Master My Garden Podcast

John Jones
  • 5.0 (3)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Master My Garden podcast with John Jones. The gardening podcast that helps you master your own garden. With new episodes weekly packed full of gardening tips, how to garden guides, interviews with gardening experts on many gardening topics and just about anything that will help you in your garden whether you are a new or a seasoned gardener. I hope you enjoy.John

  1. 5D AGO

    EP319- What To Consider When Buying A Greenhouse, Best Type, Where To Position Etc: Choosing The Right Greenhouse For Your Garden

    Thinking about a greenhouse but unsure where to start? We take you through a clear, practical roadmap for choosing a structure that won’t buckle in the first storm and will pay you back with tomatoes, peppers, and salads long after the summer fades. Drawing on listener questions from recent workshops and a lively grow-your-own webinar, we unpack siting, materials, and the small decisions that make a big difference to yield and ease of use. We start with the real gains: longer seasons on both ends of the year, reliable warm conditions for tender crops in the Irish climate, and a daily rhythm that makes fresh herbs an arm’s-length habit. Then we get into the site plan. Keep it close to the kitchen for quick harvests. Prioritise overall sun capture rather than obsessing over a north–south ridge. If your garden is exposed, put shelter first and sun second; a greenhouse that stays put produces more than one that sails away. Clean glazing matters more than you think, and rainwater harvesting is best designed in from day one. Next, we compare greenhouse types without brand hype. Glasshouses win on looks and heat retention, with options for toughened safety glass and long-term durability. Polytunnels deliver the most space per euro and can last many years when frames are strong and covers are tight, but they need proper ventilation. Modern polycarbonate houses—especially twin-wall and storm-ready builds—have proven themselves recently, offering warmth and resilience if assembled with quality fixings. Across all types, the rule holds: buy the best you can afford, secure every panel, and size up because you will fill it. Inside, layout is simple and effective: ground beds on soil for better rooting and easier care, raised beds only if you’re on hardstanding or need extra height for access. Create airflow, plan clear paths, and leave room for a chair. We also share how to manage spring’s wild temperature swings—vent when sunny, protect before cold nights, and ease seedlings into change. By the end, you’ll know where to put your greenhouse, which build suits your site, and which features to lock in from the start. If this guide helped, follow the show, share it with a gardening friend, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Got a greenhouse question we didn’t cover? Send it our way and we’ll tackle it next. Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    36 min

  2. FEB 27

    EP318 - What To Sow In March. Vegetables, Herbs & Flowers. March Seed Sowing Made Simple

    Ready to sow with confidence instead of crossing your fingers? March brings longer days and real momentum, but cold, wet ground can still undo good plans. We break down exactly what to start now under cover, what needs heat, and what should wait a week or two, so you save seed, time, and energy while setting up a strong season. We begin with the crops that make March feel productive fast: salads like spring onions, spinach, radish, and a range of lettuces that thrive in plug trays and tunnels. Then we map out the cool-season backbone of a kitchen garden with brassicas and alliums, from cabbage and cauliflower to onions, shallots, and leeks. Root crops get nuanced advice: early carrots under cover, beetroot for a head start, and a realistic plan for parsnips when soil finally dries. For heat lovers—tomatoes, peppers, and chillies—we explain why steady night temperatures and a basic propagator make the difference between sturdy transplants and setbacks. Herbs bring flexibility, with parsley and coriander on a little-and-often schedule and practical reasons to buy thyme, sage, and rosemary as small plants. We also time peas and broad beans for tidy module-grown transplants that beat slugs and claggy beds. Flowers round out the plan: sweet peas, cosmos, marigolds, lobelia, nasturtiums, and sunflowers for cheerful summer displays, plus summer bulbs and tubers like dahlias and lilies to anchor borders with bold colour. Throughout, we keep one principle front and centre: sow by conditions, not by the month on the packet. Protect tender seedlings, harden off with care, and wait for the soil to say yes. If this guide helps you plan your March, share it with a gardening friend, subscribe for monthly sowing plans, and leave a review to help others find the show. What will you start first under cover this week? Last Chance To Join Tonights Free webinar Friday 27th February 2026 sign up here:  http://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodwebinar Last 4 Places On Grow Your Own Food Workshop Saturday March 21st https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    20 min

