The Veg Grower Podcast

This week on the Veg Grower Podcast, I share a jam-packed update from both the allotment and home garden, reflecting on everything from caterpillar invasions to rainwater harvesting – with plenty of musings on the tools that truly earn their keep. Allotment Update: Rain, Brambles & Brassicas The long-awaited rain finally arrived in Littlehampton, giving the allotment a much-needed drink and easing...

This week’s episode of the Veg Grower Podcast takes a deeper look at what lies beneath – literally and figuratively. With driveway works revealing long-hidden soil and water pipes, and a hot, dry summer pushing crops and gardeners alike, there’s plenty to reflect on. Here’s what you’ll hear in episode #614: Home Plot Update: What Lies Beneath? Work began this week on replacing the front driveway –...

This week’s episode of The Veg Grower Podcast is a true slice of life from the garden and allotment. As the height of summer brings its usual mix of challenges and opportunities, I share what I’ve been up to, what’s working, and what I’ve learned. Here’s what you can expect: Allotment Update: Back on Track After weeks of feeling behind, I’ve finally managed to get the allotment back under control....

This week’s episode of The Veg Grower Podcast is packed with personal updates, seasonal sowing, and an honest reflection on feeling overwhelmed during the busy summer gardening season. Here’s what you can expect: Kitchen Garden Update: A Brand New Potting Shed This week saw a major upgrade in the garden — Richard has installed a brand new potting shed, combining greenhouse-style light with the sol...

This week’s episode of The Veg Grower Podcast captures the ups and downs of gardening during a heatwave. With the sun blazing down, it’s been a challenge to stay on top of watering and weeds – but also a rewarding time for harvesting and experimenting with irrigation. Here’s what you’ll hear in this week’s episode: Allotment Update I began the week with a big tidy-up on the allotment. Weeds had st...

This week’s episode of the Veg Grower Podcast takes you on a field trip to one of my favourite events of the year – Gardeners’ World Live in Birmingham. Each year this show brings together gardeners of every type — from balcony growers to estate keepers — and celebrates the joy of growing. It’s full of inspiration, brilliant displays, expert talks, and of course, the latest gardening trends. I’ve...

Hello and welcome to this week's episode of The Veg Grower Podcast! I'm Richard, and my passion is to encourage and inspire you to grow more of your own food, sharing insights from over 30 years of experience in my own allotment and vegetable garden. This week, we've had a significant garlic harvest, a full update from the kitchen garden, and a fantastic email question from a listener. Let's dive...

Join Richard in this weeks podcast as we tackle the brassicas with our seed of the month kale. Down on the allotment Richard is also protecting his brasicas from pesky pigeons and we finish with a book of review of "Chas and his roock and roll garden" Seed of the month kale The first episode of every month we include our seed of the month and this month its kale. Kale is hardy and delicous brassic...

Episode 605 – The Veg Grower Podcast After a whirlwind week travelling the country with Lee Connolly (aka the Skinny Jean Gardener) and his brother Dale, I’m finally back in the potting shed—albeit with a few snapped cabbages and a whole lot more inspiration. This week’s podcast is a mix of travel tales, allotment updates, and a fantastic interview with Andy from Hotbin. We’re also talking chicken...

Welcome back to The Veg Grower Podcast! This week’s episode is packed with useful updates from my garden and allotment, a very special interview with the folks from Hotbin, and of course – Chef Scott returns with a cracking recipe using your homegrown veg. In the Kitchen Garden We’re now well into May, and the garden is shifting into high gear. This week, I’ve been planting out tomatoes, brassicas...

Join Richard in this week’s episode as he shares the latest from his allotment—detailing innovative mulching techniques and smart watering solutions to keep his garden thriving—plus Chef Scott is back in the kitchen with a mouth-watering recipe: Olive Oil Braised Runner Beans. Allotment Update: Mulching Richard takes us through the evolving challenges at his allotment. What was once a peaceful fie...

Join Richard in this weeks episode in which we have Mays seed of the month and Richard visits gardeners world spring fair at Beulieu in the new forest. Also Richard shares the latest from the allotment and Chef Scott is back with a delicious asparagus recipe. Kitchen garden update: Seed of the month Runner Bean. We find ourselves in May and its time for our seed of the month. This month its the ru...

