Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast

In this episode I chat with garden designer, broadcaster, TV presenter and author, Mark Lane.Mark’s brilliant new book, The Future of Gardens, published by Melrose House looks at the future of gardening, including themes of technology, climate change and gardening on another planet. We talk about:Mark's bookThe Future of GardeningMark’s career, to dateClimate change Mark’s plans for the future, and lots moreYou can learn more about Mark by following him on his Instagram account (click here), or looking at his website (click here)You can also follow me on my Instagram account (click here).Thanks for listening and I’ll be back soon.Mike

Hello!In this episode of the Mike the Gardener – Gardening Podcast, I chat to award-winning garden designer, writer and author, Juliet Sergeant. Juliet's new book, ‘The importance of soil’ is published by Frances Lincoln in association with Kew Botanic Gardens.In this episode we chat about:The book and how it came about.When did Juliet's interest in soil first come about?Why Juliet’s walked away from a successful career as a Hospital Doctor Her award-winning Gardens at Chelsea and Hampton Court. Flower showsHer Sussex Gardens schoolRadio and television work, and lots moreFollow Juliet by visiting her website - click hereFollow Juliet on Instagram -  click hereFollow Mike on Instagram – click hereThank you as always for listening.Mike

In this episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast I chat with writer, author and the inspiration behind the Middlesized Garden Youtube Channel and Blog, Alexandra Campbell. Alexandra’s YouTube channel and blog has attracted a phenomenal 212K subscribers and it’s packed with timely, helpful and interesting plant, garden and design content. We chat about:- Alexandra’s fascinating career to date- How the Middlesized Garden YouTube Channel and blog came about- The intricacies of recording, editing and presenting- Alexandra’s books, and of course lots moreYou can subscribe to the Middlesized Garden YouTube channel and blog here. You can follow the Middlesized Garden on Instagram hereYou can follow me in Instagram hereThank you for listening and I’ll be back very soon with another great podcast chat. Mike

Hello, and welcome back to the Mike the Gardener – Gardening Podcast.In this episode, I chat with multi award-winning garden, photographer, Jason Ingram.Jason has been behind the photography of at least 100 books, but, now he has his own book ‘How to Photograph Gardens', published by Ilex books.  The book is packed with helpful and informative garden photography hints and tips, including lighting, composition, and much more.In this episode we chat about:- How the book came about- What makes a Jason Ingram picture? (does he have a style?)- The importance of light (the ‘golden hour’)- The difference between film and digital.- How to overcome disappointing plant portrait backgrounds- How Jason gets the best from the photographer, the presenters he photographs (including Carol Klein, and Monty Don), and much moreThanks so much for listening to this episode, and I look forward to chatting again very soon with another gardening personality.Mike

In this week’s episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast I chat with garden writer, author, garden designer and broadcaster Naomi Slade about her new book, Daffodils - Beautiful varieties for home and garden’, published by Pavilion on 11th March 2025. We chat about:Her new bookThe writing processHer careerAnd, of course, much moreYou can get a copy of Naomi’s new book, and indeed all of her book from her website www.naomislade.com. Follow Naomi on her Instagram account by clicking here. Follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thank you for listening.Mike

In this week's episode of the Mike the Gardner - Gardening Podcast I chat with garden writer, podcaster, gardener and author, Lucy Chamberlain. Lucy's new book, 'Grow Food Anywhere' - published by DK Books and the RHS is out now. We chat about: Her new book & how it came about How Lucy writes Her career in gardening and garden media Her own garden, and, of course lots more You can follow Lucy on her instagram account by clicking here. Listen to Lucy & Saul on their Talking Heads podcast by clicking here You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thanks so much for listeningDon't forget to follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss future episodes See you very soon. Mike

In this episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with Josie Lewis, the Head Gardener at Sarah Raven’s garden, Perch Hill in East Sussex. We chat about: Josie’s career to date How she became Head Gardener at Perch Hill Her role and responsibilities The split between admin and gardening  Dahlias, of course, including selection and trialling And much more To learn more about Sarah Raven, click this link To follow Josie Lewis on Instagram, click this link To follow me on Instagram, click this link Thanks for listening and don’t forget to follow and subscribe, and if you’re able please leave a review.  Thank you.  Mike

