💐 This week we're delving into dahlias!

Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, a planty podcast where you’ll hear all manner of stories from knowledgeable, passionate and invaluable people who love plants as much as you and I.

We’re here at the monumental 7th season of the podcast and thanks to you, the listeners, we’re back with even more guests and this season promises to be even bigger, even better and with even more planty goodness! This season I'm focussing on those people who really know what they're talking about in a series of episodes I'm calling 'Experts In Their Field'.

Along with a brand-new season, is a brand-new sponsor, and I’m thrilled to share that I’m joined for season 7 by the powerhouse of the plant world, Westland Horticulture. Westland are dedicated to empowering everyone with the skills, knowledge, and tools to help every gardener give it their best, season after season. Great gardening starts with great compost, and Westland has a trusted range of composts for your every gardening need, from giving your baskets and containers the best start in life filling your vegetable patch with nutrients ahead of a bountiful season.

Now, this year has been an interesting one for us gardeners and growers, in the UK the weather has been less than favourable. In my own garden because of the wet weather, the dahlias have struggled more than ever so in this week’s episode I’ve turned to my good friend and dahlia expert, Kim O’Brien, for some sage advice. Kim is not only a dahlia expert but she’s also a renowned florist and a whizz with all sorts of cut flowers too. In this episode we discuss the highs and lows of dahlia growing, top tips for better blooms and much more! Enjoy!

If you’d like to see more from Kim, then you can follow her over on Instagram where you’ll find her as @dahliafarmerama. Also, make sure to check out Kim’s floristry workshops at the BBC Gardener’s World shows across the year in 2025. Tickets are available for the Spring Fair at Beaulieu now and you can find them here.

If all this talk of dahlias has got you thinking about more blooms in your garden next year then give your plants the ultimate head start with Westland! Plant your dahlias in Boost All Purpose peat free compost, which is proven to give you up to four times more flowers on your plants. And while you’re at it, give them even more of a powerup by feeding them with Boost, All Purpose Liquid Plant Feed. You’ll have the most stunning floral display and an abundance of healthy fruit and veg too. Using its unique Plantsense™ technology, Boost will feed all ornamental and ericaceous plants, plus all fruit and vegetables and give you incredible results.

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