Tales From The Potting Bench

Adam Kirtland
  • 4.9 (9)
  • HOME & GARDEN

A weekly ramble with the most diverse folk from our world of green fingers, green thumbs and dirty knees. Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, herbs and more - it’s bound to be covered. On your commute, or in the garden of your choosing - we’ll be here to keep your ears busy.

  1. 1D AGO

    Questions From The Potting Bench - Episode 1

    ❓Have you got a burning garden question? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. ❓ In this season I'm spicing things up a bit by alternating between guests and then answering the garden questions that are keeping you awake at night! And in this week's episode we're tackling an over excited dog, crab apples and citrus overwintering... If you're thinking about how to look after your oranges, lemons and limes right now then Westland have a full range of solutions to help you! Including specially formulated citrus feed, giving you the best foliage and fruits, to their Citrus Potting Mix, perfectly blended for potting or re-potting citrus plants. There's even a fantastic guide on the Westland website with tonnes of handy hints on growing the perfect citrus trees. Just search for ‘How To Grow Citrus Trees’ on gardenhealth.com, now ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    17 min

  2. MAR 1

    Steph Hafferty - The Productive Garden

    ❓Do you wish your garden was....more productive? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. 🌱 In this week's episode I'm in conversation with one of my foremost authorities on grow your own and someone who I turn to regularly for advice; writer, speaker and growing expert, Stephanie Hafferty! Steph has so much knowledge to share with us in this episode, and we talk about her brand-new book too - which you won't want to miss! To see more of Steph, head over and follow her on Instagram now, where you'll find her as @stephaniehafferty Steph's new book The Productive Garden is out at the end of March and you can pre-order it now from the link here. If your goal this year is to grow more of your own food then you’ll want to give Westland’s Raised Bed & Vegetable Soil a try! This mix is the perfect foundation for growing vegetable - a rich, fertile planting soil with a perfect nutrient mix for both root and leafy crops and the optimum structure for root development. See gardenhealth.com now for more information and available stockists near you. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    26 min

  3. 12/07/2025

    Katy Watson - From Opera to Plants

    ❓Do you ever dream of changing careers towards gardening...? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. 🌱 In this week's episode I'm in conversation with someone who decided that their old career was a thing of the past, before switching to a life with plants! Katy Watson, is a gardener and avid plantswoman who opted to switch opera gowns for muddy boots, to get closer to the thing she loves most - the garden! We discuss that shift, what it is that really drives Katy's passion for plants and so much more - enjoy! To see more of Katy, head over and follow her on Instagram now, where you'll find her as @katy_in_the_garden If you'd like to give your plants some oomph then try Westland’s Boost All Purpose Multi-Action Granules! They offer a 4x multi-action formula that supports your plants at every stage of growth. These nutrient-packed granules strengthen roots, promote greener foliage, and provide up to 6 months of slow-release feeding to enhance overall plant health. With its high potassium content, you’ll enjoy more blooms, fruits, and vegetables throughout the growing season. See gardenhealth.com now for more information and available stockists near you. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    33 min

  4. 11/23/2025

    Questions From The Potting Bench - Episode 5

    ❓Have you got a burning garden question? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. ❓ In this season I'm spicing things up a bit by alternating between guests and then answering the garden questions that are keeping you awake at night! And in this week's episode we're tackling cat poo problems, fussy figs, hot borders and so much more! And, if you're busy planting up your bulbs right now then you’ll want to try Westland’s Potting Grit, which is perfect for loosening up your compost when planting bulbs! Westland Potting Grit is ideal for mixing with compost to provide extra drainage and open up the compost structure. It’s also great for creating a decorative finish on pots, containers, rockeries, ponds, aquariums and alpine plantings. Westland Potting Grit has been specially sourced and washed to produce a carefully graded, lime-free grit 4-7mm in size, making it perfect for a number of uses around the garden and greenhouse. Make sure to check out ⁠⁠gardenhealth.com⁠⁠ now, for more. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    17 min

  5. 11/16/2025

    James and Joe - The Best Garden Biscuits!