In this weeks, episode of the Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat to Lucy Butler (@mindful.gardener) from Instagram. Lucy lives with depression, anxiety and low self esteem, but gardening has been her saviour since her late teens. We chat about: Lucy's journey and how living with depression impacts her life How gardening has helped Lucy Smiling depression Lucy's plans for the future You can follow Lucy on her Instagram account by clicking here. Thank you for listening and don't forget to follow and subscribe Mike

Hello, and welcome to the Mike the Gardener – Gardening Podcast. This week, join us as we journey to Burford Garden Company in the stunning Cotswolds, to look at, and buy spring bulbs, and lots, lots more. We have a good look around, enjoying the houseplants, the outdoor garden centre, and the spring bulbs. My thanks to Jess and all at Burford Garden Company for allowing us to record this episode. And I'll be back next week. Thanks for listening. Mike

Hello and welcome back to the Mike, the Gardener – Gardening Podcast. This time, in a spring bulbs special episode, I chat with Otis the Gardener about: Our favourite spring bulbs What we've ordered Where we're going to plant them What compost to use, Lasagna planting Snowdrops & scillas, and everything you could possibly imagine you need to know about spring bulbs It's a fascinating and informative episode, so pop the kettle on, pull up a chair, and treat yourself to half an hour of great gardening facts and fun. See you next time. Mike

In this episode, we go back to Otis and Ben's allotment to talk about: How the weather has impacted growing this year What crops they've grown, what has done well, and not, and why Things they've learnt after three years of growing on the allotment Some useful and helpful hints, tips and hacks You can follow me and Otis on Instagram by clicking the following links: ⁠Mike⁠ ⁠Otis⁠ We will be back again soon to discuss spring flowering bulbs, so do stay tuned. Don't forget to follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss any episodes. Thank you. Mike

Join me in the second episode of Series 8, when I share what I'm doing here in my own garden on the south coast of the UK. I talk about: What plants I'm growing including tithonia, and ornamental grasses How to care for hostas Overwintering hardy and Abyssinian bananas How to plant a garden effectively Lots of gardening hints, tips and hacks If you have any gardening related questions, do contact me via my Instagram account - click here Thanks for listening and don't forget to follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss any future episodes. Thank you. Mike

In this episode I head to the nursery of Sienna Hosta to chat about: How to get the very best from your hostas How to win the war with slugs & snails Sienna Hosta's incredible success at nationwide flower shows and their exciting plans for Chelsea 2025, and of course lots more. To find out more and see the incredible range of hostas available to buy, head to the Sienna Hosta website www.siennahosta.co.uk. Don't forget to followed subscribe, and, if you're able please do leave a review. See you shortly for Episode 2! Mike

Welcome to this Chelsea Flower Show special addition with fantastic contributions from: TV presenters Gaby Roslin & Ben Thompson Garden designer Jo Thompson Garden writer Arthur Parkinson Michael Marriott & Rosie Irving Naomi Slade and daughter Holly She Grows Veg Kim Stoddart & Ruth Hayes Sienna Hosta Harespring Cottage Flowers Adam Kirtland Kelly Stone Tom Coleman Alice Hare, and Susie White It's a fascinating episode, as always, which sees me snooping around the Chelsea Flower Show on press day. Thanks for listening and watch out for series 8 coming soon! Mike

In this week's episode I chat with writer, author and owner of Bressingham Gardens, Adrian Bloom. We talk about: The beautiful gardens at Bressingham. Adrian's career, to date The creation of Foggy Bottom His new book, Foggy Bottom - A Garden to Share Photography, plants, and lots, lots more To order Adrian's new book, Foggy Bottom - A Garden to Share, click here. To learn more about Bressingham, click here. To learn more about Foggy Botton garden, click here. To follow me on my Instagram account click here. As always, my thanks to you for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you are able. Thank you. Mike

In this week's episode, I chat with garden writer and author, climate change expert and editor of Amateur Gardening magazine, Kim Stoddart. We chat about: Kim's excellent new book, 'The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden', published by Cool Springs Press. Resilience The importance of connecting with nature Wellbeing Emotional regulation Nutrient density, and, of course, lots more To learn more about Kim head to her website by clicking here, or to her Instagram account by clicking here. You can learn more about me by heading to my Instagram account bye clicking here, or have a read of my writing on Substack by clicking here. Thanks to you all for listening and please don't forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you are able. I'll see you next week. Mike

