varostreamJoin the team from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine as we share lively conversation about all things gardening. We’ll be exploring growing for health and for wildlife, success with homegrown food and flowers, making a thriving garden for you and your family to enjoy, plus how to green up your indoors, and much more. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or are just setting out on your growing journey, we promise you an enjoyable – and useful – escape into gardening with every episode.
Episodes
What To Do Now - Help a hoglet, pick tomatoes and tidy a rockery
This week’s cheerful garden checklist with Claire Vennis covers juicy harvests, alpine TLC and a simple way to help hedgehogs before winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10:25A life rooted in seasonal food with Nelly Babazadeh
Growing your own food can transform the way you cook, eat and live. Cook, writer and grower Nelly Babazadeh shares how her Iranian heritage inspired a lifelong love of seasonal food and how gardening has helped her reconnect with nature, family and wellbeing. From preserving the harvest with homemade jams and pickles to reducing food waste and embracing slow living, Nelly offers practical tips to help you make the most of every ingredient and encourages you to savour every season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34:36Growing and drying flowers for beauty that lasts, with Katie Christer
Flowers don't have to be fleeting. Katie Christer from Sitopia Farm shares how to grow, harvest and dry beautiful blooms that can be enjoyed long after summer has faded. Discover the best flowers and seed heads for drying, simple techniques to preserve their colour and shape, and how to create stunning seasonal wreaths and arrangements. Katie also explains why growing flowers sustainably is so important, how organic farming supports pollinators and biodiversity, and why working with nature, not against it, can create healthier gardens, more resilient soils and flowers full of character that tell the story of the seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:43What To Do Now - Courgettes, crocuses and September sunshine
Claire has 3 early September jobs to do in the garden including planting pollinator-friendly bulbs for a buzzing spring ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9:55The joy of gardening organically, with Sarah Mead
What makes an organic garden thrive? Sarah Mead, creator of the celebrated Yeo Valley Organic Garden, shares the philosophy and practical techniques behind one of Britain's most inspiring gardens. From composting and healthy soil to seasonal planting, meadow management and creating year-round interest, Sarah explains how working with nature leads to stronger, more resilient gardens. She also reflects on the importance of patience, creativity and learning to trust natural processes, before offering simple ways every gardener can make a positive difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
40:34Monty Don: Why it's good to be unruly in the garden
Should gardens always be neat and tidy? In this episode, Monty Don makes the case for embracing a little unruliness in the garden. He explains how balancing structured planting with wilder spaces can create healthier habitats for wildlife, improve biodiversity and make gardens more resilient. From lawns and long grass to weeds, mulching and healthy soil, Monty shares practical advice on gardening with nature rather than against. Along the way, he explores why gardens are works of craft rather than wilderness, and how adapting our expectations can help us create beautiful, thriving spaces for both people and wildlife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27:47What To Do Now - Roses, cobs and dragonfly jobs
Claire shares the simple sweetcorn trick every gardener should know, plus late-summer jobs for roses and dragonflies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9:19Monty Don on dahlias, colour and gardening through the seasons
Monty Don joins us to celebrate one of the stars of the late-summer garden: the dahlia. From favourite varieties and colour combinations to overwintering techniques and growing dahlias in containers, Monty shares how he uses these vibrant plants to keep Longmeadow looking spectacular well into autumn. He also reflects on the creation of his famous Jewel Garden, explains why late-season interest is so important, and reveals the other plants he relies on to bring colour and drama when many gardens are beginning to fade. Packed with practical advice and gardening inspiration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27:57Creating your own garden: Frances Tophill on letting go, starting again and gardening your way
Frances Tophill explores the joys, challenges and emotions of creating your own garden. From deciding what to keep, remove or rehome, to choosing plants that reflect your personality and support wildlife, Frances shares honest insight from her own gardening journey. She talks about leaving a much-loved garden behind, planning a new urban wildlife experiment and why a garden doesn’t need to look professionally designed to be meaningful. With practical ideas, thoughtful reflections and plenty of encouragement, this episode is for anyone ready to put their own stamp on a growing space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30:18What To Do Now - Heucheras, spinach and seeds for bees
