In this week's episode of the Mike the Gardner - Gardening Podcast I chat with garden writer, podcaster, gardener and author, Lucy Chamberlain.

Lucy's new book, 'Grow Food Anywhere' - published by DK Books and the RHS is out now.

We chat about:

• Her new book & how it came about
• How Lucy writes
• Her career in gardening and garden media
• Her own garden, and, of course lots more

You can follow Lucy on her instagram account by clicking here.

Listen to Lucy & Saul on their Talking Heads podcast by clicking here

You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here.

Thanks so much for listeningDon't forget to follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss future episodes

See you very soon.

Mike

In this episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with Josie Lewis, the Head Gardener at Sarah Raven’s garden, Perch Hill in East Sussex.

We chat about:

• Josie’s career to date
• How she became Head Gardener at Perch Hill
• Her role and responsibilities
• The split between admin and gardening 
• Dahlias, of course, including selection and trialling
• And much more

To learn more about Sarah Raven, click this link

To follow Josie Lewis on Instagram, click this link

To follow me on Instagram, click this link

Thanks for listening and don’t forget to follow and subscribe, and if you’re able please leave a review. 

Thank you. 

Mike

In this weeks, episode of the Mike The Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat to Lucy Butler (@mindful.gardener) from Instagram.

Lucy lives with depression, anxiety and low self esteem, but gardening has been her saviour since her late teens.

We chat about:

• Lucy's journey and how living with depression impacts her life
• How gardening has helped Lucy
• Smiling depression
• Lucy's plans for the future

You can follow Lucy on her Instagram account by clicking here. Thank you for listening and don't forget to follow and subscribe

Mike

Hello, and welcome to the Mike the Gardener – Gardening Podcast. This week, join us as we journey to Burford Garden Company in the stunning Cotswolds, to look at, and buy spring bulbs, and lots, lots more.

We have a good look around, enjoying the houseplants, the outdoor garden centre, and the spring bulbs.

My thanks to Jess and all at Burford Garden Company for allowing us to record this episode.

And I'll be back next week.

Thanks for listening.

Mike

Hello and welcome back to the Mike, the Gardener – Gardening Podcast.

This time, in a spring bulbs special episode, I chat with Otis the Gardener about:

• Our favourite spring bulbs
• What we've ordered
• Where we're going to plant them
• What compost to use,
• Lasagna planting
• Snowdrops & scillas, and everything you could possibly imagine you need to know about spring bulbs

It's a fascinating and informative episode, so pop the kettle on, pull up a chair, and treat yourself to half an hour of great gardening facts and fun.

See you next time.

Mike

In this episode, we go back to Otis and Ben's allotment to talk about:

• How the weather has impacted growing this year
• What crops they've grown, what has done well, and not, and why
• Things they've learnt after three years of growing on the allotment
• Some useful and helpful hints, tips and hacks

You can follow me and Otis on Instagram by clicking the following links:

⁠Mike⁠

⁠Otis⁠

We will be back again soon to discuss spring flowering bulbs, so do stay tuned.

Don't forget to follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss any episodes.

Thank you.

Mike

Join me in the second episode of Series 8, when I share what I'm doing here in my own garden on the south coast of the UK.

I talk about:

• What plants I'm growing including tithonia, and ornamental grasses
• How to care for hostas
• Overwintering hardy and Abyssinian bananas
• How to plant a garden effectively
• Lots of gardening hints, tips and hacks

If you have any gardening related questions, do contact me via my Instagram account - click here

Thanks for listening and don't forget to follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss any future episodes.

Thank you.

Mike

In this episode I head to the nursery of Sienna Hosta to chat about:

How to get the very best from your hostas

How to win the war with slugs & snails

Sienna Hosta's incredible success at nationwide flower shows and their exciting plans for Chelsea 2025, and of course lots more.

To find out more and see the incredible range of hostas available to buy, head to the Sienna Hosta website www.siennahosta.co.uk.

Don't forget to followed subscribe, and, if you're able please do leave a review.

See you shortly for Episode 2!

