Dig It

Recent episodes

1. Semi ripe hardwood cuttings

   Jul 27, 202629 min

   Bill teaches Peter the way to create Semi ripe hardwood cuttings. Cuttings are a great way to propagate certain types of plant like for example Photinia, Forsythia, Berberis, Hebe, Laurels, Brooms, Cistus, zonal geraniums and Camelias. There are also lots of other shrubs and trees which can be propagated like this. Peter has a tea bush (camelia) which is what we are going to try and propagate. Equipment: Bypass Secateurs, Sharp knife, dibber or something to make a hole for the cutting, a p9 pot or cell pack, John Innes Seed compost, perlite, ideally a propagator, or cover to help keep the cutting in a humid atmosphere, somewhere ideally around 19C with moderate light. We need material which is shoot with material from last year and fresh growth from this year. Make sure your knife or secateurs, pots and propagators are clean and sterile before starting the job. You need the tip and a couple of leaves or a pair of leaves, then cut the shoot just below the node and take the leaf off by pulling the leaf down, removing the leaf and the petiol. Using a dibber, stick or a pencil push a hole into your pot of compost, and push the cutting into the compost and firm the compost up to the cutting. The cutting needs to be held firm and supported by the compost. When watering, make sure you water very gently or use the dunking method so pop the pot into a bowl of water and allow the compost to take water in from the bottom of the pot. The compost needs to be kept moist, not over wet or allowed to dry out. Keep the pot of cuttings in a propagator so they are kept in a humid atmosphere, but do try and keep the cuttings away from dripping condensation. A good temperature is around 18 – 19C. If a cutting does not take then remove them from the propagator. To check the cutting has taken look for new white roots emerging from the bottom of the pot. You shouldn’t need to feed the cuttings to start off with, if you have used a proprietary seed and cutting compost. It is also important to make sure if you are taking cuttings of plants that grow in a low pH soil to use a low pH cutting mix. For pictures of the process please click on this link Lots of plants can be made to send out roots just by putting a stem in the ground and keeping it in contact with the soil. If you want to propagate Willows you can probably get them to root just by putting them in a well oxygenated bucket of water, or pop a stem into the soil where you want it to grow, these are called ripe cuttings. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2. No Water

   Jul 21, 202639 min

   In this episode Bill and Peter discuss the latest Hosepipe Ban , most of the NGS gardens scheme gardens have finished now, but there are a few RHS shows to go and see and all the other wonderful National Trust and British Heritage Gardens to visit. The Chelsea Flower Show may have problems next year as it’s drive to go peat free before the industry is ready is causing growers to pull out as they don’t feel the alternative peat free composts are quite ready yet to grow show winning plants. Bill puts the idea of using oasis forward that is often used in flower arrangements, as one option, and Peter suggested trialing the same growing medium currently being used in Hydroponics as another idea. The Channel Islands have had some bad news about their cut flower industry as the postal service plane is no longer going to take the cut flowers which leaves growers needing to find a different way to fly the flowers out. Wildlife trust has been given a new 6 hectare Wild flower meadow near Earls Barton Northamptonshire which is also a flood plain so they will be able to help even more native plants and animals. Due to the lack of rain this year there is a Hosepipe ban in lots of areas of the UK now, which means lots of people will have to stop using irrigation on their lawns. There are lots of things you can do like using your old bath water to irrigate the garden, or use water from your water butt to fill your watering can or hosepipe. There are types of irrigation you can use but it’s best to check with your water supply company. Peter has also learned that lots of organic material is great for water retention and Bill points out that having stone free soil can also help grow great vegetables without blemishes on their roots. Bill also suggests a few vegetables we can plant at this time of year on your vegetable patch and get a crop off, and it’s nearly time to plant Christmas potatoes. If you do plant Christmas potatoes aways grow them in a frost free environment in a couple of months time when the days get shorter and the nights cooler. Our thanks to Chiltern Music for providing the Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3. Reportable pests and diseases

