Growing Together

Steve, Ann and Coxy have made it to the allotment all at the same time for their first recording all together! They chat about what's going on at this busy time of year, including planting potatoes and sweet peas. Steve also chats to tree surgeon Matt Marriot about the pollarding of the chestnut tree on Sheet village green. And the three lucky winners of the Gardeners' World Spring Fair competitio...

Hear the reveal as Steve Amos and Coxy pull the winners from the prize flower pot in our competition to win free tickets to the BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a busy day down at the Adhurst Estate Allotments but before Steve and Coxy start working through their long to do list, they have a catch up in the 'chairman's shed'. Coxy is inspired by Steve's prize winning carrots, they discuss all the veg that they plan on growing this year - if the mice can keep away from the seeds and Steve takes a time travelling tour through the ancient gardens of Bri...

In this episode Steve Amos catches up with long time gardening friend Coxy, we hear about the success of Petersfield's second Seed Swap, the community garden has a beautiful new eco shelter and Ann Marden is the newest member of the Adhurst Estate Allotments.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve is back at the Adhurst Estate Allotment where he talks to his long-time allotment neighbour Coxy. They discuss what they're sowing now as well as their plans for the coming growing year. Steve also heads to Hedgefest at the Petersfield Community Garden where he speaks to Ian Turner and Phil Paulo from The Tree Council and PeCAN trustee Melanie Oxley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

On a rainy February morning, Claire and Steve are alone at the soggy Adhurst Estate Allotments sheltering in Steve's 'Chairman's Lodge' - a make-shift lean-to!  They discuss the importance of green spaces for good mental health, potato and dahlia tubers and how much they are looking forward to Spring. Joining them is Kate Forrester from Four Acre Farm in the New Forest who talks about her journey...

It's time to start seed sowing! Claire and Steve discuss how to germinate tomato, aubergine and pepper seeds. From Steve's plot at the Adhurst Estate Allotments, and with the sound of children playing in their mud kitchen nearby, they also talk about planning your gardening space, give advice for pruning roses and look forward to the upcoming seed swap. Joining them in this episode is RHS Wisley G...

It was a chilly morning recording the first Growing Together podcast of the year. Meeting as usual at the Adhurst Estate Allotment, Claire and Steve were bundled up in layers, armed with hot drinks and even a hot water bottle!  With plans to ease slowly into the growing year, they share advice for sowing sweet peas, germinating onion seeds, how to chit potatoes and propagator excitement. If you're...

Happy new gardening year! To start the new year with gardening inspiration, Claire and Steve revisit some of their favourite Growing Together podcast interviews from 2023. With Francis Tophill's passion for growing your own, Lee Connelly's campaign for more gardening in schools, the Drag Queen Gardener challenging gardening stereotypes, Lucy Hutchings' edible growing, Leigh Johnstone's Giving Gard...

Meeting for the last time this year, Claire and Steve slip and slide in the mud to Steve's plot at the Adhurst Estate Allotment. Steve advises when to sow onions from seed, Claire explains how to take care of autumn-sown sweet peas and they both share their Christmas gardening wishes.  Head Gardener Ben Pope brings an update of December garden-life in the Working Garden Diary, along with a sprinkl...

It was a beautiful morning at the Adhurst Estate Allotment for Petersfield's inaugural Tree Festival.   Claire and Steve met Ian Turner and Phil Paulo from The Tree Council, who were offering tree care advice and workshops throughout the day. They discover plans for community tree planting with charity Fitzroy's Rural Skills Project, how to create fairies and stick men from nature and talk to visi...

The Growing Together gardening magazine podcast It's still very squelchy at the Adhurst Estate Allotment! In this episode, Claire and Steve discuss how to dig up and store dahlia tubers, cutting back autumn raspberries, plans for community composting and the benefits of being outside no matter what the weather. Tony Kirkham, former Head of Kew Gardens Arboretum, joins Claire at Dorset's Sculpture...

The Growing Together gardening magazine podcast It's a bit squelchy outside, and on a chilly Autumnal morning Claire and Steve are back at the Adhurst Estate Allotment. In this episode, there's advice for planting garlic, shallots and tulip bulbs, adding water butts and trees to your gardening space and bringing the outside in for gorgeous autumnal displays. Joining them is Laura Bower from the Pe...

