Pot and Cloche Garden Podcasts (Joff Elphick-Gardener and podcaster with Pot and Cloche)

In this episode sponsored by the amazing Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to a number of the interesting exhibitors that can be found at The Malvern Autumn Show.

• Andie from Dahlia Beach tells us how her company, the first cut-your-own Dahlia farm in the UK came about. She also telss us about her plans to open the farm for 'dig your own' dDahlia plants at the thend of October. (It's a secret at the moment. keep it to yourself!!)
• David Whittaker is from the National Hedge Laying Society and with his superb mobile trailer of bonsai'd hawthorn hedges explains all the different styles of hedge laying in the country.
• Clive Saunders is a passionate private collector of early 20th century free standing engines that were often used  on farms and in workshops where belt drivenn tools were employed. It's a fascination subject that can become very addictive. Clive tells us that no-one ever has just one machine despite their best intentions.

This episode is a veritable butterfly extravaganza. Joff talks to a wide range of people about butterflies, plants they need, and their specific habitat requirements. 

Joff meets Tricia Atkinson at Prinknash Abbey and has a tour of the nectar garden hearing about all the plants that are recommended for both the adult butterfly and the larvae.

He spoke to ex national chairman of Butterfly Conservation Maurice Avent ten years ago and recorded their conversation on his battered old minidisc recorder. Thankfully the recording still exists and Maurice was able to tell him all about the history and habits of the Pearl Bordered Fritillary. Chris Tracey from the Gloucestershire branch is an expert on this declining species and showed Joff around the site she maintains to encourage it to breed and increase its population.

Daneway Banks in Gloucestershire is one of the few UK strongholds for the enigmatic Large Blue Butterfly. Sue Smith Chairperson of the Gloucestershire branch of Butterfly Conservation met him there and told him all about the incredible life cycle of this once extinct species. www.butterfly-conservation.org

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek about his career in horticulture and his new book Hortus Curious - discover the worlds most weird and wonderful plants and fungi. 

We talk about his work with Thompson and Morgan where he worked on plants like the Tom-tato and the Egg and chips plant. His TV work with Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch and QVC. 

His latest book Hortus Curious covers a wide range of the world's most fascinating plants and fungi  and we talk about Venus Flytraps, the origins of coffee, Miracle Berries, Wollemi pines, The Vulva Vine - Clitoria ternatea, peanuts (they're not a nut!), and the pyromaniac plant Dictamnus albus var purpureus.

Barnsley House, Richard Gatenby, Miserden Nursery, Julie Dolphin, Geoff Carr, Product Review. 

In this episode I talk to Richard Gatenby, Head Gardener at Barnsley House Gloucestershire former home and garden of Rosemary Verey. We talk about Rosemary, and about iconic features in the garden including the Temple Garden, The Lime Walk, The Laburnham Tunnel, The Frog Fountain, The Gothic Summer House, The Knot Garden, and The Potager. 

I also talk to Julie Dolphin, a former BBC Gardeners World Researcher who now runs a beautiful nursery, The Nursery at Miserden, with her husband in the winding back lanes of The Cotswolds. We talk glasshouses and vineries, Pelargoniums, Salvias, and perennials. Julie tells me a secret!-How Gold medal winning designer and TV presenter Chris Beardshaw used her nursery to bring on his plants for Chelsea 2017. It's out now Julie!!

Finally, my long time gardening pal Geoff Carr demonstrates a favourite item in our regular feature 'Product Review'.

In this episode (Part one of two) sponsored by mywindowbox.com Joff Elphick talks to Johns Sales. John has just brought out a book; Shades of Green-My Life as The National Trust Head of Gardens (Unicorn). John talks of his early memories as a wartime child and of catching the gardening bug. We go on to discuss his first job in a nursery growing Cape Heaths, begonias, and cyclamen for the christmas market.

Of particular interest is his account of working with Graham Stuart Thomas, and of Graham's legendary work ethic. He meets 'sloans' for the first time, and has a cleverly orchestrated 'interview' at 'The Trust' where he 'bumps into' Lord Antrim on the stairs."Afternoon tea anyone?"