Join Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast presenter Claire Vennis for a lively late-summer potter through the jobs worth doing now - from jazzing up heucheras to sowing spinach and saving seeds for bees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10:17From DIY SOS to Gardeners’ World: Ashley Edwards’ garden story
Join BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Ashley Edwards as he reveals what really goes on behind the scenes of DIY SOS. From designing life-changing gardens in just days to working through 2am finishes, Ashley shares the chaos, community spirit and emotional moments that make the show so special. He talks accessible planting, sustainable reuse, favourite low-maintenance plants, and the joy of seeing families enjoy their transformed spaces. Plus, hear about his horticultural journey from Kew to Sicily, Horatio’s Garden, Gardeners’ Question Time and Gardeners’ World, with plenty of practical inspiration along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22:16Gardening for every generation, with Arit Anderson
What makes a garden truly welcoming? In this episode, BBC Gardeners' World presenter and garden designer Arit Anderson explores how thoughtful garden design can create spaces that work for everyone, regardless of age, ability or gardening experience. From sensory planting and accessible pathways to community gardening projects and intergenerational growing, Arit shares practical ideas for making outdoor spaces more inclusive. She also discusses how gardens can support wellbeing, tackle loneliness, inspire young people to connect with nature and help communities thrive. Whether you have a large garden, a balcony or no garden at all, there's inspiration for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:43What To Do Now - Late-summer Colour, tomatoes and wildlife water
Will your buddleia give butterflies one last feast, are your tomatoes ready for their big August moment, and could a simple splash of water turn your garden into a wildlife hotspot? Join BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine's Claire Vennis for three easy, feel-good jobs to do now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10:17The art of creating calm in your garden with garden design Tomoko Kawauchi
What makes a garden feel calm, balanced and timeless? Award-winning garden designer Tomoko Kawauchi shares how her upbringing in rural Japan continues to shape her approach to creating beautiful outdoor spaces. In this episode, she explains the simple design principles that work in gardens of any size, from using structure and circulation to choosing plants for function rather than fashion. Tomoko also discusses designing with nature, adapting to climate change, improving soil health and creating spaces that encourage people to slow down and reconnect with the outdoors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26:00Thrifty, sensory, accessible: rethinking the modern garden with Mark Lane
In this inspiring episode, broadcaster, garden designer and author Mark Lan explores what accessible gardening really means. Following a life-changing accident, Mark discovered the restorative power of plants and went on to champion inclusive outdoor spaces that work for everyone. He shares practical ideas for designing gardens around ability, from wide paths, sensory planting and resting places to thrifty approaches that remove financial and physical barriers. With warmth, honesty and plenty of expert insight, Mark shows how gardens of any size can boost wellbeing, welcome wildlife and help more people enjoy growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
44:43What To Do Now - Lavender, birdboxes and beetroot
This week, Claire's quick and practical gardening jobs are to trim lavender, clean bird boxes and how to grow bigger beetroot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6:52Summer harvests with Frances Tophill
Celebrate the joy of summer harvests with Frances as she shares why growing your own tastes better, how to choose crops that are useful, beautiful and good value, and why perennial veg deserves a place alongside annual favourites. From tomatoes, squash and kale crisps to cut flowers, sweet peas and plants for natural dyes, this warm, practical chat explores the many rewards of a productive garden and proves it’s never too late to sow, grow and harvest something delicious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25:55Big impact, small budget: Danny Clarke’s smart garden design tips
Award-winning garden designer and TV presenter Danny Clarke (The Black Gardener) reveals how to create a garden you love without spending a fortune, whatever size gardening space. Danny shares the personal story of how he found his way into horticulture and offers practical, budget-friendly design ideas that make an immediate difference. Encouraging gardeners to plan slowly and thoughtfully, prioritise plants over lawn for lower maintenance and more wildlife, choosing resilient plants that suit your space and conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29:37What To Do Now - Freshen up borders, salvia cuttings and spring cabbages
