Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Sarah Wilson
  • 4.8 (52)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Do you want to know how to grow plants and get the best out of your outdoor space? Do you find traditional gardening media baffling and/or boring? Then you're in the right place, because the Roots and All podcast is here to dig deep into how to create a successful garden. If you want honest information and insider knowledge about how to get results, join irreverent horticulturist Sarah Wilson as she chats to the best people from the world of plants and gardens. Sarah is on a mission to help you create your own beautiful green environment, with a focus on saving resources and working with nature. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode.

  1. Episode 380: Following a Drop of Water

    1D AGO

    Episode 380: Following a Drop of Water

    This week, we dive into the hidden world of water with author Stephen Rutt, exploring the landscapes we so often overlook. From chalk streams to peat bogs, we trace water's strange and vital journey through our environment—and why it deserves far more of our attention. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Yellow-Legged Mining Bee Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout.  Links The Waterlands - Stephen Rutt Stephen Rutt on Instagram https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Stephen, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 352: Peat, Politics and Horticulture In this episode, Sarah explores the importance of peatlands, from their role in carbon storage to their impact on water systems, making it a natural companion to today's conversation about wetlands and the movement of water through the landscape. Episode 322: Garden Wildlife Ponds This episode looks at how introducing water into the garden can support biodiversity, offering practical insights into creating and maintaining ponds — an ideal follow-on from today's discussion on the value of water in both wild and cultivated spaces.

    37 min
  2. You Might Also Like: The Run-Through with Vogue

    1D AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: The Run-Through with Vogue

    Introducing Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour Are Vogue’s May Cover Stars! | PLUS Rachel Comey Celebrates 25 Years from The Run-Through with Vogue. Follow the show: The Run-Through with Vogue For the first time, Anna Wintour graces Vogue's cover alongside Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep)! On the cover the two devils are wearing two pradas! On this episode of The Run-Through, Chloe invites Virginia Smith (Vogue's Director of Global Fashion Network) to breakdown how this historic cover came to be and what goes behind making a top secret cover happen. You'll also hear snippets from Greta Gerwig's cover conversation with the two women where they discuss aging, grandmotherhood, and what part of each other's job they would dread the most! Earlier in the episode, Rachel Comey speaks to Nicole Phelps about her unconventional origin story, how she funded her early production, and the upcoming opening of her Christopher Street store. She also discusses about how she managed to stay independent and find her own audience, which has come to include writers, directors, and artists like Zadie Smith and Miranda July. On her design process, Comey says, “I really think about design as a service to the client and making sure that they're feeling the things they want to feel in the rooms that they want to go into.”As fashion increasingly catches up to the inclusive casting Comey has long practiced, she plans to keep doing things her own way. The Run-Through with Vogue is your go-to podcast where fashion meets culture. Hosted by Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.; Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue; and Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, each episode features the latest fashion news and exclusive designer and celebrity interviews. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Episode 379: Pam Lewis: Ahead of the Curve

    APR 6

    Episode 379: Pam Lewis: Ahead of the Curve

    Horticultural legend Pam Lewis began her garden at Sticky Wicket in Dorset decades ago, and revisiting her early writing shows just how ahead of the curve—and fearless—she was in championing wildlife-friendly, sustainable gardening. We sat down to reflect on her years in the garden and how the horticultural world has changed along the way. Benny's Insect of the Week: Asiraca clavicornis Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout.  Books Sticky Wicket: Gardening in Tune With Nature - Pam Lewis, 2007 Making a Wildflower Meadow - Pam Lewis, 2015 Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Pam, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 194: Gardening for Wildlife In this episode, Sarah explores how gardeners can better support biodiversity, sharing practical ways to create spaces that welcome and sustain wildlife — making it a natural companion to today's conversation about gardening in harmony with nature. Episode 285: No Mow May This episode looks at the impact of letting lawns grow wild through May, highlighting how small changes in garden management can have big benefits for pollinators and biodiversity — an ideal follow-on from today's discussion on working with, rather than against, the natural world.

