Apples with MSOG's Claire Conway-Crapp

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.

 In this |Episode David and Peter Chat about the early spring flowers and which one signifies the start of Spring. Dr Johnathon Jones thinks its magnolias, what do you think?The Greenfingers Charity is having its releaf days throughout the year. A Charity climb up Kilamanjaro has been organized to help raise funds as well as lots of other events scheduled for the year.A petition for making the UK peat free is being given to the Government and with all the industry’s hard work to change the offer so far there is no confirmed date despite the Government’s pledges to ban peat in Horticulture. Millbrook Garden Centres sell to the British Garden Centre Group making 77 centres in the group.With the bedding season on the horizon we have a new range of early flowering drop ins for your hanging basket or all the plug plants are in now if you have a frost free area to grow them on for the next 6 to 8 weeks. Seed potatoes are selling well and there is still time to get some. David has had moderate success with growing basil with half of his crop germinating. Peter is going to try and germinate some tomatoes on his allotment this year.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In This Episode...Frost Protection: Peter shares an essential seasonal tip on laying fleece over your newly planted crops to shield them from late-season frost.Microgreens & Salads: David discusses his progress with microgreens and his method for planting Basil as a microsalad crop.Carrot Success: We explore the unique benefits of growing Carrots in pots for better pest control and root quality.Broad Bean Tapenade: Peter reveals his favourite recipe for a broad bean tapenade—the perfect way to use your harvest.Upcoming Events & FeaturesKew Gardens Orchid Festival: Taking place from 7 February to 8 March 2026, this year's Kew Gardens Orchid Festival celebrates Chinese biodiversity with stunning displays in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.Thriplow Daffodil Weekend: Don't miss this iconic event on 21st and 22nd March 2026. Tickets are available on the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend  and often sell out early.Marathon For a Cause: Our Head Chef, Josh, is running the London Marathon on Sunday, 26 April 2026, to raise vital funds for Cystic Fibrosis.Special Guest: Manos KanellosJoin us on Saturday morning, 21st March, for a special talk by orchid expert Manos and in the afternoon for a class on how to create a Terrarium (tickets needed)Topics for discussion during the morning:Bring Your Orchid: If you have an orchid at home, bring it along for expert advice!Expertise: Manos works for Growth Technology, a specialist company that has spent years driving the orchid industry forward with high-quality products.Must-Read Book: He is also the co-author of the highly acclaimed book, "Growing Orchids at Home", published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Episode we chat about upcoming events and shows, plants we are starting to sow now, and some items from the news.Show and Open daysPotato Day and Green Fair, Border Events Centre, KelsoAlpine Society Spring Show, Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough. LE12 8JUSouth Molton Panier Market Plant Fair, South Molton Pannier Market, Broad Street, South Molton EX36 3ABPlant Heritage hosts Evening with David Hurrion, on Zoom or in person at St. Andrew's Church Hall, Churchgate House, Downside Road, Cobham, Surrey. KT11 3EJ Central Exhibitions Homes and Garden Show, Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes shopping Centre.Alpine Garden Society Garden Show, Kirkbie Kendal School, Lound Road, Kendal LA9 7EQRare Plant Fayre, The Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PDIn the NewsBarcham Trees goes Robotic. They have upgraded their tree production line to be completely robotic. Peter went to Corner Corner Restaurant and saw London’s biggest commercial indoor vertical farm growing salad and herbs.Matthew Biggs designed Hospital Garden in Hertfordshire is still growing and The Apple House at Serge Hill recently held a conference on how Outdoor space and gardens can transform patients outlooks and the benefits it brings to their well being.What we are plantingWe discuss Tomatoes grown in Hozelocks GroBag Waterer the benefits of Marigolds grown close by, David has had success with Sungold, and Dwarf Marigolds. Peter has grown Beefsteak Tomatoes. David then tells us about his Potato growing method and how it improves the soil structure, as it’s now about time to start thinking about First Early Potatoes. David is not a fan of Chicken Manure Pellets or Q4 Fertilizer, he relies on the compost but many of us do use fertilizer and we all agree on the benefits of earthing up.Finally we discuss treating your lawns with Chafer grub Nematodes as it’s that