21st October '25 in the Garden

This week, join us for a deep dive into all things autumn, from the vibrant colours of the season in the Forest of Dean and Winkworth Arboretum to historic harvests and innovative allotments. Discover the origin of the Bramley apple at Nottingham’s Workhouse and Infirmary, where children's yoga adds a modern twist to the Apple Day celebrations. We'll explore the story of Buckland Abbey's reported bumper crop, see how allotments are becoming more accessible and biodiverse, and hear about the distinctive Fly Agaric mushrooms. Plus, we've got your essential gardening jobs for October, from mulching your beds to clearing leaves for leaf mould. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Dig It Peter chats with David Gale about fertilisers. David is an industry expert and has had a long, varied and successful career. From organising fertiliser trials to moving on to reformulating some of the most popular fertilisers on the market, for example Phostrogen, to teaching many, many workers in Garden Centres and Big Sheds the benefits and advantages of feeding your plants.We learn where fertilisers come from, the different types and whether organic fertilisers are better than regular and if plants can tell the difference. We discuss the difference between Bio-Stimulants like Maxicrop and fertilisers. There are many different types of plant food on the market and David gives us some great tips on when and where and how often we should feed our plants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the new weekly format David and Peter chat about the fact its rained, splitting Rhubarb, then suggest shows to Visit – The National Garden Alpine show in Harlow Carr, Yorkshire The Apple and Harvest Show, Ely Plants Discussed: Alpines, Cyclamen, learn more with the RHS Alpine Master class series - www.youtube.com/watch?v=REWSjG5LRNk&t=36s  Growing Hops- The Guardian an article by Claire RatinonProducts and suppliers mentioned:Hornes Brewery Silverstone BreweryChafor WineEnriching your plot with Green Manures, David is trying Beans this Autumn.David discusses PomPom Dahlias and how great they are.Jobs to do:Fleece tender plants, start collecting leaves for creating leaf mould in bin liners. Net your pond to help prevent leaves from building up and drain your hoses to save damage from freezing. Plant Spring bulbs and create new winter flowering pots with Cyclamen, Pansies and Ivy. Check your Bird feeders are clean and refill, and make sure bird baths have water to help wild birds. Take care of Hedgehogs making sure you don’t disturb them if they are hibernating and watch out for them in Bonfire piles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Episode David and Peter discuss the impact of the lack of recent rain, on their lawns and gardens how quickly lawns green up after the rain and how to care for your lawn in winter.How the show is moving to a weekly format. Our new email for you to send questions and comments to is [email protected] of topics covered this week from Northampton’s escaped ring necked Parakeets to Apple storageGreenfingers Charity get is biggest donation yet from visitors to Glee.Whats on:British Carrot Growers Association Demonstration Day 2025 – Thursday 2nd October 2025RHS Rosemoor Festival of flavours 4 & 5th OctoberPlants and products discussedAutumn King CarrotsWhite Lisbon OnionsSBM’s bring Thermacell to market, an innovative new Mosquito repellant for outdoor use.The Coco de mer palm has grown its first full leaf at its home in the Eden Project, Cornwall.Jobs to think about:Time to think about fleecing up your tender plants. Plant next year onions, garlic and Aguadulce Broad Beans. Pull up your old vegetables if they have finished for the year and compost and start tidying up your plot for next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter speaks with Gerry Edwards about apples and where they came from. Gerry tells us what to bring in to the Garden Centre for apple identification during our Apple Weekend and how he goes about identification. Why not come along and meet Gerry on the 27th and 28th of September!They discuss how they have evolved, which country grows the most apples and the many varieties available. Gerry gives us his favourite 5 apples to grow which are not the standard ones you will find in your local supermarket but are definitely worth the effort! They are Lord Lambourne, Laxtons Furtune, Discovery, Howgate Wonder and Lanes Price Albert.Did you know that apples can cause food allergies and why people say ‘An apple a day keeps the Doctor away!’?Gerry has written a book called’ Getting started with Growing Fruit’ and we discuss different plants you can grow and how to care for them. We talk through options for training apple trees so you can grow them in small spaces. We explore types of apples, how to grow new varieties and types of rootstock to grow them onHe tells us which are the best cider apples. Is it a Dabinet or a Kingston Black? Gerry has some other great suggestions of ones to try too. Fancy a trip out to see over 2000 varieties of Apple Trees? Then head to Brogdale Farm, near Faversham in Kent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, Peter Brown is joined by new co-host David Thomas as they dig into one of the hottest UK summers on record, the impact on gardens, and how the recent rains have helped. They discuss major gardening news stories—from early harvests and dragonfly spotting to Bath’s literary blooms (Britain in Bloom) and a Tree Preservation Order-protected grapefruit tree in Battersea. Discover what’s on at this month’s flower shows, plus practical jobs for the garden, from sowing spinach to watering tea bushes. The Dig It Top 5 strawberries are revealed, and there’s plenty of planting advice for a colourful autumn and productive spring.