Home Grown with Martha and Jamie

Why does being in nature make us feel better? In this episode of Home Grown, Jamie and Martha explore the science behind gardening, mental health, and the power of plants. From dementia prevention and grounding to the plant that helped create the contraceptive pill, this is a deep dive into how plants shape our bodies, brains, and society. We love hearing your questions and comments...

This episode sees Martha Swales and Jamie Walton joined by botanist, author and broadcaster James Wong for a wide-ranging conversation about plants, curiosity, and seeing the natural world a little differently. From growing up in Singapore to training at Kew, James shares how early experiences shaped his fascination with plants and why experimentation has always been at the heart of his work. The...

To kickstart Homegrown in 2026, Martha and Jamie discuss the best tips and tricks to starting your garden this January. From choosing the best compost and seeds, to adapting your garden through the changing of the seasons, they'll be sure to set you up with the know-how to help your plots thrive this year. 🪴 They'll be chatting about their personal favourite fruit and veg to grow at home, the cyc...

It's the Christmas countdown on Home Grown, and Martha and Jamie are here to bring Christmas cheer in the form of practical ways to bring the season into your home... from your garden! Whether it's making holly and ivy wreaths, drying orange slices or creating natural homemade gifts. Also Jamie explains his new Boxing Day seed sowing tradition and the benefits of starting early, while Martha talks...

Martha Swales and Jamie Walton settle in for a cosy winter edition of Home Grown, bringing together gardening know-how, seasonal science and the small wonders happening just outside your window at this surprisingly busy time of year. They chat about the creatures riding out the cold months, to when the Winter Solstice takes centre stage and the mood shift it brings, plus how to stay connected to t...

This week on Home Grown, Martha Swales and Jamie Walton explore the art of preserving and what it really means to keep the harvest. From ancient bog butter to shipwrecked pickles and honey that has lasted for thousands of years, they look at why some foods stand the test of time. Back in their own kitchens, they talk through the essentials of fermenting, pickling, chutneys and jams, drawing on glo...

This week on Home Grown, Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) and Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals) dive into the wonderful world of fruit trees. From why winter is the perfect time to plant one, to quirky apple history and some truly wild varieties, they explore everything you need to know before adding a tree to your garden, balcony or allotment. Martha and Jamie taste unusual apples, unpack the m...

It's an exciting week on Home Grown , Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals) and Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) are joined by their very first guest. Gardener, author and TV presenter Frances Tophill. Frances has inspired a new generation to see gardening as a way to live more gently with the world. From her work on Gardeners’ World and Love Your Garden to her own wildlife-filled home life, she sha...

It’s a cosy November catch-up with Home Grown hosts Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) and Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals). This month, the nights are long, the frosts are biting, and the garden is quietly slipping into its winter state. Martha and Jamie chat seed tins, your reviews, the good the bad and the ugly, plus why leaving your leaves might be the best gift you can give your garden. They...

Home Grown is getting ghoulish. Martha Swales and Jamie Walton are rolling up their sleeves for a Halloween special packed with creepy curiosities, squash shaped secrets and plenty of pumpkin mischief. Jamie reveals why the scariest thing about Halloween pumpkins is the mountain of them wasted every year, and why spooky squash deserve the spotlight instead. They share the need-to-know differences...

It’s Q&A time on Home Grown ! 🌿 Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals) and Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) dig into your burning gardening questions – from how to revive an unruly allotment plot to keeping mischievous cats out of the veg beds . Along the way, they reveal a bit of friendly book rivalry , share their grand plans for the Home Grown gardening podcast’s future , and offer plenty of...

The No Dig Revolution with Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) and Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals) In this episode of Home Grown , hosts Martha Swales and Jamie Walton explore the magic of the No Dig gardening method , proving that sometimes the best gardening happens when you simply let nature lead the way. They discuss how leaving the soil undisturbed helps create thriving ecosystems, healthier...

It’s tomato time! Martha Swales ( Marf's Kitchen Garden ) and Jamie Walton ( Nettles and Petals ) dive into the wonderful, rosy, glorious world of everyone’s favourite gateway veg. They share harvesting highs, planting tips, and taste their way through the mind-boggling range of tomato varieties bursting out of their beds. Martha makes her case for the unbeatable Sun Gold , while Jamie shows off s...

This is it! Episode one of Home Grown , our brand-new podcast all about growing, gardening, and everything in between And in today's episode, October is here, bringing crisp mornings, fiery leaves, and plenty to keep gardeners busy. In this episode of Home Grown , hosts Jamie Walton ( Nettles & Petals ) and Martha Swales ( Marf’s Kitchen Garden ) share what’s happening on their plots this mont...

Something exciting is sprouting! Home Grown is a brand-new gardening podcast hosted by two of the UK’s brightest horticultural voices: Jamie Walton, better known as Nettles & Petals, and Martha Swales of Marf’s Kitchen Garden. Together they share their knowledge, enthusiasm, and love of growing your own veg. The full launch is coming soon, but for now enjoy this pilot episode. Martha and Jamie...