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Hi Charles
I am coming more and more to the conclusion that it is best not to believe everything (anything?) you read on seed packets, my one inch (yes one inch!) depth of sowing for celeriac being my worst example so far. I have followed seed packet instructions and sown Florence Fennel which has leapt up out of the modules, but, having belatedly read your timeline, which is specific about 22/6 – 10/8 sowing, I wonder of it is best to bin my seedlings and wait. I am more interested in fennel for the winter.
Which one of your books would be best for detailed information on what and when to sow, prick out and plant? Your answers in the forum are a great help but I like the idea of a real book. .Having been on a day course and devoured your articles, I feel ok about the no-dig philosophy and its practical application.
As an aside I had the autumn of digging and muck spreading before embracing no dig. I put about 4 inches of muck on the potato and legume beds and nothing on the root and brassica beds. I chopped up the muck several times before planting. Even after six months the difference in the soil is dramatic. The muck is easily parted to sow some larger seeds and very easy to plant modules and potatoes into and, even in this very dry March (1mm rain in Exmouth so far), the soil is very moist underneath and full of worms. The non- mucked areas have been easy to hoe, but, where I haven’t hoed, the surface has a very hard crust. In the autumn I will reverse the treatment and add lots of muck to the non- mucked beds and apply my own compost/stockpiled muck, about an inch or two thick to the beds mucked last autumn.
Best wishes
John
Yes John I think you are better waiting until June to sow bulb fennel. However I have seen a few people succeed with spring sowings!
Great news about your soil, especially its conservation of moisture.I missed that John! Rushing as usual. Any of the Journal, Winter Veg, my new book have this info, in different formats, and Organic Gardening has the most comprehensive range of veg, with a bit less detail for each one, though its still 80,000 words.
Hi Charles
I took your advice and resowed fennel in June but was loathe to put my early seedlings on the compost heap so I planted a few and they are doing well without any sign of bolting yet. Beginners luck! I think for us fennel is better as a winter crop but I am rather pleased!Best wishes
John
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