In this weeks veg grower podcast Richard shares the latest from his allotment including more straw bail gardening and mulching. Richard also visits Stephens allotment and hear the latest from Richards kitchen Garden. Allotment update: Using more straw Down on Richards allotment Richard has been investing a lot into straw. Using straw bail gardening in a metal raised planter that would cost a fortu...

Join Richard in this weeks podcast in which Richard has spent this Easter Weekend gardening. Chef Scott is also back with another tasty recipe. Kitchen Garden Update: Easter Weekend Gardening Over this weekend Richard has spent a lot of time in his kitchen garden. It started with a good tidy up ensuring all weeds where removed and the grass cut. Followed up with cementing in a washing line, anothe...

Join Richard in this weeks episode of the veg grower podcast. This week Richard is having another go at straw bale gardening in the kitchen garden. Down the allotment Richard has been sowing lots of seeds directly into the ground, and finally Richard is joined by Lee Connolly The Skinny Jean Gardener to discuss national kids gardening week. Of course chef Scott is also back with another delicious...

Join Richard in the 600th episode of the veg grower podcast. This week Richard has an update from the allotment followed by a new trail, Hotbin vs Dalek. At the end of this podcast you can also be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets to gardeners world spring fair on Sunday the 4th May 2025

Join richard in this weeks podcast in which Richard shares the seed of the month Pumpkins. Richard also shares the latest from the kitchen garden and his thoughts on this months book of the month. Kitchen garden update Whitefly and more space. Over the last week, while Richard inspected his young plants he noticed some white aphids on his chillies. While only a small infestation it was time to tak...

Join Richard in this weeks podcast in which Richard is springing into action. With Spring officially here its time to really get to work and this week Richard has been busy on the allotment cutting the grass and tending to his garlic. In the kitchen garden Richard has also been busy potting on lots of plants and planting up his greenhouse in order to grow food. Chef Scott is also back with another...

Join Richard in this weeks Veg Grower Podcast where this week, with Spring in the air Richard has set up his coldframes including building one out of scrap. Down on the allotment Richard has also been planting out his potatoes and back in the podding shed Richard has had a bit of correspondence from listeners. Kitchen Garden Update: Coldframes With spring just around the corner Richard has got his...

In the latest episode of the Veg Grower Podcast, Richard, the primary speaker, shares a wealth of updates and insights from his gardening activities, both at his allotment and at home. This episode is particularly poignant as it is set against the backdrop of Richard's recent job change, which has significantly impacted his schedule for visiting the allotment. Despite these changes, Richard emphas...

Spring is creeping in, and with it, the start of another exciting growing season. March is a month of new beginnings—seed trays filling up, beds being prepared, and the first real sense that warmer days are on the way. In this week’s podcast, Richard covers: The Seed of the Month – Tomatoes What can be done on the allotment in March Chef Scott’s recipe: Roast Pork Chops with Rhubarb A review of A...

Join Richard and Scott in this weeks podcast where this week Richard has noticed that there are signs that the allotment is springing into life. Back at home Richard is building on his grow light system in order to be able to grow more seedlings and he also shares a few insights from the garden press event. Scott is also back with his recipe of the week. Springing Into Life On The Allotment Down o...

Join Richard in this weeks veg grower podcast and this week Richard is sharing his tips for seed starting success, from the allotment we have a question from a listener about saving potato seed and finally we have a new project of making our own compost in order to be more self sufficent. Kitchen garden update: Seed Starting Success. With March and Spring being just around the corner, it brings wi...

Join Richard on his allotment and kitchen garden as he continues his mission to grow as much of his own food as possible. This week, he’s been busy organising his shed, finding ways to save money on the allotment, and building a pallet wood seed tray—a fantastic upcycling project. Plus, Chef Scott is back with another delicious recipe, perfect for using this month’s seed of the month: leeks! Organ...

As we edge closer to spring, there’s nothing like a bit of time on the allotment to lift the spirits. This week on The Veg Grower Podcast, I share how preparing the potato beds for planting has helped me shake off the winter blues and get excited for the growing season ahead. We also have our seed of the month. This month its the winter hardy favourite leeks. Getting Ready for Potatoes: Allotment...