Show Notes
In this Episode we chat about upcoming events and shows, plants we are starting to sow now, and some items from the news. Show and Open days Potato Day and Green Fair, Border Events Centre, Kelso Alpine Society Spring Show, Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough. LE12 8JU South Molton Panier Market Plant Fair, South Molton Pannier Market, Broad Street, South Molton EX36 3AB Plant Heritage hosts Evening with David Hurrion, on Zoom or in person at St. Andrew's Church Hall, Churchgate House, Downside Road, Cobham, Surrey. KT11 3EJ Central Exhibitions Homes and Garden Show, Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes shopping Centre. Alpine Garden Society Garden Show, Kirkbie Kendal School, Lound Road, Kendal LA9 7EQ Rare Plant Fayre, The Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD In the News Barcham Trees goes Robotic. They have upgraded their tree production line to be completely robotic. Peter went to Corner Corner Restaurant and saw London’s biggest commercial indoor vertical farm growing salad and herbs. Matthew Biggs designed Hospital Garden in Hertfordshire is still growing and The Apple House at Serge Hill recently held a conference on how Outdoor space and gardens can transform patients outlooks and the benefits it brings to their well being. What we are planting We discuss Tomatoes grown in Hozelocks GroBag Waterer the benefits of Marigolds grown close by, David has had success with Sungold, and Dwarf Marigolds. Peter has grown Beefsteak Tomatoes. David then tells us about his Potato growing method and how it improves the soil structure, as it’s now about time to start thinking about First Early Potatoes. David is not a fan of Chicken Manure Pellets or Q4 Fertilizer, he relies on the compost but many of us do use fertilizer and we all agree on the benefits of earthing up. Finally we discuss treating your lawns with Chafer grub Nematodes as it’s that time of year and once treated the nematodes will last a year or two. Peter scarifies, reseeds and feeds his lawn and after all the rain recently Moss has grown well so Peter is treating his with Evergreen Complete a feed, weed and moss treatment. If you want to listen to a proper Grass expert listen to this podcast Music kindly provided by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Dig It
In this episode we suggest a couple of places to visit, some RHS partner gardens are open. Prebooking may be required so check with the gardens first. There is the Guided Swiss Garden Tour near Biggleswade and the Arley Arboretum and Gardens in Arley. Hozelock have launched a new range of tools with handles that can be changed to be longer or shorter to suit your preference and task at hand, the range cover hand tools and larger digging tools with a new spade which is meant to be an improvement on the traditional design. They have also have redesigned the hose connector and have hopefully fixed the more common issues, so it now has a lock on it, the hose grip has been reversed so it should be better at stopping the hose blowing off and the likely hood of leaks has been reduced. With these improvements Hozelock have once again innovated and improved a classic part so hopefully we will waste less water from dripping hoses and have less issues with them blowing off. It’s giant vegetable time, at the Malvern show on Friday the 25th to Sunday the 27th September. Gladys the Atlantic Giant pumpkin which weighs about 540kg is hopefully going to make it there from where it grew in Essex. A new Apple has been discovered in Luton. It is a cross between the James Grieve and a Newton Wonder. It’s Apple Day the weekend of 26th , 27th September at the Garden Centre, with fantastic displays of Apples, Support from Mid Shires Orchards and Jerry Edwards. If you have an apple that you don’t know what variety it is bring it for Jerry and he will hopefully identify it for you. We also chat about No Dig, and whether we can leave vegetable roots in the ground to rot down and whether double digging is now a thing of the past. Bill recommends pruning and tidying up your roses to stop wind rock from the winter winds. If you are going to plant any bare rooted plants this winter it’s time to get out and prepare the ground. Get the ground loosened up by digging the area, add some well-rotted manure or compost to the ground, clear any weeds or unwanted plants from the area, and then cover with landscape fabric to stop any new plant growth before you plant. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music
In this episode Peter chats with Chris Collins from Garden Organic. Chris is currently the Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic and he tells us a little about what is going on in their 50th anniversary year. We learn why heritage seeds do so well in the United Kingdom and why organic gardening and working with nature can help you get a better yield from your crops. Chris tells us more about composting and bokashi. Composting is not just about heaping up your grass cutting in a pile, you need to work within certain parameters to make great compost. Using a Bokashi for your kitchen waste can generate a fertilizer tea and then compostable material, it is a Japanese technique that will allow you to reduce your food waste contributions to the council waste streams. We also learn a little about soil health, smells, and what certain plants growing in an area can point towards. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever drunk the sap of a Tilia cordata or eaten a wild Garlic flower? In this episode learn about some unusual berries and plants and flowers you can eat. There are flowers to try which can make great colourful additions to the salad bowl or maybe pop in an ice cube. This episode it full of edibles that we have come across from historical resources and websites like the RHS edible flowers page. The plants and flowers mentioned may not be suitable for everyone so do your own research and check with a professional before eating. Thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair 11-13 September is at English Heritage’s Audley End House and Garden, Saffron Waldon, Essex Harrogate Autumn Flower Show Newby Hall and Gardens, 18th -20th September RHS Malvern Autumn Garden Show a celebration of gardening and food. 25th – 27th September Buckingham Gaden Centre’s Apple day on the 26th and 27th of September with Mid shires Orchards and Apple identification with Chairman of the RHS’s Fruit Group Jerry Edwards. Kew Gardens has a waterlily with leaves so big they can support the weight of a fully grown man. A notifiable issue with Sweet Chestnuts, they are getting movement controls imposed in the South as the disease spreads, so if you notice any weeping areas on their bark then it may be worth contacting Defra. Bulbs are now in stock in Garden Centres so If you are thinking of planting Snowdrops, Crocus, Daffodils, Bluebells or any of the other spring and early summer flowering bulbs it’s time to get into the Garden Centre and stock up. In this episode we also give you some tips on planting bulbs and how to prepare them in pots so if you want to bring them in when flowering they won’t go into shock and how to do a lasagna planting. Bill also shares how to get successive flowering and what to do with them so you can get them to flower for a few years to come. We also learn a little of the commercial flower markets in Holland, how the flower industry works and the interesting way Dutch auctions work. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode Bill and Peter talk about the small amount of rain we have had! We then move on and discuss some gardening tales and myths. From ideas about companion planting which some think put off pests to slugs not being deterred by egg shells or copper strips. What is true and what is an AI myth or what just doesn’t work? Send us your comments and thoughts to [email protected] Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.