   Jul 14, 202633 min

   In this episode Peter and Bill chat about their allotments, when a plant is ready for planting out and some tips on how to make sure it gets off to a good start and has enough water. We then open a discussion about reportable diseases as a local customer has what we think may be Oak Processionary Moth a notifiable disease reportable to the forestry commission who can be notified at TreeAlert , we also mention other historic problems like the recent issues with Olive trees and Xylella a bacterial infection that has wiped out many olive groves across Italy and Europe and why lots of responsible Garden Centres and plant suppliers have stopped importing them. Dutch elm disease wiped out thousands of Elm trees in the 70’s but now we have elms that are not affected by it. The Government has a website where you can find information on issues, signposts to where you can report potential problems and fact sheets with useful information on. With modern phones and the ability to take and send pictures it is much easier and safer to take pictures of the problem and then get the issue identified and confirmed without moving the plant or plant material and possibly transferring the issue to other areas. Peter spotted an area of hedgerow on the Radclive road covered in a web which makes it look like a Halloween display. This is caused by the Ermine moth. A lot of plants now have passports which means they are traceable. Plants sold through Mail order need them, imported plants need them, and there are a lot of other reasons why they might have them. With a plant passport you should be able to feel more confident that the plant comes from a reputable supplier who is happy to share its traceability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4. Summer Houseplants and gardening news

   Jul 7, 202635 min

   On the 12th of July Shrivenham , on the Oxford Wiltshire border opens some of its gardens to the public, as are the gardens of Bozeat and Cold Ashby . We are enjoying the Garden Centre temperature indoor climate but it has been very warm recently without much rain, so watering is very important to help plants. An Antirrhinum ‘Shiryu Kiss’ has won the Peter Seabrook award and Best in Show at the BBC Gardeners World Live show. We have a new Semi Hardy Gerbera in at the Garden Centre. The Greenfingers team who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro have raised a staggering £234 000 so far for the Charity. Bill explains to Peter how much water hanging baskets need and he doesn’t think Peter has got it quite right yet, and also suggests a feeding regime for them and also tells us the best time to water. London Parks and Gardens has a new director Philip Barnes. He comes from an impressive 15 years with the National Trust. Durstons the compost manufacturers have upgraded their site to a larger site where they will be able to create more compost to help them keep up with demand. Bill’s favourite is the Ficus Benjamina or the Weeping Fig. The plant comes from Australia and Asia and can get quite big if well cared for. Peter likes Spider plants or Chlorophytum comosum, as it is a really tough plant which can survive a little forgetfulness when it comes to watering and Bill shares how to propagate it and how to use it as a bedding plant. Orchids are still very popular and easy to care for and you get a great long living plant that can flower for weeks on end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5. World Cup Grass and Summer Gardening

   Jun 30, 202626 min

   In this episode Bill and Peter suggest a visit to Toddington Open Gardens on the 4th and 5th July and also if you are passing they both like Poplars Garden Centre as a great place to visit or pop in for tea and cake if you are going past on the M1. In Northamptonshire we have Irthlingborough and Drayton Parslow in Milton Keynes. Hanging baskets are looking good now, but are food hungry so feed them with a high potash feed (K) like Tomorite The Hertitage Seed library was at the NEC for Gardeners World live and at the show they were asking people to bring in seeds and plants that they think might be heirloom varieties. You can get seeds from them which you won’t find in most Garden Centres. Grass is on the telly a lot at the moment with the World Cup on. Bill shares some of the methods of commercial turf cultivation and growing. With our lawns at home in the summer experiencing less rainfall ideally they need to be watered but it’s best not to aerate in dry spells as this opens up the ground and will cause evaporation. Granular fertilizer as well can cause issues if it doesn’t rain after application, if you want to use a fertilizer then a liquid one is probably best. If you have bedding geraniums cut the flower stalks off once the flowers start going over, deadhead surfinias to encourage more flowers. If you are feeding your plants it’s best to do it in the morning, and if possible do it on a cloudy day so there is no chance of water droplet magnification which can cause leaf burn from the sunlight. Bill also tells us of other plants we can trim back to encourage more flowering next year and a great recipe for a winter fat ball for your birds. Make sure you keep your bird baths filled up with fresh clean water. If you have Strawberries try Slug gone pellets to help keep the slugs from eating them. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6. Strawberries and Roses

