & Garden.
Advice in the diary section is linked to each week of the season:
sow seed at the best moment – seeds neither fail in cold nor start too late
sowing and planting methods, plus raising plants at home
the advantages of no dig, for less time needed
maintain control of weeds through timely mulching and hoeing
how to feed soil, for strong and healthy growth, more easily
when and how to make all the harvests, with advice on storing produce
This is a garden companion of seasonal prompts, and then your own additions in the any year format (no days of the week), all in the context of precise information about how to grow great vegetables.
Three quarters of the pages are gardening advice, one quarter is diary space.
Wire bound for easy use. The perfect present for your gardening friends and family
Self-published by the author’s imprint No Dig Garden, 168 pages illustrated with photographs mostly of Homeacres garden. The cover is laminated both sides for greater longevity and to prevent curling.
I have the CD diary, which even though l am zone 5 and dry, it is a great reminder that l need to look at starting seeds. I just shuffled a week or two here and there and l get hard freezes so l am limited in winter. With a bit of fleece and mini hoop houses l get most spring veg at the same time as Charles here. Because l use his methods!!!
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A fantastic, easy to understand diary, guiding you through the growing year. Full of genuinely useful tips and methods that Charles has refined. A must buy for anyone starting the no dig method, as well as those who want to learn more.
A manual of gardening to inform and inspire you, packed with illustrations.
Three quarters of the book is Charles’ advice on how to grow great crops. Use it year after year, its an any year diary: store your valuable information, for future reference.
Charles’ Diary was one of six finalists for Practical Book of the Year at the Gardening Oscars in London, November 2017. The winner was our joint book No Dig Organic Home & Garden.
18 reviews for Charles Dowding’s Vegetable Garden Diary, signed
Rated 5 out of 5
Tom Turner (verified owner)–
I’ve just received two Diaries and Calenders which are presents. I’m so pleased with them that I’ve just order another set!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jolene Jenkins –
I don’t have the diary yet but I know its going to be a wealth of knowledge. Love your videos. I came across your videos through Huw. I love the way you make everything seem easy and instill confidence in others to start their own garden patches. Thanks Charles.
Charles –
Thanks Jolene, all good to hear, grow well 🌱
Rated 5 out of 5
adam bagster (verified owner)–
I have cerebral palsy and have been growing my own for about a decade now and still having this book is going to be such an great help I’ll be spending a good amount of time studying this book very carefully thank you so much charles well worth getting the signed copy
Charles –
Hello Adam, I’m glad you are loving to grow your own vegetables and wish you even more success 💚
Rated 5 out of 5
Erin –
I used the diary throughout the 2020 season and am now so grateful to have all my notes for 2021. I’m in Colorado so the timing is a little different, but I enjoy having the space to make notes and photos to remind me what I should be doing when. I include entries on weather conditions so I know what to expect each subsequent year.
Charles –
How cool Erin, thanks for your feedback
Rated 5 out of 5
Helen Sargent (verified owner)–
Thank you so much for the very quick dispatch of this diary, only ordered it monday night & arrived first thing Thursday morning, I started my gardening journey several years ago on an allotment in my home town of Bath but have spent the last 25yrs trying to get to grips with heavy clay in my garden in Essex, I have recently been diagnosed with various joint problems so digging is no longer an option for me & was pointed your way on a gardening facebook group, I actually feel more positive about the future now so thank you & stay safe
Helen
Charles –
Nice to hear Helen, and Essex clay is great for no dig!
Rated 5 out of 5
Leslie McCardell –
What is the difference between Organic Gardening and The Diary?
Charles –
The diary has more about no dig and is based around timings of all jobs, with pithy descriptions using a few words but a high level of important information.
The organic gardening book has many more words and is more about growing many different vegetables, even some fruits.
Rated 5 out of 5
Vismay –
Do you think this diary can work for me in the Texas climate? Our summer temperatures easily average at 36-38C with minimal rain, although our USDA zones are similar (I’m in 8b). Love your youtube videos btw!
Charles –
Thanks Vismay. It is odd that although numbers are so similar!
The dates in my diary are not appropriate for Texas, however people in Texas do use it by sowing about six weeks earlier in late winter and spring, then about six weeks later after mid summer. Also you can keep notes in the diary which is highly worthwhile, to build up the pattern of best dates for your situation and climate!
Rated 5 out of 5
Carina Hoffmann –
Hi Charles.
I want to ask if the dairy can be used in Denmark? We live 8 kilometers form the southern westcoast, close to the german borderline. I really hope the timeline fits here… 🙂
Charles –
Thanks Carina and it’s a close fit except to sow perhaps a week or two later until mid April.
A week earlier after July.
Keep notes so you remember dates!