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Matthew Biggs, best known for his appearances on the long running BBC Radio 4 programme Gardeners' Question Time. He shares his special story, which is packed with anecdotes, wisdom, solace and plant stories from his amazing career which started at Pershore College of Horticulture and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and into writing, TV and so much more.Plants mentioned: Apple Cordons, Apple varieties ‘Scrumptious’ and ‘Reverend W Wilks’ (cooker). Beetroot, Redcurrants, packets of annual seeds, Tomatoes, Alpines, Hanging baskets and HerbsPeople mentioned: King Charles III, passionate about gardens and nature. Bunny Guiness, Clay Jones, Christine Walkden, Ernest Wilson (plant hunter), Joseph Banks (plant hunter), Gertrude Jekyll (British horticulturist and garden designer), Mr Middleton (earliest radio and television broadcasters on gardening for the BBC), Professor Alan Gemmell, Roy Lancaster, Geoffrey Smith, William Robinson (the great plantsman) and James Wong.Places mentioned: Pershore College, Kew Gardens (Temperate House, Princess of Wales Conservatory and the Palm House. Sandringham Gardens, Buckingham Palace Gardens. Bluebell Nurseries, Hidcote Manor Gardens and The Beechgrove Garden in Scotland.Garden restoration project at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood. A collaboration between the Hospital and Sunnyside Rural Trust at Hemel Hempstead. Matt is working with several key people including gardener designer Tom Stuart-Smith (and his wife, Sue Stuart-Smith author of The Well Gardened Mind, a Sunday Times Bestseller), National Garden Scheme new CEO Dr Richard Claxton, founder of the Gardening4health charity, and Mark Gregory, top RHS Chelsea Garden builder with over 160 RHS gardens to his credit! Mount Vernon Hospital’s garden is currently at the planning and fundraising stage, it’s hoped to start planting in September. Details on how to donate to this amazing project can be found on this Just Giving pageMatt’s award-winning podcast, Gardening with Cancer, featuring BBC Gardeners’ World gardening journalist David Hurrion can be found at this linkMatt’s Desert Island plant: Handkerchief Tree (Davidia involucrate).You can find Matt’s books at most independent bookshops and on second-hand book platforms such as World of Books. Instagram: @matthewbiggs55X: @plantmadmanOur thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After three UK heatwaves so far this summer, our plants and gardens have enjoyed a much-appreciated spell of wet weather. In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day (for the final time), explore the latest gardening news stories, what’s on’s and tasks to be getting on with this month.What’s on14th – 17th August: Southport Flower Show, Victoria Park, Southport.15th – 17th August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, Torrington, Devon.29th – 31st August BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, Audley End House, Essex.If you are out and about this month - don’t forget to support the National Garden Scheme, locally or if you are holidaying in the UK, search out one of the many garden treasures.NewsKew Gardens' 175-year-old Palm House will close for five years for major makeover.Sycamore Gap: Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers jailed for over 4 years for felling of iconic tree.The gardening and lifestyle retail brand sarahraven.com has been acquired by its original founder and creative director, Sarah Raven.Current hosepipe restrictions in the UK.Could selling second-hand gardening products bring in a new demographic to Garden Centres?Eden Project Dundee moves one step closer.Further expansion plans at RHS Wisley.OmVed Gardens builds UK's first food and ecology centre.The buzz about trees: Scientists at Wakehurst harness sound to understand bee abundance.Gertrude Jekyll ® named world’s famous rose 2025.‘Coral Gardens’ announced as Rose of the Year for 2026.The UK drought dominates RHS enquiries.Wootten’s of Wenhaston future threatened due to a lack of water on site.Plant theft crime on the rise.Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek becomes the HTA’s new ambassador.Dutch urban greening of a bus station pergola using wisteria hailed as a major success.DIG IT Top 5 Ornamental grassesTop seller is Festuca glauca ‘Compact Blue’ 2nd Festuca glauca ‘Intense Blue’* 3rd Stipa tenuissima * 4th Carex Prairie Fire, and 5th Festuca ‘Elijah Blue’ *RHS AGM.Plants mentioned: Apple cordon tree, Carnations, Bananas (Musa), Blackberries, Bonsai trees, Trachycarpus, Phoenix canariensis, Variegated Monstera, Dahlias, Leeks, French and Runner Beans, Lavender, Tree Ferns, Strawberries, Pinks, Cherries, Rhubarb, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Sow Marjoram, Basil, Coriander, Dill, Chives, Seed Potatoes to provide a crop for Christmas. Good varieties to consider include Charlotte, Desiree, Maris Piper and Maris Peer. Horse Chestnut and Lime trees. Take cuttings of Mint, Rosemary, and Sage.Products mentioned: Blagdon Fresh Start Pond (removes Chlorine so makes tap water safe for pond fish, Straw, Barley Straw, Bamboo canes, Plant pots, Peat-Free Seed & Cutting Compost, Perlite, Green Up Enhance Liquid Lawn Feed (it has added seaweed and a turf wetting agent which helps reduce grass stress and improves root growth), Taylors Bulbs, Tomato Feed, Nematodes to treat lawn leatherjackets, lawn edging tool, Vitax Citrus Summer Food and Water Butts.