World Radio Gardening
733 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★ - 7 ratingsThe world’s first streamed #gardening radio station providing advice, interviews and music for all #gardeners anywhere.
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Episodes
Growing Irises
June 23, 2015 13:04 - 7 minutes - 9.91 MBThe Cayeux family have been growing irises since the end of the 19th century at their nursery along the Loire near Orléans in France. Richard Cayeux’s great grandfather was very interested in growing irises due to the wide variety of colours and how easy they are grow as he explained to Ken Crowther.
Pelargoniums and Geraniums
June 18, 2015 14:34 - 6 minutes - 9.19 MBThere is often confusion between pelargoniums and geraniums. Michael Perry from Thompson and Morgan showed Ken Crowther some of the pelargoniums and geraniums they grow and they discuss the difference between the two.
History of the Swiss Garden
June 18, 2015 14:34 - 6 minutes - 9.25 MBCorinne Price is the manager of the Shuttleworth Trust’s Swiss Garden in Bedfordshire, which reopened to the public in July 2014. The £3.5m restoration took 18 months and was funded by through donations and grants. Corinne gave Ken Crowther a potted history of the gardens.
The Swiss Garden
June 18, 2015 14:33 - 9 minutes - 13.5 MBThe Swiss Garden in Bedfordshire is approaching its 200th birthday. Lord Ongley set the garden out in a Regency style in the 1820s. The estate was purchased by industrialist Joseph Shuttleworth in the 1870s, who kept the Regency picturesque style as Kevin Hilderditch told Ken Crowther.
Iris specialist
June 18, 2015 14:33 - 9 minutes - 12.9 MBThe iris collection at Woottens of Wenhaston in Suffolk is under the watchful eye of field manager and iris specialist Gillian Morris. Iris breeders are working to develop better varieties, but in doing so they have changed the shape of the flower as Gillian explained to Ken Crowther.
The Plantsman's Nursery
June 18, 2015 14:33 - 9 minutes - 12.7 MBWoottens of Wenhaston in Suffolk is a large producer of herbaceous plants, producing over 600 different cultivars, with 75% propagated at the nursery. The nursery was established 25-years ago by Michael Loftus as manager Lucy Skinner told Ken Crowther.
Bushells Bakery
June 18, 2015 13:43 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MBSuffolk bakers Bushells have been baking in Lowestoft for over a 130 years. Matt Ellis has been working as a baking since leaving school at 15. After working for several other bakeries, Matt ended up at Bushells. He explained to Ken Crowther about the process of producing the bread following the traditional methods.
Orchid production
June 18, 2015 13:40 - 6 minutes - 8.3 MBThe once rare orchid has now become a household plant due to their mass production which has brought down prices and increased sales. It is easy to see why they are so popular, they last a long time in flower, are simple to grow and re-flower with no trouble. Founded in 1879, McBean’s Orchids has a long history of breeding orchids as Jim Durrant explained to Ken Crowther.
Specialists in agapanthus
June 18, 2015 13:39 - 8 minutes - 11.5 MBThe Hoyland Plant Centre in South Yorkshire started 30-years-ago by Steven Hickman and his wife. As a propagator they grew 400 different types of plants from alpines to heathers to conifers. A birthday gift of an agapanthnus 20-years-ago started Steven’s love of the plant as he told Ken Crowther.
The changing face of garden centres
June 18, 2015 13:38 - 9 minutes - 13.5 MBHillier the Nurseries and Garden Centres company has been around for 150 years. Designer Andy McIndoe has been with them 37-years, joining them after leaving completing his degree in Horticulture at Bath University. Over the last forty years there has been a huge change in the way garden centres and nurseries operate as Andy discussed with Ken Crowther.
Growing mandevilla
June 18, 2015 13:37 - 4 minutes - 6.44 MBNamed after Henry Mandevilla, a British Minister in Buenos Aires in the 1860s, mandevilla’s are native to Brazil and Central America. Hardy varieties can be grown outside in England, whilst non-hardy can be grown in a conservatory during the summer months as they tolerate the heat or in the garden and brought in during the Autumn. Chris from Mandy Plants explained more to Ken Crowther.
Heritage plants
June 16, 2015 16:02 - 9 minutes - 12.7 MBOld fashioned varieties of vegetables are coming back into fashion, with many varieties pre-dating the 1950s, and some can trace their roots back to Victorian times. Early travellers and plant hunters brought back many of the plants which are grown in this country today, as Margaret from Robinson’s Seeds and Plants told Ken Crowther.
The art of Bonsai
June 16, 2015 16:00 - 7 minutes - 10.6 MBBonsai is an art form using horticultural material. Unlike a sculptor who can put his tools down when the piece is finished, bonsai is an ongoing art form which needs regular attention. The miniature trees are grown to look like full grown trees as Reg Bolton from the Federation of British Bonsai Societies explained to Ken Crowther.
Hyacinths for the garden
June 16, 2015 15:53 - 4 minutes - 5.71 MBChristmas is when you will usually see hyacinths grown in pots, however, they can be grown in the garden, producing flowers in the Spring. The bulbs are grown in Holland, where they are striving to develop new cultivars as Ken Crowther found out.
