Dig It - Discussions on Gardening Topics (Dig It)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Dig It - Discussions on Gardening Topics
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 2021 | Dig It Introduction | 00:22:24 | |
Chris and Peter's first show, giving you a bit of background on who we are, our horticultural background and what to look forward to in our upcoming shows. Plant/Product MentionsPinks and Carnations (in store only) Useful Links Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Apr 2021 | Growing Potatoes in Your Garden | 01:12:27 | |
An interview with John Marshal, expert in growing potatoes and Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner. Plant/Product mentionsPotato varieties mentioned: 'Apache', 'Arran Pilot', 'Charlotte', 'Duke of York', 'Highland Burgundy Red', 'Maris Peer', 'Rocket', 'Salad Blue' and 'Swift'. John's Desert Island Potatoes: Early variety 'Duke of York'; Second Early 'Pink Fir Apple' Main crop 'Maris Piper'. Other plants mentioned: Scented Tobacco Plant - Nicotiana. Sweet Potatoes. Yacon. Blight resistant varieties: Look out for the Hungarian bred Sarpo varieties including 'Sarpo Mira (main crop). Christmas Potatoes - available from early July. Products mentioned: Sulphate of Potash (High potash feed) Tomorite Tomato Food Useful linksOur guest was potato expert and speaker John Marshall. You can request details of John's Tattie Talks tailored for gardening groups. John can be contacted by e-mail johnmarshall278@btinternet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Apr 2021 | April in the garden | 00:41:39 | |
Chris Day and Peter Brown discuss some things to do in your Garden in April. Plant/Product mentionsTree, Shrub and Tree Planting Compost Camellias, Pieris, Rhododendrons Ericaceous Feed Willow / Hazel sticks can be grown from bare-root plants established from November-March Sowing Cucumbers, Marrow, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Spring Onions and Radish Multi-cell Modular Trays / Propagation trays Soil thermometer (in store only) Greenhouse cleaning - Citrox Greenhouse Cleaner and Jeyes Fluid (in store only) Feeding spring bulbs with Sulphate of Potash Organic Lawn Feed - RHS Mo Bacter (in store only) Moss Control products (In store only) Lawn Seed for new lawns and overseeding Houseplant repotting: Houseplant Compost or a Peat Free Compost. Perlite. Ericaceous compost for Gardenia, Stephanotis and indoor Azaleas. Use specialist composts for Citrus, African Violets and Cacti. Houseplant feeds including Baby Bio and specialists Useful Links Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 May 2021 | May in the Garden | 00:34:56 | |
May in the Garden Show Notes May in the garden is certainly a busy month and keeps us gardeners busy. In this episode of Dig it Peter Brown and Chris Day look at how the late spring is affecting our gardens and how using specific plant fertilisers will help your plants recover and prosper this summer. How the gardening trade is coping with plant, gardening products and composts shortage is discussed as well as timely hints and tips on plant supports, choosing bedding plants, organic slug control and pond care. Plants mentioned Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn, May, Whitethorn) Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn, Sloe) Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) No longer available for sale due to devasting effect of the Ash Die Back disease. Quercus robur (Common Oak, Pedunculate Oak, European Oak or English Oak)
Fertilisers mentioned Miracle Gro https://m.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk/search?keyword=Miracle%20Gro%20all%20purpose Phostrogen https://m.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk/search?keyword=phostrogen Vitax Q4 https://m.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk/search?keyword=Vitax%20Q4%20fertiliser Maxicrop Seaweed Extract https://m.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk/Original-Organic-Seaweed-Extract-1-Litre-p65899206
Pond plants and products Fish Food: Tetra Pond Food Sticks Iris laevigata and Iris siberica (waterside and marginal Iris) Nymphaeaceae (Waterlilies) Houttuynia cordata (Chamaeleon plant) Dechlorinating tablets: Interpet Bioactive Tapsafe Plus Barley straw and Cloverleaf Blanket Answer Use a fishing net to remove Blanketweed / Duckweed
Garden Products Copper tape to deter slugs and snails Horticultural fleece Pheromone trap for Codling Moth Pheromone trap for Plum Moth Water butts Music by Chiltern Music Therapy
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| 26 May 2021 | Growing Orchids | 01:08:36 | |
In this episode we chat to top orchid expert Manos Kanellos and delve into why our love affair with houseplant orchids, especially the Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) remains as popular as ever. We discuss the care of growing orchids, the process of getting these plants from the test tube to the plant bench at the Garden Centre and we find out more about the potential pitfalls of growing them. Manos also explains how the successful company Growth Technology has revolutionised the way we nurture, feed and keep our orchids both healthy and happy, plus a sneak peek into a new book, Growing Orchids at Home written by Manos Kanellos and Peter White. Growing Orchids Show Notes Our guest, orchid expert Manos Kanellos from Growth Technology. Orchids mentioned in the podcast Cymbidium (boat orchid) Dendrobium nobile hybrids (noble dendrobium) Ophrys apifera (hardy bee orchids) Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) Paphiopedilum (slipper orchid) Vanda (blue orchid) Growth Technology products mentioned Orchid focus Bloom (high potash), Grow (high nitrogen) and Ultra (growth enhancer) (available in store) Orchid pots (clear transparent pots with air cone and plenty of drainage Manos Kanellos and Peter White’s book, Growing Orchids at Home: The beginner’s guide to orchid care. Published by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (available in store) Growth Technology’s Charity: Action Aid Contact Manos with your orchid queries Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jun 2021 | June in the Garden | 00:51:09 | |
Show notes for June in the Garden As June arrives, Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the important tasks in the garden including vegetable planning and sowing, allotment hedging ideas, creative planter and basket tips as well as sowing for spring colour. There are two busy weeks of activities through the month, including a special week of gardening aimed specifically at children and featuring Peppa Pig and a themed week on growing for our mental and physical wellbeing. Our special guest is Catherine Watkins from Chiltern Music Therapy talking about their amazing ground-breaking work as they provide music therapy and community music to people of all ages across the UK. Peat in the news Garden rules: Sale of peat-based compost to be BANNED - how will it affect your garden? National Children’s Gardening Week 29th May-6th June 2021. We will be offering advice and garden projects to children throughout the week. A limited number of the Peppa Pig Activity Book will be available for a suggested £1 donation will benefit Save The Children charity. Growing for Wellbeing Week takes place between the 7th-13th June 2021. Set up by gardening therapy organisation, Life at No.27, the week is a celebration of the magic that growing your own produce can do for your wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Key plants and products mentioned
Thrillers, fillers and spillers to keep your gardens looking fantastic:
Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jun 2021 | Beautiful Bedding | 01:00:14 | |
Show notes for Bedding Plants with Stuart Lowen In this episode we chat with Stuart Lowen, Marketing Manager from Ball Colegrave. We look at how bedding plants have evolved over the years as well as examine many of the traditional bedding schemes we still enjoy in our gardens. Stuart explains how plant breeding has changed the way we grow one of our most loved summer plants, the Busy Lizzy or Impatien. Stuart provides an insight into how bedding plants come to the market place and the way they are assessed in the garden trade. We investigate how pansies and violas have changed the face of our gardens in the winter and early spring, plus a look at what’s in store in the future as our gardens become smaller yet our appetite for growing colourful plants throughout the year grows. Plants mentioned Traditional varieties: Alyssum, African and French Marigolds , Lobelia and Salvia. Centre planting suggestions Cordyline (Draceana), Standard Fuchsia, Canna and Musa (banana). Begonia tuberous and Begonia Non Stop. Calibrachoa and Trixi Petunias (three varieties/colours in one pot) Available in store. Gazania Pelargonium Red (colour is specific to those geraniums planted outside Buckingham Palace to match the Queens foot guards tunic attire). Osteospermum (Cape Daisies) seeds and plants available in store. Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) ‘Beacon’ F1 hybrid. This is a resistant variety developed to combat the Impatien Downy Mildew disease which until very recently caused major problems in the growing of the plants. This variety of Impatien features in our Living Wall at the front of the main building of the Garden Centre. Winter Pansies and Violas tend to flower on shorter days and are bred for cold and wet conditions. Good varieties to look out for include Pansy ‘Matrix’ and the hanging basket trailing variety ‘Cool Wave’ as well as the Viola ‘Sorbet’ varieties. The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. Look out for the trophy symbol on a plant's label or packet of seeds which shows that it has earned the prestigious AGM! Fleuroselect is the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry. Each year it invites growers to submit their new varieties for judging. If a judged plant is deemed exceptional then it is awarded the prestigious Gold medal, which usually is promoted on the plant label. Floral Olympic Torch display at Manchester Airport was created to help drive the bid to stage the Olympic games in Manchester in 2000. The display, the size of Wembley football pitch, featured Begonias, Lobelia, Marigolds, Parsley, Beet, Perilla and Impatiens, plus one mile of rabbit proof fencing to keep the bunnies out. Over 200,000 plants were used in the display to create a display featuring some 20 million flowers! The display could be seen from the air as planes landed at Manchester Airport. Products mentioned High potash fertilisers Phostrogen Tomorite and Doff Tomato feed available in store. Chempack High potash Feed Slug slime beauty Products, as yet not available in the Shops! Slug deterrents: Slug pubs, Slug Gone, Bran Flakes, spiky Holy leaves, Copper Tape Fatty acid (soft soap) for control of popular problems as well as Mealy bug, Scale and mildew - SB Plant Invigorator and Bug Killer Pop in / Drop-in planters available in various colour themes. The mesh bottomed ready-planted baskets can be simply dropped into your existing containers and compost infilled to fill the gaps. Normally available in late spring-June and again in September/October with winter interest plantings. Living Wall. A great way of utilising vertical space on buildings and perfect for growing flowers, herbs, vegetables and even strawberries. Options include vertical modular systems, wall baskets and flower pouches. Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 30 Jun 2021 | July in the Garden | 00:50:48 | |
July in the Garden Show Notes Products mentioned Cottage Delight Sticky Wings and Rib Sauce Plant fertilisers and organic sprays: Vitax Q4, Vitax Blood, Fish and Bone, Tomato feed Sulphate of Potash, Vitax Plant Guard Organic for controlling pests and diseases – available in store. Plants mentioned: Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis), Clematis montana, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Hardy geraniums, Mock Orange (Philadelphus) Pyracantha, Apples, Pears, Hellebores, Thyme, Ivy (Hedera), English Lavender, French Lavender, Look out for Christmas spuds from Taylors. Expected varieties ‘Charlotte’, ‘Desiree’, ‘Maris Peer’, ‘Pentland Javelin’ and ‘Sharpes Express’. A pack of tubers will cost £2.99. Available in store from mid-July onwards. National BBQ Week celebrates its Silver Anniversary this year between Friday 2nd July - Sunday 11th July, at Buckingham Garden Centre we will have some BBQ themed specials in the Gardeners’ Retreat Restaurant. RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 6th -11th July Love Parks Week 12th-21st July. Enjoy our open spaces and help our mental and physical well-being too. Parks mentioned by Peter and Chris Abington Park, Northampton, Williamson Park, Lancaster, Cannock Chase Park, Rutland Water and Nature Reserve and combine a visit to Barnsdale Gardens, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, The Savill Garden and Philips Park, Whitefield. Why not share your favourite parks at #LoveParks A few of the many plants that will help attract Bees to your Garden Radio 2’s Big Bee Challenge (children’s Garden Design Competition in the conjunction with the RHS) with the Big Bee Challenge Weekend (Saturday 31st July – 1st August) Find out more about bees and beekeeping here Bee Identification tips HTA Photographic Competition 2021, a chance to win tickets to next year’s RHS Chelsea flower show and get your photo onto a HTA gift card! As the school summer holidays fast approach, a brief mention of the National Gardening Week website and the RHS website for children’s activities How to Extend the Flowering Season in Your Garden using the Chelsea Chop and the Hampton Hack. Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 14 Jul 2021 | Celebrating Roses | 01:15:19 | |
In this podcast we chat with James Taylor, Nursery Manager and Jo Davey, Marketing Manager from Whartons Nurseries. We look at how roses continue to be admired and prized as our No. 1 favourite flower in the UK. James explains the production journey of a rose from propagation in the field to bringing the finished rose bushes to the Garden Centre. Jo gives us advice on growing roses, dealing with disease and how the new varieties of roses are making an impact in our gardens. We find out from our hosts their favourite roses for fragrance, plus a sneak peek at the Rose of The Year for 2022. Hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day highlight the many uses the humble rose can bring to our gardens and homes as well as our own well-being, plus we chat about rose favourites and where you can see the best roses in the UK. Rose products mentioned: Whartons Roses use Uncle Tom's Rose Tonic which helps feed roses and fight disease on the Nursery but is also good for the home gardener. This organic foliar feed creates strong resilient growth which gives plants additional disease resistance. It is best applied several times in the season. Rose fertilisers Vitax Organic Rose Food , Miracle-Gro Rose & Shrub Continuous Food 1kg and Afterplant Food with Rootgrow - Rose 1kg Rose mentioned: ‘Flower Carpet’ groundcover roses, Rose ‘Kiftsgate’, ‘Wedding Day’, Rose rugosa, Rose` sweet briar, Rose dog rose, Rose burnet or scotch, R. moyesii ‘Geranium’, ‘Joie de Vivre’, ‘Maiden’s Blush’, ‘Morning Mist’, ‘Grouse’, ‘Partridge’, ‘Sir Paul Smith’, ‘Scarborough Fair’, ‘Francis E Lester’, ‘Rambling Rector, ‘Bobbie James’, ‘Queen Bee’ and ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’. Rootstocks: Rosa ‘Laxa’ (most popular, rarely suckers and almost thornless), Rosa ‘Canina’ (used on heavier soils, less popular, suckers freely), Rosa rugosa (sometimes used for standards). Hedging and Native Roses , Hybrid Tea Roses , Floribunda (cluster flowered roses) , Climbers and Rambler Roses , Shrub Roses , Groundcover Roses The ‘Precious’ range of Roses and Special Occasion Roses Fragrant Roses: ‘Arthur Bell’, ‘Fragrant Cloud’, ‘Scent From Heaven’, ‘Silver Anniversary’, ‘Timeless Purple’. James Taylor’s desert Island rose is Rose ‘Munstead Wood’ (a David Austin bred variety famed for its amazing colour and scent). Jo Davey’s rose would be Rose ‘Flower Carpet Pink’, especially suitable on the Island where a pair of secateurs might be difficult to source as it doesn’t require much pruning! The coveted Rose of the Year for 2022 is ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ ® and is best described as a free flowering floribunda shrub rose. The large - almost 10cm across - beautiful old fashioned style blooms have over 60 petals. The colour is a blend of orange, pink and peach with the depth of colour influenced by weather conditions. It was bred by Colin Dickson of Dickson Roses. The rose name is a registered trademark. Use of the material: It's a Wonderful Life™ name is used courtesy of Melange Pictures LLC. All rights reserved. This rose will be available to order here from October as a root-wrapped rose and in pots from spring 2022. Rose replant disease RHS link also RHS tips on T-Budding Roses You can also view the Whartons Roses production process click on this link which takes you to a short video. Rose Gardens: The 50 top rose gardens in Britain can be found here Rose uses: Rose water, Rose Oil, Rose Hip Cough Syrup, Rose Hip Jam, Rose Vinegar, Rose Honey, Rose Hip Wine, Turkish Delight contains a few drops of rosewater. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Jul 2021 | August in the Garden | 00:42:05 | |
August in the Garden Show Notes
In this episode Chris and Peter discuss National Allotments week and their drive towards sustainability helped by using water butts and mulch to conserve water. Find out about National Plum Day, Pershore and the Vale of Evesham including the Victoria Plum and how it grows and fruits on North facing walls. We discuss Waspinators and wasp traps to keep the wasps away from your Tea and cake! They also share the difference between High Tea and Afternoon tea. August is the time to check your potatoes for Blight. Find out what to do if you have it and how to check whether your potatoes are ready to lift. Garlic, shallots and onions are nearly ready for harvest too and we have a tip on how to get the bulbs to mature. Learn of the benefits of the Hozelock Growbag Waterer for growing tomatoes and using good fertilizers like Phostrogen to stop blossom end rot. There’s still time to plant Lettuce - lollo rossa, Radish – French Breakfast, and for next year it is now time to plant your, Spring onions – White Lisbon, Spring Cabbages Offenham Spring, Swiss Chard – Bright Lights, Pak Choi. We discuss how to use Cress seeds to mark out your rows of slow sprouting vegetables like Parsnip and have the bonus of delicious Cress seedlings. In case you haven’t yet seen it the informative Whartons rose video is well worth a watch (discussed in more detail in our Celebrating Roses podcast)
Chris and Peter discuss their favourite fruit, the Strawberry, and the Strawberry Alpine. It’s time to start taking softwood cuttings from semi hardy plants like Argyranthemum just in case your specimen plants get killed off by harsh winter frosts and we explain how to use rooting powder and gels and what to plant your cuttings in, including the benefits of mixing in some Perlite or Vermiculite.
Buckingham Palace Gardens are open until the 19th Sept and we chat about what the gardens have to offer. Other gardens to visit more local to you and across the country can be found at National Gardens Scheme. Peter's Broad bean Dip recipe: 250g - 300g of shelled (or frozen) broad beans 3 or 4 cloves of Garlic 25 ml of olive oil retain a small amount of water the beans were cooked in Sprig of Rosemary Listen to the episode to find out how to make the dip. Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Aug 2021 | Wildlife in the Garden | 01:00:18 | |
Wildlife in the Garden Show Notes In this episode we chat with Ed Turpin, Community Wildlife Officer East (Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire) from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). As concerns over preserving our wildlife become more important, we talk to Ed about his role as a wildlife officer. We chat about the impact of global warming on our precious wildlife habitats and we also touch on the big peat debate and how we need to change our compost buying habits now peat-free alternative composts are becoming available. We also discuss the importance of introducing water into the garden as a magnet to draw in more wildlife, plus a look at how we can help preserve our dwindling hedgehog population. Garden birds, spiders, squirrels, foxes and rabbits come under the wildlife spotlight together with how growing wildflowers can impact on our own gardens in a positive way. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust is Buckingham Garden Centre’s charity of the year and you can chat with a BBOWT representative at our forthcoming Apple and Honey Show Weekend (24th and 26th September, 10am-4pm). Plants Mentioned Birch, Hazel, Field Maple, Dog rose, Wild Privet, Hawthorn, Holly, Brambles, Heathers and Gorse Animal species mentioned Red Kites, Butterflies - Common Blue, Cabbage White and Painted Lady, Grass Snakes. Butterfly and moth friendly plants include Lavender, Sage, Thymes, Primulas, Forget-me-nots, Bugle (Ajuga), Hedera and Stinging Nettles (for caterpillars). Plants rabbits tend to avoid include: Peonies, Hellebores, Foxgloves, Narcissi, Snowdrops, Lavender and Rosemary Products mentioned: Bird feeders, Squirrel proof feeders and bird food – Niger seed, Bird boxes, Graziers animal deterrent (in store only). Sunflowers, Teasel and Wildflower seeds. BBOWT Actions page - has lots of great activities and tips for making your garden wildlife friendly. BBOWT How to create a mini-pond - Some great tips on creating a small pond in your garden. The Freshwater Habitats Trust - There are some great tips and some quite comprehensive articles on their website which are great for wildlife ponds. Hedgehog Street is a national campaign that is run by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES for short) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). There is some great information on the website and you can sign up to be a Hedgehog Champion. You can also register hedgehog sightings in your local area which all works towards helping understand how hedgehog populations are looking nationally.
Wildlife Gardens worth a visit Notable gardens include Cambridge Botanic Garden, Chartwell House and Garden (Sevenoaks, Kent), Great Dixter (Rye, Sussex), Hidcote Manor (Gloucestershire), Longstock Water Gardens (Hampshire), Lost Gardens of Heligan (Cornwall), Thenford Garden and Arboretum (Banbury, Oxfordshire), and Waddesdon Manor (Buckinghamshire). RHS Wildlife in Gardens advice Wildlife watch for children UK top ten birds, latest RSPB Big Bird Watch results Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Sep 2021 | September in the Garden | 00:49:57 | |
September in the Garden Show Notes
September is the month of mellow mists and fruitfulness and in this month’s Dig It podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day look at how the gradual change in seasons is beginning to affect what we harvest, plant and sow in our gardens. Sowing a new lawn, a look at the best edible flowers and how to get the best from your green waste are discussed. Plus, a look at the different cyclamen options available at the Garden Centre, keeping hydrangeas in tip top colour and battling with leaves in our ponds.
Buckingham Garden Centre hosts its special Apple and Honey Show Weekend over 25th and 26th September so we find out more about this annual celebration of apples and the Bucks County Honey Show on the Sunday. 6th September is National Read A Book Day https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/national-read-a-book-day-2021/ Peter’s read is Treatment Free Beekeeping by David Heaf (published by IBRA & NBB) Chris’s book is Bulbs For All Seasons by Kathy Brown (publisher Aquamarine) Check out Bramblecrest’s Portobello Double Hanging Cocoon Chair - a perfect reading spot for your garden! Apple and Honey Show Weekend 25th & 26th September (10am-4pm, both days), Gerry Edwards, The Mid Shires Orchard Group, BBOWT, plus Bucks County Honey Show on the Sunday. RHS Chelsea Flower Show 21-26th September. The BBC will be covering it as usual. Recycle Week 20-26th September Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Peter has been lifting his ‘Desiree’ potatoes from his allotment. For more information on blight resistant potato varieties, please refer to our earlier Potato podcast What to sow / plant now: Veggies Broad bean ‘Aquadulce’ and ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ and Pea ‘Feltham First’ and ‘Douce Provence’, Radish and Turnips (for Christmas). Planting onion sets in autumn means you will get an earlier crop next year. Choose a variety that’s ideal for autumn sowing, such as ‘Autumn Champion’ ‘Radar’ or ‘Senshyu Yellow’. Salad crops mustard leaf, winter salad mixes, or mizuna. Winter lettuces such as ‘Winter Density’ can be sown under glass. Spring cabbages and spinach can be sown now for picking next spring. Edible flowers Borage, Cornflower (seed sow now), Courgette, Squash, Marrow and Pumpkin (deep fried in batter), Lavender, Nasturtium (seed), Hollyhocks, Pansies (seed), Pinks, Pot Marigolds, Rose, Sage, and Sweet violets. Comfrey which is sterile (so no free seeding) is Symphytum x uplandicum Bocking 14 Florist cyclamen vs Mini cyclamen vs Hardy cyclamen (available in Garden Centre) Blue Hydrangeas, you need a good quality ericaceous (acid) compost to keep them blue and if you have pink Hydrangeas then a Multi-purpose John Innes Compost is fine. Westland Hydrangea colourant (500g) available at Garden Centre. Hydrangea feed for blue flowers Sowing a new lawn from seed and the types of grass seed available. Bird food and suet balls.
