The Organic Gardening Podcast

In this month’s Organic Gardening Podcast, Fiona welcomes back seed guardian and writer Adam Alexander. Adam has travelled the world gathering heritage and land race vegetable seeds and in his latest book, tells the story of our “accidental seed heroes.” The backyard growers that are doing something extraordinary, championing old varieties, and also creating new generations of fruit and vegetables. Also in this episode...Fiona and Chris reflect on their visit to BBC Gardeners’ World Live, What they learned from our rooted in nature show garden and what inspired them. They also share tips for coping with a potential hosepipe ban, from watering priorities to keeping your compost moist.In the postbag, the team answers your questions on how to manage aphids, the causes behind tomato leaf curl and solve a common problem with spinach and chard plants.

This month, Fiona visits trained ecologist and author Becky Searle. Becky has been showing the world how to garden organically via her Instagram account (@sowmuchmore) since 2018. This year, Becky embarked on a new journey with the release of her first book “Grow a new Garden.” Fiona and Becky spoke about what ignited her passion for gardening, the role ecology plays in her garden and the importance of seed saving. Also in this episode... Chris is away this month, so Fiona is joined by Jules Duncan, one of our expert organic gardeners at Ryton. They reflect on the beauty of May, and Fiona gets some germination troubleshooting! In the postbag, Jules, Fiona and Anton answer your gardening conundrums. Tackling what to grow underneath fruit trees, how to successfully grow Chayote, and we go back to basics with the do’s and don’ts of organic growing.

If you enjoyed our previous podcast with Åsa Gregars-Warg from Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens, this extended version is well worth a listen. Join Fiona and head gardener Åsa Gregers-Warg as we take a deeper dive into Beth Chatto's pioneering approach to gardening in harmony with nature. From plant choices and soil care to adapting to climate change, this full-length conversation is packed with extra insights and inspiration for gardeners of all kinds.

In this month's episode, Fiona and Anton spoke with Eddie Bailey. Eddie has spent years studying the soil during his career as a geologist and now shares what he's learnt with gardeners and growers through his company, Rhizophyllia. "In my garden, the effect I had when I stopped digging was instantaneous, the following season, germination rates just dramatically improved and got better and better within three years. It was a completely different landscape. The soil is absolutely critical to our health on this planet."Also in this episode...Fiona and Chris are "chomping at the bit" to get sowing and growing, and in the postbag, the team tackle questions on organic topsoil, rats, and plants that grow well on damp ground.

This month, Fiona visited River Cottage, to chat with Author, Chef and Fermentation Expert Rachel DeThample. Rachel breaks down how eating organically grown vegetables can have a positive impact on the gut microbiome, and dives in to how fermenting the produce from your garden can lead to better nutrition and a stronger connection to nature. “We’re a no dig garden, all organic” says Rachel, “so we’re constantly feeding the soil with healthy ingredients to help with it’s diversity, and that’s a really lovely way of reflecting that you can do the same thing with your own microbiome, feed it lots of diversity which helps create a healthier balance”Also in this episode…Fiona and Chris chat about how gardening and being outdoors in winter improve your wellbeing. In the Postbag, the team answer your questions on the use of Bacillus thuringiensis, a broccoli that’s struggling to sprout, and whether frozen beans will germinate! Listen now here or via your podcast provider. Thanks again to our sponsors, Viridian Nutrition. Visit their website at www.viridian-nutrition.com.

It's safe to say the weather has been incredibly unusual this year. A wet cold spring was followed by a slug-filled summer. And here in the Midlands, we’ve already experienced our first frosts! Sally Morgan, author of the Resilient Garden Handbook, has been tackling these challenges head on. She speaks with Fiona about what makes a resilient garden, and how we can overcome unusual growing conditions. “We’re perhaps the first generation of gardeners who can't look back to their grandfathers and ask for advice. I know what my grandfather would tell me and it's totally not applicable to today's style of gardening and conditions. So we’re learning on the job. Everybody will be different because everybody's micro-habitat is different to the next.”Also in this episode…Fiona and Chris are already planning next year's food growing, and Chris encourages you to keep on sowing - even through the winter months. In the postbag, the team tackle a complicated compost query, and investigate some troublesome tomatoes.Thanks again to our sponsors, Viridian Nutrition. Visit their website at www.viridian-nutrition.com

Fiona chats with Nick Mole, Policy Officer from the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK who shares why pesticides should be banned from use in our urban spaces, and how communities can be affected by pesticide use. “Knowing that there are alternatives to pesticides that do work, pesticide use in our towns and cities is completely unnecessary. France has banned the use of all non-agricultural pesticides. They have legislation in place and it works. It is often hard, councils are facing all sorts of difficulties. So we do need that support from our legislators.” Also in this episode… Chris and Fiona discuss why hardy annuals are popping up in Chris’ allotment now, and look forward to September seed sowing. From the postbag, the team troubleshoot a late flowering courgette, and with the help of listeners, find out what animal was causing last month’s strawberry piles!Thanks again to our sponsors, Viridian Nutrition. Visit their website at www.viridian-nutrition.comSign the petition to ban the use of pesticides in urban spaces https://pesticidecollaboration.org/go-pesticide-free/