Talking Dirty

From bubblegum scent to the 'eleven-month-a-year' plant, this week's instalment of The Talking Dirty Podcast is full of surprises and must-haves for the garden. And it's no surprise as the ever-inspiring Ben Preston of #yorkgate is the guest this week. Despite his young years, he's already making a stir in the horticultural world with his vast plant knowledge and exciting gardening endeavours at Y...

It's podcasters unite in the latest edition of Talking Dirty, as Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis catch up with Talking Heads podcasters, Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker. Both professional Head Gardeners, Lucy and Saul have built a loyal audience of fans, sharing their gardening adventures both at work and at home. Lucy is the #crazytomatolady and Saul is big into his Exotics - un...

This week Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are treated to a chat with The Frustrated Gardener, who's blogging exploits and enthralling Instagram are such an inspiration. From the trials (and triumphs) of container gardening, to stinky Geraniums, sexy Tulips and rampant Impatiens, this is a joyful exploration of Dan's plants of the moment. PLANT LIST Streptocarpus saxorum Streptocar...

Val Bourne will always be one of our absolute favourite guests on the podcast - never failing to deliver a real plantswoman's crop of treasures for us all to grow at home. This week she's sharing her love of bulb lawns with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis, including some of the varieties she's naturalised in her own miniature meadows at home. Plus the monocarpic tendencies of some...

The Talking Dirty podcast heads on tour for the first time ever, visiting the garden of extraordinary plantsman and Botanist, Richard Hobbs. Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are wowed by his amazing Muscari (he holds the National Collection), plus Scillas, Anemones, Pulsatillas and so much more! PLANT LIST Muscari Maxibell   Muscari azureum    Muscari aucheri&nb...

With lots of questions to answer, Thordis and Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) host a Postbag edition of the podcast, plus plenty of seed-sowing tips and Alpine trough advice with a focus on special plants that you could try. If you want to ask a question of the team you can email hello@getgardeningnow.co.uk, contact them on social media or comment on the Get Gardening YouTube channel. PLANT L...

The wonderful floral artist Brigitte Girling of Moss and Stone Floral Design is back to share her botanical stars of the season with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis - from Ranunculus to Narcissi. Plus top tips if you're thinking of growing flowers for a wedding. PLANT LIST Edgeworthia chrysantha Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Red Dragon' Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' Lathyrus nervo...

If you love exotic plants - or just plants in general - then chances are you follow the adventures of Mike Clifford on social media. This week the self-confessed plantaholic and seller of extraordinary seeds joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis for a foray into his collection, from the Impatiens which have been flowering all Winter, to the enormous plants he's grown from seed. Pl...

This week it is a true extravaganza of extraordinary plants on the podcast as the utterly inspiring Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones of Crug Farm Plants join us to talk through some of their favourites at the moment. Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are left astonished by their tales of plant hunting all over the world, from Vietnam to Colombia, and the amazing plants they've discovered...

Adrian Scamp of the Award-winning Scamp's Daffodils, joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old VIcarage) and Thordis to chat all things Daffodil, from exploring the thirteen divisions to sharing favourite varieties, plus tips for naturalising Narcissi in your lawn and the new varieties that might be heading to your garden soon. It's a riot of absolute stunners, which will leave you with a wishlist longer t...

She's the woman behind one of the most famous of British brands - this week Emma Bridgewater joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson, to talk about the botanical inspiration behind the pottery. Plus why Dandelions are front and centre of their latest collection, the people in her life who sparked a life-long love of plants, lockdown gardening endeavours with limited supp...

If you've ever wondered how some plants come into existence, then wonder no more as plant breeder Joe Sharman gives us a fascinating insight into the labour of love behind many of the plants that fill our gardens. Join Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson as they hear about Joe's dreams for Galanthus breeding, plus the work he's doing with Eranthis (Aconites) and Celandines...

Across the world Botanic Gardens are doing amazing work. And at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, there are wonders to behold in every corner of its 40 acres. But the glasshouses are perhaps the most memorable, packed with exotic plants which will stay in your memory forever. This week on the podcast, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson are joined by Alex Summers, Glass...

The name Charles Dowding has become synonymous with 'No Dig' techniques, but what exactly does 'No Dig' involve? And why is it such a successful and popular method of gardening? This week on the podcast, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are joined by Charles to talk about the lattice of ideas that make up the method, plus loofa antics and some Show and Tell that looks good enough t...

Calling all Galanthophiles, this week Alan Gray (a self-confessed Snowdrop addict) and Thordis (doing her best to resist!) are joined by two gardeners who long ago succumbed to Galanthamania. Award-winning Garden Writer, Val Bourne, shares her experiences of growing Snowdrops in the Cotswolds, while Brian Ellis, who sells many special varieties of Galanthus talks from the Norfolk perspective. The...

Three months after his last appearance, Ben Preston is back with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson for another plant-filled appearance on the podcast. From the regimental precision of seed-sowing at York Gate Garden, to the sad demise of their favourite Galanthus, he brings us all up to date with what's been going on in his patch. Plus an impressive Lobelia grown from se...

If you've never been to Hunting Brook Gardens in Ireland, get ready to be transported by its owner Jimi Blake. He tours us through his favourite plants for structure and foliage, plus his newer forays into houseplants and the latest additions to his Snowdrop collection. As usual Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis share their FLOMO (the plants at the top of their wishlists) and it tur...

This week Matthew Pottage - the man behind one of the UK's five gardens run by the Royal Horticultural Society - shares his love of conifers, variegated plants and houseplants. We get a tour of his collection of plants in his house plus a peek at his London garden at home. Get ready for FLOMO galore!

Get ready for an avalanche of evergreens from variegated wonders to a cacophany of conifers ((Ilex and Cryptomeria to Griselinia and Astelia). The Plant Doctor brings some serious show and tell to the table for his latest appearance on the Podcast. And, not to be left out, Alan Gray shares some of the treasures found in his garden. Also including a fantastic tip to help with your forced Hyacinths,...

Hear the nitty gritty of what's in our soil, from the minerals to the earthworms and everything in between, all in the company of Soil Scientist, Professor Jane Rickson. She joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about how we can best look after our soils and what's in them. Plus some FLOMO and Show and Tell.

Top Garden Designer and Radio 4 'Gardeners Question Time' panellist Matthew Wilson joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to talk about his busy year designing gardens, the joys of Wildflower mixes, a houseplant he holds very dear and other plants he holds less so (get ready for Anti-Flomo!)

Alan Gray and Thordis wish everyone a Happy New Year and look back on some great gardening gifts received this Christmas. Plus of course, a spot of FLOMO because there's always FLOMO (Fear of Missing Out on a Fabulous Plant!)

The super-talented Tamsin Westhorpe joins Alan Gray and Thordis to Talk Dirty! RHS judge, Co-Chair of the Garden Media Guild, writer of new book 'Diary of a Modern Country Gardener' and much more besides, Tamsin shares stories from the historic family garden at Stockton Bury. Plus air kisses under the Mistletoe, thermal underwear and the double-flowered Nasturtium that got away!

Organic gardener and recent award winner Val Bourne joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to share some of her favourite plants...from her top picks for easy Galanthus to an unusual umbellifer, cracking Clematis for Winter, Sassy grass and a rose that's caught Val's eye.

Get ready for loads of laughter and planty inspiration! Rosy and Rob Hardy are greats of the gardening world, the brains behind Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants. In this podcast, they tell Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson about their final Chelsea Flower Show next year, plus share their own FLOMO (Fear of Missing Out on a Fabulous Plant), why you mustn't buy Rosy an Orchid, and why you must say yes...