Useful links How to make comfrey tea https://www.ruralsprout.com/comfrey-liquid-fertilizer/
Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Sep 2021 | Bulbs for Spring | 01:03:00 | |
Show Notes for Spring Bulbs with Ian Clark In this podcast we talk to Ian Clark, Business Manager from Taylors Bulbs. Our chat covers the history and overview of Taylors Bulbs, a look at the commercial aspects of growing bulbs in the field and how spring bulbs continue to rise in popularity with gardeners. Ian discusses the best ways of growing bulbs, how bulbs can help and encourage wildlife into the garden and the best bulbs for indoor forcing and scent. New bulb introductions are discussed, plus a look at how you can maximise your bulb displays using the lasagne method of growing and the fact that these bulbs can be upcycled for future years. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day look at popular spring bulbs including the history of the humble Daffodil, sharing a reading of the famous William Wordsworth’s poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’, more details on how to create the perfect lasagne planting, plus some tips on prolonging your cut daffodil flowers. A look at the Dutch bulb growing industry, including the inspirational garden at Keukenhof, and our pick of the best UK snowdrop gardens also features. Bulbs mentioned (available in store): Allium ‘Purple Sensation’, Anemone blanda Blue (Flower Bulb of the Year 2022), Camassia, Colchicums (naked ladies), Crocus hybrids, Crocus sativus (Saffron Crocus, autumn flowering), Fritillaria Crown Imperials – ‘Aurora’ and ‘Lutea Maxima’. Galanthus (Snowdrops). Narcissi ‘Carlton’, ‘February Gold’, ‘Fortune’ (Daffodil of the Year 2022), N. obvallaris (Tenby Daffodil, RHS AGM), N. Poeticus plenus ‘Tamar Double’, N. pseudonarcissus lobularis (Lent lily), N. ‘W P Milner’ and N. ‘Tête-à-tête’. Nectaroscordum Siculum (honey lily). Tulips including ‘Angelique’, ‘Red Riding Hood’, Darwin Hybrids (Impression range), T. ‘Lilac Wonder’, ‘Triumph’, ‘Honky Tonk’ and ‘Praestans’. Cutting garden contenders: Tulips, Dahlias, Lilies and Gladioli (short varieties perfect for pots and smaller gardens). Prepared (heat treated) bulbs for earlier indoor growing: Hyacinths, Narcissi ‘Paperwhite’, Amaryllis, Muscari (grape hyacinths) and Tulips. Fragrant bulbs: Hyacinths, Tulips (Paeony types such as ‘Antraciet’) Bee friendly bulbs RHS Plants for Pollinators: Alliums, Crocus, Nectaroscordum, Muscari, single flowered dahlias and Snowdrops. Plants mentioned: Winter hardy bedding plants including Violas and Pansies for top planting. Best feed for bulbs after flowering: Organic Tomato Food Taylors You Tube video demonstrating lasagne planting. Music by Chiltern Music Therapy
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| 29 Sep 2021 | October in the Garden | 00:57:16 | |
October in the Garden Show Notes In this autumnal edition of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the recent September Chelsea Flower Show and how a change of season has created a very different event. Elsewhere the demise of the front garden and the lawn, the concerns over our failing tree population and how moths are being affected by the change from sodium to LED street lights. The Dig it team also look at those vital tasks for the month including making leafmould, protecting tender plants from Jack frost, putting the lawn to bed with the last feed of the growing season and making sure those last plantings of onions, shallots and garlic are completed. Plants and products mentioned Adiantum, Asters, Runner Bean Enorma, Cordyline, Calendula, Chamomile lawn, Cacti, Comfrey, Datura (Brugmansia) Honesty seed, Echinacea, Helenium, Fagus (Beech), Silver birch, Hostas, Musa (Banana), Dahlia, Garlic (varieties listed below) , Strawberries, Clematis from Raymond Evison, Nephrolepis, stags horn fern, Rudbeckia Goldstrum, Pieris, Rhododendron, Ornamental grasses, hardy ferns, Herbs, Kniphofia, Thymes, Quercus (Oak). National tree planting launched at Chelsea – The Queen’s Canopy – plant a tree for the Queen’s Jubilee French Garlic Germidour, Thermidrome and Topadrome. Garlic Garcuat. Garlic Elephant - Garlic Early Purple Wight, Garlic Carcassonne Wight and Shallots Griselle and Jermor. Onion Sets Autumn Champion, Electric, Radar, Red Winter and Senshyu Yellow. Feeding the lawn for winter Miracle-Gro® EverGreen® Autumn Lawn Care Fertiliser analysis: Contains iron sulphate. NPK 6-5-10. Available in store. Displayed and beautifully lit at Chelsea - Malvern Garden Buildings also on site at the Garden Centre Frost protection products Fleece Jackets from Haxnicks, horticultural fleece and Environ mesh Bubble wrap for greenhouse insulation and surrounding glazed pots. News stories Chelsea Flower Show 2021 in September. Gardens featured at the show on the RHS website One in three trees face extinction in wild, says BBC news report Best ways to keep spiders out of our homes this autumn, including conkers. We’d love to hear your tried and tested ways of keeping the spiders out here LED streetlights decimating moth numbers in England news story September 23rd - October 23rd Seed gathering season tips from the RHS 1st October International Coffee Day We have spent coffee grounds available at our restaurant and these are ideal to help deter slugs and snails, apply around your bulbs to deter squirrels (apparently they don’t like the smell) and you can use the grounds to increase the acidity in your soil but use sparingly. 6th October Masterclass on growing Trees, Shrubs and Hedges for Smaller Gardens at the Garden Centre 21 October Apple Day – how it started Useful links Some of the best UK gardens famed for their autumn colour Buckingham Centre article on the importance of moths, how to record moths using traps and a look at the best plants to encourage moths into our gardens Creating perfect leafmould Layering of bulbs or lasagna planting video Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 06 Oct 2021 | English Cider | 01:02:07 | |
English cider interview with Michael Jones In this podcast Peter Brown chats with local apple enthusiast Michael Jones about his passion for producing cider from an 11-acre community orchard in North Buckinghamshire. In the podcast we learn that cider is basically fermented apple juice however the process from apple to bottle is far from simple! You need plenty of buckets, different apple varieties and the necessary kit, but it’s fun and you are always learning from the process. From selecting the apples, to getting the correct flavour balance, Michael explains his methods with plenty of great advice along the way. We look at the best varieties of apples you can grow, plus hints and tips on getting the best quality from your cider and orchard apples. Michael also chats about creating his cider making courses – based on his own experience. Hopefully these courses will resume in 2022 but Michael provides us with a wealth of reference points to get us on our way. Choose your cider apples – the mix is critical. Apple ‘Dabinett’ is a good variety but needs additional flavour. You need to experiment with the varieties, and this comes from experience, however a mix of ripe cider (a mixture of bittersweet and bittersharps) and orchard apples usually provides a good balanced cider. Avoid early fallers – they are not worth it – leave those for the birds. The later the better with apple collecting says Michael. When half have fallen then shake off the rest from the tree if you can| Cider types: Sharp cider apples have high acidity and low tannin and include varieties such as ‘Crimson King’, ‘Brown’s’ and ‘Frederick’; Bittersharps have high acidity and high tannin so varieties like ‘Kingston Black’ and ‘Foxwhelp’ would be found in this group. Sweet apples have low tannin and low acidity and the name usually gives it away – ‘Sweet Coppin’, ‘Sweet Alford’ and ‘Morgan Sweet’ and the Bittersweet with low acidity and high tannin ‘Somerset Redstreak’, ‘Yarlington Mill’ and ‘Ashton Brown Jersey’. Apples ‘Spartan’, ‘Egremont Russet’ and Cox’s Orange Pippin - all have good flavour and balance and always use very ripe apples for best results. Must have apples for your orchard would include heritage varieties such as ‘Dabinett’, ‘Chesil Jersey’, ‘Camelot’, ‘Kingston Black’, ‘Tom Putt’ and ‘Harry Masters Jersey’. Apples to avoid for cider making: Use cooking apples sparingly, ‘Norfolk Beefing’, early apples don’t work like ‘Beauty of Bath’ or ‘Morgan’s Sweet’. Products mentioned 5.5 Litre Ferrari Aluminium Cross Beam Fruit Press Michael’s book recommendations Cider Apples: The new Pomona by Liz Copas Craft Cider Making by Andrew Lea Real Cidermaking on a small scale by Michael Pooley and John Lomax Michael’s Desert Island Cider Apple would be Apple ‘Dabinett’, use as a monoculture cider or can be successfully mixed with others too. Useful links The Orchard Project helps develop resilient communities with the skills to plant, and care for fruit trees; helping us all to rediscover the pleasure of eating home-grown fruit. People’s Trust for Endangered Species Royal Horticultural Society Fruit Group Small Woods are the UK organisation for woodland owners, workers, supporters, and social foresters. The Mid Shires Orchard Group aims to conserve and promote enjoyment and use of the local orchards and rich top fruit traditions of the four 'mid-shires'. Our Scion Graft and Grow Day is planned for February 2022, follow us on Facebook to find out more. Apple Day origins Sarah Juniper is a keen apple grower and enthusiast. All about Long Ashton Research Station Cider apple varieties and identification (archive). Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 13 Oct 2021 | Growing Apples | 00:56:44 | |
Apple growing and Orchards with Mike Jones In this episode Chris Day and Peter Brown chat with local apple enthusiast Mike Jones. We learn about his apple growing journey from childhood memories to establishing a successful and productive 11-acre community orchard in North Buckinghamshire where they grow of plums, apples, pears and quince. Apples mentioned: ‘James Grieve’ , ‘Bramley Seedling’, ‘Laxton’s Superb’ and ‘Howgate Wonder’ Recommendations for Cider apples in North Bucks: ‘Winter Gem’, Mike’s favourites include: ‘Chiver’s Delight’, ‘Bardsey’ and ‘Sunset’. Also discussed is Fruit propagation and Scion Swap Day, usually in February. Events are organised by Buckingham Garden Centre, The Mid Shires Orchard Group and Gloucester Orchard Trust. Rootstocks Rootstocks mentioned: MM106, M25, M9, M111 Products mentioned: Bonemeal, Rootgrow, chicken wire.Parafilm Music by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 27 Oct 2021 | November in the Garden | 01:03:24 | |
November in the Garden In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss topics including the new RHS planet friendly campaign, Malvern Garden Buildings collecting a well-deserved Gold Medal at Chelsea for their Houseplant themed Green Room and the Queen’s green canopy scheme in conjunction with the Woodland Trust. They also discuss essential jobs this month in the garden including final lawn mows and pruning for new hedges. Masterclass at Buckingham Garden Centre on Wednesday 10th November at 4pm. Chris Day will be talking Grow your Own Fruit, 4pm. This is a Free talk however booking is recommended on 01280 822133 To receive a copy of our latest Autumn 2021 – Summer 2022 catalogue please contact our Mail Order department on 01280 827925 and you can view the entire mail order range at www.hedging.co.uk For a full list of plants mentioned please click here Products mentioned: Horticultural fleece, Root trainers, Evergreen Autumn Lawn Care, Algon and VivaGreen MossOff, Bonemeal and RootGrow The music was generously provided by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Nov 2021 | Trees For Small Gardens | 01:09:11 | |
In this special Dig It podcast we talk to Nick Dunn, managing director and top tree nurseryman of Frank P Matthews. Founded in 1901, Matthews are one of the UK's leading ornamental and fruit tree grower supplying trees to the Garden Centre trade. We discover the processes of growing in the field, containerising, budding and grafting, popular tree favourites, new trees coming to the market, top tips on growing them and much more. Nick brings his unique insight on trees and his words of wisdom are bound to encourage you to plant a tree this winter. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day select their favourite trees and they reflect on the important role trees play to our planet, plus a look at how rootstocks have revolutionised the way we grow many of our best loved garden plants. Products mentioned: Greenworks Cordless Leaf Blower, Rakes, Garotta Tree stakes, Tree buckle ties, composted bark for mulching, secateurs (for pruning) Trees mentioned: Albizia, Acacia, Amelanchier, Betula (Birch), Dwarf conifers, dwarf fruit varieties, Hornbeam, Prunus (flowering cherries), Malus (crab apples), Pines, Saskatoon (June berry). Specific trees which require specific rootstocks include Prunus, Malus, Sorbus, Acer and Salix. The revolutionary new Inkarho lime tolerant rootstock is particularly recommended for growing Rhododendrons on neutral clay soils, up to pH7. This patented rootstock was developed from a Rhododendron growing in a German lime quarry. Inkarho rhododendrons are available in spring from the Garden Centre. Chris's favourite: Young’s weeping birch Peter’s favourites: Hawthorn (quickthorn) Nick’s desert island tree – a black mulberry (Morus nigra) Nick’s recently introduced tree Malus Scarlett, Malus Aros, Prunus Chocolate Ice, Prunus Royal Burgundy, Cercis Eternal Flame (Best new plant named at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in September). Magnolia Eileen Blaines. Apple Christmas Pippin and Herefordshire Russet. Aprium Aprisali. Nick Dunn’s book Trees for your Garden Please ask at the Garden Centre for details of claiming a free copy of the book The poem 'Said the tree to the man, Said the man to the tree' by Elizabeth Barling. Useful links The Queen’s Green Canopy campaign Help plant trees in Africa by buying a cut fresh Christmas tree at the Garden Centre this Christmas. Ripple Africa National Tree Planting Week 27th November – 5th December Frank P Matthews website Buckingham Nurseries range of bare-root trees and hedging If you’d like to ask Peter or Chris a gardening question or comment on the podcast, contact us here Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Dec 2021 | December in the Garden | 00:48:57 | |
December in the Garden In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day herald the start of Advent by talking about the popular festive favourite, the Poinsettia and its special day in December. We chat to Pam Haigh, the UK general manager of the charity Ripple Africa in Malawi, a charity the Garden Centre is keen to support in its epic work in planting trees - over 17 million trees to date - in Malawi. It may be December but there are some gardening tasks to be getting on with including defrosting bird baths and ponds, taking hardwood cuttings and how important frost is for some of our winter crops, namely Brussel sprouts and parsnips, to improve their flavour. Find out more about Poinsettia Day on Sunday 12th December here Plants mentioned: Camellias (available in store), Hellebores (and instore), Poinsettia (available instore), Pine (Pinus), Eucalyptus. Brussel sprouts, Parsnips, Carrots and Onions. The bare-root season has started, learn more here. Christmas trees such as the Nordmann fir can be purchased as young transplants for growing on. Plant trees this Christmas with Ripple Africa. This year the Garden Centre will be donating 50p to Ripple Africa for every cut Christmas tree sold. Every 50p will plant two trees in Malawi. To find out more about Ripple Africa News stories discussed ‘No one knew they existed’: wild heirs of lost British honeybee found at Blenheim Palace. The original Bramley Apple located in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, 200 years old), nears its end but future plans for its legacy are now under discussion. Gene editing crops is now allowed as the UK can set its own rules after leaving the EU. Taking Hardwood cuttings: Hardwood cuttings are taken from mid-autumn until late winter from vigorous healthy shoots of the current year's growth - this will be woody but pliable around 9in (23cm) long Plants suitable for hardwood cuttings include Deutzia, Buddleja (butterfly bush), Cornus (dogwood), Forsythia, Philadelphus (mock orange) Ribes (flowering currant) and Rosa (rose). Climbers Vitis (vines), Lonicera (honeysuckle), Jasminum, and Parthenocissus. Fruit: Gooseberries, black, red and white currants, Figs, Mulberry. Trees, including: Populus (poplars) and Salix (willow). Vegetables: If you want to escape the TV or the family for an hour, then traditionally Boxing Day is the day for sowing your onions especially if you are planning a tasty crop next year. They will be ready to plant out when the soil warms up in spring but only if you’re into showing and maybe exhibiting them. A shout out to our Dig It listeners … please help us grow by subscribing and telling your friends about Dig It, plus if there is a subject you think we should be covering or if you have a gardening question then do drop us a message. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Dec 2021 | Houseplants with Jane Perrone | 01:19:42 | |
Celebrating Houseplants with Jane Perrone In this Dig It podcast we celebrate indoor gardening as we chat with top gardening journalist Jane Perrone about her lifelong passion for growing houseplants and how this has developed into one of the most popular gardening podcasts - On the Ledge. Jane provides great advice on growing indoor plants from keeping them healthy, selecting plants for the home, stories from Jane’s On the Ledge podcast, trends on what we are purchasing at the Garden Centre and the best ways of displaying your potted favourites, plus we get a sneak peek into Jane’s forthcoming new book, Legends of the Leaf which profiles 25 iconic houseplants, charting their history and provides tips to help them thrive in your home. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day talk about their houseplant favourites, a look at which houseplants are good for air purification, plus we discuss David Domoney’s latest book, My House Plant Changed My Life There’s also a competition to win one of two signed copies of David’s book too - click here Plants mentioned: Adiantum (maidenhair fern), Ananas (Pineapple), Tillandsia (Air plants), Cacti, Ficus robusta, Crassula argentea (Money Plant), African Violets, Poinsettia, Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), Streptocarpus (Cape Primrose), Draceana (Dragon tree), Calathea, Maranta, Cocos nucifera (Coconut palm), Chlorophytum (Spider plant), Stephanotis, Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’, (Jane’s desert island plant, Variegated Swiss Cheese), Jasminium polyanthum, Gardenia (Cape Gardenia), Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo vine), Ficus robusta (Rubber plant), Sansevieria (Mother-in-laws Tongue), Medinilla magnifica (Rose Grape), Venus Fly Trap, Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid), Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’, Saxifraga stolonifera (Strawberry Saxifraga), Hedera (English Ivy). Herbs: Basil, Chives, Mint and Rosemary for cooler, well-lit windowsill. Products mentioned: Baby Bio houseplant feed (available in store), Abbeybrook Cacti, Houseplant Compost, watering cans foliar houseplant feeds such as SB Plant Invigorator and Bug Killer (available in store), leaf shine wipes, specific plant feeds such as Streptocarpus, Citrus, Cacti and Orchids, mist sprayers, self-watering pots, expanded clay granules and obelisks. Books: Legends of the Leaf by Jane Perrone, Tom’s Weeds by Mea Allan (Faber), The Houseplant Expert by Dr David Hessayon (Transworld), Success with Houseplants (Readers Digest), Potted History by Catherine Horwood (Pimpernel Press) and My House Plant Changed My Life by David Domoney (Dorling Kindersley). Jane’s Perrone's podcast On the Ledge Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jan 2022 | January in the Garden | 00:49:28 | |
January in the Garden In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day welcome 2022 and the promise of a new gardening year! We chat to Andrew Peck, MD of Malvern Garden Buildings and discuss the massive rise of interest in outdoor rooms whether for business (home offices) or for pleasure. Andrew chats about the evolution of garden buildings from the humble shed (and who doesn’t love their sheds!) to more sophisticated buildings such as the Breeze House. In today’s everchanging world with home working becoming more popular as well as having the flexibility of an additional covered space in the garden for entertaining or hobbies or simply the perfect escape into the garden through these challenging times. Peter and Chris look at some topical news stories, including a chat about the way Garden Centres are evolving from traditional plant-based companies to becoming more diverse in the products and services they offer to the customer. News stories discussed Baby Bio are launching an organic version of their famous houseplant fertiliser. It will be coming to our store over the next few weeks. The changing face of Garden Centres from introducing large Food Halls such as Sainsbury’s into Dobbies Garden Centres. Elsewhere Country House Group under the guidance of Garden Centre legend Nicholas Marshall are developing and building a network of around 30-40 plant centres, estate farm shops, restaurants and children’s play areas at some of the finest historic country houses and estates in the UK. What’s on this month 5th - 21st January Big Schools Birdwatch 2022 10th - 16th January Houseplant Week UK 2022 Share your photos and videos on social media using the hashtag – #HouseplantWeekUK Catch up with our chat with top Houseplant podcaster Jane Perrone from last month and you still have the chance to win one of two David Domoney’s signed houseplant books too! Wednesday 19th January 2022 at 4pm. FREE Masterclass talk on Celebrating Climbers at the Garden Centre Friday 21st January Squirrel Appreciation Day. Appreciate your squirrels in whatever way you can! However, from the gardener’s point of view the grey ones can cause problems. A reminder that our Dig It competition to win one of two signed copies of David Domoney’s book, My House Plant Changed My Life is still open! To enter head over to our podcast pages on our website Winter wash apples and pear trees to kill overwintering pests and diseases. A good organic pesticide for doing this would be Vitax Winter Tree Wash. Available in store. Tackle moss and algae affected paths and drives with Path Magic or Algon Path Patio & Decking Cleaner – both products are available in store. A pressure washer is another good option for removing moss. Plant a new hedge and where possible select well-priced bare-root plants, which have been grown in a field instead of pots so you’re also reducing both peat and plastic use. Malvern Garden Buildings have 11 UK Show Sites around the UK. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jan 2022 | Heritage and Heirloom Seeds | 00:51:23 | |
Exploring the Heritage Seed Library Chris and Peter discover how the Garden Organic’s Seed Heritage Library is helping to ensure older, traditional seed varieties are maintained for future generations. We chat with Catrina Fenton, who is the Head of the Heritage Seed Library on it’s history, the fascinating processes of open pollination, seed capture, the work of the seed guardians and the workings of the library today in conserving and helping to protect varieties for the future. Seed variety mentions: 190 varieties of Tomato are listed including ‘Golden Yellow Queen’, a thin-skinned variety with amazing flavour. Broad (field) bean ‘Martock’ (Medieval variety). Recommendations: Kale ‘Ragged Jack Tomato ‘Marianna's Peace’. Named for Marianne Worschech Tibbetts (1927-2013). Cabbage ‘Green Wonder’, germinated from seed stock 29 years old. Catrina’s desert island castaway seed: Dudi, a bottle gourd, an heirloom variety named after Mo Sayed. This variety grows huge and could be used as a carrying vessel or even to create a craft to escape the mystical island! Useful links The Seed Heritage Library is a registered charity and conservation organisation. Around 800 vegetable varieties are listed with over 7,000 members. The Seed Heritage Library is always on the lookout for ex-commercial (maybe pre-dates the 1970s) as well as more recent varieties that have been dropped from commerce. About Lawrence Hills, founder of Garden Organics Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables published by Faber & Faber in 1971. It rapidly became a bible for gardeners, self-sufficiency enthusiasts and commercial organic growers. The UK Plant Genetic Resources Group (UKPGRG) serves as the technical forum to discuss and implement the conservation and use of plant genetic resources in the UK Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Feb 2022 | February in the Garden | 00:50:24 | |
February in the Garden show notes Peter and Chris look at some news stories of the moment. We delve into some of the plants and gardening tasks requiring attention this month and as the gardening season starts in earnest. Peter and Chris select some suggested events for you, including the Garden Centre’s Graft and Grow Day on Saturday 5th February. News stories discussed National Garden Scheme raises over three million pounds for charities in 2021. The Ripple Africa Christmas tree campaign means over 20 thousand trees were planted in 2021. Learn more about the work carried out by Ripple Africa in our recent podcast The sad passing of gardening personality and friend of the garden trade Peter Seabrook. The Newt Hotel, will sponsor the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show for the next 4 years. The BBC continues its exclusive coverage of the RHS Flower Shows for the next three years. We are delighted to announce that Tiggywinkles is the Garden Centre’s charity of the year for 2022. What’s on this month Kew Gardens’ Orchid Festival returns Saturday 5th February 2022. Check out some of the best Snowdrop venues around the UK. Saturday 5th February (10am-4pm) Graft and Grow Day at the Garden Centre including the Scion Swap exchange with Mid Shires Orchard Group. Our Best Dressed Potato Competition is open to children and schools to find Buckinghamshire's Best Dressed Spud! Wednesday 16th February at 4pm. FREE Masterclass on Vegetable Growing For Beginners Products and plants mentioned Snowdrops, Sweet Box Japanese maples and Witch Hazel shrubs and a large selection of Summer bulbs.Seed potatoes, Rhubarb plants, Shallots and Garlic, Broad beans and Carrot Early Nantes. Purple Carrot Purple Sun. Bare-root hedging, ornamental and fruit trees. Bio- Bean Coffee Logs Houseplant Aloe vera and our recent houseplant podcast with Jane Perrone. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Feb 2022 | Composting | 01:15:09 | |
Home Composting with Rod Weston In this podcast Peter and Chris chat with Rod Weston, a composting expert and pioneer in spreading the message of the value of composting techniques to amateur and professional gardeners. Rod explains the composting process from start to finish and the best approach to ensure great composting results. Rod discusses options for composting where space is limited, and we are guided on some of the best compost equipment on the market. Rod also highlights some of the common pitfalls in the composting process as well as plenty of tips on how to the best garden compost. In the podcast we also look at the wider issues surrounding bagged compost products, and how Buckingham Garden Centre tackles composting and the benefits compost brings to the garden. Product mentions Garotta Compost Maker, 3.5kg, Rigid Plastic type bins available at the Garden Centre Deco Composter with base 340-litre, Ecomax Composer Bin 220-litre (dalek type), Construct your own wood pallet compost bin Rotating tumbler or tombola composting barrels A wheeled portable compost tumbler from Mantis – a range of sizes available. Waste cooked food composters are available for the home and commercial premises. Three popular brands are Jora composters sold in the UK under the name Joraform Compost Tumblers, The Green Johanna Hot Composter and the Ridan Food Waste Composting System. Small space composter - ideal for cooked food is the Bokashi system and indoor wormery. Wormeries and tiger worms available here Rod’s recommended peat-free compost is Dalefoot Wool Compost Available in-store. Rod’s desert island essentials: A trusted spade and machete to tackle the unexpected! Useful links Address of Rod’s demonstration site address can be found on his website www.carryoncomposting.com The RHS guide to composting and mulches provides good additional information. Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Mar 2022 | March '22 in the garden | 00:41:55 | |
March in the Garden As we celebrate our first year of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the topical news stories including changes in the garden centre world, a university led community gardening study and a new autumn plant fair. In the podcast we prepare the greenhouse for spring, start plants from seed indoors and out, share hints on spring bulbs and how to help our hedgehogs. In the news New GC Chairman Tammy Woodhouse from Millbrook Garden Centre Cherry Lane Garden Centre new acquisitions at Retford and Gainsborough Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodbridge celebrates 125th anniversary with launch of refurbished site British Garden Centres announce their latest acquisition Timmermans Garden Centre. Gardeners World’s New Autumn Fair at Audley End House and Garden, 2-4th September Community Urbans Gardens report What’s on this month March 14th – 20th Compost Week UK Check our recent podcast on Composting Wednesday 16th March, 4pm FREE Masterclass Plants for Smaller Spaces March 20th Spring Equinox Ten spring gardens to visit this month Dig It Top 5 … best-selling potatoes so far this year: 1.‘Desiree’ (maincrop - mc) 2.‘Picasso’ (early mc) 3.‘King Edward’ (mc) 4.‘Setanta’ (organic mc) 5.‘Sarpo Mira’ (organic mc) Products mentioned Keter Deco Composter with base (340-litre), £59.99. Available in-store Hozelock Rotating Barrel Composter Kinder plug plants are available in-store Agralan Citrox and Milton sterilant for greenhouse cleaning Hedgehog food and hedgehog house. Jobs to do Sow hardy annual flowers Apply Phostrogen or Sulphate of Potash to boost spring bulbs Use specialist houseplant product such as orchids, cacti or citrus plants composts Useful Links Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital New Malvern Garden Buildings at their Buckingham site. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Mar 2022 | Swards of Grass | 01:12:30 | |
In this episode we talk to David Hedges-Gower, the UK's leading lawn expert. who has more than 36 years of lawn and turf experience. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day learn how our lawns have evolved over the years, share practical advice on sowing and growing a new lawn from seed, the types of lawn seed available, the importance of feeding, aeration, scarification and irrigation, the process of overseeding, lawn troubleshooting, plus a look at those essential tasks to keep your lawn looking healthy throughout the year. Products mentioned: Luxury Grass seed available from the Garden Centre or online. True Garden Range The range has three tailored products: True Grass for lawns, True Bloom for flower beds, pots, and hanging baskets and True Yield for the vegetable plots, fruit trees and bushes. Formulated using composted food waste, these products will not only keep your plants happy and healthy but also your soils. Ultimate Mowing Guide a free guide to all the aspects of mowers and mowing. David’s desert island luxury item would be a hollow fine fork aerator perfect for resolving compacted soils and lawns on that green oasis! Useful links The Lawn Association including membership and online learning David’s website David’s book: Modern Lawn Care: The Complete Guide to a Happy and Healthy Lawn If you’d like to ask a gardening question or comment on the podcast, contact us here Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Apr 2022 | April '22 in the Garden | 00:43:01 | |
April is a busy month in the garden and after a relatively mild and dry March there’s plenty to be getting on with. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the topical news stories including the new listings of poisonous plants (potentially toxic to humans and our pets) from the HTA, the peat-free debate continues, the seaside town of Morecambe receives a 12-acre wildflower meadow as part of The Eden Project’s National Wildflower Centre, plus events and those essential gardening tasks to be getting on with. What’s on this month 4 - 10th April Community Garden Week 2022 celebrates the amazing community and school gardens across the UK. Wednesday 13th at 4pm and Saturday 16th April, 3pm FREE Masterclass Creative Pots and Hanging Baskets. Easter Weekend Good Friday 15th – Easter Monday 18th April. Please note the Garden Centre is closed on Easter Sunday. Saturday 23rd April Celebrate National Asparagus Day Royal Horticultural Society Flower Shows 2022 begins with the Malvern Spring Festival 5-8th May. Dig It Top Five: Summer Bulbs At number one Agapanthus Blue followed by single colours of Cascading Begonias – Yellow (2), Red (3), Orange (4) and Pink (5). Products and plants mentioned Asparagus pre-pack in varieties available at the Garden Centre. Weber BBQs Horticultural fleece and make sure you have garden ties, twine, and raffia to keep climbers tidy. Rhododendron ponticum and the lime tolerant form Rhododendron Inkarho. Slug control products – including copper tape and Slug Gone and don’t forget to ask the for used coffee grounds from the Restaurant. Dalefoot Wool Compost, Westland New Horizon Peat-Free and Homebase Peat Free multi-Purpose Compost trial. Feeding outdoor plants Growmore, Blood, Fish and Bone and Vitax Q4. Available online and in-store. Lawn Fertiliser Evergreen Complete 4-in-1 Lawn Fertiliser. Don’t forget our Dig It podcast from last month with lawn expert David Hedges-Gower for more information. Seeds to sow Aubergines, Beans (French and Runners), Peppers, Sweetcorn and Tomatoes. Padron Chilli Pepper - Pimento De Padron from Seeds of Italy. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Apr 2022 | Cottage Garden Perennials with Rosy Hardy | 00:47:22 | |