    37 min
  4. Episode 378: Growing a Sustainable Nursery

    MAR 30

    Episode 378: Growing a Sustainable Nursery

    What does it really take to run a small, sustainable nursery? This week on Roots and All, I'm joined by nurseryman and designer Ben Preston of Cliff Bank Nursery for an honest conversation about the realities of the job—from growing in sand and selling bare root plants to why local nurseries matter more than ever, and why it's truly a labour of love. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Orange Ladybird Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout.  Links Cliff Bank Nursery Instagram: @cliff_bank_nursery Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Ben, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 284: The Organic Nursery In this episode, Sarah speaks with Sam Frings about building and running an organic nursery, exploring the challenges of growing plants sustainably, maintaining ethical practices, and creating a resilient small business — making it a perfect companion to today's discussion on the realities of nursery life. Episode 175: Seeking Rare Plants Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants joins Sarah to share his passion for unusual and hard-to-find plants, discussing plant sourcing, selection, and what it takes to run a specialist nursery — an ideal follow-on from today's conversation about plant choice, diversity, and the role of small growers.

    35 min
  5. Episode 377: Britain's Hidden Psychedelic History

    MAR 23

    Episode 377: Britain's Hidden Psychedelic History

    What if Britain's fields were hiding a secret psychedelic past in plain sight? In this episode of Roots and All, I'm joined by historian and publisher Robert Dickins to explore the surprising story of our native mushrooms—from how they grow to the cultural and legal forces that have shaped our relationship with them. It's a fascinating glimpse into a little-known side of Britain's natural and social history. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Orange Ladybird Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk and get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout.  Links Psilocybe Pickers by Robert Dickins - Psychedelic Press, 2025 About: Robert Dickins, PhD, is a historian and publisher, whose works examines the social and literary history of psychoactive substances and altered states of experience. He is the author of Cobweb of Trips: A Literary History of Psychedelics (2024) and Psilocybe Pickers: A Short History of Bemushroomed Britons (2025), and is currently researching the connection between tripping and gardens for a forthcoming project. He is on the steering committee for Breaking Convention, Europe's largest psychedelic conference, and has been publishing in the psychedelic space for almost 20 years. He lives in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire. Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Robert, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 371: Wild Edibles In this episode, Sarah explores the world of foraging and our relationship with wild food — from what's safe and sustainable to pick, to the deeper cultural connections we have with the plants and fungi around us, making it a perfect companion to today's discussion of Britain's overlooked natural history. Episode 136: In Search of Mycotopia with Doug Bierend Doug Bierend joins Sarah to delve into the rich cultural and historical world of fungi, exploring how mushrooms have shaped human societies and imaginations — an ideal follow-on from today's episode on the hidden stories and significance of psychedelic species.

    27 min
  6. Episode 376: From Rewilding to Renaturing

    MAR 16

    Episode 376: From Rewilding to Renaturing

    Small spaces, big wildlife. Writer James Canton joins me to discuss his book Renaturing and his two-acre North Essex project, showing how subtle, thoughtful interventions can revive biodiversity — a great companion episode to Randal Plunkett's conversation about large-scale "V-wilding." Benny's Insect of the Week: European Orchard Bee Links www.essex.ac.uk Renaturing: Small Ways to Wild the World by James Canton Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with James, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 373: V‑Wilding with Randal Plunkett Randal Plunkett joins Sarah to explore his large‑scale "V‑wilding" project at Dunsany Nature Reserve, where a hands‑off approach lets ecosystems recover and challenges mainstream ideas about restoration — a great complement to today's discussion on working with nature at different scales. Episode 322: Garden Wildlife Ponds with Pete Case Freshwater Habitats Trust expert Pete Case dives into the world of garden ponds — why they matter for wildlife, how to create and maintain them, and how even modest water features can support biodiversity, making this a practical and inspiring complement to today's episode about working with the land you have.

