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The Sunflower Allotment Podcast is a podcast for anyone and everyone interested in vegetable gardens and allotments! The podcast includes friendly conversation on a range of allotment topics including seasonal advice and tips on planting and maintenance. The podcast has grown out of a conversations between friends with neighboring plots who love allotments and the outdoors. The members of the podcast have a range of experience from Tim (beginner) to Peter and Rachel (seasoned pros) and should hopefully appeal to people of all experiences. The podcast releases two episodes a month with some special editions. Email in: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.com
57 Episodes
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Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In this first episode of 2024 we have a special podcast to warm the senses! Recorded before Chrismtas from Peter's visit to New Zealand, this episode includes a beuatiful interview with his sister Vicky and partner Shaun from their bach in the south island of New Zealand. They roam the off-grid embankment plot disucssing garden design, drainage, the comparitive climate and their wide variety of plants. You'll recognise some familiar veg...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we record a farewell to Tim's plot as he hands-back his oasis (of sorts) in Norwich due to his impending relocation north to Sheffield. The episode includes a reflection on his time on the plot, along with some digging up of the garlic and a visit to Peter's new asparagus plot. Happy listening!
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! 'People think this was a dragons nest or that I'm a witch!' - Rosemary delights us with an allotment ramble around her beautiful natural allotment. Rosemary has created a space with the aim of being at-one with nature, the oppositie to a productive vegetable rich plot; much to the annoyance of the council and some of her neighbours! With 100 year old trees, a semi-circular bank inspired by old traditions and a Finish style hut for relaxi...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In this episode, Peter and Tim catch up on a warm and windy April morning to discuss seed swapping and allotment events. Peter also shares his productive allotment plot which has a staggering 300 garlic bulbs planted! We then hear from a recording back in February when Tim popped down to the inaugral Bungay seed swap and chatted to the organiser Lydia.
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!This week Pete is calling from his travels in New Zealand and we discuss gardening and allotments in NZ, along with our love for Autumn in the UK and jobs for November.Thanks for all your wonderful contributions - they help spark inspiration and debate and we love hearing from allotmenteers. We'd love to hear your answers to the question, 'why do you love allotments in the Autumn?'Instagram and Twitter:@sunflowerpod1
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! We are delighted to welcome author, allotment activist and illustrator David Crouch onto the podcast this week. Daivd co-wrote with Colin Ward the acclaimed allotment book 'The Allotment' which is out this year in a third edition, having first been published in 1988. The book will captivate any allotment and gardening enthusiast with the way it plots the social history of allotments and illustrates the importance of allotments to our li...
After a bit of a break...Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! Peter and Tim meet up for a long-overdue recording reflecting on our summer on the plot, our highs and lows and the moments to remember. We revel in our squashes that are close to harvest and look forward to an Autumn, discussing jobs and upcoming harvests. Next week we welcome David Crouch to discuss his book The Allotment: its landscape and culture which is now in it's third edition! Please do let us know how...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! With the sun setting on our allotment in Norwich, Peter and Rachel meet to discuss the wet summer so far, Rachel's chickens and upcoming jobs for late July and August. If you would like to get in touch or contribute any episode ideas, then please let us know!Email: Sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.com Social media: @Sunflowerpod1Thanks for listening!
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!It's harvest time! Peter and Tim visit each others plots to pick the fruits (and veg) of their labour. Onions, sorrel, courgettes, potatoes, shallots, broad beans and herbs amongst others are picked, discussed and eaten in this early summer harvest. Any questions, please get in touch:Email: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.com Twitter / instagram: sunflowerpod1 Thanks for listening!
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Pete interviews our fabulour allotment committe during one of their community plant swap events. During their conversation they disucss the rich history of our Norwich site and explore how preparations are going for the centenary celebrations next year! Peter and Tim also briefly do their own plant swap, desrcibe the joy of first getting a plot and delight in their instaible love of having an allotments and the variety i...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! Summer is certainly here and so is the fruit. We therefore decided to discuss what we do we our fruit and our favourite fruit dishes. The episode also includes an allotment ramble with committee member Jon on his stunning plot that contains a beautiful combination of veg and fruit. Thanks for listening! If you'd like to get in touch, please do via email or twitter and Instagram. Twitter / Instagram: Sunflowerpod1 Email: Su...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! With the cold snaps behind us and the sunshine well and truly here, Peter and Tim sit down under Peter's apple tree to discuss one of their favourite root vegetables, Celeriac. We discuss it's rich history, it's fantastic taste and tips of how to grow this tricky vegetable. With the cold weather all but a distant memory, Peter and Tim also discuss their techniques for mitigating against the hot, dry weather, including mulching and...
1Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! After some torrential rain and warmer weather, Peter and Tim take a walk around the allotment and discuss the explosion of growth of vegetables, fruit and weeds! Tim also discusses his love for raspberries as well explaining some tips for planting and storage. As we walk around we answer the question, what are our favourite allotment sounds? This includes birdsong, thunder and drumming! After driving over Tim's rhubarb, Pet...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In this mini episode we response to a fantastic listener question regarding growing tomatoes in a polytunnel. Peter addresses problems with blight, overheating, underwatering and suggests his favourite varieties of tomato. We also touch on other questions on potatoes and asparagus planting. We love hearing from you so if you have any questions, please do get in contact via Twitter, Instagram or email: Twitter / Instagram: @sunflowerpod1 Ema...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! It's April and the bees are out so it is a perfect time to be joined by beekeeper Ken Hayes for this special episode on bees! In this fascinating discussion we explore a range of topics from bees and the envrionment, pollinators, flowers to attract bees, the advantages and disadvantages of beekeeping, how bees swarm, the difference between workers and drone bees, honey harvesting and much, much more! As a guest we also take Ken to...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast. 🌻 On today's episode Peter and Tim return to Rachel's plot to record an episode that celebrates the end of Winter and discusses the arrival of Spring and April jobs. Amongst a host of things we discuss emerging from long winter, what we are planting this month, green manure, no dig, long days on the plot and Tim's brush with the allotment law! As ever, please do get in touch as we love to hear your feedback, opinions or ane...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! We are delighted to bring you the second part of our Easter special with organic gardener and No Dig expert, Stephanie Hafferty. As the joint author (along with Charles Dowding) of the award winning book, No Dig Organic Home Garden, Stepahnie has a wealth of experience and enthusism on a topic that has changed the way allotment holders and vegetable gardeners have approach digging and soil managemnt in recent years. In this special epis...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This episode is the first of a two-part Easter special with the amazing Stephanie Hafferty. Stephanie is an organic gardner, award-winning author, blogger and a leading authority in No-Dig gardening. During this first part we ask Stephanie about her origins of gardening, her movement into gardening as a profession as well as her garden planning, inter-cropping and year-round production on her Wales Homestead. We also discuss the i...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In response to both a listener question and Tim's neighbour taking on an allotment, Peter and Tim discuss how to tackle the first 7 days on the plot. Tidying, planning, no dig, planting trees, speaking to fellow allotmenteers are all discussed along with much more. We would love to hear how you began your first few days on the plot. Please let us know via our email and twitter: Twitter and Instagram: @Sunflowerpod1 E...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! We've had some extremely cold weather recently but once the snow cleared, Rachel, Peter and Tim took to the allotment with a spring in their step to discuss the month of March on the allotment. We start by discussing Peter's inspiration trip to visit Joy Larkcom and her garden in Ireland and then continue to discuss our seeds selections, tips for sowing seeds and, most importantly, jobs for March! If you would like to get i...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In response to a Twitter question, this week Peter talks through with Tim how to grow onions from seed, including the benefits and drawbacks. We also discuss our social media responses to the question, 'what have you found on your plot while gardening?'. Thank you to all your fantastic replies includng Guy who described how he found an artillery shell on his plot! Amazing. In the last section Peter and Tim discuss their week ahead...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! After recnetly acquiring a polytunnel which they plan to share, Peter and Tim discuss the benefits of using a polytunnel on your plot. They discuss the advantages such as: longer growing season, a chance to plant more variety and verticle planting. They also discuss the position on the plot, soil preparation and some tips for purchasing! As it's the middle of January, they also discuss their allotment jobs this week. Some usefu...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In this very special episode we welcome Stina Lindholm, a community gardern and community worker from Oslo to talk about allotments in Norway. Stina explains the differences between an allotment in Norway to the UK as well as the impact the differing climate has on her vegetable growing. In her job as a community manager in Oslo, Stina also discusses her role and we touch on the impact local politics has in advocating for green sp...
