Dig It

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...

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 ra...

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 working...

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 mor...

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,...

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....

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 tip...

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...

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’...

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 varietie...

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...

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...

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...

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 wildli...

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 was...

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 d...

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 geraniu...

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 Impa...

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 Pepp...

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 al...

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 discuss...

Chris Day and Peter Brown discuss some things to do in your Garden in April. Plant/Product mentions Tree, Shrub and Tree Planting Compost Roses Rose feeds - Top Rose Vitax Q4 Cosmos Sonata Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) Sunflowers Camellias, Pieris, Rhododendrons Ericaceous Feed Sequestrene Tonic Plant stakes - Poppy Forge Garden Canes Willow / Hazel sticks can be grown from bare-root plants establishe...

An interview with John Marshal, expert in growing potatoes and Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner. Plant/Product mentions Potato 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'....

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 Mentions Eleagnus ebbingei Antirrhinums Pinks and Carnations (in store only) Houseplants and Accessories Orchid Products Useful Links Amateur Gardening magazine Buckingham Nurseries Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acas...