Introduction, what to sow this week, and Sam | Huw's Garden Journal #1

Gardening tips, advice, and inspiration for the next 7 days

Here we go!

The start of my garden journal, on the last day of July.

Maybe an odd time to embark on a new gardening related project, but the season is far from over, and there is so much that can be done over autumn and winter to prepare for an abundant 2025.

As time progresses the journal will adapt. It will adapt to what you find more interesting, it will adapt to the seasons, and it will adapt to the way I approach gardening.

My goal is that this journal will also grow in terms of the value it can provide to you.

Note: Have any specific questions about your growing? Just hop onto this post on my Substack and join in on the comments section.

This first edition in an introduction to regular sections which will be featured on a weekly basis alongside one off or occasional sections, and a comprehensive sowing list for the week.

In case you are also wondering why I have decided to come on to Substack, this post gives my explanation.

What to sow this week

The following 7 days weather-wise look pleasant for gardeners in the UK, and growth is strong. Because of this, thee harvests should start to be ramping up as we approach late summer, and as a result, gaps emerge.

The following is a comprehensive list of what can be sown this month to continue growing outdoors, considering a first average frost date of mid-October. Asterisk means best results sown directly, and the button below takes you to my staple variety choices for reliability, yield, and flavour.

Leafy Greens

• Pak choi

• Rocket*

• Lettuce

• Mustard

• Lettuce

• Spinach

• Chicory

• Plus in the more unusual category try amaranth, peas for shoots & tree spinach (Get 10% off these from Kings Seeds with code HUWR10)

Larger brassicas

• Kale

• Spring cabbage

• Napa cabbage

Roots

• Summer radish

• Winter radish*

• Carrots*

• Beetroot

• Turnips*

• Kohlrabi

Others

• Spring onions

• Dill

• Parsley

• Coriander

• Blight resistant maincrop potatoes in tubs

You may also have success with the following crops, but it is not guaranteed:

• Early pea varieties for a quick last crop of the season, like this one

• Fennel

• Purple sprouting broccoli (for spring harvest)

• Cauliflower

Skill of the week

The skill of the week will be a section where I share a particular skill that I believe is one of the most useful to apply to this time of the year. That could be anything such as direct sowing success, cooking veg on a fire, chicken composting systems, and seasonal specific successional planting.

One thing to look out for is over this weekend I will be releasing a beginner fermentation masterclass using garden produce - so do keep an eye out!

The chosen skill will usually be written up on this post, but in some cases I will direct you to a video I have made previously on the subject. To begin this section, please let me know what kind of skills are you most interested in learning? I will then prioritise these whenever possible.

Garden update

I will be sharing some updates from the garden, including projects that are currently in-progress, highlights, challenges, and musings. I also love being behind a camera, so I am looking forward to having even more of a reason to take photos.

The image below is an edible flower medley I harvested last week to showcase just how many varieties there are of edible flowers that many people didn’t even realise, like hollyhocks!

Something different

Following on from a garden update will be other sections, which could be bit of interesting gardening news, a response to an article I’ve read, an extract from my next book, an in-depth variety highlight, a recipe, or a mix of things. This will be my little creative corner of the journal. Next week, I will be sharing my nettle seed chimichurri recipe, for example.

Last words

And then a closing section of anything - this week is extending a huge congratulations to my good friend and colleague Sam Cooper who today has just announced his new book; The Fermentation Kitchen. I have been able to taste test most of this book, and many of the ingredients have come from the garden, even the apricots on the front cover!

Also - I’m glad the cover is orange so it stands out when in the garden!

And so here marks the start of a new journey, I am very grateful to have you be a part of it!

I will see you again next Wednesday when we kick off the full loaded journal,

Huw

PS - If you wish to join in on monthly live calls and trainings, my unfiltered monthly newsletter, course discounts, and guest interviews I will be hosting, you can upgrade your subscription here.