As we head into August, Claire takes you through giving those borders a freshen up, taking salvia tip cuttings and planting out spring cabbages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7:40Growing perennial, with Gemma Sturges
How can we grow food in a way that's rooted in heritage, but forward thinking enough to support biodiversity and sustainability for generations to come? Gemma Sturges is the Kitchen Garden Supervisor and organic gardener at Audley End House and Gardens and has spent more than a decade managing the historic walled kitchen garden. Growing heritage fruit and vegetables, nurturing soil health and caring for perennial crops and traditional produce in a fully organic way, Gemma shares how she grows to build sustainable gardens that support wildlife, celebrate biodiversity and connects to the generations of growers before us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31:19Balcony gardening: how to grow a garden in the sky, with Ashley Edwards
Transform your balcony into a beautiful, wildlife-friendly garden with expert advice from BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Ashley Edwards. In this practical episode, Ashley shares how to choose lightweight containers, create stylish planting schemes and select tough plants that can cope with wind, shade and drought. He also explores clever watering ideas, balcony ponds, compact trees, outdoor furniture, composting and ways to make even one pot count for wildlife. Whether you have a tiny urban balcony or a small paved space, discover how to grow with confidence, experiment with plants and turn your outdoor area into a relaxing, colourful retreat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25:34What To Do Now - Refresh containers, summer lawn TLC and tidying up
Claire is back this week with easy jobs for summer gardens that can make a real difference, but don’t take long - this week refresh your containers, give your lawn some TLC and have a bit of a tidy up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7:40Budget-friendly plants: bargains, seeds and smart buys, with Frances Tophill
Sharing her expert advice on gardening and growing plants on a budget, Frances reveals how to find bargain buys at nurseries and garden centres and advises to choose smaller pots, healthy roots and plants with strong growth points. She explains when it’s worth splashing out on statement plants, why trees can be a smart investment, and how swapping seeds, growing from supermarket scraps and rescuing discounted perennials can save money. Packed with practical tips on buying, planting, watering and nurturing new plants, get more from every pound while creating a thriving, beautiful garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
48:05Dr Amir Khan on butterflies, birdsong and better health
How can spending time in nature improve our health? In this episode, GP, broadcaster and bestselling author Dr Amir Khan explores the science behind nature's remarkable benefits for both our physical and mental wellbeing. From the calming effects of birdsong and green spaces to creating a wildlife-friendly garden filled with ponds, pollinator plants and butterflies, Amir shares practical ways to make the most of the natural world. He also discusses his work with Butterfly Conservation, why our gardens play a vital role in protecting wildlife, and how even the smallest green space can become a sanctuary for both people and nature. Pick up the August issue of BBC Gardeners' World magazine for lots more advice on creating a butterfly-friendly garden. To take part in this year's Big Butterfly Count, visit bigbutterflycount.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34:02What To Do Now - Collecting seeds, caring for strawberries, and creating wildlife havens
Claire enjoys a cheerful mid-July potter to collect seeds, give strawberries some TLC and suggest easy ways to give garden wildlife a helping hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8:09Shade garden ideas: what to grow and how to succeed, with Monty Don
Looking for advice on gardening in shade? In this episode, recorded at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Monty Don explains how to grow plants successfully in low-light conditions and why shade can be an advantage, not a problem. Discover the best plants for shade, how to improve soil in dry shade, and practical ways to manage light and moisture for a healthier garden. Whether you’re dealing with a small shady corner or a full shade garden, this episode is packed with expert, easy-to-follow tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
24:28Design your garden like a pro before you spend a penny, with Adam Frost
Garden and landscape designer Adam Frost breaks down how to design or redesign your garden properly. Starting with what you want from the space, how you move through it, and why getting ideas down on paper can save you serious money and frustration. From rescuing mature shrubs with confident pruning to balancing hard landscaping with planting and planning a garden that can evolve with family life, it’s a practical, confidence-boosting guide to creating an outdoor space that truly fits you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25:20What To Do Now - Thinning fruit, supporting giants, and celebrating summer’s bounty
