What do you think?
Salad Leaves for All Seasons: Organic Growing from Pot to Plot
Known as the guru of no-dig, Charles Dowding has updated the definitive book on salad growing in this hardback, beautifully illustrated edition. In it he shows how to have tasty salad leaves all year round in a garden, balcony or windowsill, whatever the weather & grow healthy plants grown in healthy soil using organic, permaculture principles.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Charles Dowding
26 books1,658 followersCharles Dowding has been pioneering organic, no dig gardening since 1982, when he began growing vegetables on a 6,000m² plot in Somerset, UK. From the beginning, his no dig methods delivered healthy, abundant crops, with fewer weeds and no need for synthetic inputs. At the time, nobody else was growing commercially at this scale without digging, and Charles has been refining the approach ever since.
Today, he shares the simplicity and power of no dig gardening with a global audience, through his books, courses, YouTube videos, social media, and regular travels to connect with growers around the world.
Charles published his first book, Organic Gardening, in 2007, and has since written 14 more. His most recent titles include New Energies for Gardening (April 2025) and Compost (September 2024). He also produces an annual Calendar of Sowing Dates, packed with practical tips based on his trials and growing experience.
From his 1,600m² Homeacres market garden in Somerset, Charles continues to experiment with crops and methods – comparing dig and no dig plots, testing new varieties, and refining techniques. The garden yields around £35,000 of produce annually and serves as a living example of how low-input, soil-first methods can lead to healthy plants and sustainable harvests.
Charles is passionate about helping others find joy and success in growing food, and believes that no dig is not just a method, but a mindset.
Today, he shares the simplicity and power of no dig gardening with a global audience, through his books, courses, YouTube videos, social media, and regular travels to connect with growers around the world.
Charles published his first book, Organic Gardening, in 2007, and has since written 14 more. His most recent titles include New Energies for Gardening (April 2025) and Compost (September 2024). He also produces an annual Calendar of Sowing Dates, packed with practical tips based on his trials and growing experience.
From his 1,600m² Homeacres market garden in Somerset, Charles continues to experiment with crops and methods – comparing dig and no dig plots, testing new varieties, and refining techniques. The garden yields around £35,000 of produce annually and serves as a living example of how low-input, soil-first methods can lead to healthy plants and sustainable harvests.
Charles is passionate about helping others find joy and success in growing food, and believes that no dig is not just a method, but a mindset.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 23, 2009
Who knew there was so much to say about lettuce?
Comprehensive, authoritative, exhaustive...and unintentionally humorous. Has this author got a hate-on for slugs! In fact, if the reader drank a shot each time the word "slugs" was mentioned, the reader would be seriously sloshed by the end of the book! The war on slugs, and the slightly ... odd ... chapter on lunar influences/plantings adds just the right note of eccentricity to this British gardener's master work.
Comprehensive, authoritative, exhaustive...and unintentionally humorous. Has this author got a hate-on for slugs! In fact, if the reader drank a shot each time the word "slugs" was mentioned, the reader would be seriously sloshed by the end of the book! The war on slugs, and the slightly ... odd ... chapter on lunar influences/plantings adds just the right note of eccentricity to this British gardener's master work.
November 24, 2019
He is my hero.
February 27, 2012
Anything and everything you could possibly want to know about growing leaves and greens for salad.
August 24, 2019
I loved this book! Charles Dowding is a fantastic teacher. His books and videos, combined with the book High Yield Vegetable Gardening and the Seattle Tilth garden guide, have been extremely influential in how I've set up my garden this summer.
Dowding is one of the pioneers of the "no dig" method, which is basically where you dump compost on top of where you want to garden and then put seeds/transplants in that. It's an alternative to tilling. The emphasis is on soil health and improving that from the top down. I've seen great results with it this summer, and can't wait to apply it to more beds. My soil is very rocky. The idea of tilling it... ahhh it sounds overwhelming! It's already a lot of work to transplant seedlings that need to be planted deeply (though I have gotten quite a nice collection of rocks out of it). I can't imagine doing that across multiple 8' x 4' spaces.