Welcome and back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! The New Year is here and with it plenty of allotment jobs! During this episode we discuss allotment jobs as well as planning for the planting of a fantastic and rewarding perennial: asparagus. January is a quiet month but a great month to prepare the plot for the future. Peter and Tim discuss January jobs such as buying seeds, tool inventories, cleaning pots, putting manure on the beds, pruning fruit trees as...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! It's the end of 2022 so Peter, Rachel and Tim sit down to reflect on the year and run through their allotment resolutions for 2023! As part of the reflection we discuss the changing cliamte focusing on the summer drought and February storms. We also explore the three categories of: 'top performers', 'could do betters' and our 'grow more of'. We triumph in our tomatoes, sulk on sweetcorns and commit to looking after our soil as i...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In the second of our two-part series with incredible gardener and author Joy Larkcom, Tim and Peter discuss Joy's general garden observations and tips. This includes her passion for tomatoes, chilies, and sweet peas along with her advice for sowing direct v modules. Joy also shares her advice and enthusiasm on intercropping, mulching, organic gardening and saving seeds. We feel so privileged to have chatted to Joy these past two episod...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! We are absolutely delighted to bring you an interview with Joy Larkcom, renown gardener, journalist and author of a host of influential gardening books including Grown Your Own Vegetables and Oriental Vegetables. When Peter and Tim first met back in March 2021, Peter swiftly placed a book into Tim's hands and said, "this will be your allotment bible", it was Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Vegetables. Tim, like Peter before him, has used i...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!In our second installment on Fruit Trees, Tim and Peter head to the allotment to plant a plum tree! From surveying the plot, to sighting, digging, adding manure and planting, Peter and Tim discuss the process while planting a Victoria Plum.If you have any questions or ideas for a an episode, please do get in touch via email or social mediaEmail: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.com Twitter and Instagram: @sunflowerpod1
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we are celebrating National Tree Week by releasing two special episodes on fruit trees! In this episode, Rachel and Peter discuss choosing fruit trees and tips on how to plan trees including sighting, steaking, compost and location. Both Peter and Tim have been mulling over buying fruit trees this year so Rachel discusses the benefits of bare root and container trees along with potted trees for gardens and patios. ...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! During this episode Peter and Tim have a natter with the allotment association volutneers about their annual site tradition: Potato Day. We discuss the planning for this community event, along with the importance of the assoication to the allotment community. We finish the episode discussing the jobs for December including green manure, moving ruhbarb, planting trees and the all important tidying! We are also delighted to announc...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we return to Rachel's plot and discuss how we can add some colour to our plot by planting flowers, notably bulbs for Spring. Rachel also attempts to persuade Peter to plant beans and they both discuss the Autumn allotment jobs! To see some pictures of our visit head to our Twitter and Instagram pages! Any questions, ideas or comments? Get in touch: Email: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.com Tweet: @sunflowerpod1 I...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! In this episode Peter and Tim visit Rachel's allotment and walk around her beautiful plot. We meet her friendly chickens, discuss the benefits of her pond, revel in the inventiveness of her Frankenstein greenhouse and and get inspired by the endless flowers and and shrubs which makes it such a stunning space. To see some pictures of our visit head to our Twitter and Instagram pages! Any questions, ideas or comments? Get in touch: Email...
Welceom back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we discuss that all important matter of compost! Rachel (compost enthusiast) discusses the importance of soil, green and brown compost, compost storage and leaf mould. As ever we also discuss our jobs on the plot this week during and Rachel provides us with an update on her chickens! How do you do your compost? do you have any tips we can share next week? Please do get in contact! Any ideas, tips or to...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! ...And welcome to Rachel, our new Sunflower Allotment co-host! Rachel joins us with real expertise and during the first section Rachel exlpains how her love for her allotments led her towards a career change towards professional gardening via an RHS course. This episode also focuses on butternut squash as Peter celebrates a bumper year of 50 squashes. Peter explains his process from plot to fork, including the best way to dr...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!After a summer hiatus, the podcast is back to reflect on an exceptionally hot summer that tested our allotment commitments. We also look ahead to the weeks and months to come as the season slows down but there's always plenty to do! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us:Email - sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.comTwitter - @sunflowerpod1
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This episode we discuss the searing and and soaring heat we've recently had on the plot and look at the tips and hacks to effective watering. In a time of climate change, we also discuss sensible water use and how to protect the soil. We also discuss the jobs for August and our plans for a month with time planned away from the plot.
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we take shade under Peter's apple tree with Sharon Copple, our allotment site rep and seed buyer on our site. Amongst a host of things, Sharon discusses some allotment history of our site, as well as her thoughts on mental health and gardening, her take on soil, Potato Day, the role of a site rep and the joy of being the first plot on the allotment site! 00:00 - Introduction including the allotment committee and her role. ...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we come full circle as we finally harvest the potatoes we chitted in episdoe 1! With great enthusiasm and celebration we recorded the moment Tim digs up his first early potatoes while Peter offers advice on effective digging technique. We also discuss lifting onions, as well the most effective conditions for growing garlic. If you would like to share your allotment stories or if you have any questions, please...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week we start by discussing the ups-and-downs of life on the allotment as both Peter and Tim have had enforced time away from their plots. We also discuss Peter's new polytunnel purchase, along with tips on growing comfrey and we endulge in our love for trees on allotments. We also discuss some messages we've had including the question, what is the best perennial vegetable? If you would like to get in touch, contribute or share your...