In this week's, episode, I head back to the Cotswolds for what is fast, becoming my annual get together with garden writer, Val Bourne. The weather, not on our side, this time, meant we had to record this episode in the lounge of Val's beautiful cottage. We chat about: Writing for a living Val's pretty cottage garden Erythroniums Dahlias Ed Sheeran (!), and, Lots more as always Please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more episodes to come. And please do leave a review if you are able. To follow me on my Instagram account tap here. See you next week. Mike

In this week's, episode of the Mike The Gardener – Gardening Podcast, I chat to my friend and one time tutor, garden writer, broadcaster, and author, David Hurrion.   Twenty years ago, I was lucky enough to have had David as the tutor of my RHS level 1 course. As you will hear in today’s episode, David’s vocation has been to share his vast knowledge of all things, plants, gardening and horticulture with others. He’s also been a journalist, writer and editor, working for publications, including Amateur Gardening magazine and Gardeners’ World magazine.   David’s new book The Raised Bed Book, has recently been published by DK books, and in today’s episode we chat about:   David’s new book and how it came about David’s career to date The importance of inspirational teachers/tutors Broadcasting on radio and television, and lots lots more My thanks to David for joining me in today’s episode, and to find out more about him or to order the book, please click here.   You can find out more about me and follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here.   Thanks for listening, and please don’t forget to follow/subscribe, and if you are able, please do leave a review.   See you next week.   Mike

In this week’s episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with garden writer, veg grower and author, Rob Smith.  Rob’s new book ‘Grow to Eat: Growing Colourful & Tasty Vegetables From Seed’ is published by Quadrille Publishing on 28th March, 2024 and in this episode we chat about: How Rob’s passion for growing veg started His career to date How the book came about The BBC TV programme, The Great Allotment Challenge, which Rob won in 2015 Rob’s plans for the future, and of course lots more.  We also speak to Rob’s friend, gardener, maker, upcycler and lover of all things vintage, Darren Lakin.  It’s a great episode and my thanks to Rob, and Darren for coming along to have a chat with us.  You can learn more about about Rob by clicking here. You can learn more about Darren by clicking here. And, you can learn more about me by clicking here.  Please don’t forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you’re able.  Thanks for listening.  Mike

In this week's episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with award-winning garden designer, Manoj Malde. We chat about his new book 'Your Outdoor Room' published by Frances Lincoln on 21 March 2024. We chat about: His childhood His career in the fashion industry The book and how it came about Manoj's Chelsea Flower Show Gardens His TV work, and lots more You can find out more about Manoj by clicking here and follow him on Instagram by clicking here You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Please don't forget to follow/subscribe and leave a review if you can. See you next week. Mike

In this week’s episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with Lucy Hutchings (@shegrowsveg) about her career to date. In 2018, Lucy took to Instagram to chart her progress growing her own fruit & vegetables. She now has a following of over 180,000.  In this episode, I chat to Lucy about her career to date, including her work as a writer, author, garden designer, and now, entrepreneur as she and business partner, Kate Cotterell have set up the UK Heirloom Seed Company. Lucy also shares exclusively their plans for the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2024. To follow Lucy on her Instagram account click here. To follow me on my Instagram account click here. Thanks for listening and please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more episodes to follow.  And, if you are able, please leave a review. See you next week. Mike

Hello and welcome back to this week's episode of the Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast. This week, I speak to garden, owner and author, TJ Maher. TJ is an artist who has an incredible eye for using colour, forms and texture in his beautiful Patthana Garden in Wicklow, Ireland. His new book, published by Pimpernel Press on 7th March 2024 is ‘Grounded in the garden - an artist's guide to creating a beautiful garden in harmony with nature’ and looks closely at the creation of the Patthana Garden, including how to use colour, planting and lots more. In this delightfully, intimate interview we chat about: TJ’s career to date The importance of colour in the garden How TJ crafted this stunning garden  How the book came about How TJ found the writing process  How the garden has developed, and of course lots more My thanks to TJ for taking time to come and chat to us. You can follow TJ on his Instagram account by clicking here. You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thank you, as always for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more episodes to come. If you are able, please do leave a review. Thank you. Mike

In this week's episode of the Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat once again to Jekka McVicar whose new book '100 Herbs to Grow' is published 7 March 2024 by Quadrille Publishing. In this fascinating and in-depth chat, we talk about: Jekka's new book, '100 Herbs to Grow'. How to inspire people to grow The future of small and independent specialist nurseries How Jekka spends her ‘me-time’ Her plans for the future, and much more. This is truly another great chat with Jekka, and I am re-releasing our first chat alongside this episode as some of our conversations relate back to our first meeting. My thanks to Jekka for taking time from her schedule to chat to us today.  You can follow Jekka's Herb Farm by clicking here. And you can follow Jekka's personal account by clicking here. And you can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Please don't forget to follow/subscribe and if you are able, please leave a review. Thank you and see you next week. Mike 

In this week's episode of the Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with Scotland Grows Editor and Podcaster and freelance writer M.T. O’Donnell.  Amongst many topics, we discuss: MTs, role as Editor and Podcaster for Scotland Grows. The Scotland Grows magazine. The challenges of gardening in Scotland.  The TRELLIS charity - Gardening for Well-Being, and lots more.  You can find out more about Scotland Grows by clicking here. My thanks to MT for taking time out of her schedule to come and chat to us today. You can follow MT on her Instagram account by clicking here.   And you can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here.    My thanks, as always, for listening, and please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more great episodes to come. See you very soon.  Mike

In this week's episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I return to Kingston Maurward, horticultural college, where I learnt my trade many, many years ago. Nigel Hewish, the Head Gardener there, is responsible for the national collection of salvias held within the grounds of the college. What Nigel doesn't know about salvias frankly, isn't worth knowing. In this informative episode, we chat about: Where salvias originate from How to grow them How to propagate them How to get the very best from them Planting companions Pests and diseases, and much more My thanks to Nigel for taking time to come and talk to us today. If you want to know more about me and my own garden, you can follow me on my Instagram account, mike_the gardener.  My thanks to you for listening, and please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more great episodes to come. And, if you are able to, please leave a review so that other gardening enthusiasts can find us here. Thanks for listening and see you next week.

Hello and welcome to the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast. In this first episode of Series 7, I'm delighted to be joined by the rather lovely Anya Lautenbach, a.k.a. Anya, The Garden Fairy (Instagram). Anya's brand new book, her first, The Money Saving Gardener is published on 8 February by DK books. We chat about: How the book came about The writing process Anya's first gardening memories How a personal tragedy led to her building a beautiful garden of her own How she got into propagation Her plans for the future, and lots, lots more. You can follow Anya on her Instagram account by clicking here and details of her new book and can be found here. You can find out more about me and my garden by following me on my Instagram account.  Click here for more information.  Thanks for listening and I'll be back next week. Mike

In this weeks episode, I chat to another Head Gardener, Nigel Hewish of Kingston Maurward college in Dorchester. I completed my horticultural training at Kingston Morwood many years ago, and it was a delight to catch up with Nigel to talk about the gardens and his career. In this chat, we cover: Nigel's career to date His love of trees and shrubs The plant collections at Kingston Maurward The impacts of climate change, and lots more. There's also some very handy gardening advice and tips about caring for penstemons and salvias. To learn more about Kingston Maurward, click here. To learn more about me, click here Thanks to you all for listening to this series and I will be back shortly with Series 7. Mike

In this fascinating episode,  I chat to Charles Carr, who is the Head of Wholesale Nurseries at Hillier Nurseries Limited.  Charles took me on a tour of the site and it's just incredible to see this massive operation, and the technology thats in use, the skills of the staff all around the site and most importantly, the quality of the plants that are produced. I chat to Charles about his role and, as with so many conversations I've had in this series, we talk about the impact of climate change and going peat free and how the industry is responding to these very real challenges. Hilliers Nurseries are pretty much peat free, and they have some fascinating technology to help them learn about this new growing medium. And for all of us, whatever the size of our garden, we too will need to learn about how to grow our plants in a peat, free medium. As you might expect, we cover a lot of ground within this discussion, including pests and diseases, what happens during the winter months, the importance of learning and development for staff, new plant development, and Charles own plant passions and of course lots more. Thank you all for listening to this series of the Mike The Gardener – Gardening Podcast and I will be back in the New Year with one more episode for this series, before picking up again in spring with Series 7. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy, 2024. Mike

In this episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I go back to a garden, that's not too far from me, the Harold Hillier Gardens in Ampfield near Romsey to chat to Head Gardener, Fran Clifton. I last visited Fran a couple of years ago, when we talked about the stunning winter garden, but today, we talk about: Fran's role as head gardener What the role entails How much time does she actually get to spend in the garden as opposed to looking after the paperwork in the office How has her role as head gardener changed over the years and more.  We also touch upon the very important topic of climate change and Fran shares how she is responding to the challenges of an ever-changing weather pattern. And for those of you, who think that gardening comes to an end in winter, Fran tells us exactly how she and her team get ready for next year's season and what jobs need to be done. We also talk about dahlias, tulips, the Chelsea Flower Show, re-wilding, National Collections and lots, lots more. I think it's fair to say this episode is crammed with helpful information.

Hello, and welcome to this weeks episode of them Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast.  This week I chat with Harry Baldwin, the Head of Horticulture at the beautiful Borde Hill Gardens near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK.  In this current series of the podcast, I've been chatting to a number of Head Gardeners & Heads of Horticulture about their roles, their careers and the gardens they work in.  I met with Harry in late September to talk about his career, his job at Borde Hill, the gardens, the challenges they face and lots, lots more.  To follow Borde Hill Gardens, click here.  To follow me on my Instagram page, click here.  As always, thanks for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe. Mike

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast. In this episode, I chat to gardener, writer and author, Miranda Janatka, whose second book, Happy Indoor Garden has just been published by Batsford Books. Until recently, Miranda was also a senior content creator for the fabulous Gardeners’ World magazine. We chat about: Her career to date How she got into gardening Her books and the writing process How own garden, and of course lots more My thanks to Miranda for taking time to come and have a chat with us. You can follow Miranda on her Instagram account by clicking here. You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more episodes to come. Thanks for listening! Mike

In this episode I travel to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens near Weymouth in Dorset (UK) where I chat to Curator, David Pearce. We chat about: His role as Curator. The gardens and how they're looked after and maintained. The historic plant collection Gardening jobs for autumn and winter. David's own plant passions. Why people should go to Abbotsbury Gardens. The joy and passion that working in the garden, and within the horticultural industry brings about. To learn more about Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, click this link. To learn more about David Pearce, click this link. As always, don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more great episodes to come. And you can learn more about me by following me on my Instagram account by clicking this link. Thanks for listening and see you soon. Mike

Hello, and welcome back to episode two of series 6 of them Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast. In this episode, I chat with Roz Chandler, a cut flower farmer and teacher, writer, speaker, and fellow podcaster. And, if that were not enough, she is also an award-winning wedding florist based in Milton Keynes. I chat with Roz about everything you could possibly need to know about growing cut flowers from how she started to how to keep the business running successfully. To learn more about Roz click here to check out her fantastic Instagram account Thanks for listening to this episode and please don't forget to follow/subscribe. And, you can follow me on my Instagram account, Mike_the Gardener by clicking here. And I will see you all very very soon. Mike

Hello and welcome back to Series 6 of them Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast. The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed the title of the podcast has changed very slightly. I'm ditching the 'MIC' (which was a nod to the microphone element) in favour of MIKE. And, in a further change for this series, I will have an occasional co-host who I introduce you to in today's episode. Going forward, there will still be your favourite content, including: Interviews with great, gardening, personalities, gardeners, garden, designers, broadcasters, and more. In-depth plant specials The ever-popular Slot From the Plot, and Much, much more As always, please do contact me with your questions, suggestions, comments and feedback at my new email address [email protected], or you can contact me via my Instagram account @mike_thegardener. Please do recommend the podcast to your gardening friends & family and if you're able, why not give me a share on social media. And to make sure you don't miss out on a single episode please follow/subscribe. Thank you! Mike

Hello, and welcome to this bonus episode of the Mike the Gardener – Gardening Podcast. This time we return to the allotment with Otis to see what has been happening since we were last there a few weeks back.  And, I can assure you, the allotment has been very, very productive. I know that, because we've been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of some of the delicious crops, including bumper hauls of courgettes, beans and beetroot.  In today's episode, we touched upon the use of peat-free compost.   Have you been using peat-free compost on your allotment this year? We'd be really interested to know how they have performed for you? Do tell us which products you have used and the results you have got. In the meantime, I will be back with Series 6 in mid-September, so I look forward to seeing you all then. Mike

Hello and welcome to this last episode in the current series of a Mic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast. As I said last week, we have a great final guest today, in fact, it's my youngest guest on the podcast ever.  Now, one day, when I was whiling away time on good old Instagram, I stumbled across an account in the name of The First Time Gardener. Now, there are two people behind this particular account, one of whom is probably more in charge of the shall we say administration, whilst the other person is the face of the account. So, completely bowled over by the contents of their page, I contacted them to ask if they would come and have a chat on the podcast. So, today, I'm absolutely delighted to be joined by Joanne and her son Charlie. We talk about: How the account came about? What Joanne was hoping to achieve through the account? How Charlie became the face of the account? Their plans for the future (gardening and Instagram), and Charlie's plans for the future, and lots more. My thanks to Joanne and Charlie for taking time to come and have a chat with me. You can follow their account by clicking here. You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. I will be back shortly with another Slot from the Plot special. As always, please don't forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you are able. Mike

In this week's episode, I head back to Otis and Ben's allotment to see how things are progressing so far this season. I'm delighted to advise that for the first time in the series, so far, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Clear blue skies, a very gentle breeze and temperatures soaring, especially in the tunnel. Today we chat about: Some nifty little hacks, including how to make more cuttings from tomatoes Companion planting The impact of the current and prolonged dry spell in the UK and across Europe, and there's some food tasting along the way! And of course, we have a good look around the plot to see what's cropping, what is due to crop and discuss any little problems along the way. You can follow Otis on his Instagram account by clicking here. And, you can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Next week is our last proper episode in the current series, and I will be chatting to a very young gardener, Charlie and his mum Joanne. You can find out more about Charlie and Joanne by following them on their Instagram account by clicking here. I will be heading back to the plot to chat to Otis and Ben in the weeks ahead, so do tune in to our specials in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, please don't forget to follow/subscribe, and if you are able to leave a review that would be wonderful. See you next week, as always. Mike

In this week's episode of the Mic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with friend and nursery owner, Ruth Goudy. Ruth is one of the owners of the Kiln Farm Nursery in Kesgrave, Ipswich alongside husband Paul. We chat about: How the nursery came about How it grew and developed into the thriving business it is today What is entailed in running a successful garden centre What are the future plans for the garden centre? And lots, lots more. It's a fascinating insight into garden centres, which we, as avid gardeners frequent in the hunt for good, quality plants and garden supplies for our gardens. My thanks to Ruth for her time. You can find out more about Ruth by following her popular Instagram page @theflowerwriter. and, you can find out more about me by following my Instagram page @mike_thegardener. Please don't forget to follow/subscribe, and if you are able, please leave a review. Thanks for listening. Mike

In this week's, episode of the Mic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat to Gardeners' World presenter, garden designer, and author, Adam Frost. Probably one of the most requested chats from all of you over the last two years, and finally it's happened. In an open, frank and very honest, interview Adam talks about: His career to date. Working alongside the legend that was Geoff Hamilton. His new garden His own recent health issues “An Evening with Adam Frost” UK shows, and much , much more Adam will be appearing at this year's Gardeners' World Live in Birmingham 15-18 June. Check show press for his appearances and schedule of activities. My thanks to Adam, his team and the BBC Gardeners' World team for their help in arranging this chat. As always, please don't forget to follow/subscribe and leave a review if you are able. And, as always, I will see you next week. Mike

In this weeks episode of the Mic the Gardener – Gardening Podcast, I chat to YPHA committee member, Sarah Want. The YPHA is the Young People in Horticulture Association and is a fantastic initiative for anybody in gardening or horticulture under the age of 35.  In this episode, I chat to Sarah about: What the YPHA is? Who it's for? What its objectives are? How it helps its members? And lots, lots more. To join the YPHA, or get more information tap this link. The YPHA can be found on Instagram and LinkedIn by tapping these links. Thanks for listening, as always, and please don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE, and if you are able, please do leave a review. I will see you next week. Mike

In this week's episode of the Mic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I take you all to the Chelsea Flower Show Press Day. I'm very lucky to be invited to this, and decided it would be great if I could share some of the atmosphere of the day with you here on the podcast. Celebrities and gardening personalities wander up and down Main Avenue and around the Great Pavilion. It's the place to be seen on Press Day. In this episode, I speak to the following people: Rossana Porta: I was lucky enough to work alongside Rossana, who worked alongside Manoj Malde, to orchestrate the planting of his beautiful Garden of Unity. Rossana tells us all about her career and her role in making this beautiful garden. Sienna Hosta (Chris): Chris and Ollie have both been previous guests on the podcast, and I catch up with Chris to see how their Chelsea journey has been. And it certainly hasn't been without a few problems along the way. Lincolnshire Pond Plants (Dawn): I chat to Chelsea first timers, Leicestershire Pond Plants, and Dawn tells me all about their experience of exhibiting in the Great Pavilion for the very first time.  Steph Hafferty & Kim Stoddart: Kim has been a recent guest on the podcast when she chatted about climate change gardening. I caught Steph and Kim shortly after they entered Chelsea to find out what they were hoping to get from the day. Michael Perry a.k.a. Mr Plant Geek, and Ellen Mary: Again two lovely people have been guests on the podcast previously. I bumped into Michael in the Great Pavilion, and, as he was sharing his Chelsea experience, we were joined by the lovely Ellen Mary. Tom and Jenny Williams (The Laundry Garden): I visited Tom and Jenny last year at the beautiful Laundry Garden, which was a very popular episode on the podcast. I caught up with them in the Great Pavilion as they shared their plans for the day and their plans for the future. Thanks for listening as always, and don't forget to follow/subscribe. As always, if you are able to leave a review that would be great. See you next week, as usual. Mike

In this week's, episode, I chat to gardener, cook, writer and author, Mark Diacono.  We talk about Mark's career and how he first got into gardening and became a foodie. We also chat about music, which is a strong theme in Mark's life, photography and Mark’s love of the written word and of course lots lots more.  You can find out more about Mark by heading to his Instagram page or website and you must read his brilliant, Mark Diacono's Imperfect Umbrella Substack page which can be accessed via this link.  You can also follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thank you so much for listening, and if you are able, please do subscribe/follow and if you are able please leave a review. See you next week. Mike

In this week's episode of the In this week's episode of the Mic the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat to climate change gardening expert, Kim Stoddart.  Kim's new book, ‘The Climate Change Garden', which she co-authored alongside Sally Morgan gives us a fascinating insight into climate change, and how we as gardeners need to adapt our working practices to achieve bountiful and productive gardens in a world, where the weather patterns are constantly changing and are at times becoming extremely challenging Kim tells us about: How the changing weather patterns impact how we garden How it climate change is impacting the timing of the arrival and types of pests we find in our gardens How looking at the gardening practices and approaches of yesteryear and embracing thrift and connection, could actually lead us to better resilience in our own green spaces, and much, much more We also chat about how it's important for us as gardeners to adapt to the changing climate with some helpful and handy tips on things we can incorporate in our own green spaces to make positive changes. It's a fascinating and timely chat about a subject that we will all have questions and concerns about.   To buy a copy of ‘The Climate Change Garden’ click here. To find out more about Kim visit her website by clicking here, and you can follow her on her Instagram account by clicking here. You can also follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thanks for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe and, if you are able, please do leave a review.  See you next week. Mike 

In this week's, episode of the Mic the Gardener - Gardening Podcast I chat with gardener, writer, podcaster, garden coach, and now author, Andrew Timothy O’Brien. In his own words, Andrew says he is the owner of a too-loud laugh. I disagree, it’s great to hear the sound of people laughing in a world where there’s too much sadness and bad news, don’t you think? I chat to Andrew about his new book 'to stand and stare' published by DK books. There's a lot of gardening advice out there. But none that invites you to think about how to be while you're in your garden. With increasingly busy lives, yet another list of chores seems like the last thing we need when it comes to our own practice of self-care and relaxation. After all, aren't these the things we wanted to escape to the garden for in the first place? What if there was a more low-intervention way to garden, some reciprocal arrangement through which both you and your soil get fed - with minimum fuss, effort and guilt on your part, and the maximum measure of healthy, organic growth for your garden? We chat about:  How the book came about Andrew’s love of the writer and spoken word Andrew’s podcast, Garden Weeds & Words, Our thoughts on gardening on social media and of course, lots more You can buy a copy of 'to stand and stare' by clicking this link. You can get more information about Andrew by visiting his website, and you can follow him on his Instagram account by clicking here. You can also follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thanks for listening and please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more episodes to come. And, if you are able, please leave a review with your preferred podcast provider. Thank you! See you next week. Mike

In this week's episode of the Mic The Gardener – Gardening Podcast we head back to Otis and Ben's allotment in Wimborne.  Despite the cold, grey weather, there is plenty of activity going on on the plot as you'll hear in this episode. But, Ben and Otis have also had their fair share of trials and tribulations to contend with, so it hasn't all been plain sailing. If you are interested in jotting down exactly what they are growing in the allotment, at the moment, here is the list: Spring onions, garlic, French beans, wineberries, gooseberries, turnips, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, zucchini, shallots, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes, sweet, peppers, and cucumbers.   And to keep all of us ornamental growers happy you come include lupins and dahlias on that list Thanks for joining us, and don't forget, you can follow me on my Instagram account where I am @mike_thegardener, Otis is @otisthegardener and Ben is @shortish.  As always, don't forget to follow/subscribe and if you're able and please do leave a review for other listeners. And I will see you as usual next week for some more gardening podcast fun. Mike 

In this weeks, episode of the Mic The Gardener – Gardening Podcast I chat to friend, YouTube sensation, homesteader and author, Liz Zorab. Liz's new book, The Seasoned Gardener has just been published on Permanent Publications, and I chat to her about: - How she started homesteading  - - - How she started her successful YouTube channel with over 122,000 subscribers. - How she started writing, and, lots lots more. If growing your own and homesteading is something you have considered, have just embarked upon, or would like to embark upon, then this episode is perfect for you. You may even be one of Liz's 122,000 subscribers, in which case you'll be interested to hear how Liz set up her successful YouTube channel. Or, you may just be interested in listening to another great chat with a very inspirational and determined lady. You can follow Liz on her YouTube channel by clicking here. You can learn more about Liz and order her books by visiting her website. As always, don't forget to follow/subscribe and if you're able and please do leave a review for other listeners. And I will see you as usual next week for some more gardening podcast fun. Mike 

In this week's episode of the Mic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with hardy geranium expert, Gary Carroll of the Cranesbill Nursery. Geraniums are a fantastic, genre with plants that fit into so many different aspects within our gardens and indeed in containers. In this episode, Gary tells us about: Geraniums for different places (dry and damp locations in sun, shade and containers) How to look after hardy geraniums Pests and diseases How to propagate hardy geraniums, and much, much more It's a fascinating episode, which will have you reaching for pen and paper before heading to the Cranesbill Nursery website, www.cranesbillnursery.com.  You can also follow the Cranesbill Nursery on Instagram by clicking here.  You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here. Thanks for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe, and if you are able, please do leave a review. See you next week. Mike

In this week's episode of the Mic the Gardener – Gardening Podcast, I chat with best-selling novelist, Erica James. Erica's latest novel, ‘A Secret Garden Affair' has just been published and unsurprisingly is already heading towards the top of the charts. We chat about: Her career to date. How she first got published. How she writes. Her new novel, A Secret Garden Affair, and lots, lots more   And, did we really record the second half of our chat in the shower? You'll just have to listen to find out more. You can follow Erica on her Instagram page by clicking here or head to her website www.ericajames.com. Please don't forget to follow/ subscribe as there are still more episodes to come. And, if you are able, please do leave a review with your preferred podcast provider. See you next week. Mike

In this week's episode of the Mic the Gardener – Gardening Podcast, I chat to Sarah Gerrard/Jones, a.k.a. The Plant Rescuer. Sarah is a self-taught houseplant obsessive who firmly believes every plant deserves a happy life. Her determination to see beyond the 'perfect plant' and to rescue unloved plants makes her the go-to guide. We chat about: - Her career to date. - How her obsession with houseplants began. - Her new book, The Plant Rescuer – The Book Your Houseplants Want You To Read - And, her fantastic Plant Rescue Box initiative. You can find out more about Sarah by visiting her website www.theplantrescuer.com or head to her Instagram page by clicking the link here. Thank you for listening and please don't forget to follow/subscribe and, if you're able, please leave a review with your preferred podcast provider. See you next week. Mike

In this special bonus Slot From the Plot episode recorded on 29th March we head back to a cold, wet and blowy allotment for our second visit of the season to chat with Otis. Sadly, all is not well at the allotment. And this I'm sure will be familiar to many allotmenteers who sow seeds for this seasons crops, only to find that something has got in there and nibbled their plans for successful seedlings. However, in better news, Otis tells me what has been planted, what is growing along well and what their plans are for the next few weeks. We start this episode by reviewing the frustrating developments in the polytunnel. If you have any tips for success, especially around keeping mice away from your prize seedlings, do drop me a line and let me know, so we can share your tips on the next episode.  You can follow us on Instagram, where I am @mike_thegardener and Otis is @otisthegardener. We will be back here again on the slot very soon. Thanks for listening. Mike