One of the advantages of Dowding's books is that the climate he writes about is similar to mine. Like Britain, the Puget Sound area gets a lot of rain in the fall/winter/spring and we have mild summers. If you live in an area with more year round warmth, the growing calendars suggested won't work as well for you, but there is still a lot of information that's helpful no matter your location!
I had two favorite parts of this book, chapters 18 and 19. They go over indoor sowing and how to have lettuce year round. I'm looking forward to trying that out.
Also, one of the vinaigrette recipes is so delicious! I think it's the autumn one. Came together beautifully with a nice sweetness.
Dowding is one of the pioneers of the "no dig" method, which is basically where you dump compost on top of where you want to garden and then put seeds/transplants in that. It's an alternative to tilling. The emphasis is on soil health and improving that from the top down. I've seen great results with it this summer, and can't wait to apply it to more beds. My soil is very rocky. The idea of tilling it... ahhh it sounds overwhelming! It's already a lot of work to transplant seedlings that need to be planted deeply (though I have gotten quite a nice collection of rocks out of it). I can't imagine doing that across multiple 8' x 4' spaces.
One of the advantages of Dowding's books is that the climate he writes about is similar to mine. Like Britain, the Puget Sound area gets a lot of rain in the fall/winter/spring and we have mild summers. If you live in an area with more year round warmth, the growing calendars suggested won't work as well for you, but there is still a lot of information that's helpful no matter your location!
I had two favorite parts of this book, chapters 18 and 19. They go over indoor sowing and how to have lettuce year round. I'm looking forward to trying that out.
Also, one of the vinaigrette recipes is so delicious! I think it's the autumn one. Came together beautifully with a nice sweetness.
March 17, 2026
This book feels less like a guide and more like an invitation into a calmer, more intentional way of living. From the very first pages, I appreciated how approachable and encouraging the tone is, there’s no sense of overwhelm, even for someone completely new to growing their own food. The idea that you can cultivate fresh, vibrant salad leaves right from your windowsill or small outdoor space is both empowering and inspiring.
What truly stands out is how clearly everything is explained. The step-by-step guidance on sowing, growing, and maintaining salad crops makes the process feel achievable year-round. I found the emphasis on organic and no-dig methods especially refreshing, as it aligns with a more sustainable lifestyle without feeling restrictive or complicated.
The variety of greens covered is impressive, and I loved learning about options beyond the usual lettuce and spinach. It opened my eyes to how diverse and exciting salads can be when you grow them yourself. The seasonal insights were also incredibly helpful in understanding what thrives when, making planning much easier.
The inclusion of recipes adds another beautiful dimension to the book. It’s one thing to grow your own food, but knowing how to turn it into something delicious elevates the entire experience. The recipes feel thoughtful and genuinely complement the gardening side of the book.
Overall, this is a deeply motivating read that leaves you feeling capable and excited. It doesn’t just teach you how to grow food, it encourages a lifestyle shift toward freshness, sustainability, and mindful living.
What truly stands out is how clearly everything is explained. The step-by-step guidance on sowing, growing, and maintaining salad crops makes the process feel achievable year-round. I found the emphasis on organic and no-dig methods especially refreshing, as it aligns with a more sustainable lifestyle without feeling restrictive or complicated.
The variety of greens covered is impressive, and I loved learning about options beyond the usual lettuce and spinach. It opened my eyes to how diverse and exciting salads can be when you grow them yourself. The seasonal insights were also incredibly helpful in understanding what thrives when, making planning much easier.
The inclusion of recipes adds another beautiful dimension to the book. It’s one thing to grow your own food, but knowing how to turn it into something delicious elevates the entire experience. The recipes feel thoughtful and genuinely complement the gardening side of the book.
