Claim OwnershipMaster My Garden Podcast
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© 2026 Master My Garden Podcast
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Master My Garden podcast with John Jones. The gardening podcast that helps you master your own garden. With new episodes weekly packed full of gardening tips, how to garden guides, interviews with gardening experts on many gardening topics and just about anything that will help you in your garden whether you are a new or a seasoned gardener. I hope you enjoy.John
321 Episodes
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March can feel like four seasons in a week, and that’s exactly why an April seed sowing guide is so useful. We sit down with the reality of spring weather swings and turn them into a practical plan: what to sow now under cover, what to hold back until soils warm, and how to stay flexible so you don’t waste seed or stall your garden momentum. We run through a packed “what to sow in April” list for the vegetable garden, starting with reliable salads like lettuce, spring onions, spinach, radish...
Shade can be one of the most beautiful parts of a garden, but only if you stop treating it like a sunny border. We take a listener’s question and turn it into a clear, usable planting plan for dappled light and deeper shade, starting with the real foundation: soil. If you want shade plants to thrive, we explain how to recreate a woodland feel with humus rich ground using leaf mould and compost, and how that helps whether you’re dealing with dry shade or damp, heavy shade. From there we share...
A single tree can feel like a drop in the ocean, but stack that effort across hundreds of communities and you get something powerful: a greener Ireland built from the ground up. We’re marking National Tree Week by talking through what it is, why it exists, and how local groups can turn overlooked corners of land into long-term canopy with real environmental value. We dig into the benefits that actually matter on the ground: carbon drawdown over time, better habitat for wildlife, and stronger...
Thinking about a greenhouse but unsure where to start? We take you through a clear, practical roadmap for choosing a structure that won’t buckle in the first storm and will pay you back with tomatoes, peppers, and salads long after the summer fades. Drawing on listener questions from recent workshops and a lively grow-your-own webinar, we unpack siting, materials, and the small decisions that make a big difference to yield and ease of use. We start with the real gains: longer seasons on both...
Ready to sow with confidence instead of crossing your fingers? March brings longer days and real momentum, but cold, wet ground can still undo good plans. We break down exactly what to start now under cover, what needs heat, and what should wait a week or two, so you save seed, time, and energy while setting up a strong season. We begin with the crops that make March feel productive fast: salads like spring onions, spinach, radish, and a range of lettuces that thrive in plug trays and tunnel...
Cold soil, heavy rain, and an eager itch to plant—this is the moment gardeners choose between rushing the season or stacking the odds for a great harvest. We dive into a clear, practical guide to picking potato varieties that fit both your garden and your plate, from fast-maturing salad types to flavour-packed second earlies and reliable main crops for storage. Along the way, we ground every tip in real conditions: soil temperature as your green light, earthing up to beat late frosts, and sma...
Peat built our seed-starting habits because it made life easy: even moisture, airy structure, predictable results. But when carbon-rich bogs and vanishing habitats enter the frame, “easy” stops feeling right. We take a clear-eyed look at what peat-free really means for gardeners in Ireland, the UK, and the US—beyond labels, beyond trends—and ask how to balance strong germination with true environmental sense. We start by mapping the policy shifts and market realities: Ireland still sells mos...
What if your garden could slow a storm, clean a river, and lift your mood in one sweep? We dive into the GLDA’s “The Interconnection of All Things,” a bold, practical look at how plants act as living infrastructure—supporting biodiversity, soaking up floodwater, buffering noise, and restoring our connection to place. We explore how language and myth can sharpen ecological awareness, then shift into concrete strategies designers can use right now. From award‑winning rewilding by Lulu Urquhart...
Ready to jumpstart a season of colour without babysitting trays for months? We map out a realistic February plan for ornamental flowers, focusing on what to sow now, when to wait, and how to keep seedlings strong with steady heat, bright light, and measured watering. If you’ve ever lost begonias to cold media or watched cosmos turn leggy on a dim windowsill, this guide shows the simple fixes that change the outcome. We break down the crucial differences between edibles and flowers after germ...
Blue skies today, sleet tomorrow—February keeps growers guessing. We lean into that reality with a grounded sowing plan for edibles that starts slow, protects seedlings, and builds momentum toward a season of steady harvests. I break down what to sow, when to start, and how to adapt your timing to your garden’s microclimate so you avoid redoing work when the weather snaps back cold. We begin with reliable early wins: spring onions on a steady rotation, seed-grown onions to reduce bolting, an...