From peeking over hedgerows to see flowers from a different viewpoint and scrumping apples on a horse, leading nursery expert Rosemary Hardy’s love of plants and gardening blossomed from a very young age. Rosemary chats to Peter Brown and Chris Day about the development of the nursery from a walled garden just down the road to their current beautifully nurtured 13-acre Hampshire Nursery in Freefolk. Painting with plants is Rosemary’s mantra and we find out about the fascinating perennial flower scene as well discovering the philosophy of right plants, right place. Rosemary shares her wealth of plant knowledge and tells us about when things don’t quite go to plan at the flower shows. We learn about the best size of plants to plant in the garden, tips to get your cottage garden plants established and find out more about the process of creating those Gold winning displays at the famous Royal Horticultural Society’s shows. First time gardener perennials: Go for strong plants such as Alchemilla, Centranthus, Coreopsis, hardy Geranium, Geum, Lamium, Leucanthemum, Nepeta such as ‘Six Hills Giant’, Persicaria and Rudbeckia. Light shade perennials include Aquilegia, Bergenia, Veronica and Veronicastrum. Perennials with roses: Asters (Michealmas daisies), Astrantia, Gaura (now called Oenothera) and Campanula, especially the carpeting types. Best plants to get young gardeners going: Sweet peas (watching the tendrils twine, quick growing and wonderful scent), consider fast growing annual seeds like Cornflowers and Nasturtium, members of the daisy family and for growing involvement Geum rivale, which is easily propagated. You Tube video most asked question – Will this grow in a pot! Rosemary’s favourites include Cirsium, Oenothera lindheimeri Rosyjane (PBR), Anemone ‘Frilly Knickers’, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ (PBR) and Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ (Macgeu001’PBR) Desert Island plant: Fagus sylvatica, a beautiful native green beech which changes beautifully through the seasons. Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, Priory Lane, Freefolk, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7FA Tel: 01256 896533. Website: https://www.hardysplants.co.uk Rosemary Hardy Gardening YouTube Channel Hardy’s show dates and events We stock a wide range of herbaceous perennials at the Garden Centre and through our website Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 May 2022 | May '22 in the Garden | 00:39:01 | |
Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle the merry month of May with a look at some of the topical national horticultural news stories, including the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, plus there’s gardening tasks galore to be getting on with as well as developing your flower gardens. What’s on this month Wednesday 11th at 4pm and Saturday 14th May at 3pm FREE Masterclass Growing Perfect Perennials. Thursday 12th May World Topiary Day. Share your creations at hashtag #WorldTopiaryDay. Blenheim Maze Friday 20th May World Bee Day. The purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development. RHS Chelsea Flower Show 24-28th May. Look out for Malvern Garden Buildings Plant Studio display at the show as well as Jamie Butterworth’s ‘The Place2Be - Securing Tomorrow’ Garden which offers a safe space where children and adults can take time to relax and talk – a garden that helps facilitate and stimulate conversation, plus a wide palette of plants including hedgerow plantings and native plants. Dig It Top Five: Our best-selling packet vegetable seeds so far this year is Carrot ‘Autumn King 2’, Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ in second place; Tomato ‘Gardeners’ Delight’ in third, Chard ‘Bright Lights’ in fourth and another Carrot this time ‘Nantes 5’ in fifth place. Products and plants mentioned We are loving the new All Ways range of sprayers from Defenders which can be used upside down and sideways, delivering continuous water flow without leaks and spills. Available at the Garden Centre. New high street ‘garden shops’ are opening including Dobbies (dubbed ‘Little Dobbies’, including two in London) and a rare houseplant shop in Northampton called Not Another Jungle. Visit @NotAnotherJungle on Instagram for more details. New research into best combinations of hedges is underway at the RHS. Different types of hedging options including the edible hedge and soft hue collection can be found on our hedging website. Lawn feeds such as Miracle-Gro Evergreen Water Soluble Lawn Food. Ready planted ‘Pop-in’ (drop in) Kinder planters for baskets and containers available at the Garden Centre. Sow tender vegetables including Runner (varieties Enorma and Red Rum), French beans, Sweet Corn, Courgette, Cucumbers and Marrows. Use cut-back 2-litre plastic bottle as a small cloche. Chris’s trial of compost includes peat-based compost Jack’s Magic, Homebase Peat-free, New Horizon Peat-free and Aldi Peat-free. Always sieve to make more workable for pricking out and potting. Bulb feeding opt for Tomato food, Phostrogen or granular Blood, Fish and Bone. Plant support systems including bamboo canes, hazel sticks and the Poppy Forge range. Verbena ‘Showboat’ in red, white and blue colours for our vertical living wall. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 May 2022 | How to be a Better Wildlife Gardener | 01:10:21 | |
How to be a better wildlife gardener In this podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with gardening expert and nature lover Martin Fish. Topics covered include invaluable advice on developing a wildlife friendly garden, lawn meadows, managing wildlife and how best to achieve the right balance of potential pests and wildlife, his thoughts, and observations on the new trends in re-wilding and his take on ‘No Mow May’. We also discover how Martin started in horticulture, his nursery growing days and career moves into TV, local radio, writing and judging at major flower shows. Martin shares his love and passion for gardening and gives his views on the right mix of plants, habitats and the key considerations you should follow to help achieve a good wildlife balance in the garden. Plants mentioned Clematis macropetala ‘Stolwijk Gold’ (and Goldfinches). Wildlife lawn plants for pollinators including Daisies, Buttercups, Primroses (in verges) and Clover. Children plants; English Marigolds (Calendula), Cosmos, Sunflowers, Strawberries and fruiting plants. Butterflies and Moths plants: Verbena bonariensis, Night-scented stocks, Nicotiana (Tobacco plant) and clumps of perennial stinging nettles. Range of plants that provide year-round wildlife interest include Crocus, Hellebores, Snowdrops, blossom on Apples, Pears, Plums, hardy annuals, single flowered Dahlias, Foxgloves and hardy groundcover Geraniums. Products mentioned Compost bin, lawn rake, strimmer and rotary mower. Pre-formed liner, butyl liner or even a large washing bowl buried to the rim will draw the wildlife in. Bird feeds, drinkers and nesting boxes. Hedgehog houses and feeds. Swan food. If you have to control pests and diseases, opt for organic plant-based insecticides and fungicides and use them sparingly. Animals mentioned Robins, Goldfinches. Blackbirds, Greenfinches, Blue Tits, Sparrow, House Martins, Swifts, Yellow Hammers. Hedgehogs, Rabbits, Butterflies, Bees, Frogs, Newts, Damselflies and Lacewings. Useful websites: Re-wilding and No Mow May RHS Wildlife Martin’s cast away plant and tool: Apple tree and the variety ‘Sunset’, plus a pair of trusted secateurs to maintain the tree! Martin Fish website Martin’s Pots and Trowels YouTube Channel Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jun 2022 | June '22 in the Garden | 00:45:35 | |
As we garden into June, so the priorities of tasks change with maintenance, planting and sowing still important along with tasks to keep our gardens moving onwards and upwards, including wildlife ponds, pondwater coverage tips, tomato growing and some essential pruning. After a busy May, Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the topical news stories, happenings at the garden centre and around the UK. What’s on this month Wednesday 1st June – 31st August The Bugs Matter Survey. Wednesday 8th June at 4pm FREE Masterclass talk A Guide to Growing Roses. Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th June BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC in Birmingham. Sunday 19th June Father’s Day. Thursday 23rd - 26th Sunday June: RHS Garden Harlow Carr Flower Show in Harrogate, Yorkshire. Friday 24th - Sunday 26th June: Blenheim Palace Flower show at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. To locate the ancient trees and woodland site visit The Queen’s Green Canopy Dig It Top Five: Our best-selling packet flower seeds so far this year, starting at the top slot is Sunflower ‘Single Giant’, Sweet Pea ‘Incense Mixed’ in 2nd place; another Sunflower ‘Titan’ in 3rd, Sweet Pea ‘Old Spice’ Sweet Pea ‘Galaxy’ taking 4th and 5th places respectively. Products and plants mentioned Roses, including ‘Platinum Jubilee’ (limited availability at the Garden Centre) and ‘Dame Deborah James’ (Harkness Roses) in aid of BowelBabe, launched at Chelsea. All about the Chelsea Gardens and Malvern Garden Buildings Planet Studio wins Gold. The Peter Seabrook garden featured plants from his garden together with a new Sweet Pea named after him. Wolf Garten Tools celebrate 100 years this year! We love their practical multichange tool range, innovative and space saving in our sheds. Dutch and Draw hoes. Sowing flowering biennial flowers for next year including Canterbury bells, Polyanthus, Primroses, Sweet William and Wallflowers. Vegetables to sow include Cabbage, French beans, Radish, Spring Onions, Lettuce, Cabbages and Kales for later in the season. Fibre pots, if you are wanting to ditch the plastic, The Drop-in Pop In instant planters are available at the Garden Centre but they sell out fast! Pygmy and dwarf growing water lilies are preferred where space is limited. Time to relax and enjoy our gardens – Weber BBQ, Pizza ovens, Chiminea and Fire Bowls, solar lighting and chill on some comfy garden furniture. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | The Queen of Herbs - Jekka McVicar | 01:02:49 | |
The Queen of Herbs – Jekka McVicar Jekka McVicar talks with Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day about the popularity in growing herbs, tips on growing them, plus a fascinating insight into her RHS show work Jekka shares her passion for growing and propagating herbs, organic growing, meeting the Queen and Jekka spills the beans on her exciting new herb garden project which opens next year. Plant mentions: Numerous Basils including Basil ‘Red Rubin’ for infusing to create pink gin, Coriander, Convallaria (Lily of the Valley), Cress, Digitalis (Foxglove, medicinal herb), Dill, French Tarragon, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Laurus nobilis (bay leaves), Mints including Peppermint and Spearmint, Murraya koenigii (Curry tree), Nasturtium, Oregano, Red Amaranth, Rosemary, Salvia lavandulifolia (lavender-leaved sage), Szechuan (Sichuan) Pepper, Turmeric, Thymes, including Jekka’s Purple Haze, Tomatoes, Wild Rocket and Winter savory. A range of herb plants are available at the Garden Centre and online Kew Gardens research into herbs Product mentions: Jekka’s Mr Fothergill’s herb seeds, Maxicrop Seaweed Extract, available at the Garden Centre (feed on Friday). Medicinal herbs resources: Medical herbalist Anne McIntyre and herbal practitioner Simon Mills. Borage the gnome news story Jekka’s Books see website, plus available at the Garden Centre, A Little Book of Herbs. An A-Z. Peat-free compost, Jekka has her own formula based on coir. If potting herbs always use a Peat-free ‘Potting’ compost rather than a multi-purpose mix. 2009 RHS Lawrence Award, for best floral display. The Medal was special as it was the first for herbs and a first for organics. Notable luminaries: Garden designer and writer Noel Kingsbury, RHS show organiser Mavis Sweetingham, horticultural legend Beth Chatto, national treasure Delia Smith, top TV chef Jamie Oliver, top fish chef Nathan Outlaw. Jekka’s Desert Island plant: The entire Lamiaceae family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family and includes culinary herbs like Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Marjoram, Oregano, Hyssop, Thyme, Lavender, and Perilla. To find out more about Jekka’s story, the specialist herb farm containing over 400 culinary and medicinal herbs from all around the world and online shop. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jul 2022 | July '22 in the Garden | 00:51:14 | |
Make sure you’re ready for July in the garden with Dig It’s round-up of garden news, events as well as a look at those essential tasks to be getting on with, with top advice from Peter Brown and Chris Day. What’s On 4th - 9th July RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The world’s largest flower show. Wednesday 6th July at 4pm at Buckingham Garden Centre - FREE talk Tom Gadsby’s Garden Design Masterclass. 16th - 17th July The Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show 20th – 24th July RHS Tatton Park Flower Show In the News A national scheme to encourage homeowners to rent out their spare land is being organised by www.allotme.co.uk Going abroad this summer? Learn about plant health and helping protect our biosecurity, including a great activity download for children at www.planthealthaction.org Eden Project’s Pollinator Pathmaker design website Nigel Dunnett’s Tower of London ‘Superbloom’ project. The Chelsea Flower Show 2022 Plant of the Year is Semponium 'Destiny' from Surreal Succulents Rosarian and top rose breeder Colin Dickson is awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee honours. This month’s Dig It Top Five: Our best-selling plant liquid fertilisers from Doff. Best seller is Liquid Seaweed, 2nd place Rose fertiliser; 3rd slot Tomato feed, 4th Ericaceous and Container and Basket Feed in 5th place. Available at the Garden Centre. On the traditional boxed / straight fertilisers top spot belongs to Blood, Fish & Bone, followed by Vitax Organic Rose feed, Vitax Q4, Bonemeal and Sulphate of Potash. Available at the Garden Centre and online Plants mentioned: Citrus plants, sow seeds of French and Runner beans, Peas, Brussels Sprouts ‘Evesham Special’ (open pollinated) or the F1 hybrid variety ‘Green Marble’ and winter brassicas. Lavender ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’. Laurels showing symptoms of bacterial shothole and aphids attacking the growing tips. Take leaf cuttings from houseplants including Begonia rex, Streptocarpus and African Violets. Stem cuttings from Penstemon, Dianthus, Star Pelargoniums, Scented pelargoniums cola, lemon, 'Attar of Roses' and orange varieties. Hardwood cuttings of Salix (Willow). Products mentioned: Pizza oven, The Kindling Cracker, a clever wood kindling splitter device designed by a 13-year-old school girl from New Zealand. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jul 2022 | A Cherry on Top | 00:52:03 | |
July is traditionally the start of the cherry season so in this edition of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Vikki Grainge from Horwood Cherries, to discover more about growing these delicious fruits famed for their wonderful flavour despite the short of season of cropping. Plants mentioned: Flowering ornamental cherries including ‘Amanogawa’ and ‘Kanzan’, Prunus avium (wild cherry, bird cherry) and Prunus cerasifera (the myrobalan or cherry plum). The cherry varieties ‘Morello’, ‘Stella’, ‘Summer Sun’ and ‘Sunburst’ are available as bare-root trees from November onwards from the Garden Centre or through Mail Order. The cherries are grown on the trellis system using the Upright Fruiting Offshoots (or UFO) method of growing cherry training by Dr Greg Lang, a very intensive method which could be adapted by the home gardener. There are five cherry varieties grown at Horwood Cherries spanning the whole season providing around five weeks of cropping. The varieties are ‘Merchant’ (early), ‘Bellise’ ® (early), ‘Kordia’ (mid to late season, RHS AGM), ‘Regina’ (Late) and ‘Lapins’ (late and self-fertile). Products mentioned: Clearweave Cherry Cover, Cherry colour chart , Dosatron, a liquid feeding system we use at the Garden Centre. Annual top dressing of potassium, phosphates and nitrogen are applied to help cherry growth. Spotted wing drosophila (fruit flies). Yellow traps for monitoring all year round. Traps and lures are available from Agralan and some other suppliers or similar traps can be made at home. Consider insect proof mesh to keep the flies out. Aphids can be troublesome; botrytis and mildew are avoided by good pruning to keep the trees open. Never prune cherries when it is wet – it needs to be dry for at least three days and disinfect secateurs between trees. March-May is the best time to prune. Useful links Find out more about Horwood Cherries website Cooking with cherries? Cherries in brandy, Cherry Crumble, Cherry Ice Cream and can be roasted with lamb. Some good cherry recipes here Japan’s famous cherry parks Vikki’s desert island plant is the sunflower, especially the variety 'Mongolian Giant'. Seeds available from Chiltern Seeds Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Aug 2022 | August '22 in the Garden | 00:49:25 | |
Make sure you’re ready for August in the garden with Dig It’s round-up of garden news, events as well as a look at those essential tasks to be getting on with top advice from Buckingham Garden Centre’s Peter Brown and Chris Day. What’s on 3rd-7th August RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show, Chelmsford, Essex 4th August Summer Cycle at the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens, Richmond, 5.30-8.30pm Wednesday 17th at 4pm and repeated Saturday 20th August at 3pm at Buckingham Garden Centre FREE Masterclass talk: Growing Your Favourite Hobby plants 12th and 13th August Shrewsbury Flower Show, Quarry Park, Shrewsbury 19th - 21st August RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, Torrington, Devon In the news Cost and availability of allotments Ball Colegrave Open day (garden trade only) highlighting the new double flowered impatiens walleriana 'Glimmer Appleblossom', recently recognised as Best in Show at the HTA’s New Plant Award. The latest trend of using perennials to mix with seasonal bedding plants in displays, including containers. Peter Seabrook’s Sweet Pea Kew’s giant waterlily news story in full Spalding Flower parade set to return in 2023 Anti-plastic lobby get turfed out. Plastic grass stays! Terry Walton’s story on the safe use, storage and disposal of pesticides from PestSmart This month’s Dig It Top Five pest controls: At no5 Provanto Ultimate Fruit and Vegetable Killer, no4 Toprose Bug Killer, at no3 Bugclear Ultra Vine Weevil Killer, in 2nd place Provanto Ultimate Bug Killer and in top slot goes to Bugclear Ultra Gun! for edibles. Available at the Garden Centre. Plant mentioned: Maize (Zea mays), Taylors Summer Planting Seed Potatoes for Christmas new potatoes, seeds of Japanese onion ‘Senshyu Semi-Globe Yellow’, spring cabbage, carrots – round varieties such as ‘Paris Market 5’, Chinese cabbage, corn salad, winter lettuce and radish seeds can be sown this month. Summer-fruiting and autumn raspberry plants. Products mentioned: Bio-Bean, who manufacture Coffee logs, a popular product at the Garden Centre has been named a Best for the World ™ B Corp ™ . Miracle-Gro for higher nitrogen feeding and for encouraging improved flowering use Phostrogen or Tomato feed. Liquid lawn weedkillers such as Weedol Lawn Weedkiller Composts Westland New Horizon, Miracle Gro Peat Free,and Dalefoot Wool Compost for Potting. . Homebase Peat free Multi-Purpose Compost has fared well in our trials so far this season. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Aug 2022 | Growing a Garden Centre an interview with Pauline Brown | 00:55:08 | |
In this edition of Dig It, Chris Day chats with Pauline Brown, Partner at Buckingham Garden Centre and Nurseries, to discover more about the history and evolution of the business looking at the changes in the way we garden, the development of the site over five decades and how trends have impacted on the business from sustainability to new plants. We also chat to Pauline about her own passion for plants and gardening for wildlife, growing food for the kitchen, the art of composting and the importance of gardening for the future. To see how Buckingham Garden Centre has developed over 50 years check out this photo gallery Core gardening is key – garden tools, fertilisers, compost bins, water butts, solar lights with timers, and seeds. Over recent years Buckingham Garden Centre has become a destination garden centre together with hugely popular The Gardeners’ Retreat Restaurant. Plant mentions: Apples (including the variety ‘Ashmead’s Kernel’), Amelanchier, Cordylines, Hedging, Helianthemums, Phormium, Potatoes, Ornamental trees, Sedum, Lettuce, Chard, Pea ‘Alderman’. Look for disease resistance in the new varieties if you can. Sustainability on the site water conservation (reservoir), solar panels, recycling (include taupe plant pots and trays), FSC certified timber, peat-free composts and in the restaurant waste coffee grounds are collected, sent for recycling to be turned into coffee logs. Seeds from Garden Organic’s Seed Heritage Library The RHS Plant Finder Book 2022 and online The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM). RHS Plants For Pollinators logo on labels. Helping wildlife: Products such as hedgehog houses, bird feeders and bug hotels. Learning about gardening by talking to family and friends, visit your local library, tap into staff knowledge when visiting the Garden Centre and books such as the RHS Dictionary of Gardening provide invaluable reference information. The Mid Shires Orchard Group Promoting older regional apple varieties and establishing community orchards Find out more about Medical Detection Dogs Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Sep 2022 | September '22 in the Garden | 00:47:06 | |
After a challenging hot and dry summer in the garden we enter the month of September and a change in season. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle some essential tasks for the month, plus they look at the latest garden news and events coming up at the Garden Centre. Wednesday 21st September: Orchid Day 11am-3pm at the Garden Centre. We will be joined by Manos Kanellos, top orchid guru and a previous Dig It podcast guest and he will be talking at 11am and 2pm as well as providing MOTs for orchids in need of a re-pot. 23rd – 25th September RHS Malvern Autumn Show. Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October, 10am-4pm both days. Our Apple Weekend featuring RHS fruit expert Gerry Edwards, who will be helping to identify apple fruits for our customers and the Mid Shire Orchard Group making delicious apple juice and offering apple growing advice, plus BBOWT and much more. On Sunday we host the North Bucks Beekeepers' Association's Honey Show. Our Dig It top 5 perennials (in 1-litre pots) In joint fifth position Lupinus ‘Gallery Blue’ and Dianthus ‘Tickled Pink’, 4th spot Rudbeckia ‘Goldstrum’, 3rd position Penstemon ‘Pensham Laura’, in 2nd Verbena bonariensis and at number 1 Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’. Plant mentions Vegetable plug plants and sowing vegetable seeds including winter brassicas, chicory, endive, Chinese cabbage. Crocosmia, spring bulbs, Lavender, Teasle seeds and Caladiums. Bare-root apple varieties Product mentions Compost bins, Bokashi kitchen composters. Orchid products from Growth Technology Clip Gloves are available in store. News links Chatsworth historic gardens revealed by heatwave and Chatsworth’s new alpine garden reimagined by top garden designer Tom Stuart Smith. Futuristic ‘flower design’ greenhouse at National Trust Woolbeding Gardens The new RHS Wisley Clear Lake and ways to save water in the garden. Rosebourne Weyhill opened by horticulturalist and TV presenter David Domoney and the young 14-year-old entrepreneur with his dog pampering range Palladian Bridge reopens after 8 years at Prior Park Landscape Gardens and is very similar to the one at Stowe Landscape Gardens. Historic wall gardens at Blenheim Palace Gardens goes no-dig and organic. Dr Amir Khan is the new patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. A retirement home for gnomes at Amelia Trust Care Farm in Glamorgan. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Sep 2022 | Container Gardening with Kathy Brown | 00:59:43 | |
For the past 33 years Kathy and her husband Simon have created a simply amazing Manor House Garden in Stevington, just north of Bedford. It’s a garden full of inspiration, buoyed by Kathy’s keen use of colour and structure as well as plenty of great plants. In this episode of Dig it, Peter Brown and Chris Day discover more about how the garden evolved, advice on growing plants in containers using recipe-style plantings, the crocking debate, tales of a donkey, opening a garden to the public and using edible flowers in baking. Plants mentioned: Beech hedging, Eucalyptus, Pine trees, avenues of Betula jacquemontii, Metasequoia glyptostroboides and Ginkgo biloba. Wisteria, Weeping Cedrus, xeriscape plants such as succulents. Perennials Agapanthus, Alliums, Japanese anemones, Gladiolus callianthus 'Murielae' (Abyssinian gladiolus, RHS AGM), Sedum, Hellebore Gold Collection (outward facing blooms perfect in pots) Helleborus ‘Frosty’ is a good one, Verbena bonariensis, ornamental grasses including Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’, Echinaceas. Hyacinths, Dwarf and species Tulips, Tulip clusiana 'Lady Jane' and Dwarf Narcissi like ‘January Gold’ (early) and ‘Pipit’ (later flowering). Good flavours to use with cake bakes include scented rose petals as these provide the most flavour as well as lavender. Kathy’s desert island plant: English lavender – wonderfully versatile, you can cook with it and use it in a wide variety of ways as well as producing a wonderful tea to enjoy. Products mentioned: White Himalayan birch plantings at Anglesey Abbey. National Garden Scheme (NGS). Solardome ® greenhouse. Beth Chatto’s dry garden – a converted car park to a gravel garden. Piet Oudolf, a Dutch garden designer, plant nursery man and author who practices a more naturalistic approach to gardening. Composts: Dalefoot Wool Compost and Jack’s Magic All Purpose Improved Compost (reduced peat) and New Horizon Peat-Free Compost. Broadleaf p4, using John Innes Compost as an additive. Kathy likes to use Evergreen Compost , who offer peat-free, peat-reduced and a traditional compost containing sphagnum moss peat. Water retaining granules such as Broadleaf P4 and Swelgel, which can be added to compost and soil to help retain moisture around the plant’s roots. Garden photographer Clive Nichols and the early morning photo shoot. Kathy Brown’s Books The Edible Flower Garden, Container Gardening, Kathy Brown's Recipes For Easy Container Gardening and A Bulb for all Seasons To find out more about Kathy’s Garden, opening details, Kathy’s lectures and how to book a visit click here Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Oct 2022 | October '22 in the Garden | 00:46:57 | |
Peter Brown and Chris Day start preparing for winter as well as providing us with a roundup of the latest news and views from the world of gardening. What’s on Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd October: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend with Gerry Edwards, The Mid Shires Orchard Group, CPRE The Countryside Charity, BBOWT, Chrissie’s Owls (Saturday), plus Junior Gardening Club’s children’s best dressed apple competition. The North Buckinghamshire Beekeepers Association Honey Show is on the Sunday. Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th October: Waterperry Gardens Apple Weekend. Saturday 15th October, 10am-5pm: Autumn Fair at Harcourt Arboretum, Oxfordshire. Thursday, 20 October, 13:00 - 14:15: Garden Tour at Garden Organic, Ryton Gardens, COVENTRY, Warks, CV8 3LG. In the news Plants named after the late The Queen Elizabeth II, include Clematis montana var. rubens 'Elizabeth' was bred by Jackmans in the 1950s. The list includes Rosa 'Queen Elizabeth' bred by Lammerts Rosa 'The Queen's Jubilee' was launched to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. Rosa 'Queen Elizabeth II' was bred by Harkness Roses Our Dig It top five apple maiden varieties 1 ‘Discovery’ 2 ‘James Grieve’ 3 ‘Cox’s Self-Fertile’ 4 ‘Arthur Turner’ 4 ‘Egremont Russet’ In the news Ball Colegrave announce the top varieties voted by visitors to their trade event back in the summer. Last year was the Year of the Courgette and Fleuroselect in conjunction with Royal Horticultural Society grew some 70 different varieties at two of their gardens at Bridgewater and Rosemoor. The plants were judged by the RHS technical committee and these new varieties were awarded the top Award of Garden Merit (AGM) Cucurbita ‘Color’, ‘Lorea’ and ‘Brice’. RHS Hyde Hall reveals people’s choice Viola winner Updated - Plants and their toxicity the HTA Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants and now includes pets. You can access it at this link Product mentions Homebase Peat Free, Aldi Peat Free, Westland New Horizon Peat Free (best of the bunch so far) and Miracle Gro Peat Free. Vine weevil Control– opt for Bug Clear Ultra Vine Weevil Killer as a soil drench or look at natural nematotode control. Plant mentions Spring bulbs including Alliums, Crocus, Daffodils, Snowdrops and Hyacinths for planting now. Tulips often benefit from being planted a little later into the autumn and early winter. Don’t delay get your ‘prepared’ hyacinths and Narcissi ‘Paperwhite’ established if you are looking for Christmas colour. Available in store. Heuchera and Heucherella plants with their decorative foliage work well with bulbs in borders and in containers. As the soil becomes more workable, think about getting your autumn onions and garlic established before the weather turns cold. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Oct 2022 | Garden Trade News | 01:00:24 | |
In this edition of Dig It Chris Day chats with the editor of Garden Trade News (GTN) Trevor Pfeiffer. Trevor examines how the massive garden trade, suppliers of both products and plants help spread news and information as well as analysing the sales across the trade in the Best Sellers Charts. Trevor gives us some of his personal insights into the garden centre trade from sustainability and global warming to the massive ongoing peat-free compost debate! Trevor’s mantra is that growing plants gives you an optimistic point of view on life and we couldn’t agree more! Big breaking news stories The Wyevale sell off and the passing of Peter Seabrook Garden Heroes Guy Topping, MD of Barton Garden Centre located between Preston and Garstang. The garden centre set up includes a marina and an entertainment complex The Flower Bowl, which includes a cinema amongst other activities! Mike Burks, The Gardens Group of Garden Centres in Dorset and Somerset. Great ethos of getting garden centre teams motivated as well as plenty of communication through their proper tea breaks complete with a huge tea pot at 10am and 4pm every day! Floral Thursday world record for Greenfingers charity. The idea was fostered by Neil Grant, Managing Director of Ferndale Garden Centre in Sheffield to wear something flowery and it’s become popular as well as fun for fundraising opportunities. Awards New products at GLEE, a trade show held annually in Birmingham and the GTN Greatest Awards, teams are nominated for specific categories such as Best Christmas merchandising and Best Grotto. Garden magazines mentioned Garden News, Garden Answers, Gardeners’ World and Practical Gardening (no longer produced) and RHS The Garden magazine. HTA global warming news. Plants mentioned Apples, Poinsettias, Petunias, Pelargoniums (Geraniums), Taylors Autumn planted for Christmas potatoes and Trevor’s favourite, Squash Mashed Potato and Squash ‘Baked Potato’. Favourite garden centre Poppies Garden Centre, Saulmore Shore, By Oban in Argyll. Desert island luxury Trench digging shovel. Go for one with a metal shaft and handle which makes it extra strong, great for getting underneath roots when having to move plants! Products mentioned Garden lighting, both solar and low voltage. Westland Boost All-Purpose Plant food . Fito Orchid drip feeders . Discover more about Garden Trade News website Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 05 Nov 2022 | November '22 in the Garden | 01:02:23 | |