Overall, this is a deeply motivating read that leaves you feeling capable and excited. It doesn’t just teach you how to grow food, it encourages a lifestyle shift toward freshness, sustainability, and mindful living.
April 2, 2026
From the very first page, this book made me feel that growing my own salad leaves was not only possible but also joyful. The writing is approachable, and the guidance is structured so that even a complete beginner can follow along. I loved how it made the idea of indoor gardening feel like a natural extension of everyday life.
The author’s no-dig philosophy is revolutionary in its simplicity. I never realized how much healthier and more productive my greens could be with such a gentle approach to soil. The book demystifies gardening and shows that patience and observation are more important than hard labor.
I was also inspired by the variety of greens covered. From familiar lettuces to lesser-known chicories and micro-leaves, it opened up a whole world of flavor and creativity. Each type comes with advice on seasonal planting and growing techniques, making the whole process predictable and manageable.
The recipes included are delightful. Stephanie Hafferty’s culinary guidance complements the gardening perfectly, turning harvests into vibrant, flavorful salads that feel special and celebratory.
Overall, this book is not just about growing food, t’s about cultivating a sense of calm, connection, and accomplishment. It left me motivated to grow more, eat better, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in my own home.
The author’s no-dig philosophy is revolutionary in its simplicity. I never realized how much healthier and more productive my greens could be with such a gentle approach to soil. The book demystifies gardening and shows that patience and observation are more important than hard labor.
I was also inspired by the variety of greens covered. From familiar lettuces to lesser-known chicories and micro-leaves, it opened up a whole world of flavor and creativity. Each type comes with advice on seasonal planting and growing techniques, making the whole process predictable and manageable.
The recipes included are delightful. Stephanie Hafferty’s culinary guidance complements the gardening perfectly, turning harvests into vibrant, flavorful salads that feel special and celebratory.
Overall, this book is not just about growing food, t’s about cultivating a sense of calm, connection, and accomplishment. It left me motivated to grow more, eat better, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in my own home.
April 2, 2026
This book is a gentle masterclass in cultivating food, patience, and mindfulness. The clear, calm explanations make growing your own salad leaves feel achievable, even for someone who thought gardening was too intimidating.
The emphasis on organic methods and sustainability is inspiring. It teaches that growing food responsibly doesn’t require complexity, just care, consistency, and respect for the plants. I particularly appreciated the sections on soil health and no-dig techniques, which challenged my old assumptions about gardening.
The guidance on indoor and small-space gardening is practical and liberating. Even with limited space, the book shows how to create a flourishing salad garden, making the dream of fresh greens year-round accessible to everyone.
The recipes enhance the experience beautifully. They encourage readers to celebrate the colors, textures, and flavors of their homegrown greens, transforming simple meals into experiences.
By the end, I felt empowered and deeply motivated. This book doesn’t just teach you how to garden, it instills a love for it, making each step of the process rewarding and satisfying.
The emphasis on organic methods and sustainability is inspiring. It teaches that growing food responsibly doesn’t require complexity, just care, consistency, and respect for the plants. I particularly appreciated the sections on soil health and no-dig techniques, which challenged my old assumptions about gardening.
The guidance on indoor and small-space gardening is practical and liberating. Even with limited space, the book shows how to create a flourishing salad garden, making the dream of fresh greens year-round accessible to everyone.
The recipes enhance the experience beautifully. They encourage readers to celebrate the colors, textures, and flavors of their homegrown greens, transforming simple meals into experiences.
By the end, I felt empowered and deeply motivated. This book doesn’t just teach you how to garden, it instills a love for it, making each step of the process rewarding and satisfying.
March 19, 2026
This book is an absolute joy to read and an even greater joy to put into practice. It combines knowledge, inspiration, and practicality in a way that few gardening books manage to achieve.
From the beginning, it’s clear that the author has a deep passion for what he does, and that passion comes through on every page. The guidance feels thoughtful and intentional, designed to truly help the reader succeed.