   Jun 23, 202634 min

   25 Gardens are open in Stony Stratford over the weekend of the 27th and 28th and there are also gardens open in Stonefield where 11 gardens will be open. We also share the sad news of the passing of Matthew Biggs the old Gardener’s World presenter and life-long horticulturalist, and garden designer. Bill and Peter also chat about Roses, the different types and where to use them, how to grow them and a few uses for the hips. Pruning is important as is care, keeping them tidy, feeding and looking out for pests and diseases. As with so many prickly plants we always recommend wearing gloves when working with them. It’s also that time of year when Strawberries are very popular. Bill shares a tip on how to sweeten them and how many litres of cream Wimbledon goes through! We have a large selection available at the moment but you can propagate them from the runners or stolens they send out. The British season has been extended and extended with the use of selective breeding and sometimes the supplemental use of LED lighting. Often Strawberries are now grown off the ground making picking easier and fungal problems less likely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7. Summer Bedding

   Jun 16, 202637 min

   In this episode Peter and Bill chat about Bedding, Bokashi, and fertilizer. Bill suggests a few places to visit starting with Goring on Thames, Fritwell and Hanslope who have open garden weekends. We chat about bedding for flower beds and how the fashions have changed. We used to do 3 plantings a year but now we mainly do just summer bedding. Bill talks us through ways to plant, numbers to get a nice balance and some suggestions as to what will make a good display. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8. Pop in

   Jun 9, 202627 min

   In this episode Bill and Peter chat about Hanging Baskets and Containers and the benefits of using Kindergarden's Pop Ins. We love the fact they are so simple and easy to plant and within a few weeks give you a great display which can last the whole summer. As one of our fastest moving products and only available for a short window you need to get your timing right to be able to buy them. All they need is a 40cm container or hanging basket, some compost to bring them up to the correct level, pop them in, water and feed them when needed and you can sit back, relax and have a great colourful display for months on end. Bill also gives us some pointers on how to create a good hanging basket with some suggestions on numbers and types of plants. We also discuss a Cornish commercial bedding supplier who can create you stunning floral displays featuring clock faces, names, logos or other images you might want. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9. Hozelock

   Jun 2, 20261 hr 5 min

   In this Episode Peter Talks with Chris Hepburn, Senior Sales Manager of Hozelock . Chris has been with Hozelock for many years and worked his way up through the company and gained a fantastic knowledge of the Horticultural Watering Marketplace. We chat about where the company first started and why, and where the first ideas for the first products came from. Hozelock has a great reputation as a British manufacturer and we learn how this has happened and their drive to always be an attainable, reliable and ecological product in the garden watering sector. Without them we would still be putting our thumbs over the end of our hosepipe, some of our range can be found online or for the full range, come and visit the Garden Centre Hozelock has brought to England some Market leading products and some ideas from further afield, we learn about how across the world the Male to Female ½ inch hose connector has become a standardised fitting, and also a brief history of hoses, their makeup and their fittings. We also get an insight into the amount of product testing and large number of different materials that go into their products. We also hear about how Hozelock is evolving as a manufacturer to keep pace with the changing marketplace and how it is growing and diversifying its range to stay abreast of new ideas and additions to the watering range and also how its range now encompasses products that don’t just fit on a hose and spray water, like its range of composters. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10. Bedding Love Honey