I produce a photo of holders of The Victoria Medal of Honour, of which John is one, and we reel off the names that shared the medal with him on it's centenary celebration; Christo Lloyd, Adrain Bloom, Valerie Finnis, Roy Lancaster, Graham Stuart Thomas, Penny Hobhouse and more. It's a real who's who of horticulture!

In part two of this interview we talk more about the book, of The Trust's gardens, more on G.S.T. and also Pam and Sybil.

The episode ends with our regular feature of 'A Product Review' with my long time gardening friend Geoff Carr (www.geoffreycarr.co.uk)

In part two of this interview we talk about his book, of The Trust's Gardens, more on G.S.T., Sissinghurst, Pam and Sybil and more.

Many thanks once again to our lovely sponsors mywindowbox 'Bringing the garden to your window'. (www.mywindow.com)

In this episode Joff goes to the Malvern Autumn Show where he talks to Vanessa from garden boot makers Poddy and Black. He learns about traditional trug making from Robin at The Thomas Smith Trug Shop and then talks to Marsha O'Mahony who has written abook 'The Scratch of the Hop' about hop growing and picking in the midlands.

At Glee he chats with Annabelle Padwick from Life at No 27. Bumps into Lee Connoly aka The Skinny Jean Gardener, before talking with Elliot Webb from Urban-Farm-it. He rounds off the show with an update from an old friend of the show Linda Petrons from the amazing children's charity Greenfingers.

In this episode (part 2) sponsored by mywindowbox.com Joff Elphick talks to John Sales about his early days at The National Trust (1972-1998)

We find out how The Trust has changed, choosing trees with GST, policy making, or not, and The garden History Society and Westbury Court.

Also, visiting Vita, Pam, and Sybil.'Nookiness'. Should the Trust be more selective? Easter egg hunts at Hidcote. WHY? Grahams humble hatchback, and THE best place for a top class valet.

Plus more inside information. You heard it here first!

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick travels to the north of the Cotswolds to visit Harriet Rycroft, a garden speaker, consultant, writer, and an expert in container gardening. They talk about her book 'POTS' and wander around Harriet's back garden, home to nearly 800 pots.

• The book has 4 chapters - Learn - Plan - Grow - Care
• Harriet's advice is right plant, right place, and right pot, but at the same time do experiment and have fun.
• A few pests and how to manage them without resorting to chemicals
• Drainage, watering feeding.
• Irrigation
• Pot materials and the question of pot feet
• We talk about a few specific plants. Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'. Oxalis 'Iron Cros'. Begonia carolineifolia. Begonia sizemoreae. Amicia zygomeris. The ' Honka' dahlias. Coleus 'Henna'. Canna 'Russian Red'. Abutilon 'Canary Bird'.
• Climbing plants in pots.

In this episdoe sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to wildlife expert Chris Baines about his book THE RHS COMPANION TO WILDLIFE GARDENING - how to make a wildlif garden. First published in 1985 this book has now been fully updated and revised by Chris with new illustrations and highlights the changes in garden wildlife over the last 30 years.  It incorporates the latest RHS research and updated best practice. 

Chris talks about his days on BBC Gardeners World in the late 80's with Peter Seabrook and his time at BBC pebble Mill in the 80's. 

This book was first released at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 1985 where Chris built a groundbreakingwildlife garden that caught the nation's imagination. 

Chis also discusses why to make a wildlife garden in the first place. What different habitats you can create, and what to expect to see - quite a lot for those with the time and patience to sit and observe.

An oxymoron? A wild vegetable garden?

Chris was instrumental in setting up National Nest Box Week and International Dawn Chorus Day. 

This book from Quarto/Frances Lincoln is being released on 16th February 2023.

In this episode sponsored by MYWINDOWBOX Joff visit the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham to attend Glee-The UK's leading garden and outdoor living trade shoe.Set in huge halls and with over 500 exhibitors Joff had a busy day and walked over 8km!

Joff talks to Charlotte from Natural Grower who offers organic and vegan fertiliser products and soil conditioners which are a by product of her renewable energy plant.