Seed success starts long before the first tray is filled. We’re laying down a practical, no‑nonsense prep plan that saves you time, cuts waste, and sets your early crops up for real momentum once daylight returns in mid‑February. From testing old packets on kitchen paper to choosing the right trays and compost, we go deep on the details that quietly deliver stronger seedlings and bigger harvests. We talk through the realities of germination rates, why seed vigour matters even when sprouts ap...
Forest gardening doesn’t need acres or a cabin dream; it needs a clear purpose, one smartly chosen tree, and a layered understory that works as hard as it looks good. We sit down with permaculture designer and author Pippa Chapman to show how small, everyday gardens can deliver big yields, rich wildlife habitat, and year-round beauty without chemicals or overwhelm. Pippa traces her move from conventional head gardener to organic, permaculture-led practice, revealing why values shape method: ...
Gardeners feel the pull to sprint in January, but nature is whispering a different message: slow down. We’re starting the year with a calm, practical roadmap that swaps panic for preparation and sets you up for a stronger spring. From frost-dried soil to incoming rain and storms, we read the season as it is and show why most sowing can wait until February—especially if you don’t have grow lights or steady heat for long-season favourites like chillies and aubergines. We share the simple jobs ...
Before the tinsel settles and the kettle boils again, we press pause to send a heartfelt Christmas message from our garden to yours. This cosy sign-off wraps the year with gratitude for a community that tunes in from around the world, tries the ideas, shares wins and setbacks, and makes the whole project worth doing. If you’ve ever listened on a commute, sown seeds with earbuds in, or sent a question that helped shape a future topic, this one is for you. We keep it short and warm: a big than...
Weather wrote a dramatic script this year: a stormy opening, a dreamlike spring, a steady but clouded summer, and a rain-soaked autumn that tested paths, beds, and patience. We trace how those swings shaped real decisions in the garden, from staking and sowing to what to protect, what to lift, and when to wait. You’ll hear why an almost flawless spring can carry a season, how to plan for dry spells without overwatering, and why soil structure—not just plant lists—decided who finished strong w...
After a few years of procrastination and hiding I am delighted to launch my grow your own food workshops for 2026. Two dates 21st February & 21st March are the only two dates for this workshop in 2026. Ready to turn gardening advice into fresh salads, sweet strawberries, and a steady stream of herbs from your own space? We’re opening two small-group Grow Your Own Food workshops this spring, built for beginners and seasoned gardeners who want practical, no-nonsense results. Across a...
Ever wonder what gardeners truly need when the skies won’t clear and the soil stays cold and heavy? We open the vault on six years of downloads to reveal the ten most-listened episodes and the lessons they teach us about resilient design, living soils, and planting that thrives despite the weather. This is a practical, story-rich tour through the conversations that changed how we grow. We start with structure and colour: smart garden design and June Blake’s vivid plant choices that keep bord...
Your front door deserves more than a week of glitter. We break down how to build Christmas planters that look festive now, thrive in deep shade, and transition smoothly into spring without waste. The secret is designing for longevity: choose a strong evergreen centrepiece, layer hardy winter colour, and add seasonal touches you can lift out in January. We start with structure. Skimmia japonica tops our list for glossy leaves and vibrant buds that read instantly “Christmas” yet stay handsome ...
Cold weather set the stage and bare root season is off to a flying start. We bring Mattie from Future Forests back on the mic to share straight-talking, field-tested advice on hedging, trees, and the edible surge that’s reshaping Irish gardens. If you’ve ever wondered which whip size actually makes sense, when staking is non‑negotiable, or why those tall instant hedges sometimes flop, this conversation is your blueprint for smarter planting. We dig into the fruit boom: the apple that almost ...
Tired of guesswork and gimmicks? We unpack Christmas gifts that gardeners actually want and use, blending practical tools, cosy comforts, and learning experiences that make a real difference outdoors. Stephen and Eibhlin, long-time listeners at different stages in their gardening journeys, join us to bring fresh ideas that fit small patios, big plots, tight budgets, and thoughtful splurges. We start with essentials that earn their keep: quality secateurs paired with a holster, gloves that ba...
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