Mike

Welcome to this Chelsea Flower Show special addition with fantastic contributions from:

• TV presenters Gaby Roslin & Ben Thompson
• Garden designer Jo Thompson
• Garden writer Arthur Parkinson
• Michael Marriott & Rosie Irving
• Naomi Slade and daughter Holly
• She Grows Veg
• Kim Stoddart & Ruth Hayes
• Sienna Hosta
• Harespring Cottage Flowers
• Adam Kirtland
• Kelly Stone
• Tom Coleman
• Alice Hare, and
• Susie White

It's a fascinating episode, as always, which sees me snooping around the Chelsea Flower Show on press day. Thanks for listening and watch out for series 8 coming soon! Mike

In this week's episode I chat with writer, author and owner of Bressingham Gardens, Adrian Bloom. We talk about: The beautiful gardens at Bressingham. Adrian's career, to date The creation of Foggy Bottom His new book, Foggy Bottom - A Garden to Share Photography, plants, and lots, lots more To order Adrian's new book, Foggy Bottom - A Garden to Share, click here. To learn more about Bressingham, click here. To learn more about Foggy Botton garden, click here. To follow me on my Instagram account click here. As always, my thanks to you for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you are able. Thank you. Mike

In this week's episode, I chat with garden writer and author, climate change expert and editor of Amateur Gardening magazine, Kim Stoddart.

We chat about:

• Kim's excellent new book, 'The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden', published by Cool Springs Press.
• Resilience
• The importance of connecting with nature
• Wellbeing
• Emotional regulation
• Nutrient density, and, of course, lots more

To learn more about Kim head to her website by clicking here, or to her Instagram account by clicking here.

You can learn more about me by heading to my Instagram account bye clicking here, or have a read of my writing on Substack by clicking here.

Thanks to you all for listening and please don't forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you are able.

I'll see you next week.

Mike

In this week's, episode, I head back to the Cotswolds for what is fast, becoming my annual get together with garden writer, Val Bourne.

The weather, not on our side, this time, meant we had to record this episode in the lounge of Val's beautiful cottage.

We chat about:

• Writing for a living
• Val's pretty cottage garden
• Erythroniums
• Dahlias
• Ed Sheeran (!), and,
• Lots more as always

Please don't forget to follow/subscribe as there are more episodes to come. And please do leave a review if you are able.

To follow me on my Instagram account tap here.

See you next week.

Mike

In this week's, episode of the Mike The Gardener – Gardening Podcast, I chat to my friend and one time tutor, garden writer, broadcaster, and author, David Hurrion.

 

Twenty years ago, I was lucky enough to have had David as the tutor of my RHS level 1 course. As you will hear in today’s episode, David’s vocation has been to share his vast knowledge of all things, plants, gardening and horticulture with others. He’s also been a journalist, writer and editor, working for publications, including Amateur Gardening magazine and Gardeners’ World magazine.

 

David’s new book The Raised Bed Book, has recently been published by DK books, and in today’s episode we chat about:

 

• David’s new book and how it came about
• David’s career to date
• The importance of inspirational teachers/tutors
• Broadcasting on radio and television, and lots lots more

My thanks to David for joining me in today’s episode, and to find out more about him or to order the book, please click here.

 

You can find out more about me and follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here.

 

Thanks for listening, and please don’t forget to follow/subscribe, and if you are able, please do leave a review.

 

See you next week.

 

Mike

In this week’s episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with garden writer, veg grower and author, Rob Smith. 

Rob’s new book ‘Grow to Eat: Growing Colourful & Tasty Vegetables From Seed’ is published by Quadrille Publishing on 28th March, 2024 and in this episode we chat about:

• How Rob’s passion for growing veg started
• His career to date
• How the book came about
• The BBC TV programme, The Great Allotment Challenge, which Rob won in 2015
• Rob’s plans for the future, and of course lots more. 

We also speak to Rob’s friend, gardener, maker, upcycler and lover of all things vintage, Darren Lakin. 

It’s a great episode and my thanks to Rob, and Darren for coming along to have a chat with us. 

You can learn more about about Rob by clicking here.

You can learn more about Darren by clicking here.

And, you can learn more about me by clicking here. 

Please don’t forget to follow/subscribe and please leave a review if you’re able. 

Thanks for listening. 

Mike

In this week's episode of the Mike the Gardener - Gardening Podcast, I chat with award-winning garden designer, Manoj Malde.

We chat about his new book 'Your Outdoor Room' published by Frances Lincoln on 21 March 2024.

We chat about:

• His childhood
• His career in the fashion industry
• The book and how it came about
• Manoj's Chelsea Flower Show Gardens
• His TV work, and lots more

You can find out more about Manoj by clicking here and follow him on Instagram by clicking here

You can follow me on my Instagram account by clicking here.

Please don't forget to follow/subscribe and leave a review if you can.

See you next week.

Mike