Claire and Steve enjoy the mid-October evening colour at the Adhurst Estate Allotment and it's a magical place to be. It's also the time of year to think about what worked this year in the garden, what didn't and how you're going to plan your growing areas for next year. The autumn months can be very productive in preparing for the following years growing. Helen McAra from Wild Seasons Foraging ta...

It's early October at the Adhurst Estate Allotment. The flowers are still bright and enjoying the sun, as are Claire and Steve! There's a lot to do in the garden this time of year including pruning rambling and climbing roses, tidying plots, sowing hardy annuals and seeds for wildflower meadows. Pumpkins are nearly ready for weighing too - have you grown some this year?  Joining Claire and Steve a...

It's Hay Day at the Adhurst Estate Allotment and time to cut back the meadow in the orchard.   While looking forward to the orchard fruit, Claire and Steve discuss bulbs - spring and garlic - local apple tasting and some garden 'housekeeping' for this time of year.   Featuring in this episode is the first instalment of the Working Garden Diary with Head Gardener Ben Pope and designers of an award-...

Early September at the allotment and there's a lot going on.  Harvesting, clearing and tidying plots, collecting seeds... and partaking in giant vegetable competitions. How do you protect your plot over winter? Are you going to create a dead hedge? Have you thought about what your Spring garden will look like?  And what on earth is pumpkin rowing? Claire and Steve discuss all the above and more in...

Sitting in the middle of the Miyawake Forest, planted at the allotment last year, Claire and Steve discuss the gardening year so far - and what weather we've had! There's excitement for expanding pumpkins, advice on how to cut back wildflower areas and meadows, dahlia staking ideas and upcoming hedgerow delights. Joining them are cut flower growing expert Helier Bowling with autumn sowing inspirat...

Back at the Adhurst Estate Allotment, Claire and Steve catch up on what's new at the plot, including some uninvited guests! Steve has started showing some of his produce at local shows and Claire is planning to order spring bulbs soon.  Joining them in this edition is Eddie from the Traditional Garden Growers, who reveals how sheep wool can enrich soil, and Petersfield Physic Garden volunteer Mike...

Dodging the rain and fuelled by delicious ice cream from Hackney Gelato, Claire and Steve spent a busy day at the world's largest flower show, which was also celebrating it's 30th anniversary. And talking of anniversaries, Plant Heritage celebrated their 45th anniversary in the Floral Marquee and Business Manager Gill Groombridge explains more about the conservation work of this important charity....

Claire visits the BBC Gardeners' World Live show, at the NEC in Birmingham, to meet with and talk to garden experts and designers. This hour-long episode features vegetable growing inspiration, urban and balcony gardening, beautiful borders, no dig advice, organic gardening, ideas to help wildlife, encouraging young people in horticulture and a love affair with peonies!  Steve will be joining Clai...

On a hot summer's evening, Claire and Steve record this episode of Growing Together in a private garden in Hampshire. There's innovative watering ideas as we learn to cope with hot weather and climate change - including a solar panelled well - a love of visiting open gardens, wildflowers, too many courgette plants and a confession from Steve! With special guests National Garden Scheme garden owner...

While Steve tends to his award-winning dahlias, Claire visits this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Saving oak trees, forestry education, gardening with no limits, encouraging young gardeners, celebrating heroines of horticulture, admiring Alitex's trade stand, head gardener advice and cinnamon buns are top of the agenda for this eclectic edition of Growing Together. With thanks to Geraint Richards, He...

With the blossom still in bloom and growing times about 2 weeks behind where they usually are, Claire and Steve squelch and squash their way to the Adhurst Estate Allotments. They're joined by Alitex's Nelly Hall with her second Chelsea Flower Show 'Growing Diary' and tree expert Phil Paulo talks about healthy hedgerows as part of National Hedgerow Week. There's also advice for growing dahlias and...

In this special episode, Claire goes solo to the BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair in Beaulieu while Steve tends to his greenhouse! Kevin Smith, editor of Gardeners' World Magazine, promotes Plot to Plate, gardener and presenter Francis Tophill has plans for an edible prairie meadow and Sparsholt College champions emerging garden designers as their show garden supports the cancer charity Maggie's....