    May 26, 202634 min

    Chelsea Gold medals decided. We like the new Hosta red ninja, the beautiful Red Greenhouse by Malvern Garden Buildings and various phallic houseplants on the sex toy manufacturer’s sponsored garden. The ‘Lady Garden’ was designed with fantastic sculptures, manicured bushes and beautiful coloured planting and will hopefully start conversations focused on female genitalia cancers and open up discussions on the subject. Peter liked the Contain the Rain Garden as it highlights the fact that water is a limited resource and we should do more to make our gardens more ecologically friendly. It’s that time of year to get planting hanging baskets and shortly we will have Kindergarden Pop Ins back in stock. We like their great selection of styles and colours and the simplicity of using them to create fantastic hanging baskets or planted containers, the only trouble we ever have with them is we can’t get enough and they sell out too fast! Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for creating the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11. My Tomato leaves have gone purple and its RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

    May 20, 202634 min

    Peter and Bill chat about some news items. Chelsea is sold out and opened to the general public Tuesday 19th May. Our friends at Malvern Garden Buildings have a stand and are exhibiting again. It may be a controversial year as one of the designers is getting criticised for using an AI app to design gardens. Peter has found a new range of pencils from Sprout World that have seeds in the end so you can grow things from your old pencil. Bill suggests writing labels from the top down and put a date on it so you know when you started them. It is also very important to protect your young seedlings from late frosts. Young plants still need protection. If you fancy visiting a Garden, Aspley Guise has many houses with open gardens on 24th May. Ramsden near Witney Oxfordshire also has 15 gardens open on the 24th. On the 30th gardens are open in Moggerhanger Bedfordshire and Carterton in Oxfordshire. If these aren’t local to you have a look at the NGS website, Pumpkins Beth’s website or the Open Gardens website. Sir David Attenborough has had his 100th birthday. Taylors bulbs have won a Gold medal at the RHS Malvern show, next for them is the Chelsea Show, could it be another Gold Medal? Peter learns the fact that his Tomatoes are too cold as the undersides of the leaves are going purple and the fact that he might be overwatering his Courgettes. If you have lost seedlings in the recent cold spells, you still have time to replant seeds or pop in to your local Garden Centre and buy some young seedlings. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12. What we like at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

    May 12, 202628 min

    In this episode Bill and Peter discuss the RHS Chelsea Flower Show . Bill has had personal experience of displaying hanging baskets at the show and shares his thoughts and memories of how much effort and work goes into putting the show together. In this show we discuss some of the gardens that caught our eyes from Tech Mahindra’s Hedgerow in the Sky balcony exhibit that takes inspiration from British hedgerows and shows what can be done with a small space. We also both liked the Tokonoma Garden - a Japanese courtyard garden - full of beautiful plants, a water feature and pathway. It creates a peaceful space with beautiful colours where families can gather and spend time together. The Children’s Society Garden is another garden that Bill likes. It is a restorative garden where hopefully todays children can find a positive space to contemplate in. Its planting is full of yellows and purples and greens which will help children feel safe, seen and supported. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13. Germination and Spring Lawn care

    May 5, 202648 min

    In this episode Peter chats with Bill about his recent Sweetcorn planting and why he failed and yet Bill had a totally different result. For places to visit locally, we have 80 West Hill Aspley Guise 31st May and Latimer Park Farm , Chesham, 30th May. If you fancy something different then have a look at Pumpkin Beths What’s on page or The National Gardens Scheme. Bill gives us some great tips on early season lawn care and there is still time to plant a few bedding plants like night scented stocks, impatiens and cosmos. It’s also time to start succession planting your vegetables and you can put your runner beans and broad beans in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14. Brassicas

