Gardening with Ben - Garden and Allotment Tips and Advice Podcast

🌿☀️ It’s a busy time of year on the allotment! In this episode of Saturday Spotlight, I’m sharing the essential July to-dos for your allotment and garden — from watering wisely during hot spells to keeping on top of weeding, feeding, and harvesting. 🍅🥔 Discover how to make the most of your mid-summer garden, including which crops to sow now, how to keep plants thriving in the heat, and the main...

🌿☕ It’s time for another Garden Journal Friday — where we sit down, take a breath, and look back at what’s been happening on the allotment this week. From the wins to the weeds, I’m sharing every bit of the journey as it unfolds. 🌾 Discover what’s growing well, what still needs attention, and the little lessons learned along the way. It’s all about keeping it real — celebrating progress, learni...

🌿💚 In this episode of Grow & Give, we’re diving into the spirit of sharing within the gardening community — swapping surplus seeds, plants, and advice to help everyone grow more for less. 🌱 Whether you’re a new gardener just starting out or a seasoned allotmenteer with extra seeds to spare, this chat is all about building connections, reducing waste, and spreading the joy of growing. From s...

🍅🌿 As the nights start to cool and autumn creeps in, your tomato plants don’t have to call it quits just yet! In this episode of Tomatoes Till the Frost, I’m sharing my best late-season tomato-growing tips to keep your plants producing right through October. Learn how to protect your plants from the chill, encourage continued flowering, and get every last ripe tomato off the vine before the fros...

🌞🌿 We’re halfway through July, and it’s time for a good old-fashioned garden check-in! In this episode, I’m walking through the plot to share what’s thriving and what’s struggling during this busy mid-summer stretch. From bumper crops to pest problems, I’ll take you through the highs and lows happening on the allotment — because gardening isn’t always perfect, but it’s always rewarding. 🌻 Grab...

Make the most of a soggy July Sunday by installing a simple drip irrigation system in your polytunnel—selecting tubing, laying out drip lines, and hooking up a time💦🌧️ It might be a soggy Sunday outside, but inside the polytunnel we’re cracking on with something essential — installing a brand-new irrigation system! In today’s episode, we talk through why irrigation is one of the best upgrades you...

🌧️💚 It’s a wild, stormy Saturday on the allotment — and we’re heading out anyway! In today’s episode, I take you along for a real behind-the-scenes look at what happens on the plot when the rain absolutely pours down in July. We’ll chat about how heavy summer rain affects your crops, what jobs you can still get done, and the surprising ways a downpour can actually benefit the garden. From flooded...

🌱✨ Gardening with Ben is officially back! In this exciting return episode, I’m sharing all the fresh tips, new ideas, and allotment adventures coming your way. From what’s happening on the plot right now to the gardening plans I’ve been itching to reveal, this episode is your warm welcome back into the journey. We’ll chat about what’s changing on the allotment, new projects on the go, what’s gro...

❄️➡️🌱 We’re moving from winter chill to early spring excitement — February is the month where everything starts shifting! In today’s episode, we dive into what’s happening on the allotment right now, what’s changing as the weather turns, and all the little signs that the new growing season is finally approaching. We’ll talk about the first big February tasks, what you can sow indoors and outdoors...

🌱🏡 It’s a busy February weekend down on the allotment — and it finally feels like the countdown to spring has begun! In this episode, we dive into all the essential jobs that kickstart the new growing season, even while winter still lingers in the air. We’ll chat about preparing raised beds, clearing winter debris, early sowing plans, polytunnel organisation, and the small but important tasks th...

🌱📆 January may be the quietest month on the allotment — but it’s packed with lessons, surprises, and wins worth celebrating. In this episode, we look back at everything the first month of the year had to offer: the successes that set us up for the year, the challenges winter threw our way, and the lessons learned that will shape the growing season ahead. We’ll chat about plot improvements, seeds...

🕊️🔍 The Big Bird Watch 2025 is complete — and the results are finally in! In this special episode, we dive into the most exciting sightings, the unexpected visitors, the garden favourites that topped the list, and what these findings say about UK wildlife this year. We’ll look at the birds that dominated the charts, the rare species spotted on plots across the country, and how weather, food avail...

