Dig It

Dig It

David Thomas and Peter Brown from Buckingham Garden Centre talk about their gardening experiences, what to do in the garden, seasonal gardening advice and interviews with horticultural experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2D AGO

    Its time to get sowing

    Pumpkin Beth – Plant Fairs and seed swaps we found this page on Beth’s website that has masses of places to visit, seed swaps, open gardens. The website also has lots of interesting articles and news. Grantham Garden Centre reopens its doors with it’s new name and having undergone lots of work. River View at Goldings in the Clyde valley also opened its doors on Good Friday. Oakwood Clydedales have been out working in some of London’s Parks, they are out cutting the meadows and harrowing which creates less soil compaction and is better for the environment. Respyre is a Dutch company that has a new environmentally friendlier type of concrete Façade and Roofing product that allows moss to grow on it’s surface helping absorb moisture and lower noise levels in urban areas. Ames group which was Apta, La Hacienda, Artivesi, Kelkay and closed as the American company that owned them put the company into administration so if you need any items from any of these companies get them soon before they disappear from the market. Flymo have released a cordless battery powered mower. Peter has sown some 8 Ball courgettes, David likes the fact that courgettes grow quickly and produce masses of lovely tasting produce. It is also the time of year to plant lots of other vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins, and winter squashes to name a few. Be careful of frosts as lots of vegetables will struggle to cope if they get frosted and also try and keep the slugs away as well. The Garden Centre has a great range of seeds from Mr Fothergills and Franchi. David points out that seedlings must be handled very delicately when pricking out. Rhubarb is sprouting and it’s a great time to plant strawberries. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  2. APR 7

    Magnolias are in flower so Spring 26 is here

    Time to feed your Daffodils as the bulbs have put a lot of energy into flowering and as the flowers are dying off you can give them some foliar feed to help them put more energy into the bulb for another good show next year. It is also worth deadheading them after flowering but leave the rest of the foliage for at least 6 to 8 weeks after flowering before cutting down. It’s time to plant Onions and Shallots, David grows both, sets are quicker so if you haven’t planted any yet it’s probably best to sow sets now. Peter Likes Silverskin Onions but hasn’t grown them yet and Onions are a great way to keep cats off your vegetable patch as cats don’t like the smell of them. If they go to seed either chop the flower heads off early or do as David does and leave them for the bees as they love Onion flowers. Time to get your Sweet Peppers in as they take a while to set fruit, but keep them warm and frost free as they don’t like the cold. Peter loves Padron Peppers so he will be planting his this week. We also need to plant our Globe Artichokes now, a large plant so perfect for people who have lots of space. They make a good plant for the border if you like a nice architectural plant. If you are planting Asparagus crowns early spring is a good time to get them in. They do take a few years to establish before you can crop them but they can live a long time, 15 to 20 years. David shares a new idea for recycling and what he uses to germinate his seeds in. At the Garden Centre we sell Fibrepots which are another great product that you can plant your young plants out in without disturbing the roots. Newspaper pots are another option for those that like to recycle. To plant your seeds in we recommend getting new seed compost each year, to improve drainage you can add Perlite and check the date of the seed as some seeds go off after a couple of years and germination levels drop. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  3. MAR 3

    The growing season is about to begin

    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.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

David Thomas and Peter Brown from Buckingham Garden Centre talk about their gardening experiences, what to do in the garden, seasonal gardening advice and interviews with horticultural experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You Might Also Like