He then discovers a company called Prongcroft a British self-start company from Nottingham who have developed an ingenious weeding and cultivating tool and a gardening kneeler/apron.

GoldLeaf Gloves are well known and loved in the horticulture industry. Launched in 2004 and endorsed by the RHS Joff talks to Kelly Cooney who explains the full range.

David Kelly represents VivaGreen who have a range of compostable and biodegradable products. Joff talks to David about MossOff a safe biodegradable method of controlling moss on your lawn and hard surfaces.

Melcourt Industries are well known suppliers of sustainable composts, mulches, and aggregates. Beverley Moseley spent some time with Joff to explain the large range that they offer.

Super sharp Japanese steel garden tools are the hallmark of Niwaki who also supply tripod ladders and other interesting Bits and pieces. Stewart Willes knows the range intimately and runs through the advantages of some of the secateurs and other tools they have available.

Joff Elphick speaks to authors, head-gardeners, writer, growers, and nursery owners and gets them to talk about their lives, books, businesses, and passions. There's a regular Product Review section where gardening gadgets and gizmo's are tested and opinions given.

Host Joff Elphick is a gardener in The Cotswolds, England and has worked in several large gardens including Le Manoir aux quat'saisons, Barnsley House, as head-gardener on a private estate, and also in the gardens of a cookery school. He had an office job in the gardens department of The National Trust and now looks after several gardens in Gloucestershire.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show. It costs nothing to listen.

The Generous Gardener ran by Sarah Biddulph and Sarah Rivett- Carnac offer a series of garden lectures throughout the year in Rodmarton Manor a beautiful arts and craft property located in Gloucestershire between Cirencester and Tetbury. Lectures in 2023 are being delivered by a brilliantly curated set of speakers most of whom are well known to keen gardeners and people in the world of horticulture. Speakers include Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, Richard Miers, James Alexander Sinclair, Pippa Greenwood, Lulu Urquart and Adam Hunt, Jimi Blake, Niff barnes, Jinny Blom, Clive Nichols, and Georgie Newbury.

Plant Sales are ran from Charlton Farm near the historic market town of Malmesbury have some well know nurseries and growers attending including hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, Riverside Bulbs, Tortworth Plants, Harry's Honey, Malcolm Allinson Plants, Tom's Yard, Exedera Plants, Old Court Nursery, Chris Cooke, Sparrow Plant Supports, Kitchen Garden Plants, Malvern Salvias, and Special Plants Nursery.  The entry fee includes a donation to The Simon Rivett-Carnac Trust. 

The 8 acre garden at Rodmarton is famed for it's snowdrops and is open for visits at the start of February  as well as other times of the year. 

In this episode sponsored by MYWINDOWBOX Joff travels to London to visit the old Horticultural Halls in Islington where the annual Garden Press Event is held for all members of the Horticultural Press to come along and look at products old and new. 

Joff talks to Johanna of Stone Globe Lights, a beautifully made range that are designed to blend in whatever your local stone and whatever the time of day or night. 

Simon from Willow Wand has an interesting product comprising woven willow wands that can be planted in pots or open ground to make an attractive quick growing topiary feature

Hugh Frost showed me the product range from Grazers. This liquid formulae is applied to plants to prevent pest damage and has no effect on the the food chain or the garden ecosystem.

Neil Urry from Vegepod has travelled 12,000 miles to bring us his raised vegetable growing platform. With its hinged hood and integrated irrigation system it's popular throughout the world.

The final product I look at is the Hotbin composting system. Cheryl describes how it's constructed from a hardwearing and efficient insulating material and breaks food and garden waste down into compost in record time. Because of the heat generated kitchen scraps can also be added.

Thank you to everyone for their time.

Also mentioned

Garden Press Event

Garden Media Guild

In this episode sponsored by mywindowbox Joff Elphick talks to poet, songwriter, author, and nature lover Pam Ayres. 

We talk about her 2018 bestseller 'The Last Hedgehog' and discuss the plight of our most loved and only spikey garden mammal.