The mild weather continued into November but plenty of rain and wind brought the garden to a colourful if damp end to autumn. Peter Brown and Chris Day prepare for the bare-root planting season, delve into some of the popular news stories making the headlines, plus a look at some of those pressing jobs in the garden and with our beloved houseplants. What’s on Monday 7th November: Wilding Rural Enfield is an online talk by Ian Russell, principal engineer at Enfield Council’s Watercourse Team. Open 6-7pm. More details here Thursday 17th November: Gardens in My Life is the title of the 2022 annual lecture of the National Garden Scheme given by garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd. In the news Amersham in Bloom crowned overall winner of this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom UK finals. Are gardener’s losing their parliamentary voice, asks Matthew Appleby? Featured in Amateur Gardening magazine, 23rd October issue. Garden Organic fighting for the future, plus their excellent Heritage Seed Library. Our Houseplant department at the Garden Centre has received a fantastic makeover. Look out for Beautanic Lifestyle range of hydroculture plants from Javado. Garden visiting remained as popular as ever this year with increased visitor numbers including Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (top spot), RHS Wisley, in the third spot and Trentham Gardens in fifth spot. Do not forget to look for the spectacular magical illumination shows over the next couple of months at Waddesdon Manor, RHS Glow Gardens and the beautiful lakes and gardens at Leonardslee in West Sussex. A reminder about checking for hedgehogs prior to lighting a bonfire in the garden, plus The British Hedgehog Preservation Society are encouraging schools and colleges to take part in their ‘Pick litter to help hogs’ campaign. British Garden Centre group increases numbers to 62 with the acquisition of Mirfield Garden Centre in West Yorkshire. Plants mentioned Bare-root planting season begins, including native hedges, roses, ornamental and fruit trees. Dahlia, Leylandii, Spotted Laurel, English Yew and Hollies. Plants suitable to take as hardwood cuttings include Willow, Dogwood and Hazel. Continue spring bulbs planting - Tulips, Narcissi and Crocus if you plan to create lasagna bulb displays Sow a few Broad beans (varieties such as ‘Aquadulce’ and ‘Super Aquadulce’), pot up bare-root strawberries for an early crop and sow Sweet Peas for earlier flowering next summer. Product mentions RootGrow (Mycorrhizal friendly fungi). Potting or horticultural grit for soil improvement. Use a net over your pond to clear any leaves and use a wheatgerm feed for your fish. Plants that create aerial roots such as Monstera may need support so install a moss pole, which must be kept moist. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Nov 2022 | A chat with the President | 01:03:05 | |
Alan’s down-to-earth world of gardening Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with horticultural supremo Alan Down in this latest Dig It podcast. Alan has been incredibly active in the gardening trade from early days in commercial growing in Germany, developing skills in germinating tree seeds and in Somerset to setting up a very successful garden centre and most recently taking on a new role - President of the Horticultural Trades Association. Alan is an accomplished gardening writer and broadcaster, who also enjoys worldwide travel, photography and even deer management! Plant mentions Wildflowers, pot chrysanthemums, spray chrysanthemum, tomato, bedding plants, Japanese maples, hellebores, hardy ferns, ornamental grasses, and native trees. Alan’s desert island plant: Apple tree or a citrus lemon or lime if the island was in the tropics. Product mentions and useful links Two recommended peat-free composts Melcourt SylvaGrow Compost, Westland New Horizon Compost The popular gift vouchers from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) available from all Garden Centres and Nurseries who are HTA members. Hilliers Nurseries (container growing unit) Edible Bus Stop Group Cannington College Pershore College Royal Horticultural Society education British Deer Society International Plant Propagator’s Society Luminaries: Sir Harold Hillier, Roy Lancaster, Stewart Chambers and Stewart Brookfield, head of horticulture at Somerset College of Agriculture and Horticulture in the 1970s. HTA toxic plants list https://hta.org.uk/potentiallyharmfulplants You can follow Alan on these platforms You can read Alan’s Blogs on gardening and travel on his website www.down-to-earth.co.uk Gardening Candid app Alan on Instagram @alanedown Twitter @AlanEDown Candide UK: @AlanGardenMaster Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Dec 2022 | December '22 in the Garden | 00:55:37 | |
December 2022 in the Garden (short notes) Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day delve into the stories affecting gardeners and the gardening trade, plus jobs to do in the garden. In the news The RHS move their gooseberry and rhubarb national collections from Wisley to Bridgewater, near Manchester. The 5,000-year-old Newlands Corner Yews are highlighted as part of the Conservation Foundations 40th anniversary celebrations. Bumblebees less likely to land on flowers sprayed with fertilisers, says Bristol University report. Blue Diamond acquires Van Hage Garden centres. Hilliers grows to 22 garden centres with the acquisition of Rosebourne and increases tree production after buying a 200-acre farm in Liss, Hampshire. Toxic Ricinus communis (castor oil) found growing in council flower beds in North Wales. UK butterfly numbers drop to an all-time low says Butterfly Conservation Celebrate the King’s Coronation on 6th May 2023 by planting red, white and blue flowers and bulbs. Plant mentions: Bare-root hedging, Norway spruce and Nordmann fir, Poinsettia, lasagna planting red and white tulips and winter hardy pansies and violas, blue and white forget-me-nots and grape hyacinths. Yew and the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Poplars for pollarding and Hazel for withies. Scented Sarcococca and Daphne. The Ball Colegrave introduction Glimmer ™ mildew resistant double busy lizzies will be available next year. Product mentions: Reservoir Christmas stands, Hang Scentsicles on your artificial Christmas tree to give a festive smell, Bird feeds and fat balls, horticultural fleece. Pot feet for lifting your pots. Greenhouse cleaners - Jeyes Fluid or Agralan Citrox. Houseplant expert Jane Perrone shared her poinsettia thoughts on our podcast last year. Burnham Beeches is a National Nature Reserve famous for its ancient pollards; many are several hundred years old. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Dec 2022 | Not another jungle | 01:10:20 | |
A passion for houseplants In this episode of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Tony Le-Britton, passionate houseplant professional and owner of Not Another Jungle shop in Northampton. From humble beginnings growing houseplants in a greenhouse in the house (yes, really!) a childhood ambition fulfilled by appearing on the Gardeners’ World to developing his own special style and flair in helping everyone get connected with indoor plants through his social media channels and brand. Tony chats about his favourite plants, we get to grips with spider plants, top tips on growing indoors and more. Plants mentioned: Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis), Aroids (members of the family Araceae and include many common houseplants like Aglaonemas, Monsteras, Philodendrons, Pothos and ZZ plants). Spider plant (Chlorophytum). Avoid Dutch-grown colour sprayed succulents and cacti or plants pinned with dried flowers or stick on googly eyes. Newer forms of Monstera have become popular with much smaller leaves and those with variegated leaves like Monstera Thai Constellation. Variegated plants are favourites of Tony as many of them are rare. Stephania erecta. Products mentioned: LED lights, Sandwich bags, sphagnum moss and rooting hormone. Dale Foot wool-based seed peat-free compost. Not Another Jungle specialist Houseplant Super Food. Empathy RootGrow. Tony’s desert island plant: Anything from the alocasia family as they produce big leaves which you can shelter under and you can eat the tubers! Luminaries who have inspired Tony: Geoff Hamilton and Monty Don You can find Tony on Instagram TikTok and Facebook Tony’s shop: Not Another Jungle, 9 George Row, Northampton NN1 1DF. Not Another Jungle: Comprehensive Care for Extraordinary Houseplants, book is available to pre-order from Amazon. Publish date 6th April 2023. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jan 2023 | January '23 in the Garden | 00:45:22 | |
There’s plenty to chat about in the garden this January as Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the gardening stories making the headlines, the Dig It Top 5 as well as tackling those gardening tasks. What’s on Snowdrop gardens and snowdrop days https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/seasonal/snowdrops.html Monday 16th January: Small is Beautiful, a talk by Alys Fowler www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on 27-29th January RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch www.rspb.org.uk Until 31st January: Winter Sculpture Exhibition at RHS Rosemoor www.rhs.org.uk In the news Welsh announce peat ban Wentworth House in Yorkshire wins Historic Houses Association competition. Plant Heritage, the conservation charity, has approached the Government in a bid to become part of the UKs commitment to conserving the country’s genetic diversity. Charity Greenfingers opens its new children’s garden at St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle. The 500-year-old ancient Waverley Abbey yew has been named tree of the year by the Woodland Trust. Vertical farmed trees grown under lights could help solve shortfalls in UK tree-planting targets. Restaurant fire hits Alton Garden Centre The Garden Centre Association Christmas Display Winners announced Clover lawns on TikTok become a massive hit with over 62 million views! Defra letting down country over ‘plastic grass’ debate, claims The Lawn Association. The National Allotment Society has unveiled a new service encouraging housing developers and local government to include space for allotments in new developments. The Garden Media Guild awards for 2022 have been announced, including the Lifetime achievement award to rosarian Michael Marriott. The Pantone colour of the year for 2023 is Viva Magenta! Dig It Top 5 - bird food No 1 spot Wild bird, followed by bird peanuts at no 2, Henry Bell Fat Balls at no 3 with Wild Bird Mix (3kg bags) at no 4 and 20kg large sacks of Wild Bird Mix in 5th position. Plant mentions: Alfalfa, Apples, Brussel sprouts, Clover, Chamomile, Pears, Potatoes, micro greens, Hellebores, Rosa rugosa and Yew Product mentions: Secateurs, garden gloves, rhubarb forcer, large dustbin or trug. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jan 2023 | No Dig Champion Charles Dowding | 00:55:44 | |
In this episode of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Charles Dowding, a leading champion of no-dig gardening. Not only does he have a huge following, but his advice is born out of more than 40 years of growing, analysing, comparing, and recommending. We learn about the process of his No Dig philosophy from soil preparation, weed control, plant nutrition and how this method could work for you. No Dig pointers: Bed sizes: 1.2m (4ft) wide beds and any length to suite your garden size. Adding 1in of compost to the beds per year. Practise intercropping and successional plantings to maximise your cropping space. No crop rotation is necessary by having good, healthy soil. Do have weed-free pathways between your crops. Pathways between beds need to be around 40cm (16 inches) wide and again use cardboard and wood chip. Think about the orientation of your beds and if necessary, run them up and down if your site slopes. Be realistic - start small to stay in control so you can enjoy it and have fun growing. Making a bed in winter is usually best. Compost on clay soils work well with No Dig. Weeding ‘little and often’ is key to avoid weeds going to seed. Plant mentions: Garlic, Broccoli, Beetroot, Brussel sprout ‘Evesham Special’, Onions, Carrots, Kale, Potato varieties ‘Nicola’ and ‘Charlotte’. Weeds - dandelions, chickweed, couch grass, bindweed, mare’s tail and groundsel. Product mentions: A dibber or trowel, horticultural fleece or Enviromesh coverage, cardboard, mushroom compost, home compost, green waste compost, animal manures and wood chip. Hoes, compost bins (Dalek type) as well as home-made pallet compost. Coffee grounds, rock dust, charcoal and wood ash used sparingly make good compost additives. Professor Elaine Ingham is an American microbiologist and soil biology researcher and founder of Soil Foodweb Inc. She is known as a leader in soil microbiology and research of the soil food web. Dr Shewell-Cooper MBE, was a British organic gardener, a pioneer of no-dig gardening and a prolific writer of 37 gardening books! Charles Dowding’s website, courses videos and books Socials Twitter @charlesdowding Facebook @CharlesDowdingNoDig Instagram charles_dowding Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Feb 2023 | February '23 in the Garden | 00:48:46 | |
In this month’s Dig It podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day look at how the gradual change in seasons is beginning to affect what we plant, prune and plan ahead in our gardens. Thursday 2nd February Chasing Plants talk with Dr Chris Thorogood in Oxford, 7-8pm. Saturday 4th February, 10am-4pm. Our Graft & Grow Event at the Garden Centre with The Mid Shires Orchard Group and grafters Andy Howard and Steve Oram from PTES Saturday 4th February – Sunday 12th March Houseplant Takeover at RHS Gardens, Wisley Thursday 16 February: Winter and Snowdrops Walk from 9.30am. Breakfast and a Guided Walk with Nick Hamilton at Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, created by his father Geoff. In the news David Austin Roses retires three rose varieties. Redesign of the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother garden at Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. RHS partner garden numbers increase to 221, including Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Powis Castle and Bridgemere Show Gardens. The Windlesham Trophy awarded to the HM Prison Thorn Cross for its creative gardening efforts. Petal patterns found to attract bees, the latest from Cambridge University. New laws to help protect illegal landscape tree felling comes into force. Scottish tea grower success in London. Predictions of garden trends for 2023 from the RHS. Kew Science spotlights 10 species of plants and fungi that it has named as new to science in 2022. NGS biggest ever charity donation in 2022. Dig It Top 5 Potatoes: From 5 to the number 1 spot Potato ‘Arran Pilot’ (1st early), ‘Desiree’ (maincrop), ‘Rocket’ (1st early), ‘Charlotte’ (2nd early) and at number 1 ‘Kestrel’ (2nd early). Plant mentions: Asparagus, Garlic, Onions, Grapes, Roses ‘Munstead Wood’, ‘A Shropshire Lad’ and ‘Lady Emma Hamilton’, Phormium, Cordyline australis, Camellia sinensis (tea), cooler houseplants such Kentia palm, Fatsia japonica and Spathiphyllum; Snowdrops, Raspberries (‘Heritage’, ‘Autumn Bliss’), Strawberries, date palm, hedging, ornamental trees and fruit trees. Product mentions: Swimming pond pumps from Oase, Secateurs, fleece, Baby Bio, Miracle-Gro feed, Phostrogen Plant Food, compost bins, and water butts. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Feb 2023 | The National Garden Scheme | 00:47:57 | |
The National Garden Scheme (NGS) open exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands raising money for charity through admission fees, tea and cake. Over the past 96 years the NGS has raised over 67 million pounds for charities. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with the Chief Executive of the NGS, George Plumptre and discuss the huge impact opening over 3,500 gardens has had on the charities the NGS supports. We also delve into George’s favourite gardens, his passion for writing about cricket and gardens and we discover what cake Dame Mary Berry, the president of the NGS, baked for George on a special garden visit. Plant mentions: Winter aconites, snowdrops, hardy cyclamen, viticella clematis and wildflower meadows. Garden mentions: The Queen Mother’s private garden: Birkhall part of the Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, The Royal Lodge on the Windsor Great Park Estate, Berkshire and Castle of Mey, Caithness in Scotland. Royal gardens at Frogmore House and Highgrove Gardens. National Trust properties at Hidcote Manor Gardens in Gloucestershire and Hatchlands Park in Surrey. Arley Hall, Northwich, Cheshire, Ramster Gardens in Surrey, Hodnet Hall Gardens, Shropshire. Horatio Garden in Salisbury. Goodnestone Park in Kent. Reports mentions: Gardens and health - The King’s fund 2016 report and Gardens and Coronavirus 2020 report Desert Island plant and gardening luxury: Plumbago capensis and desalination plant with brass antique water sprinkler. NGS beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Research, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, The Queen’s Nursing Institute, Parkinson’s UK, Horatio’s Garden, Maggie’s and Greenfingers. Support and training English Heritage, Perennial, Working for Gardeners Association, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Professional Gardeners’ Trust and Garden Museum. George Plumptre’s books The Garden Visitor’s handbook 2023 (The Yellow Book) NGS Website with links to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Mar 2023 | March '23 in the Garden | 00:53:05 | |
The first blossom, bulbs are coming into their own and there’s a bit of welcome warmth to the sunshine -spring has officially sprung! Peter Brown and Chris Day delve into March with this month’s busy podcast, including what’s on, topical news, the Dig It top 5 and much more. What’s on Saturday 11th March is Orchid Day at the Garden Centre with Dig It’s favourite Orchid expert Manos Kanellos. The event runs from 11am until mid-afternoon. TV garden designer and Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost is out and about on a nationwide tour this spring entitled An evening with Adam Frost. Sunday 19th March 10am-4pm: Rare Plant Fair at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2PD. In the news Floral soakaways are coming to towns and cities near you. More than 574 new gardens opening for the first time are opening under the National Garden Scheme this year. The government are cracking down on illegal plant importers. Welsh leeks finally become officially Welsh. The Newt gardens in Somerset are the official sponsors of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, have the national collection of all-counties apples in their unique designed parabola garden. National Allotments Society report on 21st Century Allotments in new developments. RSPB suggests stricter garden hygiene controls to help combat avian flu. Publisher DC Thompson announces the closure of Grow Your Own magazine. Bridgend Council fined for knotweed invasion in a landmark case. Dig It top 5 Roses root-wrapped 1. Rose ‘Flower Carpet Pink’ 2. Rose ‘Margaret Merril’ 3. Rose ‘Flower Carpet White’, 4. Rose ‘Hopes and Dreams’ 5. Rose ‘Rambling Rector’. Plant mentions: Shallots, Garlic and Onions, Broad beans, Kinder plants, Potatoes including ‘International Kidney’, Berried trees and shrubs for birds. Snowdrops, winter aconites and later English Bluebells ‘in the green’. Primroses, Bellis daisies and Violas. Sow Parsley, Chives, Coriander and Basil in warmth. Strawberries, including alpine types. Product mentions: Baby Bio, Bloom Orchid Feed, Bonemeal, Fungus Fighter for Box Blight, Composters, RootGrow, Houseplant compost, Canada Green Lawn Seed, Lawn weed and feed and Jekka Herb seeds. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Mar 2023 | Mr Fothergills | 00:57:14 | |
Over the past few years there has been a massive resurgence in growing flowers and vegetables from seed. Fuelled by the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis more of us are looking to raise plants from seed for our gardens, allotments, and containers. In this Dig It podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with David Turner, the Marketing Services Manager at Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Limited to find out more about the history of Mr Fothergill’s, their unique innovations, seed terminologies, seed packeting, trial grounds and how we can get the best from growing plants from seeds. Vegetable mentions: Broad bean ‘Aguadulce’, Carrot ‘Nantes’, Courgettes, Beetroot ‘Bolthardy’, Blight tolerant tomato varieties include ‘Cocktail Crush’, ‘Mountain Magic’, ‘Merrygold’, ‘Red Bodyguard’ Paoline’ and popular varieties ‘Moneymaker’, ‘Gardeners Delight’ and ‘Tigerella’, Peppers, Runner bean ‘Enorma’, Squashes, Tomato Flower mentions: Dahlias, Sunflowers ‘Early Single’, Dwarf Sunflowers, ‘Evening Sun’, ‘Magic Roundabout’ and ‘Teddy bear’, Sweet Peas and Snowdrops. Product mentions: Garden tools brand Darlac include loppers, snips, secateurs, and shears and soil thermometer (both available in-store). David’s desert island items: Darlac Hori Hori - the Multi-Purpose (dig, cut, chop) Trowel. Fast growing Radish and highly productive Runner beans. Mr Fothergill’s website, FACEBOOK and Instagram Buckingham Garden Centre’s range of Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Apr 2023 | April '23 in the Garden | 00:58:05 | |
April, as they say, can be one of the cruellest months with sun one minute and frosty mornings and bitter winds the next. In this edition of Dig It Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the current news stories, provide a round-up of popular events coming up and those pressing gardening jobs that need to be done this month. What’s on 1 - 2 April: Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show Plant Fairs at Great Dixter 1-2nd April, Evenley Wood Rare Plant Fair on 2nd April and the Spring Fair Roadshow at Arundel Castle on 23rd April. 20 - 23rd April: Harrogate Spring Flower Show 28 - 30th April: BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair in Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire. Product mentions: BBQs, RHS seeds, Tomorite Tomato food, Doff Tomato food, Vitax Q4 fertiliser, propagation cell trays, peat-free seed sowing compost, Vermiculite, Perlite, Fleece, Root Trainers, Lawn feeds, scarifiers and overseeding with lawn seed. Plants mentioned: Apples ‘Flower of Kent’ and ‘Bramley’s Original.’ Antirrhinum, Cosmos, Marigolds, Sweet Peas, and Zinnia. Broad beans, Mustard and Cress, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squashes, Marrows and Sweet Corn. Buddleja, Dahlias, Rosemary, Root wrapped Roses, English Bluebells and Thyme. News Alan Titchmarsh: ‘I tend not to follow my own gardening advice.’ Plants in Peril Plant Atlas Report. Blue Diamond / National Trust tie in. National Trust Manchester’s Victorian Sky Park. Rare Moonflower blooms at Cambridge Botanic Gardens. Frank Mathews wins the Stanley Lord Bowl award for the best RHS fruit display in 2022. RHS Flower Show organisers move towards being greener with more sustainability in the briefs in all garden designs and show operations. Lindengate rehomes RHS Chelsea garden. Floating islands made from plastic bottles to grow crops in Singapore. King Charles III Sandringham West Lawn eco-garden makeover. Windowsill gardening campaign. Tackling damping off when germinating seeds. Dig it top 5 Spring potted bulbs 1 1-litre pots of Narcissi 'Tête-à-Tête' 2 Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) 3 Winter Aconite 4 Narcissi 'Tête-à-Tête' (6-pack) 5 9cm English Bluebell. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Apr 2023 | Steve Bradley, The Sun's Gardening Correspondent | 01:16:07 | |
In this edition of Dig It we chat with freelance garden writer and broadcaster Steve Bradley. Steve and wife Val (also a qualified horticulturist) have worked for The Sun newspaper since 2002, writing the gardening column with the late and legendary Peter Seabrook. Peter Brown and Chris Day share Steve’s many memorable moments of a full and brilliant gardening career. Media mentions: Books Propagation Basics (winner of the Garden Media Guild Award for Best Practical Book), The Pruner’s Bible, Winter Gardening, The Fragrant Garden and What’s Wrong With My Plant? and The Grafter’s Handbook. Consumer testing in Amateur Gardening magazine, RHS The Garden magazine and Gardeners’ World magazine. BBC Radio Kent. TV Channel 4 series: Plant Life and Garden Doctors and BBC’s Ground Force. Plant and product mentions: Lettuce ‘Iceberg’ Tomato rootstocks (variety Submarine), grafted tomatoes, grafting clips, Managing honey fungus and Rootgrow. Steve’s desert island essential: Alan Titchmarsh College mentions: Askham Bryan College, Cannington College (Bridgwater and Taunton College), Pershore College, Merrist Wood College and Writtle University College. To find out more about Steve and The Sun gardening visit this website Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 May 2023 | May '23 in the Garden | 00:55:40 | |
Join Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day and catch up with the latest garden news, views, events and tasks as we enter one of the busiest gardening months of the year. What’s On 1st – 31st May No Mow May 2nd-8th May: RHS National Gardening Week. 6th May: King’s Coronation. Turn Your Garden Red, White and Blue – Patriotic Planting for The King's Coronation. Sunday 7th May: Specialist Spring Plant Fair at Borde Hill, Haywards Heath, West Sussex. 11th - 14th May: RHS Malvern Spring Festival. 14th May: World Topiary Day. 23rd – 27th May: RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London. 30th May – 2nd July: Tree Listening. Visit Exbury Gardens in Hampshire to find out what happens beneath the bark of trees. Plants mentioned: Antirrhinums, Basil, Broad beans, Cosmos, Courgettes, Hyssop, Kinder Plant Drop-in / Pop-ins, Lobelia, Mints, Petunia, Photinia Red Robin, Potato ‘Swift’, Runner beans, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sweet Corn, Thyme, Tomatoes, Tulips, Products mentioned: Malvern Garden Buildings at the RHS Chelsea Flower show with their Houseplant Studios, Levington Seed and Cutting Peat-Free Compost, Agralan Plum Moth and Codling Moth pheromone traps, yellow sticky traps, Slug traps, Provanto Veg & Fruit spray, Poppy Forge plant supports, Perlite and Vermiculite. News Houseplant books: Legends of the Leaf by Jane Perrone and Not Another Jungle by Tony Le-Britton. NEWS London’s Natural History Museum survey focusing noise pollution and insect life. Research by The New Scientist suggests Plant Ident Apps are not particularly accurate. A new crowdfunded sensory garden ties a strong bond with the Ukraine in Liverpool. A new 1.2-mile-long railway park to connect Camden Town and King’s Cross gets a green light and it will be designed by Piet Oudolf. The Victorian Palm House at the Royal Botanic gardens in Edinburgh undergoes a major structural restoration. Newby Hall in Yorkshire celebrates its 75th anniversary with a special royal theme. Tesco have become the first UK retailer to go peat-free in its British-grown bedding plants. Government backtracks on commercial peat ban with professional growers to continue to use products until 2030. Melcourt SylvaGrow® Multi-Purpose 100% peat-free compost has been recognised as a top performer and a Which? Best Buy, earning it the right to use the prestigious endorsement. It is stocked at the Garden Centre. Orchid grower Marius Grzelik has taken on Geoff Hands’ National Plant Collection® of Dendrobium after Geoff Hands passed away in November 2020. www.plantheritage.co.uk Boyd Douglas-Davies to leave British Garden Centres and will be setting up his own consultancy business. Blue Diamond acquires its 43rd Garden Centre - Beckworth Emporium. RSPB birdwatch 2022 results announced. Dig It Top 5 KINDER PLANTS 1st Nepeta hederacea. Joint 2nd Petunia ‘Tumbelina ‘Diana’ and Bacopa ‘Megacopa White’. In 3rd place Petunia ‘Tumbelina Anna’ and in 4th Fuchsia ‘Voodoo’. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 May 2023 | Mr Plant Geek, Michael Perry | 00:52:27 | |
In this edition of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with celebrity gardener, social media influencer and TV presenter Michael Perry. From the introduction of new plants with the famous Ipswich-based Thompson and Morgan seed company to writing, hosting podcasts, books and tv appearances including the QVC shopping channel, Michael enjoys nothing more than sharing his extensive knowledge. Michael loves searching out the new and unusual in the plant world and sharing them with his followers which he does with passion and unbounded enthusiasm. Plants mentioned: Eucalyptus, Runner beans, Mustard, Cress, Herbs, Pelargoniums (traditional Geranium), Hyacinth ‘Midnight Mystic’ (Black), Lavender, Petunia, TomTato ® (Ketchup and Fries, US name), tomato and potato grafted onto one plant), Egg n’ Chips Plant (aubergine and potato grafted onto one plant) , Rubus cockburnianus (white stemmed bramble) and tradescantia zebrina. Products / Places / People mentions: Jekka McVicar’s Herb Books, Easton & Otley College, The Perennial Charity, Thompson & Morgan Seeds, greenhouses (link with Malvern), Seedball, Garden Tags, Gardeners’ World, Urban Herbs, GLEE, Amigra grass nursery in the Netherlands and the IPM Trade Show. Geoff Hamilton, Anne Swithinbank and Pippa Greenwood. Michael’s favourite plants; All members of the Iris family and Mints. To find out more about Michael Perry visit his website for all social links and more. The Plant Base Podcast Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jun 2023 | June '23 in the Garden | 01:02:22 | |
In the latest Dig It podcast, Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest gardening news stories, events in the gardening calendar and take a look at some of the gardening tasks to be getting on with through the month of June. What’s on 27th May - 4th June National Children’s Gardening Week featuring The World of Peter Rabbit. 1st - 5th June: Bord Bia Bloom Ireland's largest gardening event. 15 - 18th June: BBC Gardeners' World Live at the Birmingham NEC. 23 - 25th June: Blenheim Palace Flower Show. 30th June - 2nd July: Jekka's HerbFest at Jekka’s Herb Farm, Alveston, Bristol. News of the show gardens and plants at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Catch up with the BBC RHS coverage (Please note BBC Iplayer is not available outside the UK and requires a TV license). Photo RHS Garden The Nurture Nature Garden designed by Sarah Price, Gold Medal winner. DIG IT Top 5 fertilisers Top slot at 1. Doff Seaweed Extract 2. Westland Fish, Blood, and Bone 3. Vitax Organic Potato Fertiliser 4 Miracle-Gro Chicken Manure 5. Levington’s Tomorite. Product mentions: Levington Seed and Compost (Peat-free), Lawn Feed and Weed Fertilisers, Blood, Fish and Bone, Chicken manure and Vitax Q4. New sustainable one-use CasusGrill™ BBQ. Plant mentions: Propagate Carnations and Dahlias. Plant Courgettes, Fuchsias, Lobelia, Pelargoniums, Petunias, Sweet Corn, Runner bean ‘Enorma,’ Tomatoes and Pumpkins. Sow seeds of Lettuce, Radish, and Spring Onions. Sow seeds of Canterbury Bells, Foxgloves, Polyanthus, Primroses, and Sweet William. News Blue Diamond has acquired Fosseway Garden Centre. Farmers asked to send in slugs for feeding analysis. Restoration of the Bridgemere show gardens with TV’s David Domoney. How lining your pot with coffee filter paper may help save your houseplants. Time to vote for your favourite Historic Houses ‘Garden of the Year’ at this link New chair Rupert Tyler for Garden Museum. The first collection of Royal Mail Special Stamps to feature the King’s head will depict illustrations of gorgeous garden flowers to recognise his passion for gardening. Scientists urge tax breaks for sustainable gardeners. The famous East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden is bequeathed to the Perennial Charity so securing its future. Royal Horticultural Society criticised over products that kill bugs and wildflowers. Wildflower brand Seedball is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is launching a range of bee tines to raise awareness of 3 British species that are in decline. Who will win the first Peter Seabrook Award at Gardeners World Live? Plant Heritage relocate to world-renowned RHS Garden Wisley. Mark’s 700-mile journey to buy gas BBQ from Scots garden centre. Our next guest is Nick Hamilton from Barnsdale Gardens. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jun 2023 | Barnsdale: Nick Hamilton like father like son | 01:13:21 | |
In this edition of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Nick Hamilton, son of Geoff Hamilton, who for 17 years presented the BBC gardening programme Gardeners’ World. Nick continues the legacy at Barnsdale Garden, in Rutland, where back in the 1980s over 30 TV gardens were created. In this fascinating episode we discover how Barnsdale has developed over the past 40 years, chat peat-free and organic and how Barnsdale’s 38 amazing TV gardens of average size have enticed visitors under Nick’s careful and dedicated curation.
