Yesterday morning we sat down for our 2025 garden planning meeting. Well, truth be told, Pete, Jan and Sarah did the planning, while I looked after our two children, plus Sarah’s daughter. So there was playdough making, coffee drinking, and seed planning. I got a run down of the plans after, whilst between us we navigated making snacks, changing batteries in remote control cars, and generally keeping the household ticking over. And it struck me in that moment, how lucky we are to have a home, that is also our place of work, where those who help us, are friends as well as work colleagues, they are part of this in a much bigger sense than simply coming ‘to work’.

Anyway I digress ( I know, it’s not like me!! ) In those moments around the aga, Jan and I also came up with a plan for a chance to share some of this planning, by way of a workshop. So, read on for details…

WHEN: Friday 28th February 2025, 9.30am – 2pm

WHERE: Homestead Kitchen, Goathland

COST: £75 per person, includes a welcome drink, the workshop, lunch and a glass of wine or soft drink.

Planning the Vegetable Garden

Whether you are new to vegetable gardening, or have always found it tricky to work out when best to sow seeds, let Jan guide you through the growing season and how to plan for bountiful harvests.

From choosing the varieties you wish to grow, to making a plan for your own plot, find out how careful planning can make your life easier and your vegetable garden more successful.

There is plenty of advice available to gardeners for planning your vegetable garden. However the vast majority of these timetables are tailored for growing in the south. The usual advice given to those of us who grow in the north is usually to just wait a couple of weeks before starting off your seeds.  Depending on your particular growing conditions and what you wish to grow, this type of advice can frequently lead to failure, and often fledgling gardeners can be disheartened, thinking that they don’t have the right skills or knowledge.  Join this short workshop to learn how to avoid making common mistakes and how best to choose the right crops for your situation and time available.

Climate, micro-climate, soil types, last frost dates and day length all play an important part in working out the best times to sow and plant out your seedlings.  Learn how to discover more about your own particular growing conditions and how best to grow as much food as you are able.

Jan will explain how to work out the best times to sow seeds for your particular circumstances, whether you are direct sowing into the ground or starting seedlings off indoors.  She will talk through how to plan the vegetables you want to grow, how best to use the space you have available and dealing with succession sowing.  From container growing and raised beds to making the most of an allotment, there is plenty of useful advice here for vegetable gardeners of all abilities.

There will be plenty of time for asking questions and you will leave armed with the knowledge and confidence to grow your own delicious crops.

Arrive after 9.30 to start at 10am.  We finish at 12.30 in time for lunch in the restaurant. This is a theoretical course and will not be taking place outside.  Bring a notebook and pen if you wish to make notes. You will leave with a list of approximate sowing dates for a wide range of vegetables and a month by month planner for you to fill out at home when planning this years vegetable growing adventure.

This is a small group, limited to 11 attendees, so please do book in good time to secure your place. Visit our EVENTS PAGE HERE to make your booking.

To find out more about Jan’s work, or purchase her book, head to her website.