🐦🌿 It’s that time of year again — the Big Bird Watch 2025 is here! In this episode, we’re diving into one of the UK’s biggest wildlife events, where thousands of people head out into their gardens, allotments, balconies, and local green spaces to record the birds they see. We’ll talk about how to take part, what species to look out for, the best time of day to spot more activity, and why this na...

🌱✨ It’s time for a garden update! In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what’s happening on the allotment right now — what’s growing, what’s being planted next, and the new ideas brewing for the season ahead. We’ll chat through the crops that are doing brilliantly, the ones that need a bit of TLC, and the plans I’m rolling out across the plot. From early sowings and new varieties to polytunnel pr...

🌱🌟 It’s a brand-new year of growing — and in this episode I’m revealing all my gardening goals for 2025! From the vegetables I’m most excited to grow, to the flowers I want to add for colour and pollinators, to the long-term projects I’m planning across the allotment, this episode is packed full of inspiration and fresh ideas. We’ll chat through my must-grow crops for the year, new varieties I w...

🐌🌧️ If you’ve walked out into your garden or allotment and found half your plants nibbled overnight… you’re not alone! In this episode, we dive deep into why slugs seem to explode in numbers — especially during mild, wet weather — and what you can actually do about it. We’ll look at the main reasons behind sudden slug invasions, from warm winters and heavy rain to sheltered hiding spots and moist...

🌱🌞 It’s been a busy, sunny Sunday down on the allotment — and in this episode I’m sharing everything we’ve been up to! From the small jobs that make a big difference to the bigger tasks that help get the plot ready for the weeks ahead, this episode is a relaxed catch-up of real allotment life. We’ll chat about what’s growing well, what needs a little attention, the areas we’ve been tidying, and...

🌱🍅 January might be chilly, but it didn’t stop us having a super-productive Saturday down at the allotment! In this episode, I’m sharing everything we got up to today — the jobs, the tidy-ups, the early prep, the surprises, and the little moments that make winter gardening so rewarding. We talk about clearing beds, checking structures after winter weather, adding compost, planning out new growin...

🌱❄️ January might be cold, but the allotment is far from quiet! In today’s episode, we take a look at the important jobs we’re doing on the plot right now — the tasks that keep everything ticking over before spring arrives. We’ll talk about clearing old beds, adding compost, checking structures after winter weather, organising tools, planning out this year’s layout, and preparing the polytunnel f...

🌿✨ Whether you’ve got a tiny plot, a compact raised bed, or a full allotment, there are so many clever ways to maximise every inch of growing space! In today’s episode, we’re diving into easy, practical and space-saving ideas to help you get more harvests, healthier plants, and better organisation — no matter the size of your garden. We’ll explore vertical growing, clever planting combinations,...

🌶️🔥 January might be freezing outside, but it’s the PERFECT time to bring some heat into your garden! In this episode, we dive into everything you need to know about starting your peppers and chillies early — from sowing tips to setup, care, warmth, lighting, and choosing the right varieties for a strong head start. We’ll talk about why peppers and chillies LOVE being started in January, how to g...

🧅🌱 January is the perfect month to get your onion seeds started — and today we’re diving into exactly how to do it! In this episode, I’ll walk you through why onions love an early start, how to sow them properly, and the simple steps that set you up for a strong harvest later in the year. We’ll chat about choosing the best varieties, prepping compost, using the right-sized trays, how much warmth...

❄️🌱 The allotment looks completely different under a blanket of January snow — and in today’s episode, we’re taking a peaceful winter stroll around the plot to see what’s happening. From frosted beds and iced-over water butts to hardy winter veg standing strong, this episode captures the quiet magic of a snowy allotment morning. We’ll chat about how snow affects the soil, what winter crops surviv...

🌱❄️ January might be cold and quiet for many gardens, but there’s still plenty happening beneath the surface — and even on top of it! In this episode, I walk you through what’s growing right now on my allotment, what’s surviving the winter chill, and the early signs of life appearing across the beds. We’ll chat about hardy winter veg, overwintering crops, bulbs beginning to stir, how the polytunn...

🌱❄️ January might feel slow in the garden — but it’s actually one of the most important months to get ahead! In this episode, we walk through the essential allotment and garden jobs you can do right now to set yourself up for a successful growing season. We’ll talk about clearing beds, topping up compost, checking structures after storms, organising seeds, preparing the polytunnel, pruning winter...