Join Claire in the garden this week to thin out fruit on apple and pear trees, support tall vegetables and flowers, and enjoy a little summertime harvest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7:59Budget garden design for tiny plots with Pip Probert
Garden designer Pip Probert shares smart, stylish ways to make small outdoor spaces work harder. From choosing the right amount of paving to adding height, structure and personality, Pip explains how to avoid costly mistakes and create a garden that feels beautifully designed, whatever its size. She offers practical advice on budget-friendly materials, hardworking plants, pots, trees, arches and one-metre growing ideas, plus tips on planning, prioritising and finding inspiration. Whether you have a courtyard, balcony or modest back garden, discover garden design ideas to help every area flourish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
42:06Gardens, landscape and a life in design, with Sarah Eberle
Award-winning garden designer Sarah Eberle reflects on 50 years in horticulture, from a feral childhood in Devon to creating some of the most memorable show gardens at Chelsea. She shares how her design philosophy has evolved, why nature and landscape remain at the heart of her work, and the inspiration behind her latest Chelsea Flower Show garden, On the Edge, which won both a Gold Medal and Garden of the Year. Along the way, Sarah talks climate change, planting with purpose, and why great gardens should offer sanctuary, beauty and a powerful sense of place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:28What To Do Now - Harvest herbs, fuss over fruit, and plan for autumn colour
It's time for Oliver's early July jobs: harvest and preserve herbs at their peak, give your fruit a midsummer boost, and start planning for a garden full of autumn colour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7:33Best plants for dry gardens: on tough, drought-tolerant plants that thrive
RHS Hyde Hall curator Ian Le Gros shares his top plant picks for dry gardens, exposed sites and climate-resilient planting. Discover drought-tolerant favourites including euphorbias, eucalyptus, palms and evergreen shrubs that deliver year-round colour, structure and scent, even in tough conditions. Ian explains how these hardy plants thrive in wind, gravel and free-draining soils, while offering practical gardening advice for creating a beautiful low-maintenance garden. Whether you’re planning a Mediterranean-style border, updating a dry garden or searching for resilient plants that can cope with hotter summers, discover expert inspiration and planting ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26:14Why wildflowers matter: Frances Tophill on gardening for nature
Join Frances Tophill for a joyful celebration of wildflowers, wild gardening and the beauty of so-called weeds. From poppies, cow parsley and bluebells to medicinal plants, folklore and pollinator-friendly planting, Frances explores how wildflowers connect us to nature, memory and the changing seasons. Discover practical tips for growing wildflowers in your garden, supporting bees and butterflies, and creating a more natural, wildlife-friendly space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:45What To Do Now - Heatwave gardening
Hot weather hitting your garden? Here’s how to water smarter, protect pots, rest your lawn, and support wildlife through the heat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8:07Inside Beth Chatto’s garden: drought-proof planting, gravel gardens and climate resilience
From drought-tolerant gravel gardens to wildlife-friendly planting and sustainable new-build landscapes, Beth Chatto CEO Julia Bolton and head gardener Asa Gregers-Warg reveal how the garden continues to evolve in response to climate change, biodiversity loss and modern gardening challenges. Sharing practical ideas for creating resilient, beautiful gardens that work with nature, staying true to Beth Chatto’s pioneering vision, they explain how through observation, experimentation and thoughtful planting can transform the way we garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:43Monty Don’s water-wise gardening guide
From prolonged droughts to repeated flooding, Monty draws on experiences at Longmeadow and shares what he’s learned about water-wise gardening, climate resilience and the surprising ways plants respond to changing conditions. Discover practical advice on mulching, saving rainwater, autumn planting and choosing plants that can better cope with dry summers and wet winters. Monty explains why gardeners are entering a new era of experimentation, observation and adaptation and why understanding water has become one of the most important parts of modern gardening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:06What To Do Now - Propagating herbs, lawn care, and training climbers
Oliver’s mid-June jobs are here! Take softwood herb cuttings, give the lawn a lift, and tie in climbers before they turn into a massive floppy mess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7:39Adam Frost’s favourite herbs: what he grows, cooks and couldn’t garden without
