Spring planning & successional sowing at Food Works
Our most recent workshop guided participants through crop planning for this coming Spring, as well as sharing an introduction to successional sowing. Although we’re still in the midst of some pretty grey and rainy weather, the hope of Spring is on the horizon as we begin planning what we’re going to be sowing and planting out this year!
Getting organised for the season ahead
Now is the time to get organised, and we can even begin sowing certain things under cover like peppers, aubergines, tomatoes and other more cold-hardy crops. A little preparation now sets us up for a productive and abundant growing season.
We started the session with a tour around the Food Works nursery, talking through our sowing plans and sharing examples of how we practise successional sowing – as well as how we harvest certain crops at different stages.
For example, we have been harvesting pea shoots that have made their way into our patron boxes. We’ll continue harvesting these as a winter salad, before eventually allowing the plants to mature, flower and produce peas later in the season. It’s a simple but brilliant way to get multiple harvests from one sowing.
Sharing ideas & growing spaces
We then worked through our resource booklet together (which was handmade by our amazingly talented Bethan!), chatting through crop plans and discussing one another’s growing spaces. It was incredibly useful to share ideas and advice – each space offers its own successes and challenges. There is always something new to learn!
Sowing something special
Finally we ended by sowing some seeds together – our first sowing of agretti. This will be planted successionally in the nursery for patron boxes and our kitchens.
Keep your eyes peeled for more stories on that as the season progresses. We’re really excited about being able to offer this rare and delicious Italian delicacy.
Upcoming workshops
We’re also running a beginners workshop to seed sowing on Sunday 22nd February.
Our workshops are perfect for beginners, seasoned growers who want to learn something new, and those who want to get a bit of practical experience in a welcoming environment. They’re small, hands-on, and designed so you can ask questions, make mistakes, and learn by doing.
Whether you’ve got an allotment, a garden, patio space, a balcony or are involved in a community garden, we’re here to guide you through what you can do to make your food growing a success!
Have a look at all our upcoming workshops and join us for another practical, friendly session at Norton Nurseries: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/foodworks