Plant mentions: The houseplant, Ficus benjamina, weeping fig, plant perennials plants for less work. Box (Buxus sempervirens), Lavandula augustifolia ‘Arctic Snow’ and Berberis darwinii ‘Nana’, Euonymus ‘Jean Hugues’ and E. ‘Green Spire’, Apples, Pears, Cowslips (Primula veris), Bluebells and Snowdrops, Spirea and Rose ‘Geoff Hamilton’. Desert island luxuries: Penstemon – lots of varieties including ‘Geoff Hamilton’, these plants are great for pollinators, plus garden knife, the gardeners’ essential tool says Nick. Product mentions: Westland New Horizon peat-free compost, Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose Compost and Melcourt Propagation Bark, artificial turf, slate aggregates, tap into the knowledge of like-minded gardeners, nurseryman and ask questions! Geoff Hamilton’s Cottage Garden Book features the design of the beehive compost bin. People and places mentions: Barnsdale’s head gardener Jon Brocklebank, Nick’s brother photographer Steve Hamilton John Kenyon, Gardener’s World Producer, Writtle University College, Essex and Hampton Court Palace. Barnsdale Gardens website, includes garden details, restaurant, events and gardening courses. Barnsdale Gardens will be celebrating 40 years at this month’s Gardeners’ World Live Garden Show Books: The Right Genes by Nick Hamilton, plus Nick’s gardening books, Organic Gardening and Grow Organic Fruit and Vegetables are available here Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jul 2023 | July '23 in the Garden | 00:54:55 | |
Our gardens are growing apace this month and there’s plenty to be getting on with as Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle those essential tasks, plus a round-up of July events and garden stories around the UK. What’s on 4th - 9th July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Surrey. Shop for plants from specialist nurseries and be inspired by gardens. 15th & 16th of July: Belvoir Castle Flower and garden Show, in Grantham, Lincolnshire. 19th - 23rd July: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. News King Charles and Queen Camilla open the Coronation Garden in Hazelbank Park, Newtownabbey, Ireland. The secret Italian Garden in Great Ambrook opens in Devon. Perennial’s garden The Laskett opens to the public. Record stag beetles this summer. The Scottish government may not be following the same timeline for peat-free ban than England. Globetrotting rare Ghost orchid flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show. Peat free test trials featured in Amateur Gardening showing positive results on two major products. B&Q says don't dig your garden - it's bad for your soil and the environment. Listen back to Charles Dowding’s Dig it podcast. Lincolnshire beans could provide British solution to imports. Dig It Top Five 6-pack bedding 1. Geranium White, 2. Geranium Deep Red, 3. Lobelia trailing – all colours, 4. Petunia Mixed, and 5. Antirrhinums. Plant mentions: Allium seed collection and drying the head for decoration, Borage, Eucalyptus, Rose 'Peter's Persica', butterfly attracting plants such as Buddleja, including the newer dwarf varieties, B ‘White Profusion’, Foxgloves, Verbena, Marjoram, perennial wallflowers, Courgette ‘Eight Ball’, Heirloom seed varieties from Garden Organics, Wisteria (summer pruning), Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’, Spiraea, Philadelphus (mock orange), Marginal, Water Lilies and Oxygenating plants for ponds, Sweet Peas, Box Moth Caterpillar, Ermine moth webs affecting native hedging, Runner beans, Comfrey, Wallflowers. First early potatoes for Christmas. Product mentions: Dalefoot Peat-free Compost, SylvaGrow Multipurpose Compost, Baby Bio, Tomato fertiliser, barley straw (to help reduce blanketweed), dichlorination (water changes), Smart Garden solar water features and Root trainers. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jul 2023 | Plant Heritage, The Nations Collections | 01:12:56 | |
In this episode of Dig It Peter Brown and Chris Day talk national plant collections with Gill Groombridge, who is Plant Heritage’s Business Manager. We find out some of the background history of Plant Heritage and the diverse ranges of National Plant Collections and why 2023 is a special year for this charity. We also chat with Jonathan Shepherd, who is a holder of not one but two plant collections – Hollyhocks (Alcea) and Cosmos bipinnatus - in his 2-acre Lincolnshire garden and polytunnels where he grows his plants in a very sustainable way. Jonathan describes his journey into growing and how he has become an advocate to these two important plant species. He also shares his growing tips on raising them for the garden and for staging at the prestigious Hampton Court Flower Festival held earlier this month. Plant Heritage is the world's leading garden plant conservation and research charity – celebrating 45 years. The charity’s mission is the conservation of cultivated plants in the British Isles and a milestone of 700 national plant collections has been reached. Gill’s favourite plants: Australasia beauties including Callistemon, Leptospermum and Eucalyptus (gum trees). Hollyhocks are short-lived non-native perennials. Varieties mentioned: ‘Charters,’ ‘Purple Rain,’ Blackcurrant World, ‘Creme de Cassis’ and ‘Nigra.’ ‘Halo’ varieties bred by Thompson & Morgan include single colours - ‘Halo Apricot,’ ‘Halo Blush’ and ‘Halo Cream.’ Cosmos are short day flowers and need to be kept hungry as too much feed often results in much taller plants. Jonathan sowed over 3000 seeds for the 17 planters of Cosmos he took to this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Varieties mentioned: ‘Cupcake Blush,’ ‘Gloria,’ ‘Dazzler’ (Monty Don’s favourite), ‘Apricotta,’ ‘Pink Mosaic’ and ‘Sonata.’ Check out our seed range here Desert Island item: Jonathan’s grandad’s galvanised watering can - he wouldn’t be without it! Product and people mentions: Melcourt SylvaGrow Peat-Free Compost (for seed sowing), Westland New Horizon Peat-Free (for planters). TV gardener and designer Adam Frost. Sweet Peas: An Essential Guide by Roger Parsons. Rosa Persica staged by Daniel Myhill, Jonathan Hogarth for his educational display of small and miniature hosta. Jonathan’s website, Twitter, and Instagram Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Aug 2023 | August '23 in the Garden | 00:45:46 | |
After a damp and cool July, we look forward to a productive, colourful yet relaxed August. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day provide a round-up of the month’s gardening what’s on’s, a look at the stories making the gardening headlines and a round-up of those essential gardening tasks. What’s on 2 - 6th August: RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show, Chelmsford, Essex. 4 - 13th August: Shropshire Petal Fields, Newport, Shropshire. 11 – 12th August: Shrewsbury Flower Show, The Quarry Shrewsbury. 12 – 13th August: The Great Comp Summer Show, Platt near Sevenoaks, Kent. 17 – 20th August: Southport Flower Show, Victoria Park, Southport. 18 – 20th August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, Great Torrington, Devon. Until 13 September: RHS Garden Wisley. A new exhibition Growing Up in the Garden, showcasing the way children use gardens as a place to connect with and explore the natural world. NEWS First King’s birthday honours for landscaper and designer Tom Stuart-Smith (OBE) and Kew’s Director of Gardens Richard Barley (MBE). Renowned rosarian Michael Marriott awarded the Dean Hole Medal by Colin Squire, chairman of The Rose Society UK. Top accolade the Brickell Award went to Adrian Young’s National Collection of 900 Saxifraga as part of Plant Heritage’s Hampton Court display. Carol Klein named the RHS's 'Iconic Horticultural Hero' for 2023 and Carol’s comments about the lack of female representation on Gardeners’ World. Hemlock warning: the deadly plant found in UK gardens. Rare pink grasshopper spotted in North Wales. Use of peat is falling according to latest HTA report. Scottish farmers lead research to revive lost linen industry. Salisbury City Council scraps hanging baskets and sparks division. Top plants named at HTA Plant Show - Curcuma ‘Skyline’ overall winner. Other winners include Agapanthus Orientalis ‘Black Jack,’ Ball Colegrave Ltd’s Dahlia ‘Dalina® Maxi Starburst Pink’ and Fatsia Japonica ‘Camouflage.’ Dig It Top Five Roses: 1. ‘The Queen Elizabeth II’, 2. ‘With Love’, 3. ‘Cutie Pie’, 4. ‘Precious Ruby’ and 5. ‘Mary Berry’. Plant mentions: Plant seed potatoes for Christmas, Leeks, Brassicas and Spinach. Sow Basil, Marjoram, Borage, Chives, Coriander, and Dill. Propagate lavender and rosemary. Divide Chives. Propagate and plant new strawberry runners including ‘Cambridge Favourite,’ ‘Elsanta,’ and ‘Honeoye.’ Continue sowing early-flowering biennials - like honesty and wallflowers. Sow Cress and compact sunflowers with the children. Product mentions: Bamboo canes, Garden twine (Jute). Plant feeds - Tomorite, Doff fertilisers. Miracle Gro, Phostrogen, Seaweed Extract, Westland Tomato Food and Comfrey tea. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Aug 2023 | Chris Collins: Here's one we grew earlier | 00:47:52 | |
Chris Collins is a gardening legend – winning a legion of fans from his early days working in amenity horticulture to his big break on Blue Peter, presenting on the QVC shopping channel and being the ambassador to the national charity Garden Organic. In this edition of Dig It Peter Brown and Chris Day chat to Chris - the globetrotting author; TV broadcaster; lecturer and horticultural consultant. Plants mentioned: Ulmus angustifolia (Cornish elm), David Austin Roses, Borage, Poppies, tomatoes, aubergines, spinach, bedding plants, chillis, peppers, micro-greens in a salad bar and bulbs - Alliums, Crocus, Snowdrops, and Tulips. Houseplants: Cycads, Crotons, Ficus benjamina, Pelargoniums, and terrarium gardening. Products and people: David Austin Roses, Whichford Pottery, Trowels, Honda Mower, Percy Thrower, hanging baskets, Obelisks, Maxi crop Seaweed Extract, Q4 pellets, spouts with water bottles. Lawrence Hills, founder of Garden Organics. Horticulture Week magazine, The Plantsman (BBC 2 programme), and QVC Shopping Channel. Places mentioned: Graduate of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Apprentice gardeners at Brighton Parks Department, Limbe Botanic Garden in Cameroon, South arboretum at the Royal Botanic gardens in Kew, Head gardener at Westminster Abbey Gardens, college garden / medicinal garden. BBC Media City, Salford, home of the Blue Peter Garden, and Balcony gardens at Chelsea Flower Show. Desert island luxuries: Felco 8 secateurs and Betula (birch tree), one of the most relaxed ‘unstressed’ trees to grow. Chris’s gardening book, Grow Your Own For Kids Chris Collins’s website Facebook and Instagram Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Sep 2023 | September '23 in the Garden | 00:51:29 | |
After a soggy July and mixed fortunes weather wise in August, Peter Brown and Chris Day look forward to the prospect of an Indian summer in this month’s Dig It. A pick of the best events, news, and garden trade stories, plus those essential gardening tasks for the month ahead. What’s on 1st- 30th September Garden Organic are promoting 30 thrifty biodiversity projects, one for each day of the month through Organic September and across their social medial channels #ThriftyThirty 1st - 3rd September BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair, Audley End House and Garden, Saffron Walden. 5th - 10th September RHS Wisley Flower Show, Surrey. 16th - 17th September Cactus at the Castle event at Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden in Kent. 17th September Rare Autumn Plant Fair at Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath. 22 - 24th September Malvern Plant and Garden Fair, Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire. 30th September / 1st October Apple Weekend at Buckingham Garden Centre, 10am-4pm. It’s time to celebrate the Apple at Buckingham Garden Centre's popular Apple Weekend event featuring RHS apple expert Gerry Edwards, The Mid Shires Orchard group, plus Chris Collins, Garden Organic's Head of Organic Horticulture, and former BBC Blue Peter Gardener. Dig It Top Five Sellers - Perennials (in 1-litre pots) 1. Lavender ‘Hidcote,’ 2. Lupinus ‘Gallery Mixed’, 3. Delphinium ‘Black Knight’, 4. Penstemon ‘Pensham Wedding Day’ and 5. Leucanthemum ‘Snow Lady’. News Sweetpea species offers future food potential. Blenheim Palace gardens to get major revamp. The National Garden Scheme launches five new community-based projects. Growers told to be vigilant as Colorado beetles are spotted in the south of England. Squire’s Garden Centre electrifies its fleet. Blue Diamond buys four nursery sites. Pitcher plants can go peat-free says RHS. London’s Garden Museum to expand gardens into public realm. Home and garden chain Wilko files for administration putting 12,000 jobs at risk. CEO Dave Carey leaves Mr Fothergill’s. Calls to use native grasses rather than ryegrass in our lawns. Quarter of Brits think artificial grass should be banned. Plants and products mentioned Amaryllis, autumn flowering bulbs Colchicums, Crocus and Cyclamen hederifolium. Prepared hyacinths. Cerinthes, Ammi, Scabiosa and Cornflowers. Dahlias, Heuchera, ornamental grasses, hardy Pansies, and Violas. Propagate Fuchsia, Salvias, Rosemary Prune cropped Raspberry canes. Houseplant Tradescantia. Maxicrop Original Seaweed Extract, Aftercut Autumn Lawn Food, lawn seed, pea netting to cover ponds before leaf fall and garden vax for leaf shedding for composting. Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Sep 2023 | A Fine British Vintage | 00:49:49 | |
In this edition of Dig It, Peter Brown, and Chris Day chat with winemaker / vintner Tim Chafor, who runs the 8-acre Chafor Wine Estate featuring over 10,000 grape vines, set in the heart of the Buckinghamshire countryside and just a stone’s throw from the Garden Centre. Grapes grown at Chafor Wine Estate are Champagne varieties of ‘Chardonnay’ (white), ‘Pinot Noir’ (red) and ‘Pinot Meunier’, (red) alongside ‘Bacchus’ (white), a variety which is widely becoming recognised as England’s signature grape. This variety is a true dual-purpose variety. Other grapes mentioned: ‘Merlot’ (red), ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (red) and ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ (white). Grape rootstocks, including the stock Tim recommends SO4. Bernwood Forest and Buckinghamshire’s County Council Coat of Arms inspired the stag logo used by Chafor Wine Estate. If you fancy grape stomping (feet pressing) then you might have to look further afield in the UK, as Tim said these would be experiences and we did spot one on Airbnb Tip: Google search ‘grape stomping’. Accolades Tim’s wines have collected major awards from such esteemed bodies as the International Wine Challenge, Decanter, and the UK Wine awards. Tim’s 2014 Chafor Wine Estate Vintage Rosé received 91 points from leading wine advocate Robert Parker. Desert island luxuries: A grape vine, either ‘Bacchus’ or if that’s unavailable the variety ‘Pinot Noir’ and a wine press! Useful links Chafor Wine Estate website Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Oct 2023 | October '23 in the Garden | 00:48:23 | |
There’s plenty to be getting on with this month in the garden, despite the clocks going back in the UK. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day help to put some of the garden to bed, plant spring bulbs and get border prepared. There’s the usual round-up of topical news from the world of gardening as well as a few important diary dates if you’re planning to get out and about this month. What’s on Sunday 1st October, 10am-4pm, The second day of our Apple Weekend event at the Garden Centre and we will be joined by top apple fruit identification expert Gerry Edwards, apple pressing featuring The Mid-Shire Orchard Group, Garden Organics with Chris Collins, and the local wildlife trust. Sunday 8th October Orchard Open Day at Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire, 10am - 4pm. Thursday, 12th October Ryton Demonstration Garden Tour 10:00am - 11.15am at Garden Organic, Ryton Gardens, Coventry. https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/events/ryton-garden-tour-12oct Tuesday 17 October Horatio's Garden Stoke Mandeville (National Spinal Injuries Centre), designed by Joe Swift. Private Tour in aide of the Horatio's Garden Charity, 10.00-11.30am. Booking is essential. All October Looking for local gardens to you for autumn colour then check out the Great British Gardens website Dig it Top 5 Hedging Plants As next month we officially start the hedging season, here’s a reminder of our top sellers last season Top seller at No 1. Quickthorn 2. Hornbeam 3. Green Beech 4. Photinia Red Robin 5. Green Privet. News The world’s oldest gardening magazine Amateur Gardening magazine closes after 139 years. Interflora and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust join forces to introduce a bee-friendly Beequet! Top chef Raymond Blanc continues his passion for growing and preserving many of the Heirloom veggies from Garden Organics at his Oxfordshire restaurant. The new RHS Urban Plant Show is set to open at the Depot Mayfield in Manchester on the 18th-21st April 2024. Reduced peat growing of UK houseplants. Nursery growing peat-free houseplants from seed. Be more sustainable by taking cuttings from your own plants says Tony Le Britton. Sculpture garden scoops top accolade. First sensory garden for pets opens in Devon. New study on growing homegrown food is looking for volunteers to help with research. To take part, contact urbanharvest@sheffield.ac.uk Teenager finds seed from world’s largest bean pod on beach. Plants mentioned: Holly (Ilex), Potatoes, Tomato, Catnip, Plant garlic (available instore), Stocks, Winter hardy Pansies and Violas, 6-pack Wallflowers, Fuchsias, Pelargonium (geraniums), Alliums, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips. Indoor Hyacinths and Amaryllis planting time. Nature Love’ colour themed bulb packs. Primrose and mini cyclamen for centre bowl planting. Products mentioned: Compost bins, Vitax Greenhouse Fumigator (Insecticide smoke for greenhouses) and greenhouse disinfectant. Horticultural fleece for winter protection. Larger plant labels. Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Oct 2023 | Foggy Bottom, creating an iconic garden with Adrian Bloom | 00:58:31 | |
In this month’s Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Adrian Bloom about his iconic Garden – Foggy Bottom in Diss, Norfolk. Adrian tells the story behind the garden and how he’s captured it for his new book, Foggy Bottom - A Garden to Share. In the podcast we discover how the Bloom brand developed over the years and the influences of Adrian’s father, plantsman Alan Bloom.
Plant mentions: Heathers (Erica and Calluna), x Cupressocyparis leylandii, Cotinus coggygria (smoke bush), Stipa tenuissima, Miscanthus, Cornus, Viburnum, Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant redwood), Hydrangea ‘Annabelle,’ Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’, Pampas grass and Platycladus orientalis (Thuja).
Desert island plant: Buddlejas and hybridising them.
People, places, and product mentions: Alan Bloom and his helper Percy Piper were responsible for raising and introducing over 150 perennials, and the tradition has been continued by his son Adrian, son in law Jaime Blake, and grandson Jason. Percy Thrower, Richard Bloom (photographer). The 1960 Winter Olympics held in the Squaw Valley Resort in Squaw Valley, California. Pershore College, Bressingham Hall, Cambridge Fen Tongue End skating. Books: Perennials For Your Garden by Alan Bloom, A Year Round Garden by Adrian Bloom.
Origins of the name Foggy Bottom, Washington DC.
You can order a signed copy of Foggy Bottom - A Garden to Share book here
To find out more about Adrian Bloom, the Gardens, Books, and Plants, visit the website.