Rated 5 out of 5
Eddie Sargent (verified owner)–
Hi Charles
I bought your diary summer 2020 and realised that I wasn’t prepared enough for full on no dig as I had sown/planted lots of stuff in the first lock down, Lots of mistakes and no real harvest now this year first entry into diary 11th January compost spread on no dig begins I’m halfway through the new book course 1 and looking forward to better things this year.
Charles –
Cheers Eddie and I am both sorry to hear of your lack of harvest, and encouraged that you are organising for the coming year. The next two months are excellent moments to seize for bed preparation, and pathway mulching as well.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jenny –
Hi Charles,
I have just been reading the reviews of your diary, and especially been inspired by pete’s recommendation. I will go to my local WH SMITH to see if they have the diary in stock.
Newbie in growing veg since last two years. No dig has worked for me. I highly recommend you to all my gardner friends.
Many thanks.
Jenny
Charles –
Thanks Jenny, I hope they stock it 🙂 and we ship it otherwise
Rated 5 out of 5
Rob Leighton (verified owner)–
Charles’ diary proved invaluable to me in 2020. I was able to follow his sowing times and although my new no-dig bed was relatively small I enjoyed produce throughout the year, including freshly pulled parsnips, Brussel sprouts and carrots for Christmas dinner. Now, on New Years eve I am planning to fill my Autumn created new no-dig beds with more abundance having gaiuned so much confidence thanks to Charles’ generous on-line advice and the diary.
Rated 5 out of 5
Zara Hoffmann –
Bom dia, vc teria este diário em PDF?
Charles –
Não, apenas como versão digital na loja
Rated 4 out of 5
Louisa –
Hi Charles, you wouldn’t have a Southern Hemisphere version of your diary?
Charles –
Ah sorry no Louisa
Rated 5 out of 5
Cathy Rice –
I’ve found this really useful for the past two years. It’s so helpful having hints at the right time of year, plus it’s still a useful place to browse for no-dig info, even after reading it all many times.(I keep it by my favourite chair to enjoy with a coffee.)
Rated 5 out of 5
Green.Fingered –
I have managed to read your Vegetable Garden Diary cover to cover and it was a real problem, for once I started to read, it was competing with the actual real gardening being done! It’s truly a great read, extremely useful for a month by month to do list. It’s also full of great information that will keep me growing great veg. In fact, it has already made the difference to my plot this year and my pea shoots 🤢 are fantastic as a result. Thank you.
Charles –
Ah thanks, at first I thought you did not like it!
I hope your harvests continue well.
Rated 5 out of 5
petesvegetables –
Hi All Charles No Dig Diary had just come and it’s the Book l would Highly Recommend for Anyone for Christmas. The Information and Details in the Diary are Very Helpful and Explain how to Go About Starting Your No Dig Year.
This Book Gets Five Star’s from me.
HAPPY GARDENING.
Petesveg
charles –
Thanks for posting Pete and I wish you a great year ahead
Rated 5 out of 5
shona waller –
This is a great book, lots of advice and space to note my own experience and use year on year.
charles –
Thankyou Shona
Rated 5 out of 5
Steven Elkins –
A bit like having Charles prompting you, this Diary has become more important as each month passes. Page 38 suprises when you see Charles is sowing or planting 11 months of the year! It brings a whole new dimension to your thinking. I warmly recommend you give it a try, never before have we had such a result from our little town garden; you don’t need a lot of space to enjoy the myriad benefits of this publication,and somewhere to keeps notes on what you do is a real boon.
Tom Turner (verified owner) –
I’ve just received two Diaries and Calenders which are presents. I’m so pleased with them that I’ve just order another set!
Jolene Jenkins –
I don’t have the diary yet but I know its going to be a wealth of knowledge. Love your videos. I came across your videos through Huw. I love the way you make everything seem easy and instill confidence in others to start their own garden patches. Thanks Charles.
Charles –
Thanks Jolene, all good to hear, grow well 🌱
adam bagster (verified owner) –
I have cerebral palsy and have been growing my own for about a decade now and still having this book is going to be such an great help I’ll be spending a good amount of time studying this book very carefully thank you so much charles well worth getting the signed copy
Charles –
Hello Adam, I’m glad you are loving to grow your own vegetables and wish you even more success 💚
Erin –
I used the diary throughout the 2020 season and am now so grateful to have all my notes for 2021. I’m in Colorado so the timing is a little different, but I enjoy having the space to make notes and photos to remind me what I should be doing when. I include entries on weather conditions so I know what to expect each subsequent year.
