Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Founder of Pennard Plants, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Learn how to grow with confidence under glass and in polytunnels.
Work directly with productive crops, from tomatoes and chillies to salads and long-season plants.
Take home seedlings and seeds to begin your own protected-growing plan.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between glasshouse, polytunnel and kitchen garden in this immersive masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working directly with tomatoes, aubergines, chillies, peppers, cucumbers and productive salad crops, you’ll explore how protected structures create warmth, shelter and consistency, and how to use these conditions to extend seasons and improve yields. From sowing and spacing to pruning and feeding, the focus is on practical, usable skill.
Guided by Chris Smith’s depth of horticultural knowledge, the day moves between demonstration and hands-on learning, with time to observe, question and apply. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to manage microclimates, support plant health and respond to common challenges as they arise.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring the evolution of protected growing, from early orangeries to Victorian glasshouses and the modern polytunnel, grounding the practice in a longer tradition of cultivation and innovation.
What you will learn
Understand the principles of protected growing and seasonal extension
Differentiate between glasshouse and polytunnel environments
Grow and manage tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillies and cucumbers
Control heat, humidity, airflow and ventilation effectively
Plan succession planting for continuous harvests
Identify and respond to common pests and plant health issues
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on the heritage of protected growing
Guided exploration of glasshouse and polytunnel environments
Demonstrations in sowing, spacing, feeding and pruning
Hands-on plant work and observation
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon sessions on crop planning, succession and troubleshooting
Closing guidance for applying learning at home
What you’ll leave with
A selection of seasonal seedlings raised at The Old Vicarage
A curated collection of heritage seeds from Pennard Plants
Greater confidence in managing protected growing spaces
Practical knowledge you can apply immediately at home
A clear plan for your own glasshouse or polytunnel
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Monday 15th June 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-upon-Mendip, Somerset
Pricing: £210 per person
Includes: Full tuition, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, practical sessions in the garden, glasshouse and polytunnel, plus a goody bag including seedlings and heritage seeds
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Chris Smith’s practical expertise with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ approach, offering a focused and grounded day of growing, observation and applied skill.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in varieties chosen for flavour, resilience and character, with a particular focus on productive kitchen gardening.
Known for his clear, practical teaching style, Chris helps gardeners understand not only how to grow successfully, but how to work with plants in a way that is responsive, efficient and deeply rewarding.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Founder of Pennard Plants, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Learn how to grow with confidence under glass and in polytunnels.
Work directly with productive crops, from tomatoes and chillies to salads and long-season plants.
Take home seedlings and seeds to begin your own protected-growing plan.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between glasshouse, polytunnel and kitchen garden in this immersive masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working directly with tomatoes, aubergines, chillies, peppers, cucumbers and productive salad crops, you’ll explore how protected structures create warmth, shelter and consistency, and how to use these conditions to extend seasons and improve yields. From sowing and spacing to pruning and feeding, the focus is on practical, usable skill.
Guided by Chris Smith’s depth of horticultural knowledge, the day moves between demonstration and hands-on learning, with time to observe, question and apply. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to manage microclimates, support plant health and respond to common challenges as they arise.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring the evolution of protected growing, from early orangeries to Victorian glasshouses and the modern polytunnel, grounding the practice in a longer tradition of cultivation and innovation.
What you will learn
Understand the principles of protected growing and seasonal extension
Differentiate between glasshouse and polytunnel environments
Grow and manage tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillies and cucumbers
Control heat, humidity, airflow and ventilation effectively
Plan succession planting for continuous harvests
Identify and respond to common pests and plant health issues
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on the heritage of protected growing
Guided exploration of glasshouse and polytunnel environments
Demonstrations in sowing, spacing, feeding and pruning
Hands-on plant work and observation
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon sessions on crop planning, succession and troubleshooting
Closing guidance for applying learning at home
What you’ll leave with
A selection of seasonal seedlings raised at The Old Vicarage
A curated collection of heritage seeds from Pennard Plants
Greater confidence in managing protected growing spaces
Practical knowledge you can apply immediately at home
A clear plan for your own glasshouse or polytunnel
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Monday 15th June 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-upon-Mendip, Somerset
Pricing: £210 per person
Includes: Full tuition, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, practical sessions in the garden, glasshouse and polytunnel, plus a goody bag including seedlings and heritage seeds
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Chris Smith’s practical expertise with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ approach, offering a focused and grounded day of growing, observation and applied skill.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in varieties chosen for flavour, resilience and character, with a particular focus on productive kitchen gardening.
Known for his clear, practical teaching style, Chris helps gardeners understand not only how to grow successfully, but how to work with plants in a way that is responsive, efficient and deeply rewarding.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
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