  3. FEB 20

    EP317 What Potatoes Should I Plant ? Potatoes For First-Time Growers

    Cold soil, heavy rain, and an eager itch to plant—this is the moment gardeners choose between rushing the season or stacking the odds for a great harvest. We dive into a clear, practical guide to picking potato varieties that fit both your garden and your plate, from fast-maturing salad types to flavour-packed second earlies and reliable main crops for storage. Along the way, we ground every tip in real conditions: soil temperature as your green light, earthing up to beat late frosts, and smart timing to dodge blight season. We start with confidence builders. Charlotte tops the salad list for clean skins, high yields, and a waxy bite that loves vinaigrettes, while Pink Fir Apple and International Kidney add character if you crave variety. First earlies like Duke of York, Red Duke of York, and Sharpe’s Express earn their space by finishing early, freeing beds for summer crops. Vitabella brings a safety net with extra blight resistance, and Alouette offers rare early flouriness if you manage slugs by earthing up. If taste is king, we champion British Queens. Get them into warm soil early and they deliver that floury, comforting texture that makes a simple plate sing. For the long game, we compare main crops: Records for a rich, slightly yellow flesh; King Edward and Maris Piper for classic roast quality; Rooster and Kerr’s Pink for trusted staples. If blight has caught you before, Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Axona are your calm in the storm—vigorous growth, clean foliage, and solid harvests that improve with patient maturity. Threaded through are the small habits that decide big outcomes: planting depth at 10 cm, earthing up in stages, steady moisture during tuber set, and choosing containers when space or soil is against you. We also pause to honour the late Dr Elaine Ingham, whose soil food web work reshaped how many of us see life underfoot. Listen to a great episode of the podcast with Elaine here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/857398/episodes/10640939  We discuss upcoming workshop dates plus a free Grow Your Own Food webinar for those who can’t travel. Sign up to the webinar here http://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodwebinar Ready to pick a winning trio? Try Charlotte for a fast win, British Queens for flavour, and a Sarpo main crop for stress-free storage. If this guide helped, follow, share with a fellow grower, and leave a review to help more gardeners find us. Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    30 min

  4. FEB 13

    EP316 Peat Free Alternatives For Sowing Seed Rethinking Peat In Seed Starting

    Peat built our seed-starting habits because it made life easy: even moisture, airy structure, predictable results. But when carbon-rich bogs and vanishing habitats enter the frame, “easy” stops feeling right. We take a clear-eyed look at what peat-free really means for gardeners in Ireland, the UK, and the US—beyond labels, beyond trends—and ask how to balance strong germination with true environmental sense. We start by mapping the policy shifts and market realities: Ireland still sells mostly peat-based compost; the UK’s retail ban has pushed rapid innovation; the US market offers a mature spread of growing media, from coir and wood fibre to biochar, vermicast, and tailored blends. Then we dig into performance. Peat-free mixes can be excellent but inconsistent, changing with feedstocks and age. Two bags from the same pallet may give different germination and salt levels. We explain why that happens, how peat-free holds water differently, and how to adjust watering and timing to avoid stalled seedlings or damping-off. From there, we get practical. We’re trialling three seed-starting paths this season: a local vermicast blend opened with perlite and a touch of biochar for moisture balance; a highly regarded coir-forward seed mix known for uniform germination; and a very small reserve of peat-based compost used only for sowing. We also share DIY routes: hot-composting followed by a long cure to stabilise the material, blending with sharp sand or perlite, and using inert media like grit plus vermiculite for germination before an early prick-out into a proven mix. Along the way, we question coir’s “green” halo by tracing its journey across oceans and factories—great performance can still carry a heavy footprint if it travels farther than your holidays. If you want reliable seedlings without greenwash, this conversation gives you a framework: use imports sparingly where they truly shine, switch to local bulk mixes for planters and potting on, learn the moisture cues of peat-free, and record what works in your climate. We’d love to hear your winning recipes and failures too. Subscribe, share this with a gardening friend, and leave a review with your go-to seed-starting mix so we can test it next. Join my free Grow Your Own Food Webinar:  http://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodwebinar Last Few Places In Feb Workshop:  https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    44 min