What stood out to me most is how adaptable the advice is. Whether you have a large garden, a small balcony, or just a windowsill, there’s something here for you. It makes growing your own food feel inclusive and accessible.
The emphasis on sustainability and organic methods adds a meaningful layer to the book. It’s not just about growing food, it’s about doing it in a way that respects the environment and promotes long-term health.
Overall, this is a deeply uplifting and empowering read. It leaves you with a sense of possibility and a strong desire to start growing, experimenting, and enjoying the simple pleasure of fresh, home-grown greens.
From the beginning, it’s clear that the author has a deep passion for what he does, and that passion comes through on every page. The guidance feels thoughtful and intentional, designed to truly help the reader succeed.
What stood out to me most is how adaptable the advice is. Whether you have a large garden, a small balcony, or just a windowsill, there’s something here for you. It makes growing your own food feel inclusive and accessible.
The emphasis on sustainability and organic methods adds a meaningful layer to the book. It’s not just about growing food, it’s about doing it in a way that respects the environment and promotes long-term health.
Overall, this is a deeply uplifting and empowering read. It leaves you with a sense of possibility and a strong desire to start growing, experimenting, and enjoying the simple pleasure of fresh, home-grown greens.
April 2, 2026
This book is a true celebration of simplicity and abundance. It takes something as everyday as salad leaves and transforms it into an exciting and rewarding journey. The writing is engaging without being overwhelming, making it easy to read and absorb.
What I loved most is how practical it is. Every piece of advice feels grounded in real experience, and there’s a strong sense that the methods shared have been tried and perfected over time. That level of authenticity builds a lot of trust.
The visual presentation also deserves praise. The descriptions of different greens and growing techniques are vivid and inspiring, making it easy to imagine your own thriving mini-garden. It encourages creativity and experimentation.
The recipes are a wonderful bonus, adding flavor, literally and figuratively, to the book. They make you excited to harvest what you grow and turn it into something beautiful and nourishing.
This is more than just a gardening book, it’s a guide to a healthier, more connected way of living. It leaves you feeling motivated, capable, and eager to get started.
What I loved most is how practical it is. Every piece of advice feels grounded in real experience, and there’s a strong sense that the methods shared have been tried and perfected over time. That level of authenticity builds a lot of trust.
The visual presentation also deserves praise. The descriptions of different greens and growing techniques are vivid and inspiring, making it easy to imagine your own thriving mini-garden. It encourages creativity and experimentation.
The recipes are a wonderful bonus, adding flavor, literally and figuratively, to the book. They make you excited to harvest what you grow and turn it into something beautiful and nourishing.
This is more than just a gardening book, it’s a guide to a healthier, more connected way of living. It leaves you feeling motivated, capable, and eager to get started.
April 2, 2026
Reading this book felt like having a knowledgeable and patient mentor guiding me every step of the way. The tone is warm, encouraging, and incredibly accessible, which made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish.
The way the book breaks down the growing process is particularly impressive. It takes what could be a complicated subject and makes it feel simple and achievable. Even as a beginner, I never felt intimidated.
I was especially drawn to the focus on year-round growing. The idea that you can have fresh greens regardless of the season is both practical and inspiring. It changes the way you think about food and self-sufficiency.
The section on dealing with common challenges, like pests, is handled with clarity and calmness. Instead of creating fear or frustration, it provides solutions that feel manageable and effective.
By the end of the book, I felt genuinely empowered. It’s the kind of resource that not only teaches you something new but also gives you the confidence to take action and see real results.
The way the book breaks down the growing process is particularly impressive. It takes what could be a complicated subject and makes it feel simple and achievable. Even as a beginner, I never felt intimidated.
I was especially drawn to the focus on year-round growing. The idea that you can have fresh greens regardless of the season is both practical and inspiring. It changes the way you think about food and self-sufficiency.
The section on dealing with common challenges, like pests, is handled with clarity and calmness. Instead of creating fear or frustration, it provides solutions that feel manageable and effective.
