Today’s video is all about the simple steps needed to prepare your garden beds, both outside and in the polytunnel, before direct sowing or transplanting. Now is the perfect time to implement these steps on the run-up to a busy spring, and I also include advice on how to start dealing with slugs ahead of time if they are something you have to often battle against.
Rocketgro Compost https://rocketgro.co.uk/products
MY NEW BOOK IS OUT! https://geni.us/Veg-Grower-Handbook
-📷Patreon-
Exclusive content for gardeners wanting more from their space: https://www.patreon.com/huwrichards
-✒️Online Courses-
Planting Plan Short Course: https://abundanceacademy.online/p/the…
More Food Less Effort Course: http://morefoodlesseffort.com/
Kitchen Garden Fermentation: https://abundanceacademy.online/p/hom…
Use code PLAN20 for 20% off the Productive Planting Plan Course: https://abundanceacademy.online/p/the…
-🔗Social-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuwRichardsO…
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huwsgarden/
-🧵Clothing-
Awesome clothing designed for vegetable gardeners: https://huwrichards.teemill.com/
-🍴Delicious Garden Recipes
Farmer & Chef https://instagram.com/farmer.and.chef
Introduction 0:00
3 Bed Questions Before Spring 0:29
Intro to Direct Sowing Prep 2:13
Undercover Bed Prep 2:51
Creating a Tilth 4:59
Prep for Transplanting 6:55
Dealing With Slugs in Advance 8:30
Prepping When Succession Planting 9:30
#vegetablegardening #gardeningtips #growyourownfood
I have learned so much from your videos! A big thank you from over here in northern California!! I have a question that might sound dumb, but here goes: I'll add a few inches of compost to my raised beds, and then plant in that, so do I add more compost as a mulch on top? Or am I overthinking it: am I just planting into the mulch (compost)?
I enjoy watching your videos. quite interesting. I hope you are healthy
Great video full of tips and well presented Huw. This will help a lot of gardeners
Mate I'm in Australia, subtropical Queensland so warm and good rainfall all year. My base 'soil' is very sandy so zero water retention. What's your thoughts, 1 or 2 sleeper (20 or 40cm – 8 or 16in) bed height?
My baby sugar watermelons are goin to love new home
I cover my beds with cardboard over winter.
Thank you Huw xx
Hi huw do you not cover beds in winter with black polythene to kill weeds then remove in spring?
Yup, I like revealing slugs and giving them to my ducks. No homing pigeon slugs then, as I understand that they and snails tend to return to their "home" if removed, but by supplementing the birds diet then winner winner, ducky dinner!
I tried your watering technique on a 6m ground level bed that had not had anything planted in it for many years, was in a shady spot and was up against a brick wall. My base soil profile is clay dominant but tried your compost on the surface and watering over a two week period before planting. I can honestly say that the best cure for a clay based soil is 1. Compost on top and 2. Plant something in it. I now have a garden of Galangal, Turmeric, and Ginger and the green tops give my garden such a tropical resort feel. I have already harvested one crop of Turmeric. Greatly appreciate the advice my learned friend!
Great selection of tips Huw! I’ve now got a couple of extra jobs to add to my list!
gold dust
Huw enjoying the content so informational and helpful. I need to ask a question. I've just recently taken on a allotment and it has h clay soil, it's acidic and drainage is poor. I've opted to go above ground with raised bed. Do i use a weed barrier under the raised bed? Also I'm going to be doing wood chip path and same question is it worth putting a weed fabric down or leaving it and just covering it?
Many thanks
Thank you! This is so timely! I struggled so much with watering my new beds in the greenhouse (total noob). Left me wondering if something was wrong with the soil.This video help/ explain a lot!
We are just starting autumn in the southern hemisphere with too much rain being a huge problem in some areas. My climate is cool temperate but with a warm & dry summer this year. Garden harvest has been brilliant & I have been self sufficient in many summer crops & annual herbs. I also have 7 varieties of fruit based relish in the cupboard. The absolute biggest problem I have in the garden, that started in early summer, are rats! I have caught 10 so far in a lethal trap, baited with crunchy peanut butter. I won't use poison for obvious reasons. My vegetables are in raised metal beds so most of the rats are passing thru. Now have a big, black European water rat visiting from a nearby rivulet. Next step is to buy galvanised vermin mesh to dig in around the fence line. There are no predators in my area & no cats outside. Any other suggestions would be welcome.
Who is that other guy with the orange t-shirt?
Always love then videos b…
beautiful compost pron here.
You use comfrey as a green manure so I was hoping to find some in my area in Ontario, Canada.
Apparently there are two types, one that is quite invasive, another that is sterile. Unfortunately, the only one I can find is the more invasive one. Which variety do you use in your garden?
Really enjoy your videos, and purchased your "Grow Food for Free" book, a real gem.
Nice one Huw, The plank will save a fortune on slug pellets or Nemaslug. However the only pest that plagues my plot at the moment are CATS, I've taken steps to eliminate this by netting the whole plot but too late to stop the earlier damage to my over wintered green manure and a few of my recently planted shallots. The plot is bordered on three sides by housing which every other house has a cat. The allotment has turned into a huge cat toilet. The netting seems to be working so far 🙂 You could see my videos for context. But thanks a million for all your tips and expertise.
Put a squirt if dawn dishwashing liquid in 5 gallons of water as an effective surfactant.
I love your long erect "beans". Love your videos and gardening tips.
Bendigedig
thank you so much for your knowledge and wisdom. I thoroughly enjoy your videos!!! From South Africa