In this edition of DIG IT we are delighted to welcome back Jekka McVicar, top organic herb grower, consultant, and Royal Horticultural Society Judge. Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jekka on issues affecting herbs, best growing practices, composts, tea infusions, plus we delve into Jekka’s latest fabulous book, 100 Herbs To Grow.

Plant mentions: Coriander, Basil, Bulbine frutescens (burn jelly plant), Lemon Verbena, Mints including Peppermint and Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Murraya koenigii (Curry tree), Nasturtium, Oregano, Rosemary, Horse Radish, Silybum marianum, Szechuan (Sichuan) Pepper, Rosemary, Thymes, Wild Rocket, Nasturtiums, Wild Strawberries and Winter Savory.

People and product mentions: Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith, Borage (the gnome), Charles Dowding, Marcus Waring and garden designer Sarah Eberle. Radio 4’s Just a Minute. Horticultural grit, RocketGro Peat-Free Herbs and Alpine Compost, horse manure, Jekka’s own peat-free compost mix contains bark, loam, peat-free compost, plus mycorrhizal fungi. Working in some loam can help the composts porosity. Use grit rather than bark for herb mulching. Seaweed feeds are generally best for herbs. Westland Epsom salts will help keep the foliage green and healthy. Growth Technology SG Invigorator. Black plastic for horsetail and general weed suppression.

Problem pests: Leaf-hoppers, rosemary beetle and thrips.

Tea Infusions: Lemon verbena or lemon grass (with a gin and tonic works a treat). Citrus trilogy, a perfect mood lifter orange blossom, lime leaves and lemongrass and rosemary. Garlic leaf tea for keeping slugs away on your seedlings.

Sore throat - sage tea (gargle) for coughs and cold, sprig of hyssop and thyme in hot water with some honey. For Indigestion, try fennel leaf tea which also helps reduce cholesterol.

Jekka McVicar and Charles Dowding in conversation on YouTube

Jekka’s castaway luxury: A propagating kit with a snip, sharpened chop stick, a pair of long tweezers and a wet stone.

To find out more about Jekka’s story, the specialist herb farm containing over 400 culinary and medicinal herbs from all around the world and online shop.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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This month on DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest news in the world of gardening, what’s on’s and as the winter kicks in, a look at those gardening tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond.

Friday 8th November Final Gardeners’ World programme of the season.

15th November RHS Glow 2024 Rosemoor.

20th November RHS Glow 2024 Harlow Carr Garden

22nd November RHS Glow at RHS Wisley and at RHS Hyde Hall

26th November NGS Annual Lecture ‘Gardening for the future with Fergus Garret, Garden Museum, London. Fergus reveals how vital biodiversity can thrive in anybody’s cultivated garden patch, using evidence gathered from the world-famous garden he looks after. Go in person or available live streamed.

Plant mentions: Lotus (water lily), Sea buckthorn, Magnolia, Dianthus, Violas, Wisteria, Picea, Pinus, dog friendly plants, sunflowers including the variety ‘Teddy Bear’, Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, Alliums, Snowdrops, planting of bare-root hedging, shrubs and trees, Philadelphus, Dogwood, Hazel, Raspberry canes, Strawberry runners, garlic, Padron peppers, Wild service tree (sweets and beer tree), Microgreens, Cress and Amaryllis.

Product mentions: Sainsbury’s peat-free mushrooms, electric heron fence for ponds, Woughton Orchard in Milton Keynes, lawn blower, secateurs, loppers, composted bark, autumn lawn food, grease bands for fruit trees, cloches, horticultural fleece and clay pebbles in saucer,

News

RBG Kew scientists crack down on illegal sale of ornamental plants.

Edimentals see rise in popularity.

Sainsbury’s becomes first UK supermarket to introduce peat-free mushrooms

Nick Hamilton’s new book, The Right Jeans is published.

The new Government’s All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group

LibDem MP Sarah Dyke seeks to speed up ban on peat farming with 10-minute bill

Roger Ward from Golden Grove Nurseries champions the use of slow growing and compact forms of conifers in new build gardens

Monty Don to design a dog-friendly garden at Chelsea 2025 in conjunction with the RHS and BBC Radio 2.

National Trust appoints Sheila Das as Head of Gardens and Parks.

Will Armitage appointed as the new HTA President.

Beechgrove Garden presenter Jim McColl dies aged 89.

Capability Brown’s Berrington Hall gets a floral makeover including a wisteria walk.

Climate revamp for Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace.

RHS issues call for urban planners to take garden provision more seriously.

Otters raiding garden ponds becomes a problem in Cumbria.

The Orchard Project celebrates 15 years restoring 700 public orchards.

