At the beginning of our third season, we just wanted to take the time to reintroduce ourselves at your hosts. In our second-ever episode, Kate spoke very honestly about her journey and we wanted to update that story, almost two years later. We talk about feeding carnivorous plants with spaghetti and the realities of dealing with a chronic illness while having fun growing things. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefit...

When we began our podcast in Autumn 2023, we were both in a very different place, both professionally and personally. We wanted to re-introduce ourselves at the beginning of our third season. You are going to be listening to our voices a lot over the next year as we bring you monthly gardening advice and some amazing guests and we wanted to take this opportunity to re-introduce ourselves to you. Here is Andy's story 2.0. He talks about the journey to running a horticultura...

Join us as we discuss the gardening jobs you can be busy doing in the month of August, as you juggle childcare, warm weather, mildew and Andy's singing halfway through this episode. Enjoy. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to order your own tunnel. If you would like honest advice befor...

Join us as we mark the beginning of the third season of the Growing Up Podcast. We look back at the incredible support that we've received for this slightly irreverent gardening chat and look forward to what we have lined up for you in season three. Oh, Andy also asks Kate what she would buy from the Garden Centre with one million pounds to spend. Serious gardening journalism at it's finest. Thank you so much for listening guys. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the...

Andy has been so excited to record this episode. For a number of years we have become aware of the phenomenon of the 'second herb season' a time from mid to late summer when herbs once again become front and centre - filling gaps in our growing spaces and offering hardy alternative planting options as we begin to plan towards colder weather. What is the second herb season? And why does it matter? Enjoy this episode, guys. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tu...

July is a firework display in the garden, it's beautiful chaos in which the energy of growth is so beautiful, obvious and frenetic. But amidst the joyful chaos of July there are so many jobs that you can do to really enhance your growth during the month of July and beyond. Join Andy and Kate for a fun, chilled-out chat about the July garden, slugs the size of cats, the joy of dead-heading and a little Jane Austen. Enjoy. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First...

In this episode, you find Andy and Kate dealing with the realities of growing in a heatwave. We took shelter in the podcast studio to share some heatwave gardening tips, to share the reality of working outside during high temperatures. But perhaps more importantly, we look forward to the second half of 2025. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of t...

In this episode we reflect on a week spent at Gardeners World LIVE. Kate talks to a really inspirational lady who has built a beautiful show garden to be incredibly proud of - Jan of @theflowermummysgarden This chat went quite deep and we would love to hear your thoughts about show gardens and the role they play in inspiring and the effect they can have on us. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing ...

Summer is a special time in the herb garden. Join us as we dive deep into practical tips and tricks, herbs that you can grow and just how you can get the best from your summer herb garden. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to order your own tunnel. If you would like honest advice b...

Why can't we just grow English Mint? Why shouldn't you plant mint plants together and why doesn't Andy talk about his front garden food growing project any more? We answer all of YOUR questions. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to order your own tunnel. If you would like hon...

In a surprisingly 'horticultural' episode Andy and Kate talk through the most important gardening jobs for June, in the flower garden, kitchen garden and in the greenhouse. Enjoy this episode and enjoy June guys. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to order your own tunnel. If you would ...

In this very raw, personal episode we talk about the very real well-being benefits that growing things can bring. This is a subject that is often talked about in a very abstract way, so much so that there is a risk of this becoming a cliche, something that we take for granted or even worse dismiss as 'virtue signalling'. We talk about real stories of hope that stem from the joy of growing. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers i...

This week Andy and Kate chat about the hard realities but inspirational pay off of working in production horticulture and the inherent strangeness of the acceleration of growth in spring. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to order your own tunnel. If you would like honest advice before m...

We chat about just how important it is to keep sowing seeds during the month of May, what we are most excited about sowing in our own growing spaces and how Andy sometimes gives the impression he doesn't want to make money from selling herb plants. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to or...

We have a big list of gardening jobs that need to be done during the month of May, but Andy and Kate decided to sit down, have a cup of tea and discuss them on this weeks' podcast episode before doing any of the hard work! Join us for this fun, light-hearted chat as we chat about the jobs to be done during the month of May. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the q...

In this episode, we sit down with Dan, friend of the podcast and Head Gardner of Winterbourne House and Gardens to delve once again into the wonderful world of trees, where we talk about how tree scapes and woodlands were created in Victorian and Edwardian periods and how they are managed in public gardens such as Winterbourne. We also find out Dan's top four favourite trees, which you can come and visit! Grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsor...

In this episode, we travel back in time to talk about the gardening and growing adventures of the Vikings. The Viking era was a fascinating one and Andy really wanted to talk about what the Vikings grew, how growing informed and changed their society but most importantly - asking what did the Vikings eat to make them so crazy when they went into battle. Grab a cup of mead and jump on board the long boat. We are sailing towards the Viking Era. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sp...

This week Kate talks through gardening jobs for the month of April. This is such a month of contrasts and notoriously difficult to predict. But there are SO many exciting things to do in the April Garden. Stay tuned for the surprise appearance of a magpie mid-recording. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels s...

This week we introduce the idea of 'blank slate gardening' and explain why it's so important to always have a beginner mentality when it comes to gardening. Are you intrigued? Grab yourself a drink and prepare to dig up part of your garden. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels supply. Check out the link below to ord...

This week, join us for a ramble as we visit the local garden centre for breakfast and a few plant purchases. We talk about the simple pleasure of a visit to the local garden centre, the joy of browsing plants and the challenges that come with running a garden centre in 2025. The Growing Up Podcast is proudly sponsored by the amazing First Tunnels. We are big believers in the benefits of growing in a polytunnel and genuinely believe in the quality of the products that First Tunnels ...