Sowing, spacing, planting, picking, watering and more

Skills for Growing online course teaches you how to save time, effort and money. With the skills you learn, you’ll find gardening even easier, and learn how you can produce fine, healthy harvests without the hard work!

We look in depth at the key processes of growing. I cover saving your own seed, propagation, multi-sowing, spacing, methods of harvesting and watering, and more. I cut through some of the myths that can make your life in the garden harder and less productive.

I show you how to adapt your knowledge of growing in different circumstances, and you learn how to grow different plants at different times of the year.

*July 2025 updates!

New module added, Module 3: Sowing dates, methods and growing tips – month by month. Plus updates to Lesson 4 – Succession and rotation, and Going further – New skills for new energies.

Course information

• 7 modules, 20 lessons (details below)
• Captioned photos throughout
• Exclusive videos
• Quizzes to consolidate learning
• Downloadable certificate on completion
• Lifetime access

Offers and discounts

• Bundle of three full-length courses + free digital Sowing Calendar - £190 (full price £293)
• Pests and Diseases short course half price with the purchase of any full-length course/course bundle - £9.75 (full price £19.50)
• 60% off any online course for students in full-time education

Please contact Anna, anna@charlesdowding.co.uk, for discount requests/further info.

For information on all the online courses we offer, please see this page.

Course content

Introduction and glossary

Module 1: Skills and knowledge for a full garden, all year

I cover tips for good growing, and outline key skills. I also provide examples to support your planning and explore succession and rotation.

• Lesson 1 – Tips for good growing
• Lesson 2 – An outline of key skills
• Lesson 3 – Planning, with three examples
• Lesson 4 –  Succession and rotation*

 *Updated July 2025, now includes information on interplanting

Module 2: Seeds, sowing and planting

You’ll learn new skills for successful seed saving and propagating strong seedlings. We also look at multisowing and transplanting.

• Lesson 5 – Seeds and seed saving
• Lesson 6 – How to propagate strong seedlings
• Lesson 7 – The benefits of multisowing
• Lesson 8 –  Transplant or sow direct

Module 3: Sowing dates, methods and growing tips – month by month*

I give detailed information and advice on sowing specific vegetables through the seasons.

• Lesson 9 – January to May
• Lesson 10 – June to October

*New module, added July 2025

Module 4: The importance of spacing, with examples

We look at how and why to space carefully, and when to use close or wider spacing.

• Lesson 11 –The how and why of spacing
• Lesson 12 – Examples of close spacings
• Lesson 13 – Examples of wider spacings, and Spacing Guide

Module 5 – Watering and harvesting

I cover when and how to water, and harvesting methods and timings.

• Lesson 14 – When and how to water, and how much
• Lesson 15 – Harvesting methods and amounts
• Lesson 16 – Harvesting timings

Module 6: Covers and winter gardening

We look at how you can use covers to promote growth through increased warmth, and to protect from pests. Plus we look at managing frost and other winter garden factors.

• Lesson 17 – Covers for speeding growth and pest protection
• Lesson 18 – Winter gardening, and how to manage frost

Module 7: Containers, perennials and herbs

You’ll learn about growing in containers, and how to grow perennials and herbs.

• Lesson 19 – Growing in containers
• Lesson 20 – Some perennials, and herbs

Going further

I finish with suggestions for taking gardening to an even greater level of ease and energy.

• New skills for new energies*

*Updated July 2025 to include further knowledge and understandings