Kuuntele Gardening with the RHS

Spring is stretching its limbs, and the garden is stirring to life. As the days grow longer and begin to warm, there’s a tangible energy in the air – a heady mix of birdsong, budding leaves, and the unmistakable scent of fresh soil and blossoms. This week horticulturist Liz Mooney will be sharing her expert tips on getting the best from beetroot, turnips and parsnips – perfect for anyone looking to grow a productive plot from the ground up. The RHS Gardening Advice Team will also be joining us to answer your most frequently asked questions this month, and Elizabeth Medal of Honour winner Clare Hermans will be sharing her enduring fascination with Madagascan orchids and the stories behind these rare and remarkable plants. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Liz Mooney, James Lawrence, Chris Taylor, Nick Turrell, Clare Hermans Links: Previous episode on growing potatoes with Liz Mooney [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/gardening-with-the-rhs/id605769651?i=1000702038358] Previous episode on growing tomatoes with Liz Mooney [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/gardening-with-the-rhs/id605769651?i=1000700115602] RHS Gardening Advice [rhs.org.uk/advice]

As gardeners, we understand the deep connection between people and the planet. The choices we make in our own green spaces – no matter how small – can ripple outward, creating real impact. This Earth Day, ecological home grower Poppy Okotcha invites us into her world of regenerative gardening. Dr. Hayley Jones explores how welcoming all creatures – even the less popular ones – can nurture a thriving, balanced ecosystem. And campaigner Russell Ball shows us simple, powerful ways to give our urban trees the care and attention they deserve. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Poppy Okotcha [https://www.instagram.com/poppy.okotcha/?hl=en], Dr Hayley Jones, Russell Ball Links: A Wilder Way: How Gardens Grow Us [https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/wilder-way-9781526666512/] Poppy Okotcha [https://www.poppyokotcha.com/] RHS Slugs: Friend or Foe?: Know Your Slugs and Learn to Live With Them [https://www.amazon.co.uk/RHS-Slugs-Friend-Know-Learn/dp/0241762855] How to stop slugs and snails: what works? [https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/articles/stop-slugs-and-snails] Slugs and Snails advice [https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/slugs-and-snails] Strangling Tree Ties #FreeTheTree [https://fund4trees.org.uk/strangling-tree-ties/] Fund4Trees [https://fund4trees.org.uk/]

We start this week with a journey back in time, exploring some of the oldest and most resilient plants on the planet: ferns. Gardener, botanist and author Ben Dark has been uncovering some surprising stories about these living fossils as part of his sweeping journey – 2.5 billion years deep – into the fascinating history of plants. Ferns thrive in damp, shady garden corners — but they’re not the only ones. Horticulturist Alessandra Sana faced this exact challenge when she took on the north-facing wall of RHS Wisley’s walled garden. She shares her go-to plants and creative inspiration for transforming those tricky, low-light spots into lush, green sanctuaries. And finally, we cross the Atlantic to hear from John Sonnier, Head Gardener at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. His pioneering sustainable gardening practices have just earned him the prestigious Elizabeth Medal of Honour from the RHS. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Ben Dark [https://www.instagram.com/thebendark/], Alessandra Sana, John Sonnier Links: The Grove: A Nature Odyssey in 19 ½ Front Gardens [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CYGHMFB] Shade planting: annuals, bulbs and perennials [https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/for-places/shade-planting-annuals-bulbs-perennials] What can I grow in a dry shady spot? [https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/conditions/what-can-i-grow-in-a-dry-shady-spot] Sustainable planting combinations: shade collection [https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-design/sustainable-planting-combinations/shade] RHS People Awards [https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-us/our-people/rhs-awards]

April is in full bloom, and with it comes a gardener’s to-do list bursting with promise! This week, Liz Mooney from RHS Garden Wisley shares expert tips on growing a bumper potato crop, while Guy Barter reveals how to plant summer bulbs for a dazzling display. Plus, we celebrate horticultural excellence with Victoria Medal of Honour recipient Martyn Rix, reflecting on a lifetime dedicated to plants. Links: How to grow potatoes [https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/potatoes/grow-your-own] RHS People Awards [https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-us/our-people/rhs-awards]  RHS Grow Your Own [https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own]

This week we’re finding out how to be a hoverfly hero. These masters of mimicry are vitally important pollinators, decomposers, and aphid predators, but their populations are in steep decline in the UK. RHS entomologist Josie Stuart will be telling us more about these garden friends, and how we as gardeners can help. Keeping our gardens blooming for as long as possible is a great help for all our pollinators and Cosmos shows off its delicate flowers all the way from late summer through to the first frosts of autumn. We’ll speak to National Collection holder Jonathon Sheppard for his recommendations of the best cultivars to try this year. And from one remarkable collection to another – Sarah Cook has dedicated years to researching and reviving the lost irises of Cedric Morris. These striking blooms, once thought to survive only in his famous paintings, have been brought back to life thanks to her tireless work in the RHS archives and in Cedric’s garden at Benton End. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Josie Stuart [https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/meet-the-team/plant-health-team/josie-stuart], Jonathan Sheppard [https://www.instagram.com/thejsheppard/], Sarah Cook Links: Be a hoverfly hero [https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/wild-about-gardens] Help hoverflies: 5 top plants and 5 fun facts [https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/plants-for-hoverflies] What are hoverflies? [https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/hoverflies] Read Jonathan’s cosmos and hollyhock blog [https://britishhollyhocks.wordpress.com/] British cosmos [https://britishcosmos.sumupstore.com/] (seed sales) Plant Heritage, home of the National Plant Collections [https://www.plantheritage.org.uk/] Benton End [https://bentonend.co.uk/] The Nurture Landscapes Garden at Chelsea Flower Show  [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/history/2023/gardens/nurture-landscapes-garden] RHS People Awards [https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-us/our-people/rhs-awards]