Trewidden Nursery
June 16, 2015 15:46 - 5 minutes - 8.14 MBBased in the far west of Cornwall, Trewidden Nursery grows a variety of exotic plants such as protea, restios, succulents and many others. Many of the plants come from South Africa as conditions are very similar with good light levels, surrounded by the sea and with good drainage. Claire from the Nursery spoke to Ken Crowther about their unique environment.
Meet the designer
June 16, 2015 15:43 - 4 minutes - 6.6 MBVeteran of building gardens at shows is designer Mark Gregory of Landform. This year marks his 26th year at Chelsea, in that time he’s built 90 gardens, not including the trade stands. For Mark, the shows are a good opportunity to market the business but he also gets an adrenaline buzz as he told Ken Crowther.
Deadheading roses
June 04, 2015 11:55 - 4 minutes - 5.89 MBJune is rose and this year they are producing some great blooms. Steve Bradley writer for the Sun explains the importance of deadheading roses to get a second flush of flowering.
World Radio Gardening Emails
June 04, 2015 10:26 - 11 minutes - 16 MBKen Crowther and Geoff Hodge discuss some of the emails received to the World Radio Gardening post bag.
T&M plants
June 04, 2015 10:25 - 6 minutes - 9.51 MBFrom young plug plants to posting plants, Thompson & Morgan over a huge range of plants of different sizes. Michael Perry took Ken Crowther on a tour to see some of the different varieties on offer.
Pollinating insects
June 04, 2015 10:24 - 7 minutes - 10.2 MBBees very important for the pollination of commercial crops, but they are only a part of the pollination cycle as Mick Lavelle told Ken Crowther.
Pests and diseases
June 04, 2015 10:22 - 7 minutes - 10.7 MBThere is a lot of talk over the use of pesticides and insecticides and whether gardeners should use organic methods or not to get rid of garden nasties. Steve Bradley and Ken Crowther talk about eliminating pests and diseases.
Summer pond maintenance
June 04, 2015 10:20 - 12 minutes - 17.7 MBPond owners often want their ponds to look clean and clear, looking like a swimming pool, but as Bernice Brewster from the Aquatic Consultancy told Ken Crowther, fish prefer conditions which are a bit grimy, grotty and mucky.
Looking after bedding plants
June 04, 2015 10:19 - 5 minutes - 8.2 MBIt’s the time of year when gardeners fill their gardens with bedding plants. To keep them looking great all summer Dave Gillam from Abercorn Garden Centre and Ken Crowther have some handy hints and tips on the best ways to ensure the plants stay looking fabulous for many months.
Tiptree June Podcast
June 03, 2015 11:00 - 16 minutes - 38.3 MBChris Newenham talks to Ken about Little Scarlet.
Bayer June Podcast
June 03, 2015 10:35 - 16 minutes - 38.2 MBAnita Dent explains about what she is up to in the garden at this time of the year.
Careers in horticulture
May 19, 2015 10:09 - 10 minutes - 14.4 MBAs one of the largest employers, the horticultural industry offers a wide variety of jobs from landscaper, designer, gardener or tree surgeon. Writtle College lecturer Tom Cole and Ken Crowther talk about education and careers in horticulture.
Growing summer fruits
May 19, 2015 10:02 - 5 minutes - 8 MBAs summer approaches it is the time to think about growing fruit. Keen fruit grower Lucy Chamberlain shared her tips and advice with Ken Crowther on how to get the best results when growing fruit in your garden.
Shade perennials
May 19, 2015 10:02 - 4 minutes - 6.29 MBIt is often the case for garden designers that they spend so much time working on other people’s gardens that their gardens can get forgotten. British trained garden designer Hester McDonald got some ideas for a shady bed from Rosy Hardy, founder of Hardy’s plants.
Great London Plant Fair
May 19, 2015 10:02 - 4 minutes - 6.41 MBThe RHS, the UK’s leading gardening charity, holds several London fairs across the year. Free to RHS members the seasonal shows give visitors the chance to buy new plants and pick up tips and advice as Hester McDonald has been finding out.
Green and gorgeous lawns
May 19, 2015 09:48 - 4 minutes - 6.25 MBWant your lawn to look lush and green this summer? British trained garden designer Hester McDonald has been talking to Chris Mills about some of the jobs to tackle now to get your lawn in tip-top condition.
Summer ponds
May 19, 2015 09:43 - 7 minutes - 10.5 MBAs summer approaches pond fish are at their most active. Being cold blooded they are busy feeding as they prepare for the next winter. The difficulty for pond keepers is ensuring there is enough oxygen in the water as aquatic consultant Bernice Brewster told Ken Crowther.
The importance of bees
May 19, 2015 09:41 - 4 minutes - 6.41 MBBees are essential to the survival of the human race by pollinating fruits and vegetables. However, they are in danger of disappearing from the environment due to change in farming methods and the use of pesticides. Ken Crowther has been finding out more.