Dig It

On the 12th of July Shrivenham , on the Oxford Wiltshire border opens some of its gardens to the public, as are the gardens of Bozeat and Cold Ashby . We are enjoying the Garden Centre temperature indoor climate but it has been very warm recently without much rain, so watering is very important to help plants. An Antirrhinum ‘Shiryu Kiss’  has won the Peter Seabrook award and Best in Show at...

In this episode Bill and Peter suggest a visit to Toddington Open Gardens on the 4th and 5th July and also if you are passing they both like Poplars Garden Centre as a great place to visit or pop in for tea and cake if you are going past on the M1. In Northamptonshire we have Irthlingborough and Drayton Parslow in Milton Keynes. Hanging baskets are looking good now, but are food hungry so feed the...

25 Gardens are open in Stony Stratford over the weekend of the 27th and 28th and there are also gardens open in Stonefield where 11 gardens will be open. We also share the sad news of the passing of Matthew Biggs the old Gardener’s World presenter and life-long horticulturalist, and garden designer. Bill and Peter also chat about Roses, the different types and where to use them, how to grow them a...

In this episode Peter and Bill chat about Bedding, Bokashi, and fertilizer. Bill suggests a few places to visit starting with Goring on Thames, Fritwell and Hanslope who have open garden weekends.  We chat about bedding for flower beds and how the fashions have changed. We used to do 3 plantings a year but now we mainly do just summer bedding. Bill talks us through ways to plant, numbers to g...

In this episode Bill and Peter chat about Hanging Baskets and Containers and the benefits of using Kindergarden's Pop Ins. We love the fact they are so simple and easy to plant and within a few weeks give you a great display which can last the whole summer. As one of our fastest moving products and only available for a short window you need to get your timing right to be able to buy them. All they...

In this Episode Peter Talks with Chris Hepburn, Senior Sales Manager of Hozelock . Chris has been with Hozelock for many years and worked his way up through the company and gained a fantastic knowledge of the Horticultural Watering Marketplace. We chat about where the company first started and why, and where the first ideas for the first products came from. Hozelock has a great reputation as a Bri...

Chelsea Gold medals decided. We like the new Hosta red ninja, the beautiful Red Greenhouse by Malvern Garden Buildings and various phallic houseplants on the sex toy manufacturer’s sponsored garden. The ‘Lady Garden’ was designed with fantastic sculptures, manicured bushes and beautiful coloured planting and will hopefully start conversations focused on female genitalia cancers and open up discuss...

Peter and Bill chat about some news items. Chelsea is sold out and opened to the general public Tuesday 19th May. Our friends at Malvern Garden Buildings have a stand and are exhibiting again. It may be a controversial year as one of the designers is getting criticised for using an AI app to design gardens. Peter has found a new range of pencils from Sprout World that have seeds in the end so you...

In this episode Bill and Peter discuss the RHS Chelsea Flower Show . Bill has had personal experience of displaying hanging baskets at the show and shares his thoughts and memories of how much effort and work goes into putting the show together. In this show we discuss some of the gardens that caught our eyes from Tech Mahindra’s Hedgerow in the Sky balcony exhibit that takes inspiration from Brit...

In this episode Peter chats with Bill about his recent Sweetcorn planting and why he failed and yet Bill had a totally different result. For places to visit locally, we have 80 West Hill Aspley Guise 31st May and Latimer Park Farm , Chesham, 30th May. If you fancy something different then have a look at Pumpkin Beths What’s on page or The National Gardens Scheme. Bill gives us some great tips on e...

Keukenhoff Tulip Gardens in the Netherlands is open with amazing displays of Tulips until the 10th May 2026 Pashley Manor Gardens Tulip display is an amazing display of over 4000 tulips in Essex. The NGS Open Gardens are opening all over the uk clink on the link to find out more. The RHS Malvern Spring Festival opens on 7th to the 10th May and then we have the great RHS Chelsea Flower Show , 19th...

Pumpkin Beth – Plant Fairs and seed swaps we found this page on Beth’s website that has masses of places to visit, seed swaps, open gardens. The website also has lots of interesting articles and news. Grantham Garden Centre reopens its doors with it’s new name and having undergone lots of work. River View at Goldings in the Clyde valley also opened its doors on Good Friday. Oakwood Clydedales have...

Bill has joined the podcast to share some of his knowledge from a life time in horticulture. In this episode we learn a little about Bill's introduction to growing plants, from his early days of harvesting in school to help feed his fellow pupils to growing flowers, bedding, and vegetables for the commercial markets of London and Birmingham. We talk through some of the changes and improvements to...