Charles –
How cool Erin, thanks for your feedback
Helen Sargent (verified owner) –
Thank you so much for the very quick dispatch of this diary, only ordered it monday night & arrived first thing Thursday morning, I started my gardening journey several years ago on an allotment in my home town of Bath but have spent the last 25yrs trying to get to grips with heavy clay in my garden in Essex, I have recently been diagnosed with various joint problems so digging is no longer an option for me & was pointed your way on a gardening facebook group, I actually feel more positive about the future now so thank you & stay safe
Helen
Charles –
Nice to hear Helen, and Essex clay is great for no dig!
Leslie McCardell –
What is the difference between Organic Gardening and The Diary?
Charles –
The diary has more about no dig and is based around timings of all jobs, with pithy descriptions using a few words but a high level of important information.
The organic gardening book has many more words and is more about growing many different vegetables, even some fruits.
Vismay –
Do you think this diary can work for me in the Texas climate? Our summer temperatures easily average at 36-38C with minimal rain, although our USDA zones are similar (I’m in 8b). Love your youtube videos btw!
Charles –
Thanks Vismay. It is odd that although numbers are so similar!
The dates in my diary are not appropriate for Texas, however people in Texas do use it by sowing about six weeks earlier in late winter and spring, then about six weeks later after mid summer. Also you can keep notes in the diary which is highly worthwhile, to build up the pattern of best dates for your situation and climate!
Carina Hoffmann –
Hi Charles.
I want to ask if the dairy can be used in Denmark? We live 8 kilometers form the southern westcoast, close to the german borderline. I really hope the timeline fits here… 🙂
Charles –
Thanks Carina and it’s a close fit except to sow perhaps a week or two later until mid April.
A week earlier after July.
Keep notes so you remember dates!
Eddie Sargent (verified owner) –
Hi Charles
I bought your diary summer 2020 and realised that I wasn’t prepared enough for full on no dig as I had sown/planted lots of stuff in the first lock down, Lots of mistakes and no real harvest now this year first entry into diary 11th January compost spread on no dig begins I’m halfway through the new book course 1 and looking forward to better things this year.
Charles –
Cheers Eddie and I am both sorry to hear of your lack of harvest, and encouraged that you are organising for the coming year. The next two months are excellent moments to seize for bed preparation, and pathway mulching as well.
Jenny –
Hi Charles,
I have just been reading the reviews of your diary, and especially been inspired by pete’s recommendation. I will go to my local WH SMITH to see if they have the diary in stock.
Newbie in growing veg since last two years. No dig has worked for me. I highly recommend you to all my gardner friends.
Many thanks.
Jenny
Charles –
Thanks Jenny, I hope they stock it 🙂 and we ship it otherwise
Rob Leighton (verified owner) –
Charles’ diary proved invaluable to me in 2020. I was able to follow his sowing times and although my new no-dig bed was relatively small I enjoyed produce throughout the year, including freshly pulled parsnips, Brussel sprouts and carrots for Christmas dinner. Now, on New Years eve I am planning to fill my Autumn created new no-dig beds with more abundance having gaiuned so much confidence thanks to Charles’ generous on-line advice and the diary.
Zara Hoffmann –
Bom dia, vc teria este diário em PDF?
Charles –
Não, apenas como versão digital na loja
Louisa –
Hi Charles, you wouldn’t have a Southern Hemisphere version of your diary?
Charles –
Ah sorry no Louisa
Cathy Rice –
I’ve found this really useful for the past two years. It’s so helpful having hints at the right time of year, plus it’s still a useful place to browse for no-dig info, even after reading it all many times.(I keep it by my favourite chair to enjoy with a coffee.)
Green.Fingered –
I have managed to read your Vegetable Garden Diary cover to cover and it was a real problem, for once I started to read, it was competing with the actual real gardening being done! It’s truly a great read, extremely useful for a month by month to do list. It’s also full of great information that will keep me growing great veg. In fact, it has already made the difference to my plot this year and my pea shoots 🤢 are fantastic as a result. Thank you.
Charles –
Ah thanks, at first I thought you did not like it!
I hope your harvests continue well.
petesvegetables –
Hi All Charles No Dig Diary had just come and it’s the Book l would Highly Recommend for Anyone for Christmas. The Information and Details in the Diary are Very Helpful and Explain how to Go About Starting Your No Dig Year.
This Book Gets Five Star’s from me.
HAPPY GARDENING.
Petesveg
charles –
Thanks for posting Pete and I wish you a great year ahead
shona waller –
This is a great book, lots of advice and space to note my own experience and use year on year.
charles –
Thankyou Shona
Steven Elkins –
A bit like having Charles prompting you, this Diary has become more important as each month passes. Page 38 suprises when you see Charles is sowing or planting 11 months of the year! It brings a whole new dimension to your thinking. I warmly recommend you give it a try, never before have we had such a result from our little town garden; you don’t need a lot of space to enjoy the myriad benefits of this publication,and somewhere to keeps notes on what you do is a real boon.