From rosemary, mint and basil to herbal teas and edible flowers, Adam explains how fresh herbs can transform both your garden and your food. He reveals why herbs are the one thing he’d always grow, how he keeps plants productive, and the simple ways he uses homegrown flavours in everyday cooking. Along the way, he shares memories of learning to cook, tips for growing herbs in pots and borders, and why nurturing the soil is the secret to better flavour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22:47Small garden, mighty impact: what you can create in one square metre, with Lucy Chamberlain
Feel inspired to join the magazine’s Make a Metre Matter campaign this year with gardener and author Lucy Chamberlain. Discover practical, wildlife-friendly ways to assess your conditions and choose crops that thrive, and even a tiny growing space can deliver big results. From herbs and salads to containers and one-square-metre ideas, learn how to grow more food, support biodiversity, and cut waste in even the smallest garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:27What To Do Now - Feeding roses, monitoring pests, and creating a wildlife corner
Mid‑June garden glow-up! Feed your roses, outsmart pesky pests, and build a mini wildlife hangout with three quick wins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7:35Roses: how to grow, prune and choose the best varieties, with Liam Beddall
Exploring everything from wild species and wildlife-friendly roses to climbers, ramblers and container growing, Head Rosarian at David Austin Roses, Liam Beddall, shares expert rose-growing advice on how to plant and prune your roses, and choose the best rose for your garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
55:57Go behind the scenes at the National Theatre to visit its rooftop Dye Garden
Explore how plants can be grown and used to create natural dyes for theatrical textiles, the craft and heritage behind indigo dyeing, challenges of achieving consistent colour for stage costumes, with trainee textile artist Lorelle Aboagye and Skills Centre head Simon Stephens. Discover why natural dyes offer a more sustainable alternative to synthetics and beginner-friendly ideas for growing your own dye plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30:23What To Do Now - Spring shrubs, sowing biennials and watering wisely
Prune spring-flowering shrubs with confidence, sow biennials for next year’s colour, and water wisely to keep your garden thriving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8:16Chris Packham on rewilding, wildlife and making a difference
Chris Packham joins the podcast to talk about rewilding, biodiversity and the power of noticing what’s right in front of us. From the wildlife that first captured his imagination to the value of focusing on just one square metre, he shares how small, thoughtful actions can help gardeners create richer habitats at home. Touching on the magazine's Make a Metre Matter campaign, managing garden spaces for wildlife and the joy of paying closer attention, this inspiring conversation confirms how every garden, however small, can play a part in supporting nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:27Productive gardening: grow more food with less work, with Frances Tophill
Grow along with Frances Tophill as she shares practical, time-saving ways to build a more productive garden. Starting with soil and light, choosing “good doer” crops, and using low-maintenance methods like no-dig, perennials, and container growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29:58What To Do Now - Sowing tender veg, deadheading spring blooms, and caring for containers
End‑of‑May gardening tips for sowing tender veg, deadheading spring blooms, and turbo-charging pots and hanging baskets for a riot of summer colour - and a tastier harvest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8:04Lavender to lilies: The best scented plants for summer and night, with Ashley Edwards
Join Gardeners’ World TV presenter Ashley Edwards as he shares the best plants for summer scent. From lavender, rosemary and catmint to roses, jasmine and lilies, you’ll also pick up practical tips on where to plant for maximum fragrance, plus pruning and feeding advice to keep the perfume coming all season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29:49Adam Frost on easy vegetables to grow at home
Grow your own vegetables with Adam Frost as he shares easy veg to grow at home. From quick salad crops and carrots to long-term favourites like asparagus, practical advice on soil, containers, flavour and low-stress gardening. Adam shares his expert vegetable growing tips to help you start a productive veg garden in any space, perfect for beginner gardeners and kitchen garden enthusiasts alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
24:02What To Do Now - Chelsea Chop, earthing up potatoes and planting out sweet peas
The Chelsea Chop explained, plus how to earth up potatoes in bags for bigger harvests and plant out sweet peas for summer fragrance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8:55The MIND Garden: How one Chelsea garden transformed a community
Garden designer Andy Sturgeon and Peer Support Worker Glenn Mahaffy explore how the MIND Garden evolved from a Chelsea Flower Show garden into a thriving community space supporting mental health and nature connection. They also discuss the vital role of Project Giving Back in bringing the garden to life and ensuring its lasting impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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