Sunflower trials at RHS Hyde Hall’s Floral Fantasia.

North Wales bid to bring back rare ‘sweets and beer’ tree.

DIG IT Top 5: Top selling Herbs of the year

No5 Coriander, No4 Curly Parsley, No3 Chives, No2 Common Rosemary and at the top spot Garden Mint (spear mint).

Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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In this episode of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jonathon Jones, OBE and managing director of Tregothnan Estate in Cornwall, home of the amazing Garden, Camellias, magnificent trees and a Tea plantation stretching 29 miles long!

People mentioned: Tea expert Chris Bond, authors Peter Blake and John Shepherd. The Ken Thomas Charitable Trust, a bursary opportunity set up for agriculturists to help fund their trips. Lord and Lady Falmouth, Plant hunter William Lobb, Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (Wardian Case inventor), Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Tremap Partners, Conifer Conservation, Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, Country Life magazine tea column. London Tea Auction and Sarah Raven.

Plants mentioned: Camellia sinensis (tea), Camellia japonica, early flowering Camellia sasanqua, Growing salads out of seasons under home-made cloches, Japanese Musa (Banana), Magnolias, Eucryphia is a genus of evergreen shrubs and trees with several species native to Chile. Giant Redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum), Rhododendrons, Black Poplars (Populus nigra) and the recording breaking tallest Rhododendron.

Places mentioned: Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Darjeeling, North India, Cornwall Garden Society (they also have a bursary scheme), Eden Project, Jonathon’s scholarship to travel to Japan and it’s great gardens, Falmouth University Japanese Gardens, Myerscough College and the Smithsonian Institution.

Tremap® is an easy-to-use free app on your phone which allows people to map and locate trees and shrubs anywhere in the world. It also means that Botanic gardens, parks, large and small private gardens don’t necessarily need to label their rare plants as this can be done virtually. Search ‘Tremap’ on your favourite APP store.

Jonathon’s castaway essential: A tried and trusted garden spade!

Tregothnan Estate, including Tea, Experiences, Holiday Cottages and Discover.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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October is a wonderful month in the garden - crisp blue skies and fantastic autumn colour to enjoy. DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the month as far as places to visit, what’s in the world of gardening news and timely tasks to be getting on with - so not quite the month to take your foot off the pedal!

What’s on

5th & 6th October, 10am-4pm: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend. Apple identifying with Gerry Edwards, apple pressing and juicing with the Mid Shires Orchard group, a Heritage Apple Display featuring over 100 varieties, Jessica Naish from the Buckingham Cut Flower Farm, a fantastic Tombola, plus The Woodland Trust and BBOWT.

Saturday 5th October: Autumn Plant Fair at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Manchester.

Saturday 12th October, 11am-4pm: National Alpine Garden Show at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens.

26th October - 3rd November: Scarecrow Hunt at Painswick Rococo Garden Trust in Stroud.

News

Giant mosaic made from apples at National Trust Cotehele in Cornwall last month.

Weather concerns could see tulip bulb prices rise by as much as 20% in 2025, Dutch growers warn.

Britain’s rarest orchid discovered after one man’s 15-year hunt.

New rare and endangered plant exhibition opens at Kew Gardens.

Plea to use less herbicides and pesticides in our towns voiced by The Pesticide Collaboration.

Tulip trees as well as storing more carbon are no longer hardwood they are now Midwood! It’s all about the cells, says new study.

Vegetable and flower seed merchant Dobies celebrates 130th anniversary.

‘Delphinium Dad’ efforts rewarded with National Plant Collection status.

Artists set to champion ancient plane tree.

A new garden commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II is to be constructed in London’s Regent’s Park.

Upcycling facemasks left over from the pandemic to cradle developing melons by the team at Bluebird Care in Stroud and Cirencester.

Butterfly numbers drop disastrously reports Butterfly Conservation.

Blenheim Palace introduces bee swarms to its nine new woodlands.

Huge restoration for parklands at Crystal Palace.

New report sheds light on why many plants have prickles.

Dame Mary Berry joins 40th anniversary celebrations of the Macmillan & National Garden Scheme partnership. During the last 40 years the NGS has raised more than £19 million for Macmillan through private garden openings.

David Austin launches Bring Me Sunshine ® as Climbing English Rose.

DIG IT Top 5: Climbing roses

As we approach the root wrap and bare-root season learn about our bestselling roses.

Product mentions: Long handled bulb planters, greenhouse disinfectant, bubble insulation, hedgehog houses, lawn rake and leaf grabbers, bird feeders ready and primed with wild bird mix, sunflowers, peanuts, and fat balls. Evergreen Autumn Fertiliser, and lawn seed for overseeding and patch repair.