    37 min
  7. Episode 375: Growing with Cloches

    MAR 9

    Episode 375: Growing with Cloches

    https://rootsandall.co.uk/podcast/episode‑193‑growing‑under‑protection/In this episode, I'm joined by Beth Gregg, founder of Claverton Cloches, who's on a mission to revive the beauty and practicality of Victorian cloche gardening. We talk about cloches of all shapes, sizes, and materials, how they can extend the growing season and protect crops, and explore the history, design, and sustainability behind them — and why sometimes the smallest structures can make the biggest difference in the garden. Benny's Insect of the Week: Daffodil Dung Fly About Beth Gregg is a passionate advocate of cloche gardening and the founder of Claverton Cloches. Her love affair with the romance of the English garden, particularly the ingenuity of historic kitchen gardens, led her to explore the power of the humble cloche as both a practical and beautiful growing tool. In her own garden, Beth uses cloches extensively to extend the seasons and create microclimates. She ripens chillies and tender crops outdoors in lieu of a greenhouse, overwinters flowers for early cutting in late spring, and protects delicate young plants from frost, wind and hungry garden visitors. For her, cloches are not ornamental extras, but transformative tools - simple structures that can dramatically improve yield, resilience and timing in the garden. Inspired by antique Victorian designs, she went on to found Claverton Cloches in 2020, reviving traditional cast-iron and glass forms for modern gardeners who value both beauty and productivity. Her work celebrates the quiet practicality of historic garden craft, and the idea that functional objects in the garden can, and should, be deeply beautiful. You can explore Claverton Cloches at www.clavertoncloches.com Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Beth you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 142: Growing Under Cover with Niki Jabbour Canadian gardener and author Niki Jabbour joins Sarah to share her deep‑dive wisdom on using crop covers, season‑extending techniques and protected structures to grow productive, weather‑resilient vegetable gardens — even in challenging climates. From practical crop‑cover strategies to prolonging your growing year, this episode is full of hands‑on insight for gardeners looking to get more from their space.  Episode 193: Growing Under Protection Horticultural expert Guy Deakins joins Sarah to explore what "protected growing" really means — how to create successful micro‑climates in the garden, the benefits and pitfalls of sheltered environments, and how protection can boost plant health and productivity. It's a thoughtful complement to our discussion about cloches and ways of supporting plants through design and environment.

    27 min
  8. Episode 374: Smarter Tomato Growing

    MAR 2

    Episode 374: Smarter Tomato Growing

    Tomatoes might be the gateway drug to vegetable gardening — but are we making life harder than it needs to be? In this episode of Roots and All, I'm joined by Frank Hyman to talk about the origins of the tomato, why it struggles in our wet climates, and how small shifts in the way we grow can make a huge difference. From myth-busting pruning advice to clever ways of keeping plants dry and productive, this is a practical, good-humoured deep dive into growing better tomatoes. Benny's Insect of the Week: Hairy-footed Flower Bee Links Ripe Tomato Revolution: Planting and Growing Every Type of Tomato - Beefsteaks, Cherries, Plums, Dwarfs, and Heirlooms by Frank Hyman Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Frank you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 142: Growing Under Cover with Niki Jabbour Canadian gardener and author Niki Jabbour joins Sarah to share her deep‑dive wisdom on using crop covers, season‑extending techniques and protected structures to grow productive, weather‑resilient vegetable gardens — even in challenging climates. From practical crop‑cover strategies to prolonging your growing year, this episode is full of hands‑on insight for gardeners looking to get more from their space. Episode 324: Kitchen Garden Living with Bailey Van Tassel Bailey Van Tassel joins Sarah to discuss cultivating a thriving kitchen garden, exploring seasonal growing practices, companion planting and strategies for turning a small space into a productive, food-focused garden. This conversation complements Frank's tomato insights, offering practical tips and inspiration for anyone looking to grow vegetables beautifully and successfully.

    35 min
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4.8
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

Do you want to know how to grow plants and get the best out of your outdoor space? Do you find traditional gardening media baffling and/or boring? Then you're in the right place, because the Roots and All podcast is here to dig deep into how to create a successful garden. If you want honest information and insider knowledge about how to get results, join irreverent horticulturist Sarah Wilson as she chats to the best people from the world of plants and gardens. Sarah is on a mission to help you create your own beautiful green environment, with a focus on saving resources and working with nature. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode.

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