Pam kindly recites the book as well as part of another poem that she wrote way back in 1972.

Ways of encouraging hedgehogs are discussed as well as how to plant up your garden to create a wildlife haven. 

Sarah Wilson from the Roots and All podcast tells us about her show and I catch up with my old gardening chum Geoff Carr to talk about a new piece of equipment that I find invaluable in the garden.

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to Silvana de Soissons about her book Natural Skincare for all Seasons. 

Chapters in the book include An introduction to the skin. Plotting the skincare garden. Choosing skincare plants.The natural skincare garden through the seasons. Formulations and Techniques.

Joff and Silvana discuss

• No dig gardening
• The use of 'weeds' in skincare.
• What are hydrosols, enfleurages, and tinctures
• How can we make a tussie-mussie bath-bomb?
• Gardeners hand scrub
• Sustainability

Joff can be found here

Find out more about Silvana's business by visiting the Farm Soap Co.

In this episode sponsored by MY WINDOW BOX Joff travels to Worcestershire in the UK to experience The RHS Malvern Autumn Show. With hundreds of exhibitors it has more than enough to fill a whole day and plenty more for members of the family who might not put horticulture at the centre of their lives. 

Joff has a great time and is extremely impressed with the organisation of the show which was very well attended on a bright though blowy day.

Joff speaks to exhibitors about collecting old lawnmowers, groundsmanship, allotments, a record breaking collection of perry pears, and speaks to a charity, Herefordshire Growing Point, that has been offering horticultural therapy at a large number of sites around the country for over 30 years.

In this episode Joff travels to the big smoke and takes the tube to Islington where he visits The Garden Press Event at the Business Design Centre formerly the Horticultural Halls. He speaks to his favourite charity Greenfingers. The people behind the app and podcast Candide. Horty legends Rob and Rosie Hardy from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants. James Mc Donald from Plant Surge demonstrates his unique watering aid and Steve Ratley from Henchman extolls the virtues of their highly popular tripod ladders.

Joff Elphick speaks to The Times garden writer Stephen Anderton about his book 'Lives of the Great Gardeners'. They talk about Charles Jencks and The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Alexander Reford from Les Jardins de Metis (Reford Gardens), Lawrence Johnston,Hidcote, and Vita Sackville-West and Sissinghurst. They talk too about Stephen's own garden in Wales.

Geoff Carr joins Joff in 'The Long Border' and P.R. team discuss a favourite item in a Product Review. It's all a secret until the recording starts. Joff decides he must have this item. But what's it called and where can you get it? Help?

Joff finishes by going 'off piste' after an enquiry about his Wildlife Sound Recording. A Nightingale signs off the show.

In this Episode  sponsored by Genus Gardenwear I talk to Tamsin Westhorpe about her latest book Grasping the Nettle - tales from a modern country gardener.

Tamsin is a hands-on gardener who opens her garden Stockton Bury near Leominster to the public. She had worked as a parks greenkeeper, an interior landscaper, she had her own shop, and is probably best known for holding the position of Editor at The English Garden magazine. 

We discuss her childhood in the 70's. Being brought up surrounded by chickens and other crestures. Her holidays to Poole in Dorset where she spent a lot of time in her Aunty Margie's garden. 

Her transition to gardener wasn't a lightbulb moment.

We talk of catching a boyfriends while dissecting pig's hearts, art college, and summer days spent untangling Clematis at her uncle's nursery. 

She became a lecturer which was the most character building period of her life.

The commute from Herefordshire to The English garden in Cheltenham involved a commute by scooter. (It didn't last long)

During lockdown she became an international speaker talking to gardeners in America, Japan, the Uk and beyond. 

Derek Gow is a farmer and nature conservationist. Born in Dundee in 1965, he left school when he was 17 and worked in agriculture for five years. Inspired by the writing of Gerald Durrell, all of whose books he has read - thoroughly - he jumped at the chance to manage a European wildlife park in central Scotland in the late 1990s before moving on to develop two nature centres in England. He now lives with his two children on a 300-acre farm on the Devon/Cornwall border which he is in the process of rewilding.

