This UK Rotation Assumes You Are Using Henderson’s “Extravagant Manuring” (Applying A 5-10cm Layer Of Well-Rotted Compost Or Manure In Late Winter).
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In my previous post, “Henderson’s 1866 Gardening Soil Secrets for the Modern UK Gardener”, I discussed how Scottish born Henderson grow crops on his market garden in New Jersey and his 1866 book that described the process. In this article I am looking at the “No Bare Earth” calendar that he would use in the UK were he here today. It starts with the “season’s start” in March and takes us full circle to the following year. The real secret is, No Bare Earth, at any time. In this sense it is similar to the ethos of No Dig and Permaculture. In fact we could describe it as akin to commercial permaculture.
Phase 1: The Spring “Early Market” (March – June)
In the UK, the soil is often too cold in March for direct sowing. Henderson would have used Cold Frames or Hand-Glasses to get a head start. We might also consider modern biointensive hot beds I have discussed previously.
Early March: Sow Broad Beans (Aquadulce Claudia) or Early Peas under fleece or cloches.
Late March: Transplant Early Summer Cabbage (started indoors in February) into the ground.
April: Sow Radishes and Lettuce between the rows of Cabbage (Intercropping).
The Henderson Goal: Harvest everything by the third week of June.
Phase 2: The Summer “Succession” (June – July)
This is the most critical window. In the Henderson system, the day the Cabbages come out, the soil is hoed, lightly re-manured with a concentrated fertiliser (like chicken manure pellets or seaweed meal), and replanted immediately. Note, Henderson didn’t dig at this stage! He was heading towards No Dig. By not digging we are retaining moisture and this is important in hot dry June weather.
Late June Transition: * Option A (The Classic): Plant out Celery or Celeriac (must be started in modules in April).
Option B (The High Value): Plant Leeks (pencil-thick transplants) following the Early Peas.
Option C: Sow Carrots (Nantes types) or Beetroot for a sweet autumn harvest.
Today we have the choice of som many species we could plant. The important thing is the basic pronciple of keep thyme soil covered .. No Bare Soil.
Phase 3: The Winter “Standing” Crop (August – October)
Henderson didn’t believe in “putting the garden to bed.” He wanted the soil working through the frost.
August: Sow Winter Spinach, Spring Onions, and Winter Lettuce (Arctic King) in the gaps left by harvested potatoes or early carrots.
September: Plant out Spring Cabbage (to over-winter) and Garlic.
October: Sow Aquadulce Broad Beans for a head start on next year’s “Phase 1.”
Master Rotation Table for the UK Plot
The following is quite simplistic and can be amended to suit any garden. B ut the principle is sound.
Plot Section
Crop 1 (Harvest June)
Crop 2 (Harvest Oct/Nov)
Henderson’s Logic
Section A
Early Potatoes (First Earlies)
Leeks or Kale
Potatoes clean the soil; Leeks stand the frost.
Section B
Lettuce & Radish
Autumn Carrots
Fast-growing salads don’t exhaust the deep soil.
Section C
Early Cabbage
Celery or Broccoli
Heavy feeders followed by heavy feeders; requires double manure. Just top up with a layer at planting time … there is no need to dig it in.
Section D
Broad Beans
Winter Turnips/Swede
Beans fix nitrogen; Turnips utilise it for fast growth.
Critical UK Adjustments to Henderson’s Rules
The “Module” Start: Henderson grew millions of plants in outdoor seedbeds. In the UK, use a greenhouse or windowsill to grow “modules.” This allows your plants to be 4-6 weeks old before they even touch the garden soil, effectively “cheating” the seasons and ensuring the soil is never empty.
The Fleece Factor: Henderson used glass; we have horticultural fleece. Keep your soil covered in March to raise the temperature by 2–3°C. This “warms the engine” as Henderson recommended for heavy clay. It also works in all other soil types!
The Slug Defence: Intensive gardening creates a damp canopy—the perfect “Slug Hotel.” Unlike Henderson’s dry New Jersey summers, the UK gardener might need to use beer traps or nematodes to protect the high-density plantings.