  5. FEB 6

    EP315- 2026 GLDA Conference Preview With Marion & Kinta: The Interconnection Of All Things Starts In Your Garden

    What if your garden could slow a storm, clean a river, and lift your mood in one sweep? We dive into the GLDA’s “The Interconnection of All Things,” a bold, practical look at how plants act as living infrastructure—supporting biodiversity, soaking up floodwater, buffering noise, and restoring our connection to place. We explore how language and myth can sharpen ecological awareness, then shift into concrete strategies designers can use right now. From award‑winning rewilding by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt to Biomatrix Water’s floating gardens that transform hard-edged docks into thriving habitats, the common thread is nature doing the heavy lifting. We unpack urban projects that blend SUDS, habitat corridors, and human access, showing how rain gardens, engineered tree pits, and permeable surfaces turn runoff into a resource. Heritage expert Neil Porteous brings the long view from estates and historic gardens, while the legacy of the late Séamus O’Brien reminds us how deep plant knowledge shapes resilient landscapes. Designer Margie Ruddick connects ecology to culture and community, with case studies from New York to China and Mexico that fuse stormwater design, microclimate, and everyday public life. Expect clear takeaways for small city plots and large sites alike: mix native and adapted plants for function and beauty, design for water first, collaborate with gardeners for long-term care, and treat every garden as part of a wider network from mountain to sea. If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond hard landscaping trends toward spaces that actually heal, this conversation delivers inspiration and tools you can apply this season. You can buy tickets here:  https://glda.ie/ Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a gardener or designer who’s ready to make their patch part of the solution. Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    51 min

  6. JAN 30

    EP314- What Flowers To Sow In February Flowers: For Beautiful Blooms Later In The Year

    Ready to jumpstart a season of colour without babysitting trays for months? We map out a realistic February plan for ornamental flowers, focusing on what to sow now, when to wait, and how to keep seedlings strong with steady heat, bright light, and measured watering. If you’ve ever lost begonias to cold media or watched cosmos turn leggy on a dim windowsill, this guide shows the simple fixes that change the outcome. We break down the crucial differences between edibles and flowers after germination, then list reliable annuals to start toward the end of the month: pansies, violas, begonias, busy Lizzies, calendula, cosmos, nigella, and bellflowers. You’ll learn why begonias and impatiens crave about 20°C, how to pinch cosmos to prevent stretch, and the best way to sow sweet peas using deep root trainers to protect their taproots. Watering strategy gets a clear, practical treatment too: keep compost slightly dry, use bottom watering, and avoid cold, wet mixes that invite damping‑off. Seeds aren’t your only route to blooms. We outline smart alternatives available now, from bare root roses and peonies to agapanthus crowns, plus summer‑flowering bulbs like dahlias, gladioli, lilies, and tuberous begonias. You’ll hear when a potted rose may be worth the extra cost, how long agapanthus can take to flower, and why starting dahlias under cover offers an easy early win. For growers following along since autumn, we also note the timing to pot on perennial seedlings so they hit spring with strong roots. If your space runs cool, we explain why waiting until March or April can actually simplify care and still deliver abundant blooms. The theme is consistent: heat, patience, and timing beat rushing. Subscribe for more practical, no‑nonsense gardening guidance, share this with a friend who’s sowing too early, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What are you starting first this month? Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    16 min

  7. JAN 30

    EP313 What To Sow In February: How To Sow Edibles In February For Continuous Harvests

