Following Charles calendar

[colin]

Having a senior moment hoping someone can help.

I am following Charles calendar, so on 14 Feb I sowed the seeds stated, in trays in the green house.

For 9 March it says most of the same seeds without u (undercover) instruction.

Does this mean I should sow the February seeds that are now small plants into the ground outside and reseed the trays for next month?

[Vinther]

Hi Colin,

I’ve had the same thoughts, and come to the conclusion that the calendar reflects Charles’ personal work scheme. As a market gardener he needs a lot of plants and properly split them into several batches in order not to have a zillion plants to be sowed, pricked, transplanted and harvested at the same time.

I only sow a particular vegetable the first time it it mentioned in the calendar for the first crop. This is my first season as a ‘Charles Dowding follower’ and my challenge will be to work out from Charles’ calendar if a subsequent sowing recommendation represents the second (autumn/winter) crop, or is one of several first batches.

Does this make sense?

Regards
Erik

[colin]

Hi Eric,

Your explanation makes sense, I’m thinking just follow on a smaller scale, if I have to many I can pass them onto others on the plot.

Looking at what I have done so far I’m thinking this could be the explanation.

None of the seeds planted on Feb 16 are ready to go outside so the 9 March suggestions are for sowing seed direct into the ground.

I am going to sow 9 march suggestions in green house hoping this will give me 4 weeks between future sowing.

Regards you concern about autumn/winter sowing this seems to be covered later on in the calendar example 31 July.

I am sure we will both have lots of success (& few failures) using Charles calendar and be much wiser this time next year.

[charles]

Thanks all and yes Vinther has it that sowings for 9th March have no U. before so they are outside not undercover.
Dates are always the first/earliest, like reminders it’s time to sow those veg now or soon, so everything listed say for 9th March can be sown outside any time for about 2-3 weeks in this case.

[Author]

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