Derek has played a significant role in the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver, the water vole and the white stork in England.

He is currently working on a reintroduction project for the wildcat.

I ask Derek about his transition from Scottish farm to Scottish wildlife park to a 300 acre rewilding project in Devon.

We talk extremes from huge water buffalo to tiny harvest mice and from Heck cattle whose sole aim in life seems to be to kill you to water voles and white storks. 

Derek is a straight talker with a dislike for commitees much prefering to be hands on getting jobs done while others continue to discuss and debate. 

If you like what you hear you can stay on Derek's farm to see for yourself what he's getting up to. Go to www.rewildingcoombeshead.co.uk 

In this episode sponsored by Genus Garden Wear,  Joff talks to Kate Bradbury about her new book ONE GARDEN AGAINST THE WORLD - in search of hope in a changing climate from Bloomsbury wildlife

Kate is an award-winning writer specialising in wildlife gardening and the author of The Bumblebee Flies Anyway, Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything, How to Create a Wildlife Pond and The Tree in Your Garden. She’s the Wildlife Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and has a regular Country Diary column in The Guardian. She writes regularly for the RHS The Garden magazine, The Wildlife Trusts members’ magazine and BBC Wildlife. Her garden was featured as part of the BBC Springwatch Garden Watch campaign, and she and her garden have also appeared on Autumnwatch and Gardener's World. 

She is a patron for two charities: amphibian and reptile charity Froglife and bumblebee charity Bumblebee Conservation Trust. She is also an Ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and conservation charity Butterfly Conservation. She lives in Brighton.

We go a bit off-piste and discuss wildlife in general and Kate recommends plants and methods of attracting more insects, birds, and mammals into our gardens. 

Hoverflies, butterflies, moths, hedgehogs, birds, frogs, toads, slowworms, etc etc. All get a mention in the book.

Theres an interesting Q and A section where Joff asks questions from friends of the podcast.

In episode 36 Joff Elphick visits the Garden Press Event at London's Business Design Center.

Sue Morgan from Songbird Survival discusses the charity's work addressing the alarming 50% decline in UK songbirds over the past 50 years. She attributes this to complex factors including climate change, land use changes, pesticides, and habitat loss. Sue offers three key tips for bird-friendly gardens: provide shelter (places to perch and feel safe), food (through plants with berries and seeds), and year-round water sources. She also mentions their upcoming Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by Nicola Okey.

Mark Meadows from Buzzbox explains their beekeeping starter kit, which includes everything except the bees themselves. He describes how honey production works with the queen in the brood box and honey storage in the supers, separated by a queen excluder.

Andy Rollings reveals David Austin Roses' meticulous 12-year development process, starting with 40,000 hand pollinations generating nearly 400,000 seeds. Only roses tough enough to thrive without special care make it to market, budded onto Rosa laxer rootstock.

Paul Duffy from Onduline discusses their lightweight, recyclable corrugated roofing sheets, which are quieter than metal alternatives and last for 15+ years.

Anthony from Garden on a Roll offers pre-designed garden layouts on biodegradable paper with lettered plants to match, making gardening accessible for beginners.

Jane from Dale Foot Compost creates eco-friendly growing media from bracken (high in potassium) and sheep wool (providing nitrogen and water retention), while also working on peatland restoration.

Andrew Tolly from King Seeds highlights their heritage since 1888, specializing in sweet peas (100+ varieties) and vegetable seeds for allotments nationwide.

Lastly, Florian introduces Fryd, a gardening app that helps plan  gardens with automatic to-do lists for planting and maintenance.

Joff Elphick visits the Malvern Plant and Garden Fair and discusses Restios with Ray Rowe of Sunray Plants. Andrew from international charity Plantlife talks about their work and Rob Hardy of Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants talks about his Frilly Knickers (yes really!!) and the range of plants he has on offer.

Joff also has a final chat with his gardening chum Geoff about the time consuming and often expensive task of staking plants. 

Many thanks to the sponsor of the show mywindowbox.com  

He then talks to Richard Pennock of Haws watering cans, the words oldest watering can manufacturer who still make their product in the UK. 

