Dig It - Discussions on Gardening Topics

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 & Features
Kew 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 Kanellos
Join 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.


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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 days
Potato Day and Green Fair, Border Events Centre, Kelso
Alpine Society Spring Show, Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough. LE12 8JU
South Molton Panier Market Plant Fair, South Molton Pannier Market, Broad Street, South Molton EX36 3AB
Plant 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 7EQ
Rare Plant Fayre, The Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD
In the News
Barcham 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 planting
We 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 podcast
Music kindly provided by Chiltern Music Therapy
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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.
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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 Raspberries
David 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.
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Events :
Great Comp Snowdrop and Plant Fair Comp Lane, Platt, Nr Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8QS
Tel: 01732 885094
The Alpine Garden Society Plant Show and sale, Pershore High School, Pershore
PERSHORE HIGH SCHOOL, STATION ROAD, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE, WR10 2BX
Shepton Snowdrop Festival Plant Sale and Seed Swap
St Paul's School Hall, Paul Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5LA
Kingston Bagpuize Snowdrop Fair
Kingston Bagpuize House, Kingston Bagpuize, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 5AX
Preston Potato Day
Brighter Blooms, Walton Flats Nursery, Gillibrand Street, Walton-le-Dale, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 4AX.
Frome Seed Swap and Potato Day
The Cheese and Grain Building, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1BE.
Nowich Seed Swap and Plant Fair
St 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.
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