    Apr 28, 202637 min

    Keukenhoff Tulip Gardens in the Netherlands is open with amazing displays of Tulips until the 10th May 2026 Pashley Manor Gardens Tulip display is an amazing display of over 4000 tulips in Essex. The NGS Open Gardens are opening all over the uk clink on the link to find out more. The RHS Malvern Spring Festival opens on 7th to the 10th May and then we have the great RHS Chelsea Flower Show , 19th – 23rd May. SBM have launched the new Thermocell Bug barrier, a new product that creates a shield of up to 20ft, helping you enjoy the outdoors without being bitten by mozquitos. The Garden Centre is stocking a new range of Juices and Wines from Biddenden in Kent, one of the oldest vineyards in the UK, which produces a beautiful wine called Ortega. We stock a good range of grapes which should do well in the UK. Another item for your plate is a Bacon and Chilli relish from Mr Trotter There is a new range of Weber wood pellet smoker barbeques which we don’t have in stock as yet but hopefully we will do soon. They are very easy to use and will be demonstrated by Jamie Oliver on Channel 4 soon. Brassicas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kales - it’s a big family, and it’s time to think about planting. David likes the Greyhound Cabbage and Peter loves a Cavolo Nero or as he knows it Curly Kale. We also chat about Purple Sprouting Broccoli and, as with so many young vegetables, how to keep the slugs away with copper tape , Enviromesh and Slug Gone wool pellets which are are non chemical ways of deterring them. We both love how Romanesco Cauliflower grow and create such an amazing pattern. We also learned that the Thomson and Morgan Tomtato is no longer in production, as it is around this time of year they used to hit the shops. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15. Its time to get sowing

    Apr 21, 202639 min

    Pumpkin Beth – Plant Fairs and seed swaps we found this page on Beth’s website that has masses of places to visit, seed swaps, open gardens. The website also has lots of interesting articles and news. Grantham Garden Centre reopens its doors with it’s new name and having undergone lots of work. River View at Goldings in the Clyde valley also opened its doors on Good Friday. Oakwood Clydedales have been out working in some of London’s Parks, they are out cutting the meadows and harrowing which creates less soil compaction and is better for the environment. Respyre is a Dutch company that has a new environmentally friendlier type of concrete Façade and Roofing product that allows moss to grow on it’s surface helping absorb moisture and lower noise levels in urban areas. Ames group which was Apta, La Hacienda, Artivesi, Kelkay and closed as the American company that owned them put the company into administration so if you need any items from any of these companies get them soon before they disappear from the market. Flymo have released a cordless battery powered mower. Peter has sown some 8 Ball courgettes, David likes the fact that courgettes grow quickly and produce masses of lovely tasting produce. It is also the time of year to plant lots of other vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins, and winter squashes to name a few. Be careful of frosts as lots of vegetables will struggle to cope if they get frosted and also try and keep the slugs away as well. The Garden Centre has a great range of seeds from Mr Fothergills and Franchi. David points out that seedlings must be handled very delicately when pricking out. Rhubarb is sprouting and it’s a great time to plant strawberries. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16. Bill, A New Expert

    Apr 14, 20261 hr 2 min

    Bill has joined the podcast to share some of his knowledge from a life time in horticulture. In this episode we learn a little about Bill's introduction to growing plants, from his early days of harvesting in school to help feed his fellow pupils to growing flowers, bedding, and vegetables for the commercial markets of London and Birmingham. We talk through some of the changes and improvements to our industry and how the chemicals we can use now are very different to the ones we used in the 70's. We also learn a few tips on which way to wind your plants around canes in the Northern hemisphere and the benefits of different fertilizers and minerals to plants we are trying to grow, Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17. Magnolias are in flower so Spring 26 is here