    ❓Do you have a favourite biscuit...?? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. 🌱 In this week’s episode I'm talking to garden designers, presenters, writers and fellow podcast hosts; James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift! James and Joe are hosts of the wonderful podcast and the aptly named, James and Joe Garden Show - an often hilarious chat with two friends all centred around the gardening world, but it does often venture to other things too! In this episode we talk about all of that, as well as the ultimate gardening biscuits...enjoy! James and Joe are both over on Instagram sharing the world through their eyes and you can find the links to their pages below, as well as the page to their podcast too! 🌱James' Instagram 🪴Joe's Instagram 🌿James and Joe Garden Show Instagram Right now is the perfect time to think about working on the health of the soil in your garden and what better way than to use Westland’s very own Soil Improver. Westland Soil Improver is the perfect blend of manures and bark to revitalise your garden soil. This enriched mix enhances soil structure, fertility, and drainage, creating a solid foundation for healthy, vibrant plants. See gardenhealth.com now for more information and available stockists near you. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 3m

  6. 11/02/2025

    Questions From The Potting Bench - Episode 4

    ❓Have you got a burning garden question? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. ❓ In this season I'm spicing things up a bit by alternating between guests and then answering the garden questions that are keeping you awake at night! And in this week's episode we're tackling thin borders, buttercups and ponds! I’m sure your jobs list for right now in your garden is a mile long but one thing you need to make sure you’re doing is giving your soil some love! Westland Soil Improver is the perfect blend of manures and bark to revitalise your garden beds and border. This enriched mix enhances soil structure, fertility, and drainage, creating a solid foundation for healthy, vibrant plants and its particularly beneficial for heavy clay or sandy soils too! Simply mix it into your existing soil to ensure your garden is enriched and ready for vibrant, robust development throughout the seasons. Make sure to check out ⁠gardenhealth.com⁠ now, for more. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    13 min

  7. 10/25/2025

    Richard Bowman - Northern Horticulturalist

    ❓Do you think allotments are boring...? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. 🌱 In this week’s episode I'm talking to someone who has my favourite allotment in the world. Richard Bowman, otherwise known online as Northern Horticulturalist, is a trained horticulturalist and an award winning garden designer with medal winning gardens across the country! In this episode we discuss his beautiful allotment and much more! Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Richard then you can find him on Instagram as @northern_horticulturalist While it might be autumn, there is plenty to be doing in the garden right now and thankfully Westland have a range of composts to keep you gardening right through these colder months! Right now, I’m potting up new perennials with their excellent Boost All Purpose, peat free compost which is proven to give you up to four times more blooms from your flowers! Westland have such a wide range of composts available for your every garden need! From indoor potting mixes to the perfect outdoor solution, there is something for every grower and for every gardening need. For more information and to find the perfect compost for you, see gardenhealth.com now ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    30 min

  8. 10/18/2025

    Questions From The Potting Bench - Episode 3

    ❓Have you got a burning garden question? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. ❓ In this season I'm spicing things up a bit by alternating between guests and then answering the garden questions that are keeping you awake at night! And this week is the first of those Q&A episodes. We're tackling wildflowers, clay soil, a new garden and much more! If you want to give your hydrangeas a pep next year, then try Westland’s Hydrangea High Performance Liquid Plant Food! It provides all the essential nutrients that hydrangeas need to flourish for beautiful flowers. Whether your hydrangeas are in containers or in the ground, you should feed them weekly. This in turn will help prevent disease as well give an abundance of stronger, healthier, more vibrant flowers. Apply every 7–14 days from early spring (March) to late summer (August) for the best hydrangeas you’ll ever have Make sure to check out gardenhealth.com now, for more. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    15 min
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4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A weekly ramble with the most diverse folk from our world of green fingers, green thumbs and dirty knees. Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, herbs and more - it’s bound to be covered. On your commute, or in the garden of your choosing - we’ll be here to keep your ears busy.

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