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with renowned Welsh vegetable grower and exhibitor Medwyn Williams, MBE and FNVS. A hobby that went completely out of control is how Medwyn describes his journey to growing amazing vegetables and a modest humble beginning saving seeds from leeks and carrots in the 1970s to his prolific online business today. Medwyn has won 13 Gold medals through the years at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, so he certainly knows his onions!Plants mentioned: Beetroot, Broad beans, Carrots (‘Sweet Candle’, a Japanese bred variety being one of Medwyn’s favourites for flavour and ‘New Red Intermediates' for length on the staging bench), Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Swedes, Tomatoes, and Turnips.Product mentioned: Become a member of the National Vegetable Society for advice, encouragement and to engage with keen growers. Coco fibre, Cocktail sticks for staging veg, Levingtons Composts, Perlite and Tozers Seeds. Medwin’s Desert Island Tool and favourite Veg: Trowel and Brussel Sprouts.Horticultural heroes: Edwin Beckett was head-gardener for Lord Aldenham at Aldenham House in Hertfordshire. Edwin has been Medwyn’s motivator in staging displays as he used to win with large stands of vegetables at London shows around the 1920s - 30s.Martin Robinson, one of the members of the famous Robinson family who introduced the world to their famous Mammoth Onions gave Medwyn advice and guidance.Places: Royal Welsh Show, Anglesey Flower Show, Ayr Flower Show, RHS Hampton Court Flower Show (Gold Medal and the RHS Tudor Rose for Best Display), RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Medwyn grew his exhibits in the research establishment greenhouse at Bangor University allowing him to start his Chelsea plants with additional light, and it’s also the original home of the wheelie bin carrots and parsnips grown in pipes.Medwyn is an avid user of social media sharing his growing trials and tribulations with his followers. You can follow Medwyn on X: medwynsofangles. For seeds visit his website.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our gardens are growing apace this month and there's plenty to be getting on with as Dig It's Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle those essential tasks, plus a round-up of July’s events and garden news stories from around the UK.What’s on1st - 6th July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Hampton Court Palace, London. 11th - 13th July: The Norfolk Garden Show, Norfolk Showground, New Costessey, Norwich. 16th - 20th July: RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire. On the 17th July Chris Baines will be giving a talk - Wildlife gardening past, present and future at the show at 11am.21st - 24th July Royal Welsh Show, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.26th - 27th July: The National Gardening & Outdoor Living Show, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.Until 14th September: Seedscape, the art of the seed at the Kew Garden’ wild botanical garden at Wakehurst, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Sussex.Until 21st September: Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party exhibition at the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London. NewsFraudster, Thomas Robinson conned luxury hotels and retailers out of £580k by selling fake Scottish-grown tea is jailed for three-and-a-half years.Blue Diamond in exclusive talks to purchase Barton Grange Garden Centre.Improving plant health through voluntary collaboration is the way forward.Famous East Lambrook Manor is in new hands.Campaign to stop trees from being strangled by abandoned tree ties and rabbit guards.Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time to be recorded on 2nd August during the RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show.Pershore College Garden Centre and Wholesale Plant Nursery to close.Roof garden at the Open University to help scientist study on the impact of growing plants on top of buildings.UK heatwave results in the 1,000 year old Robin Hood Oak receiving emergency watering.Dahlia Gardinetta ® Velvet Crush named Best New plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.Frank Matthews launches new Apple Rainbow and collects Best in Show for Prunus sumaura Fugenzo Japanese Lantern at the HTA’s National Plant Show.Welsh apple register is launched.Rare Hong Kong orchid – Bulbophyllum bicolor - saved from extinction.A UK first – Baobab tree in bloom at the Eden Project.GP Richard Claxton becomes NGS Chief Executive following George Plumptre, who steps down after 15 years this Autumn.Former garden centre owner and QVC gardening channel champion Richard Jackson is awarded the MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to Children’s Hospices (Greenfingers).Wincey Willis, ITVs first female weather presenter, local radio show host and gardening expert and columnist, has died.M&S introduce Red Diamonds Strawberry and Creme in a sandwich.DIG IT Top 5: Top cakes for the summer 5th position Raspberry & Coconut Sponge, 4th Carrot Cake, 3rd Coffee & Walnut, 2nd Chocolate Sponge with Victoria Sponge at the top spot.Plant mentions: Tomatoes, Runner Beans, Cherries, Bearded Iris, Petunia, Million Bells, Pelargoniums (cutting), Wallflowers, Sweet Williams, Foxgloves, Wisteria (pruning), Jasmine, Lavender, Bergamot, Clover, Gaillardia, Cosmos, and Egyptian Onions.Product mentions: Sprayer for misting, Solar fountain, bird bath, BBQ, and cocoon / egg chair.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.