time of year and once treated the nematodes will last a year or two. Peter scarifies, reseeds and feeds his lawn and after all the rain recently Moss has grown well so Peter is treating his with Evergreen Complete a feed, weed and moss treatment. If you want to listen to a proper Grass expert listen to this podcastMusic kindly provided by Chiltern Music Therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Peter chats with Ian Cross from Mr Fothergills seeds. Mr Fothergills are one of the largest seed suppliers in the UK and supply seeds to over 30 countries with a 70% market share in Australia and New Zealand. Surprisingly, Sunflowers and Beetroot are some of their best selling types of seed.Mr Fothergills has released a new Oh Sow Simple range of seeds this year which are designed, as the name suggests, to be the perfect range of simple starter seeds. They will grow with easy to follow instructions and sensible numbers in the packet. The ranges have been selected to be easy to grow and germinate. Ian gives us some great tips for growing plants from seed, from light conditions to warmth, and a brilliant idea of what to do with baby carrots that you have thinned out. Ian also gives us some ideas on reducing pests by planting lots of different types of plants to encourage lots of different species of animals. For example Blue Tits love eating aphids so giving them plants they like can help encourage them into your garden, Marigolds have a great scent to help ward off whitefly so plant them next to your Tomatoes.Ian also gives us some great suggestions for plants to grow in 10 litre pots that will give you some ideas for lovely tasting, high value veggies on your balcony or if you have a small garden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode David and Peter chat about a few News items, the record breaking amounts of rain we have had in January - the rivers are breaking their banks and lots of areas of the country are flooded - compost heaps, the new Stiga AI robot mower and British Garden Centres have secured another site at Dronfield. It’s still bare root season and Peter talks of his plans to plant another bare root Cox’s Orange Pipin, another Cherry and some more RaspberriesDavid tells us about Simiane shallots which he has grown from seed and also the red and white onions that he grew from sets. The other thing David has planted is Dwarf French Marigold, a flowering plant that over the years Gardeners have used for keeping whitefly away, but David has found they also help keep cats away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Events :Great Comp Snowdrop and Plant Fair Comp Lane, Platt, Nr Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8QS Tel: 01732 885094The Alpine Garden Society Plant Show and sale, Pershore High School, PershorePERSHORE HIGH SCHOOL, STATION ROAD, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE, WR10 2BXShepton Snowdrop Festival Plant Sale and Seed SwapSt Paul's School Hall, Paul Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5LAKingston Bagpuize Snowdrop FairKingston Bagpuize House, Kingston Bagpuize, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 5AXPreston Potato DayBrighter Blooms, Walton Flats Nursery, Gillibrand Street, Walton-le-Dale, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 4AX.Frome Seed Swap and Potato DayThe Cheese and Grain Building, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1BE.Nowich Seed Swap and Plant FairSt Mary Magdalene Church, Silver Road, Norwich, NR3 4TF.In the news The Forestry Commission has a new Head, Baroness Young and Peter recommends Hazelborough wood near Silverstone for its Bluebells and a lovely wood to walk in. The RHS has come up with a new naming system for Peat free plants and plants grown in Peat.Cacti and Succulents are our main topic of conversation in the episode. They are best grown in free draining, gritty soils. They also thrive in high light conditions with consistent light levels. They don’t like to be over watered and it is best to allow them to dry out before watering.Echivaria, Cereus – Columnar cacti are 2 of the species we chat about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Episode David and Peter chat about seed swaps, snow drops and our top 5 houseplants.Events and Places to Visit:18th Bletchley Seed swap is happening on 14 February 2026 - 10-2pm Address: Freeman Memorial Methodist Church Hall, Buckingham Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 5HH just £1 entryGatton Park Snowdrop Open Day  Sunday 01 February 12.00 pm - 5.00 pm. The Park and gardens are open to view a spectacular display of snowdrops. Heralds of spring and a sure sign that warmer weather is on the way. Gardens open 12 noon – 5pm Online booking: £7 adult, children free. On the day: £9 adult, children free, subject to availabilityHole Park Snowdrop & Plant Fair Sunday, February 1st at Hole Park