By the end of the book, I felt genuinely empowered. It’s the kind of resource that not only teaches you something new but also gives you the confidence to take action and see real results.
April 2, 2026
This book is an invitation to slow down, observe, and connect with the natural rhythms of plants. The instructions are clear, and the tone is warm and supportive, making gardening feel accessible and even meditative.
The advice on indoor and outdoor growing is thorough, practical, and encouraging. It demonstrates that with thoughtful planning, anyone can grow their own greens year-round, regardless of space limitations.
The discussion of soil, pests, and plant care is comprehensive yet easy to follow. The no-dig approach is explained in a way that is logical and convincing, making it feel like a natural method rather than a chore.
The recipes add a wonderful culinary dimension. They inspire you to enjoy your greens in creative ways and celebrate the colors, textures, and flavors of fresh produce.
Overall, this book left me feeling inspired, capable, and eager to begin my own salad leaf journey. It’s a treasure for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
The advice on indoor and outdoor growing is thorough, practical, and encouraging. It demonstrates that with thoughtful planning, anyone can grow their own greens year-round, regardless of space limitations.
The discussion of soil, pests, and plant care is comprehensive yet easy to follow. The no-dig approach is explained in a way that is logical and convincing, making it feel like a natural method rather than a chore.
The recipes add a wonderful culinary dimension. They inspire you to enjoy your greens in creative ways and celebrate the colors, textures, and flavors of fresh produce.
Overall, this book left me feeling inspired, capable, and eager to begin my own salad leaf journey. It’s a treasure for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
March 14, 2021
I'm reading this book again to bulk-up as we venture into a new garden project.
This book kicked off a lot of things for me. It clued me into 'leafing' lettuce and 'no dig' growing methods that greatly reduce the impacts gardening.
Charles Dowding is a Brit who's been selling primarily salad for 30+years. His leaf and flavor combinations are known through out his region and his reach has grown to international acclaim. Lay folk may not know the name but among greenthumbs he is a force of nature; a guidepost to measure ourselves by.
This book kicked off a lot of things for me. It clued me into 'leafing' lettuce and 'no dig' growing methods that greatly reduce the impacts gardening.
Charles Dowding is a Brit who's been selling primarily salad for 30+years. His leaf and flavor combinations are known through out his region and his reach has grown to international acclaim. Lay folk may not know the name but among greenthumbs he is a force of nature; a guidepost to measure ourselves by.
May 19, 2026
Nice book for gardeneres in UK, Ireland and places with similar climate. I'm in in the US Midwest, so not super useful for me.
April 29, 2018
My library had this book presented, and I do not think it was necessarily the best move. That is not to say that this is a bad book, but the book is tailor-made to showing how to grow salad leaves in the UK in all seasons and that is not always very applicable to a climate like that of Oregon. Even so, as someone who likes to eat salads all year round [1], I found a great deal to enjoy in this book. If you read this book, you are likely to enjoy salads as well and you may even be likely to have a fondness for the sort of organic ideals that the author does. Those who do not eat salads all that avidly are also not the people who are likely to devote considerable time trying to grow salad greens year round for their own table. This is the sort of book whose topic matter rather nicely self-selects its reading audience, something that probably happens a fair amount when it comes to books that are published and that are put on display in a library.
This book of almost 200 pages is made up of 4 parts and 19 mostly short chapters. First, the author begins by talking about growing leaves (I) through learning new tricks to get high yields from small spaces using special methods (1), and by focusing on ways to sow less and pick more (2). He discusses experimenting with salad beds to slow, plant, and harvest throughout the year (3) and pick baby leaves when one has to grow in confined spaces (4), focusing on the palette of leaf colors to work with (5). He continues by talking about how to sow, raise, and sustain healthy plants indoors and outdoors (6), bring new energy to soil, plants, and ourselves (7), and deal with slugs and other pests (8). After this the author spends some time looking at the seasons of harvest (II) by showing salad plants that grow year round (9), giving some terrible recipes for all seasons (10). The author then turns to celebrating outdoor leaves (III) by writing about lettuce (11), endives and chicories (12), cabbages (13), spinach, chard, and beet (14), exotic tastes and colors (15), herbs and flowers (16), and outdoor winter salads (17). The author then closes the book with a discussion on indoor sowing and growing (IV), with the benefits of sowing indoors (18), as well as growing salad leaves indoors through the winter (19) before including some English resources and an index.
