Growing Up Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we reflect on a week spent at Gardeners World LIVE.  Kate talks to a really inspirational lady who has built a beautiful show garden to be incredibly proud of - Jan of @ theflowermummysgarden   This chat went quite deep and we would love to hear your thoughts about show gardens and the role they play in inspiring and the effect they can have on us. The Growing Up P...

Send us Fan Mail Summer is a special time in the herb garden.  Join us as we dive deep into practical tips and tricks, herbs that you can grow and just how you can get the best from your summer herb garden. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products t...

Send us Fan Mail Why can't we just grow English Mint? Why shouldn't you plant mint plants together and why doesn't Andy talk about his front garden food growing project any more?  We answer all of YOUR questions.  The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the qua...

Send us Fan Mail In a surprisingly 'horticultural' episode Andy and Kate talk through the most important gardening jobs for June, in the flower garden, kitchen garden and in the greenhouse. Enjoy this episode and enjoy June guys. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe...

Send us Fan Mail In this very raw, personal episode we talk about the very real well-being benefits that growing things can bring.  This is a subject that is often talked about in a very abstract way, so much so that there is a risk of this becoming a cliche, something that we take for granted or even worse dismiss as 'virtue signalling'. We talk about real stories of hope that stem from...

Send us Fan Mail This week Andy and Kate chat about the hard realities but inspirational pay off of working in production horticulture and the inherent strangeness of the acceleration of growth in spring. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products tha...

Send us Fan Mail We chat about just how important it is to keep sowing seeds during the month of May, what we are most excited about sowing in our own growing spaces and how Andy sometimes gives the impression he doesn't want to make money from selling herb plants. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a p...

Send us Fan Mail We have a big list of gardening jobs that need to be done during the month of May, but Andy and Kate decided to sit down, have a cup of tea and discuss them on this weeks' podcast episode before doing any of the hard work! Join us for this fun, light-hearted chat as we chat about the jobs to be done during the month of May. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Dan, friend of the podcast and Head Gardner of Winterbourne House and Gardens to delve once again into the wonderful world of trees, where we talk about how tree scapes and woodlands were created in Victorian and Edwardian periods and how they are managed in public gardens such as Winterbourne. We also find out Dan's top four favourite trees,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we travel back in time to talk about the gardening and growing adventures of the Vikings. The Viking era was a fascinating one and Andy really wanted to talk about what the Vikings grew, how growing informed and changed their society but most importantly - asking what did the Vikings eat to make them so crazy when they went into battle.   Grab a cup of mead and ju...

Send us Fan Mail This week Kate talks through gardening jobs for the month of April. This is such a month of contrasts and notoriously difficult to predict.  But there are SO many exciting things to do in the April Garden.  Stay tuned for the surprise appearance of a magpie mid-recording. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefit...

Send us Fan Mail This week we introduce the idea of 'blank slate gardening' and explain why it's so important to always have a beginner mentality when it comes to gardening. Are you intrigued?  Grab yourself a drink and prepare to dig up part of your garden. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in...

Send us Fan Mail This week, join us for a ramble as we visit the local garden centre for breakfast and a few plant purchases.   We talk about the simple pleasure of a visit to the local garden centre, the joy of browsing plants and the challenges that come with running a garden centre in 2025. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the be...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Dan, Head Gardner of Winterbourne House and Gardens to talk all things tree growing.  Want to grow your own trees? Or just curious about these incredible living structures that can outlive us? Grab a drink, sit back and enjoy. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing...

Send us Fan Mail We finally get to talk about herbs. Herbs are fantastic to plant during the early spring season.  There are so many hardy herbs that add so much to our growing spaces during these months, providing colour, scent, interest and flavour in our herb gardens. Enjoy this chat from two very tired herb growers. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We...

Send us Fan Mail Gardening jobs for March, a month of contrasts, so much to sow and so many jobs to complete, along with a few battles with magpies along the way.  Join us for a cup of tea and toast in the polytunnel as we discuss gardening jobs for March. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and...

Send us Fan Mail We chat with Ed from Roots Allotments about his lived experience of developing food-growing communities.  We are members of Roots Allotment site in Stourbridge and it's been a privilege to see that community develop.   We talk about how you can develop a food-growing community, the challenges that you might face and how wonderful it is to share knowledge and experiences with...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we deep dive into the world of growing Microgreens.  These tiny little leaves pack a huge flavour.  We know that so many of you have limited experience growing this amazing crop so this morning we are talking Microgreens! The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and g...

Send us Fan Mail This week we are joined by Ed Morrison, one of the founders of Roots Allotments to talk us through the top tips we would suggest when you are faced with the blank canvas of a new allotment or new growing space.  This feels like such a timely discussion to have, at the start of a new growing season.   The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are...

Send us Fan Mail Grab a hot drink and a jumper because we are talking about gardening jobs for February.  This is such an exciting month which can absolutely lay the foundations for the rest of the season.   It's a changeable month so, while you listen, maybe grab yourself a woolly hat and sunglasses too.  Spring is coming. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunn...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we deep dive into the world of chilli growing.  This is one of Andy's passions and he was so excited to record this episode and ALSO to talk Kate into participating in a chilli growing competition. May the best grower win. We talk about the benefits of growing chillies, the best time to sow seeds, our top tips for germination and successful growth and much mo...

Send us Fan Mail Proudly armed with their New Year Growing Resolutions, Andy and Kate sit down and plan out their 2025 growing season.  If our 2024 planning season episode is anything to go by, we wouldn't bet good money on solid plans emerging from this episode.  So grab a drink and join us as we dream, laugh and plan for the 2025 gardening season. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored...

Send us Fan Mail At the start of the season, it's so important to take a day to pause and consider what you wish to get from the upcoming growing season.  January is the perfect time to sit back and reflect on the previous year and set yourself a few New Year Growing Resolutions. Grab yourself a drink and join us as we plan the 2025 growing season. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored...

Send us Fan Mail We chat with Ed of Roots Allotments about gardening jobs for January.  Traditionally January is seen as a quieter month in the garden, allotment or smallholding, but it's actually a vital month of preparation in which so many exciting things are happening. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels.  We are big believers in the benefits of growin...

Send us Fan Mail Grab yourself a hot drink, or a minced pie, put your headphones in as you walk the dog or have some chill-out time during the festive season.   We reflect on the year gone and thank you for your company during 2024.  This episode officially marks the end of our second season of the podcast and we are super excited to introduce you to the content we have lined up for season 3. Happ...