In this video I share how I’m watering vegetables in a dry June here in the UK, with a no dig approach that’s really showing its value. Soil is much drier than usual, especially in the Southeast, and most of us don’t have enough water to soak it fully. That means careful hand watering, only where needed.
I walk through which vegetables still need regular water — like lettuce and wild rocket — and which cope well without — like beetroot, chard, and some potatoes. Timing is key too, such as watering peas only from flowering.
The no dig method is helping hugely. Surface compost mulch holds moisture, and the undisturbed soil structure supports the mycelial network. That network helps roots to find extra water by accessing tiny cavities in soil, which roots are too large to enter. It’s subtle, but makes a big difference in dry conditions.
As we’ve seen before, plants often recover well in a wet September — as long as they stay alive through summer.
👉 Filmed in June 2025, Somerset, UK.
#nodig #charlesdowding #wateringtips #ukgardening #compost #vegetablegardening #june2025 #nodiggarden #mycelium #growyourownfood
31 Comments
Is it too late to prepare a no dig flower bed this year?
Here I am up in Cumbria, where it's rained at some point every day since the 7th of June & it's currently dull, drizzling & 16°C.
We did however have an extremely dry May
Just a question about peas and beans I always leave mine in the ground until they’re really dry so the pods are completely dry/dead then pull. Is there a better way to harvest the seeds for the following season of sowing?
Do you use a food safe grade hose? Or is that unnecessary?
Hello Charles, been fan of yours since 18years ( when i started gardening, im 32 now) i have question about that cherry you got near your beds, dont have you problem.with roots devepoling new shoots in your beds? ( I got that problem with neighbourg cherry trree 😢 thx for answer, greeting from Slovakia
Hi Charles
I love the way you're always so chill and laughing or smiling.
Your information is boundless and wonderful, like you.
God bless you, Charles and all your precious ones.
Jude, from Kentucky
✝️🐎🇺🇸
It's the first time I see a garden hose on your channel Charles.
I love this channel. It’s so soothing. You’ve probably answered this question before but I’m in and out on listening to this one because I don’t have a garden. Do you spend every day all day taking care of all those plants or harvesting? What do you do with all of that food?
I love wild rocket which used to grow all year with no problems until last year! Now they always suffer with white spots on the under underside of the leaves. I have replanted and use differnt types of seeds but still the same problem .. not sure why, I read that it may be Downy Mildew or White Blister. Alway's great to see how your garden is growing.
I struggle with watering here in Thailand. Because of the temperatures here I tend to over water, my raised bed can dry out so quickly. I try to give a thorough watering in the evening 🙏.
I have a cherry tree right in the middle of a very productive heavily wood chipped bed and sun side of two raised beds in which I grow first garlic then beef tomatoes and sweet peppers. I wonder whether the woodchip compensates. The rhubarb underneath is huge with very little watering. I’ve found generally woodchip is like steroids for plants.
Stop watering peas when they flower? I didn't know that. I have both snap and sweet and let the drip line continue as with the rest of my garden. I should try turning off watering peas.
Thanks Charles x
Where can you buy the covers and the hoop things?
I kept going back to the cherry tree. Any harvest this year and given the height, how to harvest? Do you prune, fertilize, or water the tree?
I live in northern Australia. I’ve recently tried a small no-dig garden plot under shade cloth frame to protect from midday heat. I water once a day. I’m amazed at the rate of growth!
Thank you for your knowledge!
Thanks Charles. Great info re the different water needs of plants.
cracking video charles
Thank you Charles for your advice. Greetings from Poland
Hello Charles, I live in the northeast of Brazil in a semi-arid climate that is very dry, and I started the no-till method and it is working very well. I have beautiful beets and cabbages in the cow manure beds. Thank you for your teachings.
Ok 😊
Maybe you could tell how you grow lettuce in a greenhouse without watering. It doesn't rain in a greenhouse! Mine is only 8 feeet wide here in NE Oregon. 150in rain avg so we get a lot of ground water. Maybe that's how but IDK. No dig is the best. Thank you.
What kind of mesh and bows do you use to protector your cabbages? Thans you for your answer….😊
I’ve prepared the bed! It has a lot of builders sand on it but hope that won’t affect the planting. Is it ok to use top soil instead of manure on top of the cardboard? I have a few bags of top soil that I’d like to use if possible.
Hello Charles,
Could you kindly inform which hoops/arches you use for your tunnels, please ? 🌻
Thank you, Charles. I learn something new every time!
Do you actually pull the plant out? Or you cut it at the base and leave the roots under ground?
Hugs 🤗
I really I wish I could grow a garden like Charles!
My plants are really struggling in the heat in the southeast of France and I can only skip a day without water on most of the plants and they start to wilt even with some sort of shade cloth and thick leaf mulch that birds dig everyday to get into the soil and the worms. I was actually thinking of planting a fast growing tree just to give some sort of shade…. Can’t even go away as I’m sure my potager will die if I do. 😔
Wow. The guy factors in a tree. This is too advanced and frankly I can't understand a lot of what he's saying with the lazy accent