Getting Ahead in the Vegetable Garden: A Two-Day Spring Preparation Course. RESIDENTIAL. 24th and 25th March 2026.

In collaboration with Pennard Plants.

Join us for an immersive two-day workshop designed to set you up for a productive growing season. Held in the working kitchen garden at The Old Vicarage in Leigh-on-Mendip, this hands-on course is perfect for anyone wanting to build confidence, structure and momentum in the vegetable garden before the main season begins.

This course is fully residential, with guests staying for one night at Hollybush Lodges — a set of beautifully kept log cabins just a three-minute walk from The Old Vicarage. Each lodge has two comfortable bedrooms and shared living spaces, offering a relaxed and friendly base to unwind after the first day before returning refreshed for day two.

Across two structured days of demonstrations, practical sessions and guided planning, you will learn how to prepare your soil, understand your site, make confident sowing decisions, and establish early crops that will carry you well into spring and summer.

This course runs on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th March.

Please note: we also offer this two-day course in a non-residential format — without overnight accommodation, the guest dinner or breakfast — on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March.

Led by renowned plantsman Chris Smith of Pennard Plants, the course blends expert horticultural knowledge with Asterion & Co.’s warm, welcoming approach to Heritage-Inspired Learning. The Old Vicarage Head Gardener will also be on-hand to answer your questions on our set-up here in Somerset. You’ll leave with a clear action plan for the months ahead, a set of early crops to grow on, and practical techniques you can apply immediately in your own garden or allotment.

What the two days cover:

Designing the productive plot

• Understanding the tools you genuinely need

• Reading your garden: orientation, wind, drainage and microclimates

• Bed layout, spacing and simple rotation planning

• Early sowings: broad beans, peas, onions, spinach, lettuce and brassicas

• Planning for root crops and sequencing for a year-round harvest

Soil, compost and sowing

• Assessing soil texture and improving structure

• Using compost, mulches, manures and early spring fertilisers

• Hands-on sowing in the glasshouse: modules, trays and variety choices (F1 vs heritage)

• Direct sowing outdoors (weather permitting)

• The fine details: timing, depth and spacing

Propagation and early plant care

• Monitoring germination and giving seedlings the right light and temperature

• Pricking out and potting on into larger cells

• Early pest management: slugs, mice and flea beetles

• Using fleece, cloches and cold frames for protection

Seasonal maintenance and crop planning

• Watering routines for early spring

• Supporting peas, beans and brassicas from the start

• Creating a simple rotation plan for any size of garden

• How to build on your progress through April and May

• Crop protection from pests and weather

Hosted by Neil Crump (Founder of Asterion & Co.) at The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip – a beautifully reimagined 16th-century home with a three acre garden and a productive kitchen garden. Guests will enjoy a seated garden lunch on both days, with refreshments and home-made treats throughout.

Take-home items

• Up to 10 packets of heritage seeds from the Pennard Plant range

• Early crops in trays or pots

• Our favourite vegetable growing book

• Cultivation notes on recommended varieties

• Your own preparation checklist for April and May

Masterclass Details

Date: Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th March 2026

Time: 11:00 am – 4:30 pm on day one followed by rest time and supper at 7:00 pm, then 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on day two (breakfast served at 9:00 am)

Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset

Pricing: £710 per person, 10% discount on two or more guests booked together

Buying this as a gift? Let us know on the registration form at checkout and we can create a gift package for you, either emailed or posted to you directly.

Includes: Tuition, all materials, daytime refreshments, seated lunches, one night accommodation at local lodges, a three-course supper with wine at a local Inn (with transportation to and from Inn), a cooked breakfast the following morning, take-home sowings and seed packs, growing guides and a vegetable growing book.

This two-day workshop is timed to match the natural rhythm of the season, and places are intentionally limited to keep the group small and hands-on.

Your Overnight Stay at Hollybush Lodges

Guests stay at Hollybush Lodges, a set of beautifully kept log cabins just a three-minute walk from The Old Vicarage. Each lodge has two comfortable bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and a spacious open-plan kitchen and lounge — a relaxed, welcoming space to unwind after the first day.

Guests booking together can share a lodge, and solo guests are paired with another course attendee of the same gender.

The cabins are light, airy and thoughtfully furnished by owner Irene, with free Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen and a cosy sitting area. Set within a peaceful lawned garden with picnic tables, the lodges offer a calm, friendly atmosphere that adds to the sense of camaraderie that naturally develops over a residential course.

About Pennard Plants

A specialist nursery rooted in Somerset, known for its rare and heritage varieties of edible and ornamental plants. From ancient fruit trees to heirloom vegetables, the nursery champions biodiversity, sustainable growing and self-sufficiency. Through expert-led courses and collaborations, Pennard Plants helps gardeners of all levels connect with the rhythms of nature and the pleasures of growing food from seed to plate.