Tom Willday of Willsow writes and publishes gardening  books for children with pages made of handmade paper  embeded with seeds that can be planted!! 

Chris Holden from Nemasys discusses the range of organic nematode based pest control products that the company offers. Dealing with vine weevil, slugs, and leatherjackets has never been easier.

Mark Pitman is from Wildlife World who have just released a range of sustainable seed trays, root trainers, and cell trays in natural rubber that will finally enable us to rid our sheds of all those dissintegrating plastic products we've amassed over the years. 

Vanessa Easley is from the WFGA (Working for Gardeners Association) She tells us about the networking, support, and training opportunites they provide.

In this episode Joff hops on the train to Paddington and navigates the London underground to find The Business Design Centre in Islington, London. It's the Garden press Event and he get to talk to some amazing people who have produced some equally amazing and well thought out products.

Previous guest on the podcast Andy from Dahlia Beach tells us about her flower farm, the highs and lows of growing flowers, and her plans for 2024. Joff tries to sell her a double decker bus.

Sue O'Neil form Genus Gardenwear is launching a fabulous new product - The Pro-Pant. Feature rich, designed by gardeners, and built to last these trousers are going to be a firm favourite amongst professional gardeners and landscapers. 

Guy Grieve from Atlantic Garden has lived an intersting life writing books, living in the wilds of Alaska, diving for scallops in Mull, and now turning seaweed into a product that will put the life back into your soil.

Alex Curran started Roots Plants three years ago and has a network of UK nurseries supplying sustainable plants with provenance. 

Dick Woods from Finches Friend has decided to combat the problem of parasite transference on garden bird feeders and has produced several new products that will save a lot of our garden birds from trichomonosis.

Stuart fro Niwaki introduces us to a new secateur the latest addition to there fabulous range of japanese garden tools.

The legendary parties at Ellen's home Warley Place. 

'Wilmott Tombola' with dead mice and silverfish.

Ellen Wilmott 'snubbing' the RHS after being awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour.

Ellen's complicated friendship with Gertrude Jekyll.

Why every Victorian lady should carry knuckle dusters and a revolver.

In this episode Joff talks to Adrian Bloom about his new book FOGGY BOTTOM - A GARDEN to SHARE.

From breaking turf in an empty meadow in 1966, to its near maturity in 2023 it is the story of a garden and its plants. That’s a 56-year-old garden with stories to tell. 

More important in Adrian’s view is what the Foggy Bottom Garden represents today and how many more can benefit from sharing it. He shows and describes changes in weather and habitats, dramatic seasonal changes shown through the diversity of many worthwhile plants.  

How to keep a balance between design and ‘right plant’, ‘right place’ and need for change as the garden grows and develops. Adrian has continually adapted his garden as the once empty windswept meadow became sheltered and shaded. Flooding still happens from time to time, spring frosts seek out early flowers, occasional gale blows the tops out of trees.

Joff discovers Adrian's early passion for speed skating, how a seed brought back from his adventures is now a 100 foot Redwood tree, the fashion for conifers and the changing markets. The early days of Foggy Bottom from a stark new-build bungalow with a small garden to a six acre garden planted as a test ground for perrenials and conifers. 

To have a look at the books and it's contents or to purchase go to the Foggy Bottom website here.

• 17th and 18thC gardens
• The Sodshow
• The Association of Professional Landscapers awards.
• Being a 'purple shirt' for DIY SOS Ireland
• Highly prized Sodshow merchandise.
• His involvement and designs for the WW1 Centenery Memorial Garden at Chateau de Péronne, France.
• Lonny Donnegan
• The horticultural charity Perennial

