When growing our own fruit and veg we often think of the abundance that summer and even autumn can offer us. However, as experienced growers will know, that abundance is the result of four seasons of tending soil and plants. Additionally, winter and spring can reap their own rewards when it comes to fruit and veg, but in our Scottish climate that requires careful consideration to prevent disappointment.

Our ‘Four Seasons Growing’ course is split into four 3h sessions. In each session we will be looking at what needs doing at that time of year, learn the practical skills necessary to do them, and plan ahead for the coming months. With these sessions you will receive guidance through all four seasons and help in solving the problems you encounter.

Additionally, at each session you will be taking home 8 transplants that are ready to be planted in your garden or containers. These will be a variety of in season plants covering leaf, fruit, and root vegetables and are included in your booking fee.

This course is designed for those who want to start growing their own and those who have tried but weren’t as successful as they would have liked. We will be a small group of people and are able to think about and advise on your particular growing circumstances (from balcony to kitchen garden).

The Sessions

Growing your own veg is much more rewarding when you feel well prepared. Instead, constantly feeling late for things causes stress and can take the enjoyment out of gardening. We developed this course to prevent that from happening. In each session we prepare you for the season to come. Each session will include time for your problems/questions to be addressed.

Spring

In February we will be looking at preparing our growing area, starting plants under cover/indoors, sowing directly and in modules/pots, basics of crop planning, and watering.

Summer

In May we cover planting out, crop protection, harvesting techniques, and plant care & maintenance.

Autumn

In August we will be thinking about transitioning into the colder seasons including: winter crop planning, succession growing, maintaining soil fertility, and cover cropping.

Winter

In November we look at some of the fundamentals that ensure you become a good grower who can improve their growing conditions over time. We will cover soil health and sheltering crops, wee building projects you can undertake to support plants, and things you can do to support biodiversity and wildlife. We will also be reviewing what we learned this year and point you into relevant directions for further learning.