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[theorganicfanatic]

I’m from Ohio America Zone 6a and I was curious if the planting schedules for Great Britain are the same for me?

Thanks so much.

[charles]

The dates and timings here are for zone s 8/9, last frost early May and forst frosts in October, temperate and damp climate so a little different to yours. I hope you find the site useful though.

[Molly]

How about Whidbey Island WA …we’ve had a relatively cool summer, but super dry.

[charles]

Fairly similar I reckon Molly, your summers do look drier so I guess less slugs… Some planting dates depend on your last and first frost dates so its worth checking them – mine are above.

[Molly]

Thanks. We are Zone 8. Some liken our climate to the Mediterranean, probably because of what they consider a hot, dry summer. Well, it’s August and quite cool. Tinder-dry, but cool enough that even my tiny cherry tomatoes are slow ripening. I gardened in the Farnborough/Aldershot area and find this climate similar. I’ve also gardened in the hot, dry climate of the Twisp/Winthrop area, in Albuquerque NM, Buffalo NY, and Hawaii. My understanding of micro-climates, such as it is, is helpful. But to garden successfully up here, I’m going to have to learn more about tunnels, hoop houses, etc. In England, I had a tiny lean-to greenhouse, which I loved. Thanks for your response, Charles. Happy Lasagna Gardening!!!

[charles]

Sounds a good challenge. I see you are 48N compared to 51N here, so light levels should be good, therefore tunnels, spring use of fleece etc are worthwhile.
I am not advocating lasagna gardening exactly, simply a mulch of compost. Only where clearing thick amounts of weeds, especially perennials, do I lay cardboard sometimes. Once soil is clean, a thin mulch of compost works fine.

[Molly]

OK…I agree about skipping the cardboard. But there are areas of my front and back yards (I cannot yet grace them with the title of “garden”) featuring compacted clay soil covered with a thick growth of grass and perennial weeds, vetch etc. where I’d like to grow flowers and vegetables. I mow part of this, but under the two apple trees in the side yard, it’s practically a prairie…all matted down by my tramping about. Most folks let their grass go dormant in summer, so I’m waiting ’til fall to see what mine does. I worked on it last fall, trying to get rid of moss by thatching, aerating, reseeding and feeding the grass. The results? Patchy, at best.
Were it up to me, there’d be no lawn.

What does “spring use of fleece” mean? And, I don’t expect chatty personal responses. Just this one.

[charles]

Fleece is a light cover (plastic based I am afraid) which sits over plants and keeps cold winds off, helps them establish and grow in cool conditions, you may call it row cover 🙂

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