Liz Zorab is author of the bestselling 'Grounded – A Gardener's Journey to Abundance and Self-Sufficiency'. She spent more than 20 years working with specialist housing charities and in community development, with an emphasis on innovative volunteering practices. An award-winning gardener, she gained an RHS Silver Medal for a community-led garden featured on BBC's 'Gardeners World Live' in 2002. A health crisis led Liz to turn to her life-long passion for gardening and growing food as a career. Liz spent several years transforming her 0.8 acre plot in Monmouthshire into an abundant smallholding. She is now regenerating a tired and over-grazed 4.5 acre site using permaculture practices. On less than an acre, she grows most of the food and drink her family enjoy each year, giving them food security, resilience and increased self-reliance. She enjoys spending time with Mr J (her husband) and her family, watching rugby and creative handicrafts, and has a distinct dislike of housework. Liz regularly writes for Permaculture Magazine, teaches gardening and self-sufficiency skills and encourages thousands of people to take up their trowels and live their dreams through a vibrant YouTube Channel, Liz Zorab – Byther Farm. If you want to dig deeper into the processes of growing your own organic food, self-sufficiency practitioner, Liz Zorab, offers insights to the rhythm and patterns of her gardening year. In this personal gardening journey, she explores seasonal harvests and how the vegetable garden sits within the wider context of the gardening landscape – including weather, microclimates, water cycles, light levels, seasons and the gardener’s personal tastes and preferences. Liz’s salt of the earth approach to life and to the garden and her gentle humour makes The Seasoned Gardener an easily digestible read. She provides hundreds of practical tips, including how-to guides, observations and inspiration for both the beginner and practiced gardener alike. Unlike many gardening books that run from January to December, this book starts in the autumn when harvesting is at its peak. Most of the fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers highlighted in this book are grouped according to when we enjoy them most – at the point of harvest. The Seasoned Gardener will show you how to: Enjoy the abundance of each month of the year Decide which plants are best to grow in your garden Find pleasure in your growing space year-round Avoid the pitfalls of doing too much at once Be creative with your garden resources Make the most of your time and energy Celebrate nature’s productivity as much as your own. This is a journey of experiment and learning that will inspire you to grow tastier food and savour the experience.

In this episode sponsored by Genus gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Barbara Segall about her new book GARDENS of the SOUTH-EAST published by Frances Lincoln. Within its 144 pages are  20 gardens many of which often remain overlooked but all of which display the passion of the owners or gardeners that look after them. It's a fascinating talk with not just the gardens, but many names of people involved in horticulture scattered throughout the episode for one reason or another. Jane perrone, Alys Fowler, Peter Donegan, Rocky Coles, Marcus Harper, Fergus Garrett, Clive Boursnell,Beth Chatto, Christopher LLoyd, Tom Coward,William Robinson, John Brookes,  and Gertrude Jekyll all get a mention.

The publisher says:

A tour of some of the UK's most beguiling gardens in the counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, the counties that exemplify 'the garden of England'.

In these three counties a wealth of history and horticulture has combined with geography in the shape of rolling landscapes, wooded valleys and meandering waterways, to provide an attractive and fascinating collection.

They are in villages and towns, as well as in deep countryside, and all are privately owned. Some have been in the possession of the same family for many generations, while others have recently been transformed by new owners. Some open for the National Garden Scheme, while others are open privately and in some cases for just the occasional day for charity.

The stunning gardens explored in this visually rich guide include: Arundel Castle, Denmans, Gravetye Manor, Munstead Wood and Sussex Prairie Garden. The book also includes a gazetteer of other important gardens in the area with location advice, to enable readers to plan a more elaborate tour of this fertile garden area.

Filled with stunning, specially commissioned photographs by Clive Boursnell, Secret Gardens of the South East is a unique guide that opens the gates to the most intriguing gardens in this part of England.

• Responsibilities of a garden consultant
• Japanese Knotweed
• Design and Build
• Contracts
• Legalities of being a designer
• Public liability and employers liability
• Case Studies
• Appointing a head gardener
• Artificial grass

Joff can be contacted at joffelphick@gmail.com

His website is www.joffelphick.co.uk

In this episode sponsored by MYWINDOWBOX Joff talks to Henry Robinson who looks after the National Collection of rambler roses in the UK. In a beautiful garden overlooked by his early 19c home Henry presides over 150 varieties of rambling roses. We explore the gardens looking at individual rose varieties while discussing pruning, care, and maintenance regimes. Henry opens the garden every year usually in the last month of June. Visit www.moorwoodroses.co.uk

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear  Joff Elphick takes his annual pilgrimage up to the big smoke where he visitis the old horticultural halls - now known as The Business Design Centre - to meet horticutlural businesses for The garden Press Event.