The author clearly has different tastes than I do, and to some extent that makes this book less enjoyable for me than it would have been otherwise. I think being English certainly accounts in part for the unpleasant recipes offered for what would otherwise be some spectacular salad plants. Even so, there are some worthwhile insights that this book provides that are well worth pointing out. For example, the author comments that pests tend to select plants that are distressed in some fashion. Rather than being (too) angry at such flies and aphids and slugs, it is worthwhile to wonder what is causing problems with the plants that would make them attractive to pests. Most of the time, I think, people are unaware of the positive side of animals that we tend to think poorly of, but it is worthwhile to note that trouble does deliberately seek out those who are already struggling, something that some people would know without having to read it in a book about plants. As long as you focus on the author's techniques and less on the author's recipes and opinions about plants, this is a worthwhile book.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
This book of almost 200 pages is made up of 4 parts and 19 mostly short chapters. First, the author begins by talking about growing leaves (I) through learning new tricks to get high yields from small spaces using special methods (1), and by focusing on ways to sow less and pick more (2). He discusses experimenting with salad beds to slow, plant, and harvest throughout the year (3) and pick baby leaves when one has to grow in confined spaces (4), focusing on the palette of leaf colors to work with (5). He continues by talking about how to sow, raise, and sustain healthy plants indoors and outdoors (6), bring new energy to soil, plants, and ourselves (7), and deal with slugs and other pests (8). After this the author spends some time looking at the seasons of harvest (II) by showing salad plants that grow year round (9), giving some terrible recipes for all seasons (10). The author then turns to celebrating outdoor leaves (III) by writing about lettuce (11), endives and chicories (12), cabbages (13), spinach, chard, and beet (14), exotic tastes and colors (15), herbs and flowers (16), and outdoor winter salads (17). The author then closes the book with a discussion on indoor sowing and growing (IV), with the benefits of sowing indoors (18), as well as growing salad leaves indoors through the winter (19) before including some English resources and an index.
The author clearly has different tastes than I do, and to some extent that makes this book less enjoyable for me than it would have been otherwise. I think being English certainly accounts in part for the unpleasant recipes offered for what would otherwise be some spectacular salad plants. Even so, there are some worthwhile insights that this book provides that are well worth pointing out. For example, the author comments that pests tend to select plants that are distressed in some fashion. Rather than being (too) angry at such flies and aphids and slugs, it is worthwhile to wonder what is causing problems with the plants that would make them attractive to pests. Most of the time, I think, people are unaware of the positive side of animals that we tend to think poorly of, but it is worthwhile to note that trouble does deliberately seek out those who are already struggling, something that some people would know without having to read it in a book about plants. As long as you focus on the author's techniques and less on the author's recipes and opinions about plants, this is a worthwhile book.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
January 18, 2021
Great descriptions of a wide variety of salad greens and their best growing times and conditions. Realistic/inexpensive methods for stretching the growing season beyond what is typical for a growing zone.
Read
October 21, 2009Not many pictures, but lots of great info on all the different types of greens - how they taste, what they are used for. Lots of good info for how to grow them too (inside and out).
January 12, 2012
This was a great book. Helpful for growing greens throughout the year. Good charts for planting and harvesting dates. Specific varieties listed.
May 2, 2020
A stunning amount of very focussed information that I'll need to refer back to so I can plan out my Salad growing year a little better.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews