The Virgin Gardener Podcast

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Naomi's Twitter. Naomi's WebsiteNaomi Slade is a freelance journalist with a degree in science and a background in publishing, events and managing rock bands. In this podcast she shares her love of and fascination for the subject of her latest book, Dahlias: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden.Things we talk about in this episode:Naomi’s backgroundHer Snowdrop book: Plant lovers guide to snowdrops (Timber Press)Joe Sharman of Monksilver NurseryNaomi’s snowdrop Galanthus 'Naomi Slade'Her Orchard book: An Orchard Odyssey (Green Books)Definition of an orchard: 5 Trees with crown edges not more than 20 metres apartPerennial fruit and foodDahlia as fashion victimDivisive dahliasRich man’s plants1851 ExhibitionChristopher LloydAre they worth the effort?Dahlia geneticsHumans are diploid - 2 sets of chromosomesdahlias are octoploid - 8 sets of chromosomesLoads of transposons which spontaneously change what they look likequick mutations = thousands of cultivarsYellow and orange dahlias often have irridescenceDahlia HistoryAztec ritualsCactus dahliasDahlia requirementsHow to start them offSlugs and frostSlugs hide underneath the tuber and come out at nightPinching outPlanting outFeedingStakingDeadheadingDahliaworld.co.uk has all 60k varieties - the perfect place to geek outNational collection in PenzanceOverwinteringNobody likes a soggy bottomFavourite dahliasRestrained dahlias: ponpons and small ballsContainersVarieties and cultivars we talk about in this episode:D. Hamari GoldD. PeresiiD. David HowardD. Arabian KnightD. Gentle starD. Thomas EddisonD. HootenannyD. EvelineThe gallery series - compact and prettyHappy singles - simple daisy flowers

Things we talk about in this episode:What's in a nameThe process of creating a stand at ChelseaPitching, competing, submittingCreating an outdoor living spaceChoosing carefully so as not to overload the stand. Making a realistic outdoor spaceHow to choose a growerHow the process worksTrees and hedgingChoosing plants Having a master plan (or not)Who is the client? Sponsor? Stand?It’s all about the medalGold medals and good prThe first jobSleepless nightsFaking it till you make itNot knowing the answer!Asking for help where you need itKnowledge and confidenceHow to be a good service providerCommunication Selling ideas to a clientSuggesting, steering, guidingUsing FACTS to get your wayA tape measure is your best tool. Balancing motherhood and a buisinessBaked beans againBeing there when it counts - sports day etcSetting a strong example for the childrenGarden design creates beautiful spaces for families - it’s one of the nicest things you can do for peoplePlanting stylePlanting a show garden vs planting a private gardenSeasonal plantingShrubs and herbaceousClipped shapes and chaosScaling up: putting big in smallGetting vertical interest in - wires and trellis to take eyes upGetting a mirror in! Should be antiqued - bounces lightBeing a weekend gardenerOutsourcing the clearing upScreening and blocking outTrellisTreesMeadowTidying tendenciesBeing braveComputer woesTurning the laptop onDelegationPlants, People, linksGaze Burvill Garden FurnitureDeepdale-  hornbeamsChichester Trees and Shrubs Hortus lociRosa'Gertrude Jekyll'Geum'Totally tangerine'Rosa'Munstead Wood'Julia SamuelColefax and FowlerThe English Gardening SchoolLondon College of garden designAndrew WilsonCloudy Bay garden Chelsea 2014p9’s (0.5 litre pots)Alchemilla mollisrosesnepetaSalvia nemerosa'Caradonna'Salvia'Nachtvlinder'Salvia'Amistad'Hydrangea'Annabelle'Hydrangea paniculata'Limelight'Amelanchier lamarckiiMobilaneTulipa 'Black parrot'Fritillaria meleagrisAllium 'Purple sensation'A. 'Purple rain'Gareth KinsellaThe wildflower Turf company RosaMme Alfred Carriere - flowers on a north wallStauntonia hexaphylla- will cover everything but bewareClematis armandiiAkebia quinataTrachelospermum jasminoides

Things we talk about in the episode:Why we love pelargoniumsscent of leavesmusky stringent smellbad breathtomato foliagethe easiness of themFibrex nurseriesThe National Collection of PelargoniumsHeather’s growing historyLearning about pelargoniums, ferns and iviesThe difference between pelargoniums and geraniumsFamily: GeraneacaeSame family, different genus:Genus: Pelargonium (southern hemisphere, tender, succulent or woody shrubs)Genus: Geranium (northern hemisphere, cranesbill. Hardy, herbaceous perennial)You can’t hybridise between the two - most definitely two different things!Geranium for pelargonium is WRONG because it’s misleadingIf you can’t say pelargonium, just call them pelliesPelargoniums are really tough in the right environmentReplicate SA in the UKLoam based, open, free draining compostWater managementGood light, even over winterNo darkness, no dinginessIn England that’s difficult, but not impossibleGood airflowIn a cool environment - Strip off a lot of the leaves which they don’t need because they’re not growing and you’re not watering.Zonals, decoratives, uniques, scenteds can have majority of leaves lower down taken off, leaving just the growing tipGets rid of mildew, mould, botrytis etc at the same time - bonus!Allows good airflow which is essentialKeeping pelargoniums indoors as houseplantsAvoid a kitchen or bathroom environment - too dampSitting room, living room, porch, Close to window or on windowsill. Natural daylight - doesn’t have to be direct sunlightFeed:Tomato feed like TomoriteFirst feed of season should be a balanced feed but otherwise Tomorite as soon as you see fresh young growthBeddingZonal pelargoniums are still used for bedding - can look stunningKey is to mass-plant with just one colour. Colour match with neighbouring plantsKey group within zonals: Bold series - good chunky, strong growing with short stems and lots of flowers which are shatter-proof.Use decorative, uniques and scented for gap-filling too!Attar of roses, Grey Lady Plymouth in a mixed border - Chocolate peppermint and Tomentosum at Wisley - looked amazingContainers:Potting compost magic formula; John Innes no. 2 and multi-purpose compost half and halfRe-pot in spring and you don’t need to feed for a month because of JI You cant over-feed a pellie!Feed every time you waterIf you want to get flowers like you see in the shows then you have to feed them! They’re on steroidsPinching out.Young cuttings - single stem. Once rooted and growing, pinch out top leaf and newest bud. Leaving a couple of live axils below means it will start to branch out. It’s not about height, it’s about body.Keep pinching outFibrex takes cuttings in August through to April. The pinching out happens throughout, until February. From buds, flowers will appear in six weeks. Pinching out is instinctive and takes practice, but not a lot of time if you’ve got a few pots outside the door.Dead heading.Pelargoniums LOVE to flower. If you take off the untidy ones it will grow more as soon as possible. If you leave them, the plant slows down.Heather deadheads every plant, every week - LOTS of work! Not so for a few pots.Snap bottom of flower stem between fingers and it will come off naturallyOverwintering.CuttingsPrepare your pot, 9 -12 cm Sterile seed compost and perlite or grit for drainage, Pat mixture down and saturate with water. Take cuttings, 2 inches at most depending on variety. Heather takes tip cuttings with one or two leaf nodes. Strip bottom leaves off, leaving growing tip and a couple of leaves at top. After 4-5 days give another drink. 5-10 cuttings in a 9cm pot. Cuttings really do like company. Heather pushes her cuttings straight in - no dibber and no rooting hormone.Heather likes to keep the leaves touching in the nursery.Leaving pelargoniums in pots over winterStart in September to prepare them by feeding them with a general purpose feedStops them from flowering. Take a third off in Autumn and strip the leaves. Re-pot in spring with fresh compost, fluffing up the roots. Water in lightly. After a couple of weeks, general feed and then put outside. Night temps should be around five degrees - leave till mid may or end of may. If you want them to continue flowering in a conservatory then just keep feeding tomato food.Windowsill with radiator is fine as they like a dry environmentBest are dwarves and miniatures for permanent flowering as they won’t outgrow their space.Other overwintering ideas:Hanging the upside-down. Used to be done. It’s a bit extreme and not entirely necessary.  You can leave in the compost just ease off on the watering.Pests and diseases. The whitefly clap. Use invigorators rather than insecticides. SB invigorator gives the plant extra and has ammonia which whitefly hate. Good for spider mite too. Spidermite like dry environments Greenfly like the soft young growth. Squish.Pelargonium starter-kit for newbiesScented: Attar of Roses. The gorgeousness of it!Decorative: Ashby. Strong, easy, free-flowering, big and beautiful, and EARLY.Specie: Austral. From Tasmania. Borderline hardy. Dark green, with delicate white flowersPellie cake. What makes a lemon smell like a lemon?Pelargoniums have over 120 volatile chemicals in the leaves. Hence the huge variety of scents and flavoursBest houseplant pelargonium: Fragrans because of fresh fragrance and height. Delicate, pretty, delightful.fibrex.co.ukfibrexnurseries on twitter and instagramMay 1st national collection is open free of charge, but you can visit whenever you like.Pellie party! Smelly pellie jelly! Turn up!Links, Plants and important stuff we mention:Zonal Bold seriesAttar of RosesGrey Lady PlymouthChocolate PeppermingTomentosumTomorite tomato foodSB invigoratorHeather’s top three for beginners:Attar of RosesAshbyAustraleHouseplant favourite: FragransFibrex Pellie Party

Andrew in the greenhouse why a greenhouse?hardening offcold framespotting on and space considerationsoverwintered pelargoniums: feedinghouseplant murderhouseplant care at this time of yearwhiteflymealybugsfeeding houseplants with seaweed extractupping the watering regimevine weevil on pillownemasysrepotting containerised plantsvine weevil vigilancedealing with pot-bound plantsstandardised plantsintuitive gardeningtop-dressingcrocksalpine screedaffodils and yellow snobberyforsythia, the untidy plantdeadheading daffschopping tulipsLaetitia’s amelanchiers and how much she loves themamelanchier - a hard-working plantGarden visiting in winter and early springBox topiary at West Dean gardensClipping your sarcococca into moundshorrifying results post-clippageOn The Ledge PodcastAndrew’s pelargonium tipsLaetitia’s alpine troughThe Garden LogNarcissi ThaliaMiranda Janatka’s article in the hardy plant society blogamelanchier canadensis and lamarkiiWest Dean GardensPlants we talk about and linksOn The Ledge PodcastAndrew’s pelargonium tipsLaetitia’s alpine troughThe Garden LogNarcissi Thaliaamelanchier canadensis and lamarkiiWest Dean Gardens

THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:Incredible Edible BristolFive minute gardeningKnitting theoryUsing both sides of your brainKilling begoniasIvy and pelargoniums as houseplantsWindowsill seed sowingBuying seedlingsNot over-sowingAm I a nurseryman?Essential seed-sowing equipmentCompostPlants to grow from seedDividing plants with two forks LINKS, PLANTS, IMPORTANT STUFF WE MENTIONIncredible Edible BristolRon FinleyEmma MitchellCoffee plantScheffleraPeace lilyOn the Ledge PodcastSweet peas (cupani)CosmosChilliesAlpine StrawberriesHydrangea pruning 

Laetitia and Andrew introduce themselves and reveal what's in store for listeners of The Virgin Gardener Podcast. Exciting news! Our first guest will be the horticultural rockstar that is James Alexander Sinclair!

Hello podcast People! This episode I’m chatting to one of my garden designer heroes, Matthew Wilson. He tells us the story of his life in horticulture, and the many bends in the road along the way. Besides heading up a busy garden design practice, Matthew is a regular on BBC Gardener’s Question Time a speaker, journalist and author as well as finding time to spend in his own garden. His 2009 TV show Landscape Man literally broke new ground in telly gardening. We chat about what it’s really like to face the public’s gardening questions, and I grill him on all your tricky ones too. This was my first live podcast and the audience was the sunniest, kindest, smiliest sort. What a lovely bunch of people gardeners are! Enjoy!Matthew WisonWebsite | Twitter | Instagram

Cleve West, by Chaz Oldham Hi Podcast People!In this episode I chat to Cleve West, legendary garden designer, and passionate vegan. We talk about just what it takes to create a winning Chelsea garden, eating vegan and having long enough legs! Do take a look at his website www.clevewest.com for links to all the vegan things we speak about in this episode.Enjoy! CLEVE WESTWebsite | Twitter | Instagram

Hello Podcast people! Fergus the Forager is a master of living off the land. See the show notes for all his details, including courses you can take.

A good portion of this podcast revolves around mulberries, and the rest is basically about muesli. See show notes. ENJOY!

Things we talk about in this episode:Judging at ChelseaObjectivity and how the judging system worksJames’s gardening journeySex, death and deliciousnessThe gardener as refereeThe recipe for a good gardenMaking sure that the practical essentials are in the right placeJames’s own gardenThe corner of shameCalling in help when life gets in the wayJames’s inspirationShow gardens and unattainabilityGardening as larcenyRemoving sentimentality (and diseased trees)Watching and waitingDealing with the boring stuff firstBarefoot compost heapsGardens, garden designers, succulents, cacti, azaleas and rhododendronsRoses and revolutionary verveStopping gardening when it becomes a choreDesigners and Chelsea show gardensThe cult of the designerJames’s 7 minute Chelsea gardenEvil wisteriaStop worryingFortnum and Mason manurePlants for dry shadeRight plant right placeSelf controlGrowing rhododendrons in the cotswoldsAnd watching them dieSeed sowingLeggy chilliesSnow hatingShed cleaningWeeding with a hula hoopApres freeze wateringDahliasSlugs and how to deal with themSlugs vs snails Evil slugsEvil drunken slugsSavage slugsHedgehog homesPodcasting as gardening