Time to feed your Daffodils as the bulbs have put a lot of energy into flowering and as the flowers are dying off you can give them some foliar feed to help them put more energy into the bulb for another good show next year. It is also worth deadheading them after flowering but leave the rest of the foliage for at least 6 to 8 weeks after flowering before cutting down. It’s time to plant Onions an...

Manos Kanellos is hoping to join us on the podcast in the Autumn to help us with our Orchids, after a very successful Orchid Day and Terrarium workshop at the Garden Centre. Newbury Garden Show at the Newbury Showground, RG 18 9QZ on the 11th and 12 April. The Rare Plant Fair at the Old Rectory Quenington. GL7 5BN on the 12th April Kingswood Walton and Tadworth Horticultural Society spring show 11...

Events to go and see: Bridgewater Plant Heritage Spring Fair at RHS Bridgewater, Salford, Manchester. M27 2 LJ Alpine Garden Society Cleveland show on 4th April at HURWORTH GRANGE COMMUNITY CENTRE, 41 HURWORTH ROAD, HURWORTH PLACE, DARLINGTON, DL2 2BN Dorothy Clive Gardens Spring plant Fair on 6th April at Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, Shropshire. TF9 4EU Overstroud Cottage , Great Missenden, Bu...

In this episode David chats with the Treasurer Barbara about the joys of Allotments. Barbara shares a little history of the area and the allotments, and the fact that the Roundheads and Cavaliers once fought in the area. We learn of the changes of that she has noticed through her times in Buckingham and the impact this has had on the allotments and its holders. As a long-standing member of the com...

  In this |Episode David and Peter Chat about the early spring flowers and which one signifies the start of Spring. Dr Johnathon Jones thinks its magnolias, what do you think? The Greenfingers Charity is having its releaf days throughout the year. A Charity climb up Kilamanjaro has been organized to help raise funds as well as lots of other events scheduled for the year. A petition for making...

In This Episode... Frost Protection:  Peter shares an essential seasonal tip on laying fleece over your newly planted crops to shield them from late-season frost. Microgreens & Salads:  David discusses his progress with microgreens and his method for planting  Basil  as a microsalad crop. Carrot Success:  We explore the unique benefits of growing  Carrots  in...

In this Episode we chat about upcoming events and shows, plants we are starting to sow now, and some items from the news. Show and Open days Potato Day and Green Fair , Border Events Centre, Kelso Alpine Society Spring Show , Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough. LE12 8JU South Molton Panier Market Plant Fair , South Molton Pannier Market, Broad Street, South Molton EX36 3AB Pla...

In this episode Peter chats with Ian Cross from Mr Fothergills seeds. Mr Fothergills are one of the largest seed suppliers in the UK and supply seeds to over 30 countries with a 70% market share in Australia and New Zealand. Surprisingly, Sunflowers and Beetroot are some of their best selling types of seed. Mr Fothergills has released a new Oh Sow Simple range of seeds this year which are designed...

In this episode David and Peter chat about a few News items, the record breaking amounts of rain we have had in January - the rivers are breaking their banks and lots of areas of the country are flooded - compost heaps, the new Stiga AI robot mower and British Garden Centres have secured another site at Dronfield. It’s still bare root season and Peter talks of his plans to plant another bare root...

Events : Great Comp Snowdrop and Plant Fair Comp Lane, Platt, Nr Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8QS Tel: 01732 885094 The Alpine Garden Society Plant Show and sale , Pershore High School, Pershore PERSHORE HIGH SCHOOL, STATION ROAD, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE, WR10 2BX Shepton Snowdrop Festival Plant Sale and Seed Swap St Paul's School Hall, Paul Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5LA Kingston Bagpuize Snowdrop Fai...

In this Episode David and Peter chat about seed swaps, snow drops and our top 5 houseplants. Events and Places to Visit: 18th Bletchley Seed swap is happening on 14 February 2026 - 10-2pm Address: Freeman Memorial Methodist Church Hall, Buckingham Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 5HH just £1 entry Gatton Park Snowdrop Open Day  Sunday 01 February 12.00 pm - 5.00 pm. The Park and gardens ar...

In this weeks episode we chat about houseplants, seed swaps, what’s been in the horticultural news and onions. Visit House plants at RHS Rosemore , learn more about houseplant care and the perfect houseplant for you. With 4 talks covering ferns. cacti, orchids and Terraniums. Trumpington Seedy Sunday an event run since 2006 where you can swap your seeds, take refreshments and purchase local produc...