Gardens, Benenden Road, Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4JA. From 11:00 am. Entry Cost: £8 per Adult and £2.50 per child (aged 5-17 years). Under 5’s enter free of charge. Tickets include entry to Hole Park Gardens. With more than a dozen dedicated growers and nurseries from across the South East. Hole Park's garden team will also be on hand to answer your gardening queries and the Coach House Tea Room will be open for refreshments. The Bishop's Palace Snowdrop Month Daily from Sunday, February 1st, throughout February. Address: The Bishop's Palace & Gardens, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2PD. From 10am to 4pm daily. Entry Cost: Standard admission is £15 for adults, £7 for children (5-17 years), under 5s free. This ticket is valid for 12 months. Explore 14 acres of RHS partner gardens with extensive snowdrop displays and winter borders using a printed guide.Colesbourne Snowdrops daily from Sunday, February 1st, until March 1st. Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NP. Experience the stunning and historic snowdrop collection at Colesbourne, known as "England's greatest snowdrop garden". Colesbourne Gardens is the premier place to see snowdrops in bloom. The collection is probably the most varied of any garden on display, with over three hundred varieties. Early Spring Show, Iris & Cyclamen at RHS Garden WisleyOn Saturday, February 14th RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB between 10am–3.30pm, which is free for RHS members,you can discover some of the best early spring flowering iris and cyclamen. Visitors can enjoy rare collections and competition classes as well as a photographic exhibition, unusual plants for sale and friendly experts available to answer your questions.Come and get the new range of Heritage seeds from Franchi this season, not in yet but will be released for sale shortly, ready for this years growing season.Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition provides a unique platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills and ambition. The competition is open to anyone across the UK and Ireland.Scotland’s Gardens Scheme unveils 457 garden openings for 2026Having just finished houseplant week we wanted to share with you some varieties that we do well with. The Houseplants we discuss are our mini Showbox Houseplants, a range of mini mixed houseplants, all are tough, easy to care for, and cheap so make great starter plants. Phalaenopsis Orchids a wonderful flowering plant often used as a great, long-lasting,  colourful gift. Dragon trees or Dracaena the low care houseplant that seems to do well without much water, best kept in a bright position out of direct sun and cold draughts. Fittonia is a delicate looking Houseplant which we discuss which has a great colourful foliage that likes a damp soil and does well in dappled light. Tradescantias are another plant first bought to England in the 17th Century, from South America, it’s easy to propagate, care for and if cut back regularly will make a nice, compact and colourful foliage plant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode we chat about houseplants, seed swaps, what’s been in the horticultural news and onions.Visit House plants at RHS Rosemore, learn more about houseplant care and the perfect houseplant for you. With 4 talks covering ferns. cacti, orchids and Terraniums.Trumpington Seedy Sunday an event run since 2006 where you can swap your seeds, take refreshments and purchase local produce in Trumpington. Can be found at Trumpington Village Hall 75 High Street Cambridge, England, CB2 9HARHS Wisley Seed swap on 31st January with seed swapping of RHS heritage seeds and talks on how to collect, sow and grow! RHS Wisley, GU23 6QBMyddelton house ultimate snowdrop sale is on the 31st Jan at the historic Myddleton house once home to famous horticulturalist E A Bowles. Myddelton House Gardens, Bulls Cross, Enfield, EN2 9HGOther seed swap events can be found at Garden Organic’s website.The last event for the month is the Houseplant and Orchid show at Gordale Garden Centre, where you can enjoy talks, demonstrations, and expert advice from multi award-winning orchid grower Sara Rittershausen of Burnham Nurseries.We talk about Beech nuts, the world's most expensive plant, Peter tries and fails to regrow onions after trying to copy a youtube video. The 5 most popular onions that we sell at the Garden Centre are Red Winter, Electric, Senshyu yellow, Radar, Centurion and Autumn Champion. We also sell lots of shallots and garlic.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we learn more about Apples and Orchards. Claire is Chairperson of Mid Shires Orchards Group and shares some of her amazing knowledge on varieties, rootstocks, the different types of Apples and what happens at Woughton on the greens community orchard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.