He speaks to Simon for Hydrialife who tells us about his self contained award winning water fountain kit with rechargeable batteries and a programmable timer. Great for indoors or out.

Kate from Capi-Europe has a great range of pots and water butts produced in a CO2 neutral factory and made completely from discarded fishing nets. 

Karen Abbott is with Spear and Jackson a company with 260 years of experience producing garden tools. A long handled trowel, a pruning saw, a cape cod weeder, and a mini spade ideal for splitting perennials is new to their range for 2023.

Adrian Bloom a well known name in the plant world is from bressingham gardens. His new book Foggy Bottom - a gardeners share will be available in september 2023.

Old friends of the show Haws Watering Cans were at the show and Josh explained teir new concept in 'the art of watering'. He also explains the process and huge amount of work that goes into their British made cans.

Sarah Gerard-Jones Is from The Plant Clinic. Sarah explains how her business saves plants, the potting medium, and the pots from going ito landfill through the use of her Pkant Rescue Boxes. It's an ingenious concept that is currently being trialled by The RHS at their centre in Wisley.

Sean Kelly is from Fauna Bird a Dutch company that have worked with Tetra pak to come up with the technology to removed the plastic fim from inside cartons and then turn them into garden bird feeders. They also offer a complimentary range of bamboo and ceramic feeders and nest boxes.

Tea Francis loves spiders so much she has them tatooed onto her body. Tea is an arachnologist who wants us to appreciate the role that spiders play in our homes and gardens. 

Joff talks to Ben Dark about his latest book The Grove - a nature odyssey in 191/2 front gardens.

Ben Dark is such a wonderful writer - The Grove drew me in from the first line. Lia Leendertz

The Grove is overflowing with delicious nuggets of cultural, social and garden history, - and I adore Ben's humour and humility in equal measure. Advolly Richmond

A heartfelt romp through the wisteria and wilderness of London's horticulturally remarkable front gardens. Jack Wallington

Fans of Ben Dark's mellifluous tones on The Garden Log Podcast will be delighted how perfectly his lyrical musings transfer to the printed page as, with infant son in tow, he invites the reader upon a series of horticultural expeditions inspired by the deceptively ordinary planting of the front gardens in a south London street. Andrew O'Brien

In this episode sponsored by MY WINDOW BOX (www.mywindowbox.com) Joff Elphick talks to scientist, gardener, cook, and former Tomorrows World presenter (1974-1994) Judith Hann. Judith released a book 'Herbs-delicious recipes and growing tips to transform your food' in 2017 and it was promptly recognised by Gardens Illustrated as one of the top 14 gardening books of the year.

Topics mentioned include The Herb Society, David Bellamy, fresh herbs in the 60's, Delia, Madhur Jaffrey, Ken Hom, and Franco Taruschio. We are treated to a guided tour of Judith's herb garden where we look at her collection of herbs and discuss herb teas, herb sugars, pruning, cup cakes, and seed collecting.

Joff reminisces about nearly setting the kitchen on fire during a 'coffee' making experiment, while Judith reminisces about the headline-making story of Rick Stein, Chalky, and the murdered pet rabbit; Judith gives her side of the story!!

Judith has a herb school Hanns Herbs and you can find venue details and dates at www.hannsherbs.co.uk 

She also has a beautiful barn you can stay at surrounded by her garden. Take a look at www.baxtersfarmbarn.co.uk

Jane Perrone (www.janeperrone.com) Gardening Editor for The Guardian makes an appearance to give us details about her popular podcast 'On The Ledge' where she discusses just about everything you could need to know about growing houseplants.

Finally Joff and his old gardening chum Geoff Carr www.geoffreycarr.co.uk talk about a highly efficient bulb planter in a product review.

Find out more about Joff at www.joffelphick.co.uk.