Plant mentions: Allium ‘Rosy Dream,’ Taylors Bulb of the Year and Daffodil ‘June Allyson,’ Daffodil of the Year, Dogwoods, Hostas, Salix (Willows), planning for hedges, Garlic, Onions, and Shallots to plant now, pumpkins to harvest and rhubarb propagation - remove healthier outer sections to create new crowns.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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In this edition of DIG IT, Peter Brown turns the microphone around and chats with Chris Day about his life and times working with plants, garden centres, radio, people in horticulture, and even a few greenhouses! From a humble apprentice at Rochfords to plant publicity manager at Buckingham Garden Centre, Chris spills the beans on some of his gardening wisdom along the way.

Plant mentions: Aloe Vera, Aspidistra, Basil, Beloperone guttata (shrimp or prawn plant!), Cymbidiums, Sweet peas, lawn turf, Kentia palms, Melon, Pineapple, Tomato, Cucumber, Snake plant, Mother-in-Laws (Sansevieria), African Violets (Saintpaulia), Poinsettias, Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid), Universal Winter Pansies from Colegraves, Cacti, Money plants (Crassula), Chloropytum, Venus Fly Traps and Yuccas. Floral Flame for the Manchester Olympic bid at Manchester Airport created with Begonias, Lobelia, Marigold, Parsley, Perilla, and Impatien).

Product mentions: Greenhouse: Corrugated plastic, aluminium (glass to ground), Wooden greenhouse, staging, Victorian style. Paraffin heaters, thermostatically electric fan heater, Garland propagating products, LED grow lights, roller benches, red spider mite pests, pH soil tests and soil science. Wool pots and Mycorrhizal products (RootGrow).

People and Place mentions: Amateur Gardening magazine, Alan Beswick, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Three Counties Radio, Blue Peter Garden, Alan Down, Bridgemere Garden World, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Dutch Flower Auctions at Aalsmeer, Graham Clarke, Fred Downham, Rochford Houseplants (commercial growers), Garden Centre Association, Guernsey Flower Show, Horticulture Week, Peter Seabrook, Louise Lear, Peat Free UK houseplant growers, Val Bourne, Myerscough College and Writtle College.

Hotbeds, created with strawy manure, and John Innes Compost No3.

Chris’s Desert Island luxuries: Felco secateurs and Potato ‘Home Guard’

Chris’s book co-authored with Rob Keenan Amateur Gardening Complete Gardening Answers (published by Robinsons).

Catch Chris’s online Garden Centre postings on Facebook and Instagram

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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As autumn approaches DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day provide a monthly round-up to the latest horticultural events, the gardening stories making the headlines and a look at those garden tasks requiring our attention.

What’s on

3 - 8th September RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show, Wisley, Woking, Surrey.

13 - 15th September The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire

27 - 29th September Malvern Autumn Show. One of the UK’s biggest annual harvest season celebrations, held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire.

5 - 6th October Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend, 10am - 4pm each day.

News

Jekka McVicar appeals to gardeners to participate in the RHS climate change survey in BBC Breakfast news.

Most influential in horticulture by decade survey results: Titchmarsh beats Thrower, Hamilton, Don in vote from Horticulture Week magazine.

Broad beans could improve our mental health new study finds.

The search is on for the Tree of the Year and voting is open until 21 October.

Plant breeder Ball Colegrave announced the winners of this summers showcase.

World’s largest Titan Arum bloom in Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium.

A new jade vine – Strongylodon juangonzalezii - is donated to Kew Gardens.

Kew trees at risk from climate change.

Historic allotments in Nottingham handed back to council due to rising costs.

Almost 455,000 trees felled by UK councils in past 10 years.

World-first project launched to track hedgehogs and reverse decline.

Gardening aids better sleep new report uncovers.

Knoll Gardens launch new Pennisetum Black Arrow.

Dog backpacks used to help seed nature reserve.

Sheffield’s love of figs helps create fig tree forests.

Dutch campaign encourages reducing paving for greener gardens.

Couple transform their garden into £27,000 Jurassic Park - complete with 10ft T-Rex.

Our DIG IT Top Tulips 5th ‘Chocolate Orange’ 4th ‘Red Riding Hood’ 3rd ‘Peach Blossom’, 2nd ‘Queen of the Night’ and at number 1 ‘Purple Rain Fusion’ (a combination of different varieties from Taylors Bulbs).

Plants mentioned: Acer drummondii, Crocosmia, Dahlias, Hosta, Penstemons and Roses. Apples, Apricots, Blackberries, Peaches and Strawberries. Veggies: Peas, beans, Carrots, Spring Onions, Winter and Spring Cabbage plug plants.