Blooms of Bressingham YouTube channel
Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
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| 01 Nov 2023 | November '23 in the Garden | 00:55:19 | |
After an incredibly wet, windy and mild autumn in many parts of the UK, November beckons with a hope of more settled conditions. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day bring us up to date with the latest gardening news, a couple of events celebrating apples, and the joy of garden visiting, as well as plenty of gardening tasks to be getting on with, plus the return of a very special guest to Dig It, houseplant aficionado Jane Perrone and her latest gardening project – Houseplant Gardener in a Box. Plants mentions: Apple Granny Smith, Comfrey, Sweet Chestnut, Sycamore, Loofah, Tulips, Winter pansies, Wallflower ‘Sugar Rush’, Broad beans, Onions, Shallots and Garlic. Narcissus ‘Paper White’ and bare-root raspberry canes. Product mentions: Empathy RootGrow, Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose Compost, Levington Organic Blend Topsoil, wheatgerm fish food, greenhouse bubble insulation, horticultural fleece, garden furniture covers, grease bands for fruit trees, Gro-Sure Repair Kits, Autumn lawn food and pot feet. What’s on 27th October – 28th January 2024 The Museum of Cider in Hereford is hosting an exhibition called A Variety of Cultures. The event explores how cultures across the globe have taken the apple and made it their own. Thursday 23rd November, Annual Lecture – What Garden Visiting Does for Us with Robin Lane Fox. Venue the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR, or watch it live-streamed online at 7pm. This month’s Dig It top 5 Soft fruits 1. Strawberry ‘Red Gauntlet’ 2. Strawberry ‘Cambridge Favourite’ 3. Blueberry ‘Sunshine Blue’ 4. Strawberry ‘Hapil’ 5. Blackcurrant ‘Big Ben.’ News The Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland felling incident. Wrexham’s 484-year-old Sweet Chestnut Tree has been voted Tree of the Year 2023. The UK’s largest collection of comfreys has been made a National Collection by the conservation charity Plant Heritage. Eight Guinness World Records achieved at Great Autumn Malvern Show. A 10,000 collection of pumpkins and squashes set a new Guiness World Record at Sunnyfields Farm in Southampton. Amateur Gardening magazine saved from cancellation. The results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count are in, and more than 1.5 million butterflies and daytime months were recorded. Losses of specimen yew trees at King Charles’s Sandringham residence as staff remove 14 dead trees in a new Topiary Garden. Gardeners’ World has paid tribute to Monty Don's golden retriever, Nellie, following her sad passing. Therapy garden at King’s Heath, Birmingham is awarded thousands of Lottery money for major revamp. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Nov 2023 | Creating a Terrific Terrarium with Dr Manos Kanellos | 00:45:22 | |
The trend for terrarium gardening grows each year, with more people than ever creating miniature enclosed indoor growing spaces to enjoy at home. Terrariums are simple to make, easy to care for and rewarding to have. In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Dr Manos Kanellos who takes us through the history, the selection of plants and planting to create your own display. Main pointers: Location, terrariums (open or closed), types of plants best suited to light levels and careful consideration to the way you place your plants. Plant in layers starting with height and then choose plants to bulk out the display as well as covering the soil. Try and theme your display – all green, variegated or add splashes of colour in the way of plants or props. Plant mentions: Open terrariums Cacti and slow growing succulents, where possible try and use the same group of plants, plus air and carnivorous plants. Flowering plants such as Saintpaulia and Kalanchoe are better in open terrariums. Closed terrariums: Adiantum, Pteris and Nephrolepsis ferns, Fittonia, Helxine soleirolii, Begonia rex and Peperomias. The only orchid Manos would suggest for growing in a terrarium is the Jewel orchid (Ludisia discolor). Product mentions Any glass containers are suitable as long as they are large, grit, gravel or clay granules provide the drainage, an escape for water, activated carbon charcoal helps with the filtration and absorption qualities of the compost, peat-free potting mix, BBQ tongs for handling cacti, special tools come into play if using the old fashioned thin necked carboys or green bottles, a small watering can with a rose or large spoonful of water to help settle in new plants. Houseplant Focus plant feed. Decorative stones, slate, or moss to provide a terrain to your plants. You can add characters likes decorative animals, Buddhas, fairies, dinosaurs or even LEGO characters to help create a story. Fungus gnats (sciarid flies) control - use small yellow sticky traps or carefully spray with SB Plant Invigorator and Bug Killer. Desert Island plant and tool: A palm maybe Beaucarnea recurvata, the elephant's foot or ponytail palm and a mobile phone! The book, Terrariums: A Beginners Guide is an authoritative and detailed guide to terraria by Manos Kanellos and is available from all good Garden Centres. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Dec 2023 | December '23 in the Garden | 00:45:19 | |
Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the latest news, views, and gardening tasks to keep you busy, plus the Dig it top 5, and some ideas for getting out and about this month. What’s on 7 – 11 December Winter Flower Week at the Garden Museum, London. Five floral designers transform the Garden Museum into an environmentally friendly floral winter wonderland. Friday 8th December, 12 noon – 4pm at the Garden Centre we have a wine tasting event with our good friend Tim Chafor from Chafor Vineyard Estate, Gawcott. The RHS are running Glow Events at their gardens at Wisley, 4pm - 9pm, Hyde Hall (5-9pm) in Essex and at RHS Rosemoor (4.40- 8.30pm). Visit the RHS website for details. Dig It top 5 - spring flowering bulbs No 1 Narcissi 'Tête-à-tête, No 2 Amaryllis ‘Dancing Queen’, No 3 Narcissi Mixed 1.5kg bag, No 4 Hyacinth ‘Early Forcing’ and at No 5 Tulip ‘Purple Rain’. A ‘lunar halo’ was spotted in the night skies in late November and Peter managed to capture the phenomenon which is caused by the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. // LINK TO PETERS PHOTO // News Adam Frost will be at the Gardeners World Live Show in June 2024 with his Chef’s Table Garden. Greenpeace freedom of information request highlights the huge waiting lists for allotments. Nearly half of species are threatened according to new Kew research findings. Peat not mentioned in the King’s Speech. The RHS publish a list of peat-free nurseries. A new chilli Pepper X is now a new Guinness world record breaker. A new chapter at Hillier Nurseries. Treadstone wins the GIMA Award in the Category Sustainability Champion for their Treadstone Rope Trellis Candide, a dedicated social networking app for plant and garden-lovers, closes on the 7th December. A taster of the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show Gardens. The RHS open their first standalone shop, The Plant Space at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent. Gardeners’ World presenter Sue Kent highlights specific Garden Heritage Seed varieties from Garden Organic. Sue visited Garden Organics earlier this year. Horticulture sector needs urgent safeguards, reports House of Lords committee Sir David Attenborough donates Easter Island seeds to Kew ‘Darwin’s oak’ to be felled to make way for Shrewsbury bypass East Anglian Fens were covered in yew trees 4,000 years ago, study finds The entire population of Kenya has been given the day off to plant trees Mentions: Sir Harold Hillier Garden, famed winter garden, in Romsey in Hampshire is well worth visiting. The Garden Centre will be donating 50p per Christmas tree sold this year to the charity Ripple Africa who actively promote sustainable tree planting in Malawi. Product mentions: Winter wash fruit trees and bushes with Growing Success Winter Wash, tree ties, tree shelters, check your stakes, insulate outdoor taps against frost, Secateurs Eversharp, Wolf Secateurs or Felco. WD40, Blade sharpening tool/stone. Christmas tree stand with a water reservoir. Plant mentions: Abies nordmanniana, English Oak, Bluebell, Dandelion, fruit trees and soft fruit. Our thanks for Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Dec 2023 | Alan Sargent - Confessions of a Great Gardener | 00:54:34 | |
In this edition of Dig It we chat with multi-award-winning Garden Designer and Landscape Contractor Alan Sargent, a Fellow of The Institute of Horticulture and Founder of The Association of Professional Landscapers. Alan Sargent is a proper landscape gardener who over the past five decades has won countless awards, including over sixty Royal Horticultural Society Show Garden medals at Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park and Gardeners’ World Live. Alan’s latest book, Confessions of a Gardener, helps support the fantastic charity Perennial - the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society. £4 will be donated to Perennial. You can order it here. Product mentions: Consider a Hydrological survey which documents the source (inflow), route, and flow (outflow) of springs, brooks, streams, rivers, and culverts. The report also notes water depths, seasonal flooding, and the significance of surface water runoffs on your land and beyond. Lasers for levels rather than water levels. Butyl pond liner, Bradstone paving and stone, Porcelain, Indian sandstone paving, importance of permeable materials for drainage. Plant mentions: Palm trees, wildflowers, and re-wilding to help attract birds, bee friendly plants for pollinators and Japanese maples. People mentions: Alan Titchmarsh - mentor to Alan, Peter Seabrook, Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, Patron of Action for Blind People as well as being President of Sightsavers. Garden designers Robin Williams, Mark Gregory, who has been involved with 99 gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, with a total of 160 show gardens for the RHS, making him the most medalled garden builder within the RHS. Peter Rodgers, garden designer. TV presenter and botanist Dr David Bellamy. Peter Rodgers, garden designer. Desert island tool: A Swiss army knife. Alan Sargent’s website Landscape Library (educational resource) The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL, Find a Landscaping Professional) The Professional Garden Consultants Association The Chartered Institute of Horticulture Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jan 2024 | January '24 in the Garden | 00:52:12 | |
The month of resolutions, new starts, and big dreams for the coming year. Peter Brown and Chris Day take time to delve into some of the talked about trends of 2024, plus the usual mix of gardening news, events, and gardening advice for the month ahead. What’s on Monday 1st January Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Guided Tour. Romsey, Hampshire. Thursday 18th January: Rose Pruning Masterclass with Michael Marriott at Borde Hill, Haywards Heath in West Sussex. Saturday 20th January: National Tulip Day in the centre of Amsterdam, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Saturday 27th January: Talk ‘Puzzle Pictures’, 2.30-5pm organised by the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust and to be held at Aylesbury Methodist Church and Centre. 26-28th January: RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. 27-28th January: Houseplant Weekend at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Saturday 3rd February: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Graft and Grow Day featuring fruit tree grafting in conjunction with The Mid-Shires Orchard Group. 10am - 4pm. Looking to get out and about? There’s plenty of great winter gardens around the UK to visit on the Great British Gardens website. Dig It top 5 selling trees of 2023 Sharing the top slot Malus ‘Aros’ and Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’, joint 2nd place with Malus ‘Red Obelisk’ and Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ and in the third place Acer ‘Brandywine’. As we start the year, here’s our followers top most popular guest podcasts to date. Top slot is No Dig with Charles Dowding, in the second slot is Cottage Gardening with Rosy Hardy. In third position The Queen of the Herb’s Jekka McVicar followed by Cherry growing with Vikki Grainge and at the 5th slot Composting with Rod Weston. News End of the line for peat composts at Evergreen after 22 years. Arit Anderson, in her new book, highlights a range of garden trees that can stand up for our changing climate. Scientist calls for new ways to understand plant durability in recent RHS talk. Low-level offenders will clean up graffiti and plant trees instead of being sent to prison as ministers try to solve major overcrowding crisis in UK. Global action to save Aussie ‘living dinosaur’ tree. International conservation charity Plantlife secures £80,000 campaign target to increase lichen research. UK bans giant rhubarb after study finds popular garden plant is invasive species. Plant fossils are remains of ancient baby turtles. The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) reach a membership milestone of over 700 members. Peach Fuzz is Pantone colour of the year. A velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and heart. Expect to see plenty of peach tones and hues this year! 2024 is the year for Edimentals. Garden ornament turns out to be live bomb. Plant mentions: Box, Cyclamen persicum (large florist cyclamen), Broccoli, Purple and white sprouting broccoli, Globe artichoke, Reindeer moss, Mixed Native Hedging, Gunnera maculata, Honeysuckle hedging, Pansies, Swiss Chard, Chinese lanterns, Lettuce ‘Lollo Rossa,’ ornamental grasses, Pea ‘Feltham First’ and ‘Meteor,’ Geraniums (from seed), Liliums, autumn fruiting raspberries, strawberry runners, and seed potatoes. Product Mentions: Kelkay trends for 2024, terracotta pots, lawn aerator, mower service, Haxnicks Fleece jackets and organic winter wash. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
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| 15 Jan 2024 | Val Bourne, a natural approach to organic gardening | 01:06:04 | |
In this episode of Dig It Chris Day and Peter Brown chat with Val Bourne - a lifelong gardener and award-winning garden writer whose name will be familiar to readers of The Telegraph, Country Life, Gardens Illustrated, Amateur Gardening and Saga magazine amongst others. As well as writing and lecturing, Val is an organic hands-on gardener and by her own admission a committed plantaholic. Plants mentioned: Agapanthus, Artemisia, Antirrhinums, Aquilegia, Aster, bee orchid, Daphne Bholua, Camassia, Cosmos, Foxgloves, flowering cherry trees, Dahlia, Dierama, Lonicera fragrantissima (winter honeysuckle), Hellebores, hardy ferns, Narcissi, Nasturtiums, Paeonia, Pears, Penstemons, Rose Champagne Moment, Rose Wildeve, Red trefoil, Yellow Rattle, Phlox, Snowdrops, Trilliums, Whitebeam, Winter sweet and Zinnia. People, places and products mentioned: Aphids, Buglife, Adam Henson, Ann-Marie Powell (garden designer), Long tailed bees, caterpillar control in salt water, earwigs, Blackspot, Hook Norton Brewery, Ground beetles, Thames Valley radio programme Dig It (no longer broadcast), ladybirds (two, seven spot, meadow species), Book English Pastoral by James Rebanks, Jennifer Owen (zoologist) and her book Jennifer Owen - Wildlife of a Garden: A Thirty-year Study (published by RHS). Andrew Halstead, retired RHS Principal Entomologist. Rothamsted Research Station, Cedric Morris garden at Chelsea, and No Mow May. Val’s desert island tool - Cobra headed weeder tool. Castaway plant Amsonia, the eastern blue star plant. Val’s book’s The Living Jigsaw, (Kew Publishing), The Natural Gardener: The Way We All Want to Garden, (Francis Lincoln) plus Val’s 10 Minute Gardener’s range of books covering vegetable, fruit, Grow your own and flower growing. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Feb 2024 | February '24 in the Garden | 00:52:10 | |
It’s February and the garden is starting to awake. In this edition of Dig It Peter Brown and Chris Day bring us the latest events, plants and people making the headlines as well as some topical advice on getting the best from your garden this month. What’s on 1st - 29th February: Snowdrop season at Waterperry Gardens featuring over 60 different snowdrop varieties. Gardens open 10am - 5pm. 3rd February: Graft and Grow Day at Buckingham Garden Centre and held in conjunction with The Mid-Shires Orchard Group, 10am - 4pm. Scion wood swap, fruit tree grafting demos, rootstocks, and fruit trees to buy and much more. 3rd February - 10th March: Explore RHS Wisley's glasshouses for their annual Houseplant Takeover with the theme 'Plants Before Time'. 8th February - 1 May: Danger and Desire: The Seductive Power of Orchids. Exhibition at RHS Wisley. Saturday 10th February: ‘Golden and Delicious - Edwardian Gardens’ A lecture by Caroline Holmes. Writtle University College, Writtle. 11.30am - 13.30pm. Top selling potatoes in 2023 1st Charlotte (2nd early) 2nd Desire (main) 3rd Kestrel (2nd) 4th Cara (main) 5th Arran Piot (1st). Plant mentions: Arbutus unedo, Betula (Himalayan birch), Broad beans, Dogwoods including ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Cornus) Hardy orchids, Fargesia (clump forming bamboo), Hedera (ivy), Mahonia, Mentha (mint), bedding Geraniums, Garlic, Sweet peas, Lettuce, Chinese money plant, Sansevieria Cylindrica Braided and Witch Hazel (Hamamelis). People, places and product mentions: Ashridge Forest, Gertrude Jekyll, Edwardian Garden style, Georgian Parks and Gardens Round-Up weedkiller, Kathy Brown’s Garden featured on BBC Gardeners’ World, Landscape weed-suppressing fabric, Melcourt peat-free composts, houseplants fill one of the Malvern Garden Buildings at the Garden Centre, Nest boxes, Tim Chafor, Composted Bark and Hot Bin Composting. News Dormice under threat from wetter weather and climate change. Bamboo is the new Japanese knotweed. Kew experts predict horticultural trends Grapes in, apples out – RHS predicts garden trends as climate changes Bumper year for British wine growers as output almost doubles. Dutch growers benefit from increased energy subsidies. The Dutch Flower Association acknowledges peat-free growing medium for the first time. First skatepark incorporated into a Chelsea Flower Show garden sparks debate A Tasmanian garden wins the world’s ugliest lawn competition (video) DEFRA launches Forest of the National competition with the overall winner receiving £10m to fund their project. The RHS launches an AI chatbot called Chatbotanist to provide advice for members through their phone or PC Oldest fungal plant named after children’s book author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter. Biochar start-up Earthly Biochar has come up with a government-funded project that’s setting out to help save Britain's ash trees. New Mr Fothergill’s wildlife seed mix launched by BBC Children in Need. New findings suggest flowers are evolving to self-pollinate 2023 was a record year for the National Garden Scheme Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 18 Feb 2024 | The Orchid Expert Peter White | 00:58:10 | |
In this edition of Dig It Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with orchid supremo Peter White. Peter began growing orchids in 1980 and he has received many awards including RHS Gold medals for his orchid displays at RHS shows and he is a qualified judge of the RHS Orchid Committee. He is currently involved in the breeding of miniature Cymbidium and miniature Phalaenopsis. Peter White is a popular speaker on orchid growing and has supported Buckingham Garden Centre over many years. Plants mentioned: Cymbidiums, Phalaenopsis ‘Sogo Yukidian’, Kalanchoe, Echeveria, Streptocarpus, and Saintpaulia (African Violets). People, places, and products mentioned: Peter took us back to the large orchid collection at Aynho Park House, with his mentor gardener and orchid enthusiast Ted Humphris. Between 1938 and 1965 Ted showed plants he had grown to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Shows at Westminster, and he won 25 awards. Ted’s most famous plant was an orchid, Cattleya Portia which Peter discusses. Ted tended it for almost 50 years, and the second time he exhibited it at Westminster in November 1948 there were over 520 blooms, making it the biggest orchid in the world (at the time). Ted wrote two books: Garden Glory about his life as a gardener, and Apricot Village, a more general book giving snapshots of life in Aynho during Ted’s lifetime. Solihull Orchid Society. Orchid Judging and The British Orchid Council. RHS Orchid Committee. The Dutch company Floricultura are the biggest propagator of orchids with the largest laboratories in the world. The 23rd World Orchid Conference and the 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show. Orchid Focus Repotting Compost and Orchid Focus Bloom and Orchid Focus Grow fertiliser. Make sure you use a fertiliser on your orchids which contains no urea (Uric nitrogen). Use clear pots for Phalaenopsis - so light gets to the roots and you can observe the roots easily. For cymbidiums use Chempak® High Nitrogen Feed - Formula 2. A soluble rapid growth feed which gets leaves and stems off to a strong start in summer and then follow with a Tomato Feed in autumn. Houseplant Compost, Vermiculite, potting grit. Opti flora – producers of extra-large and special Phalaenopsis. Dibleys Nursery – streptocarpus specialists. The Dutch Flower Auction in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. How dyed blue orchids are created on YouTube. Peter’s Orchid accessories website. Desert Island mentions: Phalaenopsis and a decent Swiss army knife with plenty of gadgets! Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
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| 01 Mar 2024 | March '24 in the Garden | 00:52:30 | |
The traditional starting point for many gardeners - Easter - falls early this year, so there’s much to be getting on with. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day bring us the latest events, news and topical advice for the month. Plants mentioned: Forsythia, Snowdrops, Winter Aconites, Narcissi, Ulmus wredei, Buxus, Euonymus Jean Hugues and Green Spire, Daffodils, Dahlias, Gladioli, Freesia, Tuberous begonias, Sunflowers, Zinnia, and Cosmos. Veg plug plants, seeds of Cabbage, Tomatoes, Runner beans, Courgettes, Squashes, Rhubarb varieties Timperley Early, Glaskin’s Perpetual and Victoria. Onion Stuttgarter Giant, Hercules F1 and Centurion F1. Products mentioned: Garden hoe, Compost mulch, Hotbin Composter and potato polybags. What’s on Tuesday 2nd March The Woodland Trust, our charity of the year will be joining us at the Garden Centre. Tuesday 2nd - 10th March: Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre, Philadelphia, US Sunday 17th March: Rare Plant Fair at The Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset, 10am - 4pm. 20th -24th March: Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Wednesday 20th March: Orchid Day at the Garden Centre with Manos Kanellos, 11am-3pm. Saturday 23rd March: Digby Hall Plant Fair, Sherborne, Dorset. 10am-2pm. Free admission. Saturday 23rd – Sunday 24th March: Falmouth Spring Flower Show. This historic show features 100 classes, expert talks and activities. Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens on BBC iPlayer News TV Dr Amir Khan's thoughts on gardening and mental health A new study by the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research highlighting useful evergreens which are best to clean the air. Plant Heritage are asking gardeners across the UK to search for any rare or unusual plants in their Threatened Plants of the Year 2024 Competition. New naturally resistant Elms are planted in Scotland. Help for hedgehogs as robotic lawn mowers create a new safety concern. Garden Centre highlights extent of current retail crime and violence. A garden planned for Queen Elizabeth. A call to arms from Monty Don encouraging shoppers to buy peat-free. Lichens on the International Space Station. Stink bug causes chaos Down Under. Name your plants from Westland research. Seiont Nurseries embrace peat-free production. A new magnolia discovered in northern Honduras. Garden resilience is set to change Sheffield Park and Gardens in major re-vamp. Floral clock to be restored at Weston-Super-Mare. Brogdale; One of the world’s largest fruit tree collections sold. Blueberry blues as scientists reveal the secret of its colour. Welsh gardeners are offered £20 vouchers to remove Cotoneaster horizontalis. Time to get spotting with the RHS Bumblebee Trust survey. Celebrating 125 years of the HTA. Mr Plant Geek is the host for the new RHS Urban Show in Manchester.
Dig It’s top 5 top selling composts of last season. Top seller Jack’s Magic All Purpose Improved, 2nd The Gardeners Multi-Purpose from Westland 3rd Levington Multi-Purpose plus John Innes, 4th Miracle-Gro Peat Free Compost and 5th Westland New Horizon All Plant Compost Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Mar 2024 | For the love of Chillies, with Jason Breed | 00:58:19 | |
The temperature rises in this edition of Dig It as Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with passionate chilli grower Jason Breed. Jason, a seed specialist from Moles Seeds, gives a full rundown of the growing of these popular fiery fruits, a look at what makes chillies so hot, plus some insightful advice on getting the best from your plants and using them in the kitchen.
Chilli peppers are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for their pungency. Chilli peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add ‘heat’ to dishes. There are many health benefits associated with chillies too.
The Scoville Scale is a measurement of pungency (spiciness or ‘heat’).
Jason famously created a Chocolate Chip Chilli Cookie featuring Habanero chillies at the Garden Centre.
Products mentioned: Products derived from chillies including sprays for bears, elephants (using barriers of chilli plants) and as an effective squirrel deterrent. Use Vermiculite at seed sowing time. Use a decent seed and cutting peat-free compost such as Levington’s. LED plant lights to help growth. Hydroponic systems lend themselves to chilli production. Use Organic contact sprays for caterpillars, greenflies, flea beetles, sawflies and whitefly control. Fertilisers including Chilli Focus Premium Liquid Concentrated Fertiliser.
Chilli varieties mentioned: ‘Apache’, ‘Quick Fire’ (30k on the Scoville scale), F1 hybrid, is the fastest maturing chilli available from seed with the prolific fiery red fruits produced in as little as 50 days from sowing. ‘Red Air’ (Bird’s eye type, Scoville Scale 70-80k), ‘Red Flame’ (Cayenne type, 30-50k), ‘Rocky’, a Jalapeno hybrid, 8k and ‘Santana’ (hybrid Anaheim, 2.5-3.5k). Open pollinated types include Scotch Bonnet, Habanero and Tabasco, where seeds can be successfully saved from these plants.
Guinness World Records declares Pepper X as world’s new hottest chili pepper.
A garden axe would be Jason’s essential castaway item.
The latest Guinness World Chilli eating record.
Useful links Chillies available from the Garden Centre including Padron Chilli Pepper and De Cayenne, South Devon Chilli Farm and Chilli Ranch. Jason also mentioned a Bedfordshire commercial chilli grower.
Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Apr 2024 | April '24 in the Garden | 00:55:26 | |
Many of our gardens are enjoying much earlier blooms this spring due to the mild and damp weather conditions. Peter Brown and Chris Day bring us the latest gardening news, what’s on’s and topical gardening advice for the busy month of April. What’s on 6th -7th April: Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show at Royal Cornwall Show Ground near Wadebridge, features a Grow Your Own space and Tipi Talks as well as dazzling displays and exquisite exhibits. Saturday 13th April: Hanami Blossom Day at Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent. Open 10am-3pm. Discover Japanese art and culture amidst the breathtaking blossoming orchards, plus so much more. 15th – 28th April: A celebration of Spring: from blossom to bluebells at Hever Castle Gardens in Kent. 18th - 21st April: RHS Urban Show set in the heart of Manchester (Depot Mayfield), celebrates your own oasis in this new immersive gardening experience. Sunday 21st April: Plant Fairs Roadshow at Arundel Castle in West Sussex. Open 10am-5pm. Expert nurseries will be displaying their plants in the grounds of Arundel Castle as part of the Plant Fairs Roadshow. Monday 29th April: Rachel de Thame: A Flower Garden for Pollinators talk at the Garden Museum in Lambeth, London, by Rachel de Thame and botanical artist Lauren Lusk yours about her new book. Plants mentioned: Comfrey (for tea), Hebe, Narcissi, Muscari (grape hyacinths), Tulips, Hydrangea ‘Cherry Explosion,’ Rose ‘Munstead Wood’, Magnolia ‘Stellata’ (Star magnolia), Primulas and Polyanthus. Seeds to sow: Cosmos, Cowslips, Gazanias, Geraniums, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Sunflowers and wildflowers. Veggies: Parsnips, Carrots, and salad crops. Products mentioned: Lawn seed mixtures including Johnsons Any Time, Tuff Lawn, Shade and Meadow wildflower mixture, feed Vitax Q4, Empathy Afterplant, Sulphate of Potash, Fungus Fighter for preventative box treatment. Box alternatives - Euonymus ‘Jean Hugues’ and E. ‘Green Spire’, Evergreen honeysuckle hedging. Flowering hedges including Lavender and Hedge Germander. Garden hoe. Water retaining gel, Vitax Q4 and continuous (slow release) control fertiliser. Peter and Chris’s bluebell wood recommendations: Hazelborough Woods (Silverstone, Northamptonshire) and The Woodland Trust’s College Wood (Nash, Milton Keynes). News 101 Charles Darwin lookalikes gather at threatened 550-year-old oak tree in record attempt protest. Global tree of the year winners announced. Sycamore gap tree update Californian Redwoods make it big in the UK Government dashes hopes for horticulture with underwhelming reforms More Scottish gardens open under the SGS to help the Perennial charity. Finalist of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition announced. International Orchid Show moves to Gardeners’ World Live. Glow-in-the-dark Petunia ‘Firefly’ launched in the United States. A new Rose ‘With Courage’ in conjunction with RNLI from rose breeder Peter Beales. A change in shift of food production with wider diversification of crops. The NHS could save £6.7 billion a year if everyone ate plant based food. New Backyard Biodiversity Report from Garden Organics. Top RHS plant diseases ranked from results in 2023. Dig It Top 5: This month Grass seed best sellers. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Apr 2024 | Uncovering the legacy of Stowe Gardens with Head Gardener Barry Smith | 00:57:09 | |
In this edition of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Barry Smith, Head Gardener at the National Trust’s Stowe Landscape Gardens, near Buckingham. Barry has been at Stowe for over 40 years and head gardener for over 25 so he knows this garden with immense passion and understanding. Stowe, a world-famous 18th century garden was created by such luminaries as Charles Bridgeman, William Kent and Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. For over 300 years these spectacular gardens have been welcoming tourists far and wide. Plants mentioned: Roses, annuals (bedding), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Pinus (pine), Honeysuckle, wildflowers, Snake’s head Fritillary (featured in Barry’s funny story), Lime, Beech, English Elm and Dutch Elm resistant varieties and Snowdrops (Galanthus). The Gardens Trust, National Trust and the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust (for networking, sharing knowledge and celebrating success stories locally and beyond). Barry’s top two favourite gardens: Stourhead Gardens near Mere, Wiltshire and Stackpole, near Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Monuments, specific areas and statues mentioned at Stowe. Grecian Valley Ha-Ha, Oxford Water Lake, Lamport Garden (on-going project), Temple of Concord and Victory (Grecian Temple), Stowe School, The New Inn (old coaching house), Grand Avenue approach to the Corinthian Arch, Buckingham Parish Church, Marble Arch, and The Ice House. Stowe gardens and school have been used for many film locations including The Crown, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Slaughterhouse Rulez, Stardust and in the James Bond film The World is Not Enough. Barry’s Desert Island luxuries Felco secateurs and a Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). To find out more about Stowe Landscape gardens click on this link and maybe become a volunteer. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 May 2024 | May '24 in the Garden | 01:00:48 | |
May is the month our beds, allotments and containers explode with colour and energy. What’s on 3rd - 4th May Toby’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle, Kenton. 3rd - 5th May BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. 9 – 12th May RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Three Counties Showground, Malvern. 12th May Borde Hill Specialist Spring Plant Fair, Haywards Heath. 17th - 26th May Floralies Internationales, Vendee, France. 20th May World Bee Day 21st - 25th May RHS Chelsea Flower Show. 25th - 28th May Blenheim Palace Flower Show 25th May - 2nd June National Children’s Gardening Week will again be partnering with THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT™ this May half term. 30th May - 3rd June Bloom at the Visitors Centre, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Plants mentioned: Aquatics - water lilies, marginals and oxygenators can be established now. Camellias, Cauliflowers, Cherries, Cucumbers, Chili peppers, Courgette, Daffodils, Dahlias, ‘Enorma’ Runner Beans, French bean ‘Cobra’, Forsythia, Gooseberries, Helenium, Hosta, Iris, Kale, Malus (crab apples), ‘Padron’ Pepper, Potatoes, Roses, Sedum, Sweet peas, Sunflowers, Sweet Corn and Tulips. Products mentioned: Fertilisers – Doff, Growmore and Tomorite, Tea for soaking bean seeds and Speedplanters. This month’s Dig It Top 5: Most popular liquid feeds News Climate change and verticillium wilt puts brewers hops under threat. Kew scientists assess extinction risk of flowering species using computer modelling Readers to the trade magazine Horticulture Week voted for Alan Titchmarsh and bagged compost as the most influential person and product impacting the gardening world over the past 50 years. A major revamp of Torbay’s 100-year-old Italian garden brings 1,600 new plants after 40 cabbage palms were felled. Yorkshire base, fourth generation rhubarb grower @ehubarbrobert is a social media hit. An OBE for garden designer and landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith. The RHS have awarded Neil Lucas of Knoll Gardens and Nurseryman Chris Young the prestigious Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH). The Elizabeth Medal of Honour was bestowed on non-dig guru Charles Dowding for his outstanding contribution to horticulture as a non-professional gardener. New initiative to revive railway hedges. Latest DNA fingerprinting could help identify lost apples that are resistant to climate change. International Women’s Day: 100+ Leading Women in Horticulture 2024 announced. University of Sussex launches The Big Bee Hotel experiment to discover more about bees that nest in artificially created habitats. New Tulip variety named after King Charles III unveiled at Keukenhof. Garden Organics says the Government isn’t moving fast enough on the peat ban. RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens go through ‘green audit’ for the first time. £12million Lottery Heritage Fund to restore Great Yarmouth’s historic winter gardens, the last surviving Victorian ironwork glasshouse on a seaside promenade. London’s Royal Parks have openings for ten apprentices. Weather causes concern with potato farmers. Discover how to take part in this year’s Henchman Topiary awards. Gardens start to bounce back visitor numbers wise with Kew Garden and RHS Wisley and the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh taking the top spots. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 May 2024 | Huw Richards, Growing the Self Sufficiency Garden | 00:53:22 | |
In this episode of Dig It Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Huw Richards. Huw’s mission is simple - to help as many people as possible to grow their own food. He documents his productive garden through his hugely popular YouTube Channel. He’s just published a new book with Sam Cooper, The Self-Sufficiency Garden book, which focuses on the growing and cooking side of grow your own. Plants mentioned: Apples, Asparagus, Basil, Basil Mint, Beetroot, Beans, Blackcurrants, Carrots, Comfrey and Nettle Tea, Courgettes, Garlic, Gooseberries, Garden peas, Leeks, Nasturtiums, Onions, Pea shoots, Padron Peppers, Potatoes, Runner beans, Spring Cabbage, Sweetcorn, Squash, Tomatoes and Turnips. Products mentioned: BBQs, Chickens (for eggs and manure), Firepit, Raised beds, James Wong’s Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Treats book and Water Butts. Making Jadam Liquid Fertiliser video. Desert Island essentials: A Swiss army pocket knife and maybe practise the new art of ‘sand gardening’! Horticultural heroes: Huw’s Dad has been a major influence, who was in turn influenced by the hit BBC TV comedy The Good Life, No-Dig guru Charles Dowding, John Seymour, Percy Thrower, and James Wong. Follow Huw on Instagram @huwsgarden Follow Sam Cooper on Instagram @chef.sam.black Huw Richards YouTube Channel Huw has written four books with DK: Veg in One Bed (2019), Grow Food For Free (2020), The Vegetable Grower’s Handbook (2022) and The Self-Sufficiency Garden, written with good friend and colleague Sam Copper (2024). Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jun 2024 | June '24 in the Garden | 00:56:57 | |
June is here and with it brings the sun and fun in the garden! In this month’s Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest gardening news stories, events, and those all-important gardening tasks, plus celebrating DIG IT’s inclusion into the Rephonic top 15 gardening podcasts! What’s On 3 - 9th June British Flowers Week celebrating the variety and skills of the nation’s flower growers. 8th June: Royal Windsor Flower Show in Windsor Great Park, Windsor. 8 - 9th June: London Open Gardens event. 13 - 16th June: BBC Gardeners' World Live at the NEC in Birmingham. 21st - 23rd June; Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Oxfordshire. People, gardens, products and plants mentioned. Tom Stuart Smith, Val Bourne, Jonathan Sheppard - Cosmos National Collection and Dame Judi Dench plants the Sycamore gap seedling. Water Aid Garden, Octavia Hill Community Garden with the National Trust. The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, Malvern Garden Houseplant Studios, Hanley Open Side Building from Malvern, and Taylors Bulbs win their 31st Gold medal. Miracle Gro, Tomorite Tomato Feed, Enviromesh or garlic spray to deter carrot fly. Slug copper tape, Slug Gone, beer traps and coffee grounds. Euonymus Green Spire and Euonymus Jean Hugues (good box alternative). Rose ‘Emma Bridgewater’ from David Austin and the ‘With Courage’ from Peter Beales. Make direct sowings of Peas, Beans, Courgettes, Sweetcorn, Lettuce, Carrot, Spring Onions, Radish and flowers Nasturtiums, cornflowers, and calendulas. News Winner of the RHS Plant of the Year Prunus ‘Starlight’. Runner up: Cosmos ‘Cherry Chocolate’. Bromeliads cultivated at Walton Hall in Cheshire. Growing plants should be on the curriculum. Kew ‘Carbon’ Garden created. Scientists eavesdrop the sounds from the soil. Long grass is benefiting butterflies says charity. RHS Garden Wisley opens Oakwood Summerhouse to pay homage to Ellen Willmott. National Trust revamps some gardens by future proofing with more resilient planting. Aviva issues flood risk warning as residents turn to artificial lawns. Jekka McVicar recipient of the Prince Edward Award. Oudolf landscape opens at Wisley. Lack of collective of nouns of trees. Auckland gardens regeneration in County Durham. Roses at risk from lack of genetic diversity. A UK first Tulbaghia National Collection at Eastwood Park Prison. 25 years of research creates UK first for oak seeds. King Charles III to continue as Patron of the National Garden Scheme, and is the new patron of the RHS. Top 5 bedding plants 1 Geranium Zonal Mixed 9-pack, 2 Geranium Zonal, 13cm, 3 Hedera (ivy) Mixed, 9cm, 4 Geranium Ivy Leaf Mixed and at 5 Petunia Mixed carry pack. In our next podcast we chat with Jessica Naish from Buckingham Flower Farm about the growing cut flowers. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jun 2024 | Jessica Naish, Buckingham's best flower farmer | 00:53:21 | |
Flowers are big business in Britain over 50% of British households bought cut flowers in 2022. However, according to Defra, only 14% of cut flowers sold in the UK are grown in Britain. In this edition of Dig it Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jessica Naish who runs a successful local flower farm in Buckingham. In the podcast we discover how Jess has developed her flower farm, plus the practicalities of growing a wide range of cut flowers from the field to the vase. Flowers mentioned: Amaranthus caudatus (Love Lies Bleeding), Centaurea cyanus (Cornflowers), Cosmos, Dahlias, Godetia, Larkspur, Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist), Perennial and annual Phlox, Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Roses (including the Timeless range of roses), Sweet peas, Sunflowers, Ten Week Stocks and Wallflowers. Fragrant foliage: Apple mint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and scented Pelargoniums to add fragrance to bouquets. Bulbs mentioned: Alliums, Gladioli, Lillies, Narcissi and Tulips. Buckingham brew: Nettles and Comfrey tea combo to feed plants organically. Jessica’s major influence is Gill Hodgson, who set up Flowers From The Farm back in 2011. From humble beginnings, its membership is now more than 1,000 independent British growers, of which Jess is a member. The website allows you to search for your nearest local flower farmer. Peach Fuzz, Pantone Colour of the year 2024. Jess’s desert island essentials: Tool - the versatile Hori Hori Knife, plus a couple of plants one of the velvety purple mophead hydrangeas and Geranium ‘Attar of Roses’ famed for its amazing rose scented fragrance. Find out more about Jessica’s flower farm, workshops and pick-your-own here You can also follow Jessica on Facebook and Instagram Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jul 2024 | July '24 in the Garden | 00:59:06 | |
This month on DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest gardening news, what’s on’s and as the peak gardening season is well underway, a look at those tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond. What’s on 2 – 7th July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is held in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, Richmond. 12th July and 4th August: The Big Butterfly Count 2024. 17 – 21st July: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in Cheshire. 20th July: Great Dixter Summer Plant Fair at Great Dixter Gardens, Rye, East Sussex. News Plant Heritage will showcase a range of its National Plant Collections, including Kniphofia, Rubus and Hosta (miniature and small) at Hampton Court.
New 4-year project by the University of London is evaluating prescribing social pursuits like gardening to children.
New garden around the Natural History Museum opens this month. The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don will be out on tour to share tales from his garden at Longmeadow and gardens he has visited around the world. Belinda Howell has been appointed chair of the Peat-free Partnership to establish peat-free legislation across the UK and NI. Susan Raikes is appointed the new Director of Wakehurst at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Nick Bailey, Gardener’s World presenter is appointed director of the University Leicester’s botanic garden. Percy Thrower’s greenhouse, which once featured Shrewsbury’s main park, The Quarry, is to be restored by Shrewsbury Men’s Shed. Bumper year for Box Tree Caterpillar reveals RHS. Be alert for toxic oak processionary moth caterpillars. How to take part in the Great Stag Hunt to help record the UK’s largest, and endangered beetle. Asian Hornets: help needed to irradicate imported bee-killers. The winning plants at last month’s BBC Gardeners World Live Show, include Hydrangea Eclipse and Apple Peter’s Gold. New plant awards annouced at the HTA Show including Digitalis Apple Blossom and Prunus Crystal Falls. This month’s DIG IT top 5: Strawberry varieties. 1st Strawberry ‘Symphony’ 2nd ‘Cambridge Favourite’ 3rd ‘Hapil’ 4th ‘Honeoye’ and in 5th ‘Elsanta’. Plant mentions: Apples (variety Scrumptious), Cherries, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Delphiniums, Euonymus Jean Hugues, Euonymus Green Spire, Pears, Plum, Sweet corn, Yew, Lonicera nitida, fuchsias, Dianthus, Carnations, Purple loosestrife, and Salvia Hot Lips. Sow Foxgloves, Sweet Williams, Wallflowers and Forget-me-nots and veggies including Round Carrots, Beetroot, Radish, Lettuce, and Spring Onions. Continue to plant Tomatoes and Peppers. Product mentions: Bug Clear Ultra 2, Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes, Poppyforge plant supports, bird food, straw and terracotta pots for earwig control. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jul 2024 | Who Ate My Plants, an interview with Andrew Mikolajski | 00:55:51 | |
In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with special guest Andrew Mikolajski. Andrew, a well-known horticulturalist, and prolific author of over 40 gardening books, including his latest, ‘Who Ate My Plants’. Andrew discusses the ongoing battle gardeners have with garden pests and diseases. Plant mentions: Grow as many varieties and species – native and non-native from the Northern Hemisphere as you can to increase insect biodiversity of wildlife to help attract predators. Marigolds as a companion planting with Tomatoes and the pairing of alliums with roses. Check vegetable seed packets for disease resilience. Lavender, Penstemon, Fuchsias and Hebes would benefit from a dose of a high potash fertiliser to help toughen them up. Use vine weevil nematode control for Heuchera, Heucherella, alpines and Fuchsias. Product mentions: Slug pellets (use the jam jar method mentioned). Sand, Garlic wash, Box Tree Caterpillar Biological Control, Provanto Fungus Fighter (for Box Blight), Pheromone Traps (codling moth and plum moth), Organic pesticides, fleece over cabbage, good drainage essentials, include sand, potting grit, or Perlite to avoid overwet compost, Potassium (K) High potash fertilisers such as Sulphate of Potash, Tomorite, to help harden growth for the winter. Nematodes for slugs and vine weevil. Ladybird larvae and adults can be introduced. Pest / Disease mentions: Aphids, Slugs, Snails, Muntjak, Deer, Rabbits, Oak Processionary Moth - a notifiable pest, Xylella fasidiosa, Box Blight, Box Tree Caterpillar, Rose Black Spot and Rose Mildew. No Mow May, or maybe simply mow less often to encourage more flowers and diversity. Look for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo. Make friends with your fellow allotment holders, or join a gardening club / society to learn about local growing conditions if you move into a new area. Judging at RHS show. Andrew’s desert island essentials: A ball of garden twine and a pair of scissors and the Rose ‘Nostalgia.’ Find out more about Andrew on his website Andrew’s book, Who Ate My Plants? is published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Aug 2024 | August '24 in the Garden | 00:59:26 | |
Summer gardening reaches it’s peak this month as Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest stories in the world of horticulture, must-visit events and a run-down of those essential tasks to keep your garden productive and colourful in the weeks to come.
What’s on
31st July - 4th August: RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show, Essex. 2 - 3rd August: Taunton Flower Show, Somerset. Until 4th August: 2024 Big Butterfly Count – have you got involved yet? There’s still time! 3 - 11th August: Singapore Garden Festival at Suntec, Singapore. 9 - 10th August: Shrewsbury Flower Show, Shropshire. 15 - 18th August: Southport Flower Show at Victoria Park, Southport. 16 - 18th August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, Devon. 30th August - 1st September: BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End House & Gardens, Essex.
News New YouTube short film filmed at the RHS Urban Show in May featuring Cloudscape and creating 7 amazing gardens.
Trees for bees at Wakehurst Wakehurst is using citizen science to help discover the trees most favoured by pollinators.
A unique flower shaped Cyclamen Illusia picks up top New Houseplant Award.
RHS Tatton Park Show celebrates its 25th anniversary by actively promoting awards for new designers, plants people and contractors aged 31 or over.
Scottish topiary artist wins major award for their Moby Dick inspired design.
Gardeners urged not to plant or purchase Rhodendron ponticum as The Woodland Trust says its invasive nature is creating problems.
Native vegetation does no impact insect biodiversity in small urban gardens.
Rare ‘Puya sapphire tower’ blooms outdoors in Scotland for the first time.
Dianthus breeding specialist Whetman Pink changes hands.
War against poaching succulent plants in South Africa.
Manchester’s Castlefield aerial garden Viaduct gets green light to develop from National Trust.
OBE awarded to Horatio’s Garden founder Dr Olivia Chapple.
Rittershausen family orchid nursery celebrate 75 years.
Dr John Grimshaw appointed Editor-in-Chief of Curtis’s Botanic magazine.
Head of horticulture at Garden Organics and former Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins has been named a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
Natural History Gardens are now open and free to visit.
Olympic Dahlias shine at Paris 2024 games.
The 2025 rose of the year is announced.
Plants, and product mentions: Hardy geraniums, Chrysanthemum, Lavender, Lupins, Delphiniums, Blueberries, Strawberry, Wisteria Amethyst Falls, Leeks, Potato/Tomato blight proection, Taylors Seed Potatoes for growing for Christmas, Sow the seeds of Basil, Borage, Dill and Fennel, Mint. Summer pruning top fruit trees, dahlias, Lilies and Gladioli staking and feeding. Children seed sowing projects for the school holidays. Cut flowers from the garden. Continue with slug, snails and earwig control. Miracle-Gro, Tomato fertiliser, garden twine and canes.
Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Aug 2024 | Interesting Fact: It's Dave the Plantman! | 01:04:48 | |
Spreading the gardening word with Dave The Plantman DIG IT hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with top all-round horticulturalist and internet sensation Dave The Plantman. Dave has been creating daily 90 second videos since April 2023 and has a huge 360k following, including a younger gardening audience on TikTok hungry for advice. Dave shares his knowledge in a unique style with his signature thumbs up and ‘interesting fact’ tagline. A lively chat filled with fun anecdotes and plenty of common-sense gardening is guaranteed! Plant mentions: Agapanthus, Astilbe, Buddleja (butterfly bush), Carnivorous plants, Coffee plant, Cordyline, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane plant), Himalayan Balsam (Impatien), Potatoes, Dandelion, Skimmia, wildflowers, brambles (blackberries), Rose ‘Sheila’s Perfume’, Phalaenopsis orchids, Taxus baccata 'Standishii' (RHS AGM), Good scented rose ‘Chandos Beauty’ and Rose ‘The Chelsea Pensioner’, a charity rose launched at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Willow (Salix) weaving. Alpines for gravel drive. People, Places and Products: Phillip Harkness, Harkness Roses. Myerscough College of Horticulture, Preston, Canal and River Trust, Barton Grange Nursery, RHS flower shows. Sulphur (coal smoke), Garlic infusion for controlling aphids – they don’t like the smell, good for roses and hostas. Tomato food is excellent for roses as is chicken manure and well-rotted manure. Uncle Tom’s Rose Food (Potassium phosphite). Desert island luxuries: Tomatoes (seeds could be saved for future crops). Tool: “A pair of secateurs in my holster.” Memorable quote: “My mum could put a root on a chair leg!” Dave’s socials: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Dave The Plantman’s Chatterbox on Facebook and Instagram. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Sep 2024 | September '24 in the Garden | 00:48:09 | |
As autumn approaches DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day provide a monthly round-up to the latest horticultural events, the gardening stories making the headlines and a look at those garden tasks requiring our attention. What’s on 3 - 8th September RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show, Wisley, Woking, Surrey. 13 - 15th September The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire 27 - 29th September Malvern Autumn Show. One of the UK’s biggest annual harvest season celebrations, held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire. 5 - 6th October Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend, 10am - 4pm each day. News Jekka McVicar appeals to gardeners to participate in the RHS climate change survey in BBC Breakfast news. Most influential in horticulture by decade survey results: Titchmarsh beats Thrower, Hamilton, Don in vote from Horticulture Week magazine. Broad beans could improve our mental health new study finds. The search is on for the Tree of the Year and voting is open until 21 October. Plant breeder Ball Colegrave announced the winners of this summers showcase. World’s largest Titan Arum bloom in Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium. A new jade vine – Strongylodon juangonzalezii - is donated to Kew Gardens. Kew trees at risk from climate change. Historic allotments in Nottingham handed back to council due to rising costs. Almost 455,000 trees felled by UK councils in past 10 years. World-first project launched to track hedgehogs and reverse decline. Gardening aids better sleep new report uncovers. Knoll Gardens launch new Pennisetum Black Arrow. Dog backpacks used to help seed nature reserve. Sheffield’s love of figs helps create fig tree forests. Dutch campaign encourages reducing paving for greener gardens. Couple transform their garden into £27,000 Jurassic Park - complete with 10ft T-Rex. Our DIG IT Top Tulips 5th ‘Chocolate Orange’ 4th ‘Red Riding Hood’ 3rd ‘Peach Blossom’, 2nd ‘Queen of the Night’ and at number 1 ‘Purple Rain Fusion’ (a combination of different varieties from Taylors Bulbs). Plants mentioned: Acer drummondii, Crocosmia, Dahlias, Hosta, Penstemons and Roses. Apples, Apricots, Blackberries, Peaches and Strawberries. Veggies: Peas, beans, Carrots, Spring Onions, Winter and Spring Cabbage plug plants. Products mentioned: Compost bin, Wolf Fruit Picker, Rose and Autumn Lawn Fertilisers, Lawn seeds and lawn patch products. Control Vine Weevil and lawn chafers or leatherjackets with a biological control (nematodes). Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Sep 2024 | The Gardening Oracle Chris Day | 01:06:00 | |
In this edition of DIG IT, Peter Brown turns the microphone around and chats with Chris Day about his life and times working with plants, garden centres, radio, people in horticulture, and even a few greenhouses! From a humble apprentice at Rochfords to plant publicity manager at Buckingham Garden Centre, Chris spills the beans on some of his gardening wisdom along the way.
Plant mentions: Aloe Vera, Aspidistra, Basil, Beloperone guttata (shrimp or prawn plant!), Cymbidiums, Sweet peas, lawn turf, Kentia palms, Melon, Pineapple, Tomato, Cucumber, Snake plant, Mother-in-Laws (Sansevieria), African Violets (Saintpaulia), Poinsettias, Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid), Universal Winter Pansies from Colegraves, Cacti, Money plants (Crassula), Chloropytum, Venus Fly Traps and Yuccas. Floral Flame for the Manchester Olympic bid at Manchester Airport created with Begonias, Lobelia, Marigold, Parsley, Perilla, and Impatien).
Product mentions: Greenhouse: Corrugated plastic, aluminium (glass to ground), Wooden greenhouse, staging, Victorian style. Paraffin heaters, thermostatically electric fan heater, Garland propagating products, LED grow lights, roller benches, red spider mite pests, pH soil tests and soil science. Wool pots and Mycorrhizal products (RootGrow).
People and Place mentions: Amateur Gardening magazine, Alan Beswick, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Three Counties Radio, Blue Peter Garden, Alan Down, Bridgemere Garden World, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Dutch Flower Auctions at Aalsmeer, Graham Clarke, Fred Downham, Rochford Houseplants (commercial growers), Garden Centre Association, Guernsey Flower Show, Horticulture Week, Peter Seabrook, Louise Lear, Peat Free UK houseplant growers, Val Bourne, Myerscough College and Writtle College.
Hotbeds, created with strawy manure, and John Innes Compost No3.
Chris’s Desert Island luxuries: Felco secateurs and Potato ‘Home Guard’
Chris’s book co-authored with Rob Keenan Amateur Gardening Complete Gardening Answers (published by Robinsons).
