Growing Together

April is a busy gardening month. Join Claire and Steve as they catch up on Project Carrot, share what they've sown and give advice on what to grow in pots. They also talk about growing lots of sunflowers, admit to their failings in growing brassicas and take part in some unusual mint tasting too.  But beware - don't be in a rush to plant out; April can provide some shockingly cold frosts. Claire V...

With luckily only a few casualties from February's storms, the Adhurst Estate Allotment is starting to come to life with vegetable and flower seeds sprouting - and the odd weed too. Claire plans to encourage more pollinators into her garden this year, Steve's Project Carrot is very much 'go' and if you want to plant bare roots get them in the ground this month. Claire also talks to guest tree expe...

As the first signs of Spring colour start to emerge, Claire and Steve head to the Adhurst Estate Allotments for a February catch up from the comfort of Steve's allotment shed. There's lots of excitement as preparations start for the growing year ahead.  Steve updates on his 'project carrot', Claire explains why she's wary of growing potatoes - and it's not for the squeamish - there's thrifty...

As a new year begins, we bid a fond farewell to the amazing Ann-Marie Powell and welcome a new co-presenter to Growing Together - Adhurst Estate Allotment chair Steve Amos joins Claire for gardening chat, ideas and advice. We're optimistic for the 2022 gardening year as we gently start to prep the garden, sow a few seeds and discuss projects we'd like to try.  Who's joining Steve in trying to...

How are you planning to decorate your house this Christmas?  Ann-Marie and Claire have lots of great ideas on how to bring the outside in this season. With gardening chat and advice - as well as a bulb-planting confession - this month's Growing Together also has Ann-Marie falling in love with her garden and our gardening wishes for next year. Happy Christmas! See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

After a short break, Ann-Marie Powell and Claire Vennis are back with seasonal gardening tips and chat.   This month they re-cap September's Chelsea Flower Show - including celebrating all of Ann-Marie's recent awards, amazing! - prepare the garden for next year's Spring, give advice on how to take pelargonium cuttings, agree how delicious Autumn raspberries are and have a passionate dis...

We have a lot to celebrate in this month's Growing Together - it's our first birthday, a special birthday for Ann-Marie and we've been chosen as one of the top 25 gardening podcasts in the UK. Thank you so much for listening! With the RHS Chelsea Flower Show taking place in September this year, Ann-Marie tells us what her rural-refined, Hampshire-wild inspired garden will look like with Gaze Burvi...

It's been a strange gardening year - freezing cold, soaking wet and then hot hot hot.   This month, Ann-Marie and Claire talk about what can still be sown, collecting seeds for next year's growing or as gifts for friends and keeping your kit clean - while wearing a bikini in the sun preferably.  They're encouraged by the growth of community gardens with the wellbeing that comes from...

This month Growing Together comes from the magical Petersfield Community Garden.  Chair Sue Edberg and volunteers Alex and Linda warmly welcome Ann-Marie and Claire back to this amazing community space, even though it’s raining! With a new pond, plans afoot for a large wooden communal structure and an unusual but fantastic use for sheep wool, there’s lots of tips, advice and inspi...

After the wettest May, Ann-Marie and Claire are hoping for the sun to shine in June - aren’t we all! With everything being slightly behind schedule, there’s a rush to get plants from seed trays into the garden. Ann-Marie has some great top tips from feeding plants to lining pots and Claire recommends hanging baskets for tumbling tomatoes and planting herbs in flower borders. They&rsquo...

With April showers few and far between last month and so many frosts, the tulips are suffering but the daffodils have been amazing, as have the muscari and Ann-Marie's new favourite anemone Mr Fokker.  Such a gorgeous blue! This month Ann-Marie and Claire break the rules, discuss how to prune and layer clematis and reveal a kind way to get rid of lily beetles. With Chelsea now scheduled to ta...

After recording remotely for the last few months, Claire and Ann-Marie are happy to be back together in Ann-Marie’s garden again. April is a busy time in the garden and, accompanied by blackbird song, they share what seeds they’ve already sown and what they’re going to sow this month.   Ann-Marie has new arches in her garden for cobaea and squash plants to grow up and C...

It’s March and there’s a lot to be getting on with in the garden as Spring begins and the days grow longer.  Ann-Marie and Claire discuss what seeds they’ve started to sow and where they’ve sown them - let’s just say there’s not a lot of space in their kitchens. Ann-Marie announces news of her new book ‘ My Real Garden ’ and they remember a year...

In February’s Growing Together Ann - Marie and Claire are recording remotely, but that doesn’t stop them from feeling connected as they discuss how lockdown can bring time to plan for the coming year’s garden - and they’re getting organised! With tips on how to train roses, when to move dormant plants and which seeds to sow now for an early crop, Ann-Marie and Claire also d...

Ann-Marie and Claire visit the Petersfield Community Garden for their January Growing Together programme.  They meet with chair Sue Edberg and volunteers Sarah, Alex and Leslie to find out more about the garden and all it offers.   It’s the first time visiting the garden for both Ann-Marie and Claire and they are given a very warm welcome on this cold winter day.  Open to...

How do you make your Christmas wreath? Claire and Ann-Marie discover they have very different methods, but both are great ways to get out in the garden and forage for foliage! How about making a wreath for a lonely neighbour or putting a few small bulbs and compost into an empty jam jar decorated with ribbon as a little gesture of seasonal gardening gifting. Ann-Marie lets us into a bulb-planting...

As the weather turns wetter and colder and the days grow shorter, why not brighten your garden with fairy lights? Both Ann-Marie and Claire recommend warm, white lights to add a glow to the garden during winter. Lights are available to buy in the shops now for Christmas (Claire just didn’t pack hers away from last year!) and look into solar ones as a good option too. Garlic bulbs can be plan...

The new Growing Together show from Shine Radio. The temperatures are falling and the nights are drawing in. Ann-Marie Powell and Claire Vennis are out in the garden with tips and advice for October. You can contact Ann-Marie and Claire on team@petersfieldradio.uk Music by Mark Vennis Audio production by Nina Vennis (it's a family show) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann-Marie Powell and Claire Vennis welcome you to Shine Radio's new monthly gardening show. We want Growing Together to be the brighter gardening show for anyone keen to make the most of a garden, big or small in the Petersfield area. With passion, experience and still new things to learn, Ann-Marie and Claire share advice and expertise every month.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...