Products mentioned: Compost bin, Wolf Fruit Picker, Rose and Autumn Lawn Fertilisers, Lawn seeds and lawn patch products. Control Vine Weevil and lawn chafers or leatherjackets with a biological control (nematodes).

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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Spreading the gardening word with Dave The Plantman

DIG IT hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with top all-round horticulturalist and internet sensation Dave The Plantman. Dave has been creating daily 90 second videos since April 2023 and has a huge 360k following, including a younger gardening audience on TikTok hungry for advice. Dave shares his knowledge in a unique style with his signature thumbs up and ‘interesting fact’ tagline. A lively chat filled with fun anecdotes and plenty of common-sense gardening is guaranteed!

Plant mentions: Agapanthus, Astilbe, Buddleja (butterfly bush), Carnivorous plants, Coffee plant, Cordyline, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane plant), Himalayan Balsam (Impatien), Potatoes, Dandelion, Skimmia, wildflowers, brambles (blackberries), Rose ‘Sheila’s Perfume’, Phalaenopsis orchids, Taxus baccata 'Standishii' (RHS AGM), Good scented rose ‘Chandos Beauty’ and Rose ‘The Chelsea Pensioner’, a charity rose launched at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Willow (Salix) weaving. Alpines for gravel drive.

People, Places and Products: Phillip Harkness, Harkness Roses. Myerscough College of Horticulture, Preston, Canal and River Trust, Barton Grange Nursery, RHS flower shows. Sulphur (coal smoke), Garlic infusion for controlling aphids – they don’t like the smell, good for roses and hostas. Tomato food is excellent for roses as is chicken manure and well-rotted manure. Uncle Tom’s Rose Food (Potassium phosphite).

Desert island luxuries: Tomatoes (seeds could be saved for future crops). Tool: “A pair of secateurs in my holster.”

Memorable quote: “My mum could put a root on a chair leg!”

Dave’s socials: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Dave The Plantman’s Chatterbox on Facebook and Instagram.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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Summer gardening reaches it’s peak this month as Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest stories in the world of horticulture, must-visit events and a run-down of those essential tasks to keep your garden productive and colourful in the weeks to come.

What’s on

31st July - 4th August: RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show, Essex.

2 - 3rd August: Taunton Flower Show, Somerset.

Until 4th August: 2024 Big Butterfly Count – have you got involved yet? There’s still time!

3 - 11th August: Singapore Garden Festival at Suntec, Singapore.

9 - 10th August: Shrewsbury Flower Show, Shropshire.

15 - 18th August: Southport Flower Show at Victoria Park, Southport.

16 - 18th August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, Devon.

30th August - 1st September: BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End House & Gardens, Essex.

News

New YouTube short film filmed at the RHS Urban Show in May featuring Cloudscape and creating 7 amazing gardens.

Trees for bees at Wakehurst Wakehurst is using citizen science to help discover the trees most favoured by pollinators.

A unique flower shaped Cyclamen Illusia picks up top New Houseplant Award.

RHS Tatton Park Show celebrates its 25th anniversary by actively promoting awards for new designers, plants people and contractors aged 31 or over.

Scottish topiary artist wins major award for their Moby Dick inspired design.

Gardeners urged not to plant or purchase Rhodendron ponticum as The Woodland Trust says its invasive nature is creating problems.

Native vegetation does no impact insect biodiversity in small urban gardens.

Rare ‘Puya sapphire tower’ blooms outdoors in Scotland for the first time.

Dianthus breeding specialist Whetman Pink changes hands.

War against poaching succulent plants in South Africa.

Manchester’s Castlefield aerial garden Viaduct gets green light to develop from National Trust.

OBE awarded to Horatio’s Garden founder Dr Olivia Chapple.

Rittershausen family orchid nursery celebrate 75 years.

Dr John Grimshaw appointed Editor-in-Chief of Curtis’s Botanic magazine.

Head of horticulture at Garden Organics and former Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins has been named a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.

Natural History Gardens are now open and free to visit.

Olympic Dahlias shine at Paris 2024 games.

The 2025 rose of the year is announced.

Plants, and product mentions: Hardy geraniums, Chrysanthemum, Lavender, Lupins, Delphiniums, Blueberries, Strawberry, Wisteria Amethyst Falls, Leeks, Potato/Tomato blight proection, Taylors Seed Potatoes for growing for Christmas, Sow the seeds of Basil, Borage, Dill and Fennel, Mint. Summer pruning top fruit trees, dahlias, Lilies and Gladioli staking and feeding. Children seed sowing projects for the school holidays. Cut flowers from the garden. Continue with slug, snails and earwig control. Miracle-Gro, Tomato fertiliser, garden twine and canes.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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