    Blue skies today, sleet tomorrow—February keeps growers guessing. We lean into that reality with a grounded sowing plan for edibles that starts slow, protects seedlings, and builds momentum toward a season of steady harvests. I break down what to sow, when to start, and how to adapt your timing to your garden’s microclimate so you avoid redoing work when the weather snaps back cold. We begin with reliable early wins: spring onions on a steady rotation, seed-grown onions to reduce bolting, and small batches of hardy salads like spinach, mizuna, and mixed leaves that shrug off a chill under cover. Multi-sowing gets a spotlight too—grouping leeks, beetroot, and spring onions in modules makes transplanting faster and keeps trays tidy. If your household is lukewarm on early brassicas, keep volumes tight and save space for what you’ll actually eat. For a quick flavour lift, start peas for shoots on a windowsill and keep radish on repeat. Heat lovers demand discipline. Peppers, chilies, aubergines, and tomatoes can start mid‑month if—and only if—you can keep temperatures warm and steady. I share why chilies and aubergines need the longest runway, and when it’s smarter to skip them than fight a cool tunnel. We also tackle early tunnel carrots for sweet, small roots, and we unpack the great potato question: chitting helps, but warm soil helps more. Aim for heated ground and simple frost protection rather than chasing a calendar date. There’s more you can do before spring surges: plant bare‑root fruit trees and bushes, set rhubarb and asparagus crowns, and build no‑dig beds while growth is slow. Throughout, I focus on practical sequencing—successional sowing for continuous salads, strategic timings for longer‑hold crops like chard, and a simple framework for deciding what to start now versus what to delay. Subscribe for more monthly sowing guides, share this with a friend who’s itching to start seeds, and leave a review to tell me what you’re sowing first this month. Want to come to my grow your own food workshops book here:  https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    20 min

  8. JAN 23

    EP312 Getting Prepared Before Sowing Seeds Next Month: Seed Readiness, Not Seed Sowing Yet

    Seed success starts long before the first tray is filled. We’re laying down a practical, no‑nonsense prep plan that saves you time, cuts waste, and sets your early crops up for real momentum once daylight returns in mid‑February. From testing old packets on kitchen paper to choosing the right trays and compost, we go deep on the details that quietly deliver stronger seedlings and bigger harvests. We talk through the realities of germination rates, why seed vigour matters even when sprouts appear, and when to be ruthless about binning tired stock. You’ll hear a clear comparison between open pollinated and F1 hybrid seed—where resilience, seed saving, and flavour meet reliability, pest tolerance, and uniformity—so you can choose with intent. On kit, we separate “nice to have” from “need”: rigid seed trays and modules earn their place; heated propagators help with tomatoes and peppers; grow lights are optional if you time sowings for rising natural light. Compost can make or break a sowing day. We weigh up peat’s consistency against peat‑free variability, call out premium peat‑free options that perform, and share a simple DIY seed mix: fine, mature compost or leaf mould for structure, perlite for air, and a light nutrient lift from vermicompost and seaweed. Then it’s technique: dense sowing with gentle pricking out, thinning to the strongest seedling, multi‑sowing spring onions for efficient beds, and watering that keeps media evenly moist without drowning roots. Airflow, patience, and timing bring it all together—wait until mid‑February and you’ll have more light, steadier temperatures, and somewhere sensible to move plants on. Ready to start strong and skip the leggy mistakes? Listen now, get your seed box, trays, and compost lined up, and join us next week for the full February sowing guide. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a grower friend, and leave a quick review to help more gardeners find us. Why not come along to my Grow your own workshops where you will learn all about seed sowing and growing your own food.  https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop Support the show If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

    41 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Master My Garden podcast with John Jones. The gardening podcast that helps you master your own garden. With new episodes weekly packed full of gardening tips, how to garden guides, interviews with gardening experts on many gardening topics and just about anything that will help you in your garden whether you are a new or a seasoned gardener. I hope you enjoy.John

Information

  • Creator
    John Jones
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    319
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Master My Garden Podcast
  • Show Website
    Master My Garden Podcast

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