Catch Chris’s online Garden Centre postings on Facebook and Instagram
Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Oct 2024 | October '24 in the Garden | 00:56:41 | |
October is a wonderful month in the garden - crisp blue skies and fantastic autumn colour to enjoy. DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the month as far as places to visit, what’s in the world of gardening news and timely tasks to be getting on with - so not quite the month to take your foot off the pedal! What’s on 5th & 6th October, 10am-4pm: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend. Apple identifying with Gerry Edwards, apple pressing and juicing with the Mid Shires Orchard group, a Heritage Apple Display featuring over 100 varieties, Jessica Naish from the Buckingham Cut Flower Farm, a fantastic Tombola, plus The Woodland Trust and BBOWT. Saturday 5th October: Autumn Plant Fair at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Manchester. Saturday 12th October, 11am-4pm: National Alpine Garden Show at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens. 26th October - 3rd November: Scarecrow Hunt at Painswick Rococo Garden Trust in Stroud. News Giant mosaic made from apples at National Trust Cotehele in Cornwall last month. Weather concerns could see tulip bulb prices rise by as much as 20% in 2025, Dutch growers warn. Britain’s rarest orchid discovered after one man’s 15-year hunt. New rare and endangered plant exhibition opens at Kew Gardens. Plea to use less herbicides and pesticides in our towns voiced by The Pesticide Collaboration. Tulip trees as well as storing more carbon are no longer hardwood they are now Midwood! It’s all about the cells, says new study. Vegetable and flower seed merchant Dobies celebrates 130th anniversary. ‘Delphinium Dad’ efforts rewarded with National Plant Collection status. Artists set to champion ancient plane tree. A new garden commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II is to be constructed in London’s Regent’s Park. Upcycling facemasks left over from the pandemic to cradle developing melons by the team at Bluebird Care in Stroud and Cirencester. Butterfly numbers drop disastrously reports Butterfly Conservation. Blenheim Palace introduces bee swarms to its nine new woodlands. Huge restoration for parklands at Crystal Palace. New report sheds light on why many plants have prickles. Dame Mary Berry joins 40th anniversary celebrations of the Macmillan & National Garden Scheme partnership. During the last 40 years the NGS has raised more than £19 million for Macmillan through private garden openings. David Austin launches Bring Me Sunshine ® as Climbing English Rose. DIG IT Top 5: Climbing roses As we approach the root wrap and bare-root season learn about our bestselling roses. Product mentions: Long handled bulb planters, greenhouse disinfectant, bubble insulation, hedgehog houses, lawn rake and leaf grabbers, bird feeders ready and primed with wild bird mix, sunflowers, peanuts, and fat balls. Evergreen Autumn Fertiliser, and lawn seed for overseeding and patch repair. Plant mentions: Allium ‘Rosy Dream,’ Taylors Bulb of the Year and Daffodil ‘June Allyson,’ Daffodil of the Year, Dogwoods, Hostas, Salix (Willows), planning for hedges, Garlic, Onions, and Shallots to plant now, pumpkins to harvest and rhubarb propagation - remove healthier outer sections to create new crowns. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Oct 2024 | Growing a good brew, with Jonathon Jones O.B.E. | 01:13:35 | |
In this episode of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jonathon Jones, OBE and managing director of Tregothnan Estate in Cornwall, home of the amazing Garden, Camellias, magnificent trees and a Tea plantation stretching 29 miles long! People mentioned: Tea expert Chris Bond, authors Peter Blake and John Shepherd. The Ken Thomas Charitable Trust, a bursary opportunity set up for agriculturists to help fund their trips. Lord and Lady Falmouth, Plant hunter William Lobb, Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (Wardian Case inventor), Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Tremap Partners, Conifer Conservation, Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, Country Life magazine tea column. London Tea Auction and Sarah Raven. Plants mentioned: Camellia sinensis (tea), Camellia japonica, early flowering Camellia sasanqua, Growing salads out of seasons under home-made cloches, Japanese Musa (Banana), Magnolias, Eucryphia is a genus of evergreen shrubs and trees with several species native to Chile. Giant Redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum), Rhododendrons, Black Poplars (Populus nigra) and the recording breaking tallest Rhododendron. Places mentioned: Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Darjeeling, North India, Cornwall Garden Society (they also have a bursary scheme), Eden Project, Jonathon’s scholarship to travel to Japan and it’s great gardens, Falmouth University Japanese Gardens, Myerscough College and the Smithsonian Institution. Tremap® is an easy-to-use free app on your phone which allows people to map and locate trees and shrubs anywhere in the world. It also means that Botanic gardens, parks, large and small private gardens don’t necessarily need to label their rare plants as this can be done virtually. Search ‘Tremap’ on your favourite APP store. Jonathon’s castaway essential: A tried and trusted garden spade! Tregothnan Estate, including Tea, Experiences, Holiday Cottages and Discover. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Nov 2024 | November '24 in the Garden | 00:55:25 | |
This month on DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest news in the world of gardening, what’s on’s and as the winter kicks in, a look at those gardening tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond. Friday 8th November Final Gardeners’ World programme of the season. 15th November RHS Glow 2024 Rosemoor. 20th November RHS Glow 2024 Harlow Carr Garden 22nd November RHS Glow at RHS Wisley and at RHS Hyde Hall 26th November NGS Annual Lecture ‘Gardening for the future with Fergus Garret, Garden Museum, London. Fergus reveals how vital biodiversity can thrive in anybody’s cultivated garden patch, using evidence gathered from the world-famous garden he looks after. Go in person or available live streamed. Plant mentions: Lotus (water lily), Sea buckthorn, Magnolia, Dianthus, Violas, Wisteria, Picea, Pinus, dog friendly plants, sunflowers including the variety ‘Teddy Bear’, Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, Alliums, Snowdrops, planting of bare-root hedging, shrubs and trees, Philadelphus, Dogwood, Hazel, Raspberry canes, Strawberry runners, garlic, Padron peppers, Wild service tree (sweets and beer tree), Microgreens, Cress and Amaryllis. Product mentions: Sainsbury’s peat-free mushrooms, electric heron fence for ponds, Woughton Orchard in Milton Keynes, lawn blower, secateurs, loppers, composted bark, autumn lawn food, grease bands for fruit trees, cloches, horticultural fleece and clay pebbles in saucer, News RBG Kew scientists crack down on illegal sale of ornamental plants. Edimentals see rise in popularity. Sainsbury’s becomes first UK supermarket to introduce peat-free mushrooms Nick Hamilton’s new book, The Right Jeans is published. The new Government’s All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group LibDem MP Sarah Dyke seeks to speed up ban on peat farming with 10-minute bill Roger Ward from Golden Grove Nurseries champions the use of slow growing and compact forms of conifers in new build gardens Monty Don to design a dog-friendly garden at Chelsea 2025 in conjunction with the RHS and BBC Radio 2. National Trust appoints Sheila Das as Head of Gardens and Parks. Will Armitage appointed as the new HTA President. Beechgrove Garden presenter Jim McColl dies aged 89. Capability Brown’s Berrington Hall gets a floral makeover including a wisteria walk. Climate revamp for Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace. RHS issues call for urban planners to take garden provision more seriously. Otters raiding garden ponds becomes a problem in Cumbria. The Orchard Project celebrates 15 years restoring 700 public orchards. Sunflower trials at RHS Hyde Hall’s Floral Fantasia. North Wales bid to bring back rare ‘sweets and beer’ tree. DIG IT Top 5: Top selling Herbs of the year No5 Coriander, No4 Curly Parsley, No3 Chives, No2 Common Rosemary and at the top spot Garden Mint (spear mint). Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Nov 2024 | Jekka's 100 Herbs to Grow | 00:59:49 | |
In this edition of DIG IT we are delighted to welcome back Jekka McVicar, top organic herb grower, consultant, and Royal Horticultural Society Judge. Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jekka on issues affecting herbs, best growing practices, composts, tea infusions, plus we delve into Jekka’s latest fabulous book, 100 Herbs To Grow. Plant mentions: Coriander, Basil, Bulbine frutescens (burn jelly plant), Lemon Verbena, Mints including Peppermint and Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Murraya koenigii (Curry tree), Nasturtium, Oregano, Rosemary, Horse Radish, Silybum marianum, Szechuan (Sichuan) Pepper, Rosemary, Thymes, Wild Rocket, Nasturtiums, Wild Strawberries and Winter Savory. People and product mentions: Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith, Borage (the gnome), Charles Dowding, Marcus Waring and garden designer Sarah Eberle. Radio 4’s Just a Minute. Horticultural grit, RocketGro Peat-Free Herbs and Alpine Compost, horse manure, Jekka’s own peat-free compost mix contains bark, loam, peat-free compost, plus mycorrhizal fungi. Working in some loam can help the composts porosity. Use grit rather than bark for herb mulching. Seaweed feeds are generally best for herbs. Westland Epsom salts will help keep the foliage green and healthy. Growth Technology SG Invigorator. Black plastic for horsetail and general weed suppression. Problem pests: Leaf-hoppers, rosemary beetle and thrips. Tea Infusions: Lemon verbena or lemon grass (with a gin and tonic works a treat). Citrus trilogy, a perfect mood lifter orange blossom, lime leaves and lemongrass and rosemary. Garlic leaf tea for keeping slugs away on your seedlings. Sore throat - sage tea (gargle) for coughs and cold, sprig of hyssop and thyme in hot water with some honey. For Indigestion, try fennel leaf tea which also helps reduce cholesterol. Jekka McVicar and Charles Dowding in conversation on YouTube Jekka’s castaway luxury: A propagating kit with a snip, sharpened chop stick, a pair of long tweezers and a wet stone. To find out more about Jekka’s story, the specialist herb farm containing over 400 culinary and medicinal herbs from all around the world and online shop. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Dec 2024 | December '24 in the Garden | 00:36:19 | |
In this month’s DIG IT Peter Brown discusses the latest news in the world of gardening, what’s on’s and as the winter kicks in, Chris and Peter look at those gardening tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond. Places to visit: Winter Flowers Week at the Garden Museum, London National Memorial Arboretum mile long light trail Alnwick Castle lights show Cambridge University Botanic Garden Light show Kew Gardens Lights Show Plants Mentioned: The Welsh Bramley - Gabalfa Apple, Rose Perfumy Silueta Rose bred by Kordes Rosen wins several categories in Rochfords International Rose Trials The Woodland Trust Highlights the plight of our Native trees and encourages planting more. Collections of Hamamelis, Amelanchier and Eucalyptus held at the National Memorial Arboretum and Ventnor Botanic Gardens gain National Plant Collection status. Skippinish Oak wins the Woodland Trusts tree of the year competition Lace Bug pest spotted in London Garden Organic searches for comfrey A new Palm Tahina Spectablis arrives at the Eden project 60 000 snowdrops planted at the National Trust property Montacute House in Somerset Jane Steward champions the medlar and tries to raise its profile
In the news: Cruser SB Neonicotinoid Thiamethoxam has been licensed for use on Sugar Beet in the UK despite being banned in the EU. British Horticulture will have to bear increased costs on imports due to the Common User Charge Inverary Castle wins Prestigious Gardens Award Haig Hall in Wigan undergoes restoration Bath wins prestigious RHS Britian in Bloom award for the second time, Wrexham won a Gold award for the City and Forres in Scotland also won the town award. Defra’s latest Data indicates a fall in Bird species Green Allotments offer a chance to win an Allotment site to try and help increase the number of allotments in the UK The National Gardens Scheme announce gardens to visit in the New Year Greenfingers charity has a new president who takes over from Sue Allen Allett mowers announce the 2024 winner for the Creative Stripes competition We announce our support of Ripple Africa again this festive period. Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
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| 15 Dec 2024 | The new era of beautiful Chrysanthemums with Naomi Slade | 00:53:48 | |
In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with horticultural journalist, garden designer and broadcaster Naomi Slade. Naomi’s latest book, Chrysanthemum: Beautiful Varieties from Home and Garden, is a celebration of the ever so versatile Chrysanthemum. On the podcast we discover more about Naomi’s garden design journey, plus great advice on planting and her love of plants, including some recommendations for winter interest. Plants mentioned: Apples, Cyclamen Florist types, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Daffodils, Elodea (Canadian Pondweed – now banned from sale), Herbs, Helleborus, Hardy Cyclamen Coum and C Hederifolium, Snowdrops (including Galanthus reginae-olgae 'Naomi Slade' (Monksilver Nursery), Rhubarb, Roses, Paeonies, Plums, Prunus subhirtella autumnalis (winter flowering cherry), Wild Strawberries, Tulips, consider more vigorous rootstocks in difficult soils when growing fruit trees. The aptly named Cottage Chrysanthemums range are reliable and hardy as are the varieties ‘Ruby Mound’ and ‘Dulwich Pink’ (RHS AGM). Scented winter plants: Sarcococca, Viburnum bodnantense, Snowdrops, Lonicera fragrantissima, Mahonia and Hamamelis (Witch Hazel). People, products mentioned: Sir David Attenborough, Gerald Durrell, photographer Georgianna Lane, Piet Oudolf, Sarah Raven and Halls of Heddon. Which Gardening, Garden News, Water Butts, Old bread knife for dividing perennial clumps in the spring. National Collection of Chrysanthemums: Norwell Nurseries and Gardens, Nottinghamshire. Show gardens mentioned: 'Never Mind The Hollyhocks' Award Winning punk-themed conceptual garden by Naomi Slade at RHS Hampton Court 2012 and The Flood Resilient Garden in conjunction with Dr Ed Barsley. Silver Medal Winner at RHS Chelsea 2024. Desert Island luxuries: Naomi’s tool would be her trusted bread knife and an apple tree, maybe a ‘Bramley’, would be her island tree of choice. To find out more about Naomi and her books visit her website Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jan 2025 | January '25 in the Garden | 00:43:04 | |
Peter and Chris celebrate the start of the New Year in the garden with events, latest news stories and a look at those topical gardening tasks to get you out and about in the garden this January. What’s On Saturday 18th January: National Tulip Day, Meseumplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 1-5pm. Free entry. Sunday 19th January: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2 – 3:30pm Discover the Botanic Gardens in British Sign Language (BSL) Tours are led by John Hope Gaterway. Ticket only. Wednesday 22nd January: 11am - 12:30pm: Talk on RHS Hyde Hall through the Years with Garden Manager, Ian Bull - who has been involved in Hyde Hall's development across the last 20 years! Thursday 23rd January: Winter Lecture Professor Simon Hiscock and The Oxford Ragwort Story. Oxford Ragwort is unique among Britian’s flora. 24-26th January: Time to take part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch News Detection dogs sniff out the deadly tree pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. Buckingham Garden Centre’s charity of the year 2025 is Buckinghamshire Mind. The National Centre for Music in Edinburgh is to get a major garden makeover by the nationally recognised garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith. Scientists at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh aim to sequence the genomes of all 72,000 plants, animals, fungi across the UK and Ireland. Applications for the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation Scholarships for budding horticulturists closes at the end of January. New UK RHS Partner Gardens are announced for 2025 allowing RHS members to access 230 across the UK and further afield. The National Trust announce the 49 recipients of Tree of Hope, aka Sycamore Gap Tree, including one of the saplings to be planted in Milton Keynes. A £5 million national project – Nextdoor Nature and The Wildlife Trust – delivers a raft of results supporting wildlife on 1,600 community-inspired projects. 2024 proved to be another landmark year for the National Garden Scheme with the charity donating a record £3,501,227 to nursing and health beneficiaries from last year’s garden opening season. George Plumptre, after 15 years at the helm, is set to retire as Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme later this summer. Top horticultural supplier Mr Fothergill’s have rebranded to reflect their growth, values and customer commitment. The Sun’s gardening editor, Veronica Lorraine, found herself falling foul of LinkedIn’s rules when she tried to promote Perennials latest naked gardeners’ calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jan 2025 | Seeds of flavour with Paolo Arrigo | 01:13:53 | |
In this edition of DIG IT, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with seedsman and passionate foodie Paolo Arrigo about Seeds of Italy, an importer for the prestigious seed producer Franchi Seeds. Paolo discusses the importance of regionality in food growing, how heritage seeds are now more important than ever and how the bureaucracy of the EU has caused issues for the vegetable seed market. Plants mentioned Aubergine, Kale Cavolo Nero, Basil, Spinach, Baby Leaf Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tomato, Broad beans, Garlic, Lambs Lettuce (Corn Salad), Peas, Sweet Peas, Brussel sprouts, Parsnips, Swedes, Peppers, Holy trinity of veggies – carrots, onions and celery, English Cucumbers, Spinach Monstreux de Virflay, good beefsteak tomato varieties – Marmande and Coeur Di Bue (Ox Heart), The Eternal Tomato – Principe Borghese da Appendere, Spaghetti tree, 100% Wildflowers with no fillers, Courgette for flowers Da Fiore Toscana and Papaver (Poppy) People and companies mentioned: Thomas Cook, Mozart, Montpellier Brothers, Kings Seeds, Thompson & Morgan, Real Seeds, Delia Smith, Dolmio sauces, Haxnicks cloches, Royal Horticultural Society, Eden Project, Charles Darwin, Hairy Bikers, Gallo wine, Jamie Oliver and U3A. The film, A Room with a View featured the grand tour in Victorian times and Stanley Tucci’s BBC series Searching for Italy, highlighting regionality of food. Places mentioned: Apennines, Dolomites, Turin, Tuscany, Borough Market in London, RHS Harlow Carr, Kew Gardens, Lee Valley for Tomato growing and Welsh Tourist Board. Food mentioned: Meatballs, Panettone, Mushrooms, Cornish pasties (listed under Protected Food Names legislation), Buckinghamshire or Bedfordshire Clanger (savoury/sweet pasty), Devon/Cornish Scones, Pizza is a Neapolitan dish, Vesta Curries, Chick Pea Pasta, Ricotta, Dal, Parma Ham, Lime Oil, Peter’s homemade Pesto, Spaghetti, Zucchini flowers and Omelettes. Ark of Taste is an international catalogue of endangered heritage foods maintained by the Slow Food movement. Seeds of Italy website Socials: X: @FranchiSeedsUK Instagram: @franchiseedsofitaly Facebook @SeedsOfItaly Book: From Seed to Plate by Paolo Arrigo Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Feb 2025 | February '25 in the Garden | 00:58:49 | |
After a chilly January in the UK, the days are starting to lengthen and there’s signs of life as bulbs are pushing through the soil. DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss news, events and gardening tasks for the gardening month ahead. What’s on Saturday 1st February Buckingham Garden Centre’s Grow & Grow Day, 10am-4pm. Saturday 1st February to Sunday 2nd March: Peruvian Orchid Spectacular at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. The Plant Fair Roadshows are back in full swing with the first event of the year on Sunday 2nd February at Hole Park, Rolvenden, Kent, on Sunday 2nd February. Running until 13th April: Soil - The World at Our Feet Exhibition at the Embankment Galleries, South Wing, Somerset House in London. Saturday 15th February – Sunday 23rd February: Exhibited during Eco-Week at Hever Castle & Gardens, Earth Photo will be featuring work by some of the best photographers from around the world. Thursday 20th February: Monty Don in conversation with Sophie Raworth online or in person at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, London, SW7 2AR. 7pm. 20th - 22nd February: Shepton Snowdrop Festival, Somerset. Free event. Discover snowdrops across the UK. News Britain's oldest RHS Garden is calling for compensation from the Government as it faces a ‘catastrophic' £11m loss - thanks to roadworks. Home to 100-year-old specimens, the 60-acre Coton Orchard, the largest traditional orchard in Cambridgeshire and 8th largest in the country is at risk of becoming a new bus lane. Two plant collections - Amelanchier and Witch hazel National collections have been accredited at National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Monty Don’s new British Gardens series airs on the BBC. Sarah Dyke MP’s Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill has been pushed back to a later date. Kew Gardens and partner scientists have identified more than 170 new species in 2024 New Year’s Honours for garden industry figures including Gill Hodgson founder of Flowers From the Farm and Alan Titchmarsh, CBE Scotland consults on its peat-free future. Latest Thompson & Morgan survey suggests garden expenditure is set to increase in 2025. More crystal ball gazing from the RHS with its gardening predictions. Eden Project appoints 'horticultural showman’ Peter Jones. Kew build two advanced glasshouses to help in major restoration projects. David Domoney becomes new brand ambassador for Keder Greenhouses. Guiness World Records searches for world’s oldest glasshouse. Forest England biodiversity study reveals DNA secrets. Butterflies heading north says NatureScot. RSPB suspends sale of flat bird feeders. Suttons given the Royal Warrant of Approval. Plants mentioned: Broad bean The Sutton, New Fothergill’s Oh Sow Simple range, Seed Potatoes, Pea Meteor, Sweet Peas, Carnivorous plants (Venus flytraps), Carrot Amsterdam Forcing, Asparagus crowns, root-wrapped roses, celebration roses, strawberry runners and raspberry canes can be established now, Lilies, Dahlias, Begonia corms and Hosta. Hardwood cuttings Buddleja, Dogwoods, Forsythia, Philadelphus (Mock Orange), Roses and Salix (Willows). Products mentioned: Westland New Horizon Compost, Melcourt SylvaGrow Composts, horticultural fleece, Haxnicks jackets, raised beds and water butts. Dig It Top 5: Our Top selling Fothergills flower seeds of last year. No5 ‘RHS Flowers for Insects Mix’, No4 Sunflower ‘Giant Single’, No3 Sweet Pea ‘Old Spice Mixed’, 2nd place Poppy ‘Victoria Cross’ and at No1 ‘RHS Flowers for Wildlife Bright Mix’. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supply the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Mar 2025 | March '25 in the Garden | 00:52:04 | |
March in the Garden 2025 SHORT NOTES Spring is in the air! DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day guide us through the month of March looking at events far and wide to visit, including the US and Australia, the latest news stories and the jobs to be getting on with in the garden. What’s on 1st March: The Alpine Society’s Early Spring Show at Chelmsford City Racecourse, Chelmsford, Essex. 1 - 9th March: Philadelphia Flower Show, Pennsylvania Convention Centre, US. 15th March: Orchid and Terrarium Workshop Day at Buckingham Garden Centre with Manos Kanellos. 16th March: Rare Plants Fair at The Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset. 17 - 23rd March: Hever Castle's Dazzling Daffodils, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent. 21st March Garden Re-Leaf Day 2025 The annual Greenfingers Charity flagship fundraising event. 26 - 30th March: Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Australia. 29th March: Rare Plants Fair at Evenley Wood Gardens, Brackley, Northants. News Britain's bestselling non-fiction writer Dr David Hessayon has died aged 96 - after selling 67 million gardening guidebooks worldwide. RHS reports a 21% surge in applications across its School of Horticulture programme Peat-free education collaboration launches a new concise peat-free guide. TV personality Fiona Bruce will be joining the National Garden Scheme (NGS) as an ambassador. Storm Eowyn topples more than 10,000 National Trust trees. Petition for a total ban on neonicotinoid puts pressure on government. National Trust announce 10-year green plan. Beloved Barnsdale Gardens established 40 years ago by horticulturist and star broadcaster Geoff Hamilton, faces closure if 67-acre solar farm is built. Hillier’s woodland themed garden to be created at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. Jekka McVicar launches her 10th thyme variety, Thymus Jekka’s Bee Happy. Johnsons new Cutting Flower seed range now in Garden Centres. 2025 Sweet Pea season at Eaton Walled Gardens. Best houseplants for productivity. Coffee and cocoa prices doubled due to extreme weather. New heritage pear Cornishgold ™ launched. Alan Titchmarsh gets nod in latest BAFTA winning Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl film. DIG IT Top 5 Our top selling Dahlia varieties from last year were No 5 Thomas Edison, No 4 Topmix Yellow, No 3 Anne Joy, No 2 joint Collerette Kelsey, Lady Liberty, Red Hot Chilli, Vera Frost and Xanthe and No 1 White Perfection. People mentioned: Jekka McVicar, Jessica Naish, and Nick Hamilton. Products mentioned: Premier Christmas decorations, Rotavator, Cloche, Potato growing bags, Peat free composts, Root Trainers and Bird nesting boxes. Plant mentions: Apricot, Peas, Beans, Artichoke, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Courgettes, Pumpkins, Squash, Seed Potatoes, Carrots, Fennel (Bronze), Maidenhair fern (Adiantum), Quickthorn, Blackthorn, Rhubarb varieties - Champagne, Timperley Early and Stockbridge Arrow, plastic dustbins as Rhubarb forcers, Hazel and Birch for pea sticks, Sweet Peas, Strawberries, Raspberries, Chinese money plant (Crassula), Monstera, Sansevieria, Boston fern, Prayer plants, Spathiphyllum, Lilies, Dahlias, Freesia and Gladioli Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Mar 2025 | Tremap with Jonathon Jones OBE | 01:02:23 | |
In this edition of DIG IT, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jonathon Jones OBE on all aspects of trees from the famous Tregothnan Estate in Cornwall. Jonathon discusses how a revolutionary new app – Tremap is changing the way we can record, map and share details of trees worldwide using GPS on our smart phones. Plants mentioned: Araucaria Araucana (monkey puzzle tree), Camellia sinensis (tea), Casuarina equisetifolia (She-oak or whistling tree), Grevillea robusta, Griselinia littoralis, Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea), Magnolia campbelli (the flamingo of the flower world), Montrey Cupressus, Olea (Olive tree), Lagerstroemia indica (myrtle tree), Podocarpus, Poplars, Plymouth Pears, Salix (Willow), Sycamore gap tree, Tilia (lime), and Wollemi nobilis (Dinosaur tree). Products: RootGrow, mycorrhizal fungi. Places mentioned: Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, Exeter University, Cornwall Space Cluster, Heathrow Airport (mapping Black Poplar), The Nare Hotel, Strybing Arboretum and San Francisco Botanical Garden. People: David Noble (discovered the Wollemi in 1994 along with Michael Casteleyn and Tony Zimmerman), Richard Maxwell (Business development at Tremap), Humprey Repton (garden designer) and Robert Fortune (plant explorer). Desert Island tree: Custard fruit tree (Annona squamosa). The tallest Rhododendron in the UK is at Tregothnan, closely followed by a specimen at South Lodge in Horsham, Surrey – 2m difference in height. To find out more about the Tregothnan estate, the April charity weekend and Tea. You can download the Tremap app for Free on the two main app stores Android and Apple Store or go to www.tremap.com for more details. Some 16 million trees have already been mapped on the App. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Apr 2025 | April '25 in the Garden | 00:45:54 | |
After one of the driest March’s in years, our gardens are certainly providing some amazing tree blossom, shrub and bulb colour. DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day delve into the latest news, events and gardening advice for the month ahead. 5th April: The Forde Abbey Spring Plant and Gardening Fair at Forde Abbey and Gardens in Somerset. 5th - 6th April: Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show at Royal Cornwall Show Ground near Wadebridge. 5th - 6th April: Great Dixter Annual Plant Fair at Great Dixter Garden, Rye in East Sussex. Until 6th April: Sounds of Blossom at Kew Gardens in collaboration with the Royal College of Music. 13th April: Plant Fair and Talks at the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London. 24 - 27th April: Harrogate Spring Flower Show at the Great Yorkshire Showground. 27th April: Ramster Garden Spring Plant Fair, Chiddingfold in Surrey. News New National Forest to see 20m trees planted in England by 2050. Kew gets new and revamped features this year, plus the Waterlily House reopens. European Tree of the Year 2024: Beech tree in Poland wins. Alan Titchmarsh launches YouTube channel. Weed like to be better gardeners says OnePoll Research. Dog Trust warning to dog owners as several spring flowers can be toxic. RHS community garden survey launched. The hunt is on for rare and disappearing daffodils. 2024: The worst year for bumblebees recorded. Blenheim celebrates with oak saplings. Exbury Gardens celebrates 70th anniversary of public opening. Bowood House and Garden opens for the first time. Lee Connelly named Ambassador for National Children’s Gardening Week 2025. Historic uniforms worn by Chelsea Pensioners repurposed and included in a new Garden at Chelsea Flower Show next month. Hillier Nurseries is now 100% peat-free. Fewer slugs expected this spring, says RHS. New groundcover Hydrangea Blush ® launched. DIG IT Top 5 Miracle Gro Lawn Care Products: 1st Complete 4 in 1, 14kg A lawn treatment product that kills weeds and moss, creating a thicker, greener and healthier lawn. 2nd Patch Magic Bag contains a special binder which helps keep seed from washing away. It grows 2x thicker than ordinary grass, 1.5kg 3rd Complete 4 in 1, 80 sqm. 4th Miracle Gro Evergreen, 360 sqm. 5th Miracle Gro Evergreen, 80 sqm. Plants mentioned: Calibrachoa in the Kinder range, Sedum, Rudbeckia, root-wrapped Roses, Sweet peas, Primroses, Polyanthus, Ranunculus, Brussel sprouts, Runner and Climbing Beans, Dahlia, Gladioli, Lilies, including the variety Stargazer, wildflower seeds, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Rosemary, Snake Plant and Money Plant (Crassula). Products: Slug Gone, Composted Bark Chippings, Root-trainers, Horticultural Fleece, Terrocotta pot, and create your own Easter Hunt in the garden! Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Apr 2025 | Choosing the Perfect Bed with Stuart Lowen | 00:52:40 | |
In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Stuart Lowen, the Marketing Manager at Ball Colegrave, a leader in all areas of floriculture excellence. Stuart gives us the latest news from the seasonal plant industry, hanging basket advice, plus new bedding plants to look out for this summer. The Blue Flag winner in 2024 was Lantana Passion Fruit, a trailing spreading variety with a long flowering season of fruity, coloured flowers. The Tree of Life display at Ball featured Petunia Bee’s Knees. Mad About Mangave ® Praying Hands, a unique foliage plant, similar to an artichoke that grows up like a teardrop. Plants mentioned and to look out for this summer include; Antirrhinum Snap in Black Pink. Begonia Hula, Begonia Megawatt, Begonia Angel Wings, Trumpet Flower, Bidens Bee Happy, Coleus King Jr Rose, Coleus canina (Scaredy cat), Cosmos Cherry Chocolate (bright cherry pink flowers with the chocolate fragrance, Calibrachoas, Dahlia Gardenetta range of varieties, Geranium Moonflair (ivy leaf), Impatien Beacon ® Raspberry Sundae Mixed (highly resistant to downy mildew), Impatien Glimmer ® Pink, Mandevilla Tropica Jade Red, Osteospermum Akila Hawaii Sunset Mixed, Pansy Cool Wave (trailing pansy), Petunia Fanfare Heartbreaker, Petunia Surfinia and Sunflower PetiSol. Kitchen Buddies, a range of compact growing vegetable plants including Cucumber Quick Snack, Pepper Hot Banana, Sweet Corn Pot of Gold and Tomato Tumbling Tom Yellow. Product mentions: Control-release fertiliser, Miracle-Gro and a high potash fertiliser such as Tomato Food. Water-retaining granules such as Swell-Gel. Popular Speedplanters, Pop-In/ Drop-Ins, popular for instant colourful results. The late Peter Seabrook created an amazing garden at RHS Hyde Hall in Essex called Floral Fantasia, the garden is designed to showcase and celebrate the spectacular potential of seasonal plants. The garden acts as a bridge between the growing industry and the general public. Peter’s legacy lives on in this garden which you can visit to see the latest innovations, including this summer, Begonia Trials. 2025 is the Year of the Begonia. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