    Apr 7, 202632 min

    Time to feed your Daffodils as the bulbs have put a lot of energy into flowering and as the flowers are dying off you can give them some foliar feed to help them put more energy into the bulb for another good show next year. It is also worth deadheading them after flowering but leave the rest of the foliage for at least 6 to 8 weeks after flowering before cutting down. It’s time to plant Onions and Shallots, David grows both, sets are quicker so if you haven’t planted any yet it’s probably best to sow sets now. Peter Likes Silverskin Onions but hasn’t grown them yet and Onions are a great way to keep cats off your vegetable patch as cats don’t like the smell of them. If they go to seed either chop the flower heads off early or do as David does and leave them for the bees as they love Onion flowers. Time to get your Sweet Peppers in as they take a while to set fruit, but keep them warm and frost free as they don’t like the cold. Peter loves Padron Peppers so he will be planting his this week. We also need to plant our Globe Artichokes now, a large plant so perfect for people who have lots of space. They make a good plant for the border if you like a nice architectural plant. If you are planting Asparagus crowns early spring is a good time to get them in. They do take a few years to establish before you can crop them but they can live a long time, 15 to 20 years. David shares a new idea for recycling and what he uses to germinate his seeds in. At the Garden Centre we sell Fibrepots which are another great product that you can plant your young plants out in without disturbing the roots. Newspaper pots are another option for those that like to recycle. To plant your seeds in we recommend getting new seed compost each year, to improve drainage you can add Perlite and check the date of the seed as some seeds go off after a couple of years and germination levels drop. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18. Gardening and where to go on the 11 and 12 of April 2026

    Mar 31, 202626 min

    Manos Kanellos is hoping to join us on the podcast in the Autumn to help us with our Orchids, after a very successful Orchid Day and Terrarium workshop at the Garden Centre. Newbury Garden Show at the Newbury Showground, RG 18 9QZ on the 11th and 12 April. The Rare Plant Fair at the Old Rectory Quenington. GL7 5BN on the 12th April Kingswood Walton and Tadworth Horticultural Society spring show 11th April Easton Lodge Open day 12th April at Easton Lodge, CM6 2BB. 6 different gardens are opening in Long Crendon , 12 April as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton are hosting the Orchid Society of Great Britian Spring show Beth Chatto’s Gardens are also part of the National Garden Scheme opened by her and Husband Andrew, a 7.5 acre garden in Essex, CO7 7DB on the 14th April News To mark World Water Day on 22 March 2026, GARDENA proudly announces the continuation of its global partnership with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, reinforcing a shared commitment to improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children and families around the world. Hozelock also make great watering products that we stock at the Garden Centre. Dobies upgrades its Food Halls with a 1.5 million pound investment in 48 stores across the UK. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19. First early potato and why Independents are still the best.

    Mar 24, 202638 min

    Events to go and see: Bridgewater Plant Heritage Spring Fair at RHS Bridgewater, Salford, Manchester. M27 2 LJ Alpine Garden Society Cleveland show on 4th April at HURWORTH GRANGE COMMUNITY CENTRE, 41 HURWORTH ROAD, HURWORTH PLACE, DARLINGTON, DL2 2BN Dorothy Clive Gardens Spring plant Fair on 6th April at Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, Shropshire. TF9 4EU Overstroud Cottage , Great Missenden, Bucks opens on the 5th April In the News: Some Garden Centre Groups have expanded and some have gone, but do they give us the best displays or any better pricing or is that still the draw of the larger independents. Local Councils are now hopefully going to start taking clean, used, non-black plant pots in your recycling Potatoes: There is still time to get your first earlies in. Swift like it’s name is a great first early as are Pentland Crown and Rocket, best planted with some fertilizer like Q4 or Chicken Manure Pellets, and chitted in a cool, light place before you plant them. David’s favourites to grow are Charlotte and Nicola and he thinks Swift and Rocket are great too, Peter loves Desiree. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20. Bourton Road Allotments with Barbara Sharpe

    Mar 17, 202635 min

    In this episode David chats with the Treasurer Barbara about the joys of Allotments. Barbara shares a little history of the area and the allotments, and the fact that the Roundheads and Cavaliers once fought in the area. We learn of the changes of that she has noticed through her times in Buckingham and the impact this has had on the allotments and its holders. As a long-standing member of the community and management she shares some sage advice on the benefits of being part of a fun, engaging and helpful sector of Buckingham Society. Barbara also discusses her passion for growing both vegetables and flowers and how the pressures of modern day life has changed the ways the allotments work, the demand for plots and the way the allotments are used and how its rules evolve with the demands of society. More information can be found on their website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.