Sunflower Allotment Podcast

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  One of the highlights of the allotment year is here – Potato day! It is a fantastic morning on the site as the allotment association opens-up to offer potatoes at a cheap price and plot holders have a chance to renew their membership at the same time. Peter has offered to volunteer and Tim is around with the microphone asking plot holders about pot...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  It's been a wet old January but Rachel and Tim have found shelter in Rachel's shed to record an episode of seed varierties, particularly F1 Hybrid. Rachel and Tim also discuss a bit of seed history, purchasing seeds and seed swapping - including a seed swap of their own!  00:00 - 03:57 - Introduction 03:57 - 10:16 - Bit of history on seed...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! After recnetly acquiring a polytunnel which they plan to  share, Peter and Tim discuss the benefits of using a polytunnel on your plot. They discuss the advantages such as: longer growing season, a chance to plant more variety and verticle planting. They also discuss the position on the plot, soil preparation and some tips for purchasing!  As it&apo...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  In this very special episode we welcome Stina Lindholm, a community gardern and community worker from Oslo to talk about allotments in Norway. Stina explains the differences between an allotment in Norway to the UK as well as the impact the differing climate has on her vegetable growing. In her job  as a community manager in Oslo, Stina also discus...

 Welcome and back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!    The New Year is here and with it plenty of allotment jobs! During this episode we discuss allotment jobs as well as planning for the planting of a fantastic and rewarding perennial: asparagus.   January is a quiet month but a  great month to prepare the plot for the future. Peter and Tim discuss January jobs such as buying seeds, tool invent...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! It's the end of 2022 so Peter, Rachel and Tim sit down to reflect on the year and run through their allotment resolutions for 2023! As part of the reflection we discuss the changing cliamte focusing on the  summer drought and February storms. We also explore the three categories of: 'top performers', 'could do betters' and o...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In the second of our two-part series with incredible gardener and author Joy Larkcom, Tim and Peter discuss Joy's general garden observations and tips. This includes her passion for tomatoes, chilies, and sweet peas  along with her advice for sowing direct v modules. Joy also shares her advice and enthusiasm on intercropping, mulching, organic...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! We are absolutely delighted to bring you an interview with Joy Larkcom, renown gardener, journalist and author of a host of influential gardening books including Grown Your Own Vegetables and Oriental Vegetables . When Peter and Tim first met back in March 2021, Peter swiftly placed a book into Tim's hands and said, "this will be your allo...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In our second installment on Fruit Trees, Tim and Peter head to the allotment to plant a plum tree! From surveying the plot, to sighting, digging, adding manure and planting, Peter and Tim discuss the process while planting a Victoria Plum. If you have any questions or ideas for a an episode, please do get in touch via email or social media Email: s...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we are celebrating National Tree Week by releasing two special episodes on fruit trees!  In this episode, Rachel and Peter discuss choosing fruit trees and tips on how to plan trees including sighting, steaking, compost and location.  Both Peter and Tim have been mulling over buying fruit trees this year so Rachel discusses the benefits of...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!   During this episode Peter and Tim have a natter with the allotment association volutneers about their annual site tradition: Potato Day. We discuss the planning for this community event, along with the importance of the assoication to the allotment community. We finish the episode discussing the jobs for December including green manure, moving ruh...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we return to Rachel's plot and discuss how we can add some colour to our plot by planting flowers, notably bulbs for Spring. Rachel also attempts to persuade Peter to plant beans and they both discuss the Autumn allotment  jobs! To see some pictures of our visit head to our Twitter and Instagram pages! Any questions, ideas or comments...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In this episode Peter and Tim visit Rachel's allotment and walk around her beautiful plot. We meet her friendly chickens, discuss the benefits of her pond, revel in the inventiveness of her Frankenstein greenhouse and and get inspired by the endless flowers and and shrubs which makes it such a stunning space.  To see some pictures of our visit...

Welceom back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  This week we discuss that all important matter of compost! Rachel (compost enthusiast) discusses the importance of soil, green and brown compost, compost storage and leaf mould.  As ever we also discuss our jobs on the plot this week during  and Rachel provides us with an update on her chickens!  How do you do your compost? do you have any tips we...

 Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  ...And welcome to Rachel, our new Sunflower Allotment co-host! Rachel joins us with real expertise and during the first section Rachel exlpains how her love for her allotments led her towards a career change towards professional gardening via an RHS course.  This episode also focuses on butternut squash as Peter celebrates a bumper year of 50 squa...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! After a summer hiatus, the podcast is back to reflect on an exceptionally hot summer that tested our allotment commitments. We also look ahead to the weeks and months to come as the season slows down but there's always plenty to do! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us: Email - sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.com...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  This episode we discuss the searing and and soaring heat we've recently had on the plot and look at the tips and hacks to effective watering. In a time of climate change, we also discuss sensible water use and how to protect the soil. We also discuss the jobs for August and our plans for a month with time planned away from the plot.

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we take shade under Peter's apple tree with Sharon Copple, our allotment site rep and seed buyer on our site. Amongst a host of things, Sharon discusses some allotment history of our site, as well as her thoughts on mental health and gardening, her take on soil, Potato Day, the role of a site rep and the joy of being the first plot on...

 Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  This week we come full circle as we finally harvest the potatoes we chitted in episdoe 1! With great enthusiasm and celebration we recorded the moment Tim digs up his first early  potatoes while Peter offers advice on effective digging technique. We also discuss lifting onions, as well the most effective conditions for growing garlic.  If you woul...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!  This week we start by discussing the ups-and-downs of life on the allotment as both Peter and Tim have had enforced time away from their plots. We also discuss Peter's new polytunnel purchase, along with tips on growing comfrey and we endulge in our love for trees on allotments. We also discuss some messages we've had including the questi...

Welcome back to the Sunflowe Allotment Podcast!  Summer is offically here and boy don't we know it! Summer storms, rising temperatures and endless weeds. This week Peter and Tim discuss their week on the plot, some holiday reading and importantly beans! From their fascinating Incan history, to planting, cooking and storage. Peter also shares his creative tips on making an arch to best support...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we were delighted to welcome Clare Birkett on the show for a special episode to discuss the important topic of the cost of living crisis and how it affects gardening and allotment holders. As an educational economist, Clare gives us the lowdown on the crisis and how we might spot it in our gardening purchases through the effect of shrinkfl...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! It's May, one of our favourite times on the plot. We therefore decided to record an episode walking around Tim's plot. We discuss this seasons progress, the growth and the relevant jobs that need to be done. Peter also gives Tim some great advice on potatoes and the pair discuss plot design, wild fennel , our shared sweetcont plot and the...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Peter and Tim discuss one of their summer favourites, Sweetcorn. From germinating to planting and eating, the pair explore tips and ideas to growing healthy and tasty sweetcorn. They also discuss their shared sweetcorn plot. Peter and Tim also discuss the week on the plot, sharing the spare and their plans for the upcoming week! 00:00 - In...

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast This week we celebrate the beautiful beetroot by discussing the history, planting, storing and eating of the hardy and versitile vegetable.  We also follow up on last week's converastion on gardening philosophy, chat about our week on the plot and even fit in a short section on planting courgettes which includes the return of woofer extrodinaire...