Welcome back to the Sunflowe Allotment Podcast! Summer is offically here and boy don't we know it! Summer storms, rising temperatures and endless weeds. This week Peter and Tim discuss their week on the plot, some holiday reading and importantly beans! From their fascinating Incan history, to planting, cooking and storage. Peter also shares his creative tips on making an arch to best support the beans. In the final section, Peter poses the question for the week: apart from plasti...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Peter and Tim discuss one of their summer favourites, Sweetcorn. From germinating to planting and eating, the pair explore tips and ideas to growing healthy and tasty sweetcorn. They also discuss their shared sweetcorn plot. Peter and Tim also discuss the week on the plot, sharing the spare and their plans for the upcoming week! 00:00 - Introduction 07:55 - Super sweetcorn 23:25 - The week ahead Please do get in touch! Twitter: @s...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast This week we celebrate the beautiful beetroot by discussing the history, planting, storing and eating of the hardy and versitile vegetable. We also follow up on last week's converastion on gardening philosophy, chat about our week on the plot and even fit in a short section on planting courgettes which includes the return of woofer extrodinaire Fleur. 00:00 - Introduction 11:20 - Our week on the plot 17:56 - Beetroot: history and p...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Peter and Tim start by discussing their week on the plot but fall into a deep and meaningful conversation about gardening philosophy! Are you influenced in your gardening by tradition, superstitions or science? Or all three? Peter then attempts to persuade Tim to plant carrots by sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm on our small orange friends. Peter also discusses the importance of a cloche and the dreaded carrot...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Peter and Tim plant the potatoes! From chitting in episode 1 back in February, the potatoes are now ready and Peter walks-through with Tim how to plant his first earlies. 00:00 - Intro and the week on the plot10:25 - Planting potatoes preamble 15:22 - Planting first earlies on the plot Please do get in touch!Twiter: @sunflowerpod1Email us: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmail.comThanks for listening!
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Peter visits Tim's plot and shows him how to plant his onions and shallots. We also discuss the preparation of onions (including topping) and how to best prepare your onion bed. Peter also explains the importance of chasing down weeds (especially the dreaded couch grass) and we share in the enthusiasm of Peter planting his firs early potatoes...in mid-March! 00:00 - The week on the plot 02:58 - Weeds and chasing couch 09:22 -...
Welcome to the Sunflower Allotment Pocast! During this preview episode Peter and Tim discuss the aims for the podcast and Peter explains the process of chitting and the difference between,first earlies, second earlies and main crop potatoes! We hope you enjoy sharing our enthusiasm on all things allotments and vegetable gardening. 00:00 - Introduction and preview 03:55 - Potatoes: types and chitting 12:08 - Final thoughts Any questions? Email us: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gma...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Rachel and Tim catch up to discuss the importance of community allotment events and explore possible ideas for people looking to host community events on their site. The episode includes a conversation Tim had with Helen Banks, organiser of the recent NSPCC fundraising event at our Norwich Allotment. Helen discusses the importance of the event, along with the process of organising an event on the allotment site. Are you...
Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! Inspired by a gardening book that Tim found in a charity shop earlier this year, we are joined by Claire Birkett (from episode 11 on Cost of Living) for a recording of the first of a two-part (second yet to be recorded) on gardening words and jargon! For a new gardener, or even a seasoned pro, the words and terms in gardening can be as long as a piece of cooch grass, therefore we have run through some terms we considered key to our allot...
Welcome to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! This week Tim and Rachel visit the Norwich Seed Swap, a fantastic event in the local gardening calendar that really kicks off the horticultural year. Along with swapping seeds, we take a chance to chat to the volunteers, punters and organisations present including Norfolk Organic Group, Garden Organic and speaker Bob Flowerdew! If you have any questions, allotment stories or acedotes, please don't hesitate to get in touch! Our ...
Welcome to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! During this special episode we talk to Jack First, a gardner, horticulturalist and author of Hotbeds: how to grow early crops using an age-old technique. Using hotbeds is becoming increasingly popular due to the ability to lengthen the growing season, as well as their cost-effectiveness, productivity and eco-friendly approach. We chat with Jack about hotbed history, building a hotbed, vegetables that grow well in hotbeds, as well as a fasc...
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