Two Good Gardeners

Occasionally, your hosts like to explore a garden in depth ..... and have a good old natter. In this episode, Dan and Julia revisit Sissinghurst Castle, starting in an area of the garden known as Delos. Recently resurrected after a long spell in the doldrums, they consider the challenges of recreating a slice of ancient Greece in Kent. Back in the studio, they each share five ways that Sissinghurst inspired them. Dan reveals his current 'must have' garden tool and shares exciting news about new product launches. Julia talks about an alternative method of training and pruning her fig tree. As usual, Dan and Julia finish off with a list of essential jobs to do in your garden over the next two weeks and tell you where they'll be popping up next.Jobs for the fortnightFinish hardening off annuals and tender perennialsIf all danger of frost has passed, start planting containers and hanging basketsPrune forsythia, flowering currant and Japanese quinceTake cuttings of woody herbs such as hyssop, rosemary and thyme. Tie in wisteria, honeysuckle, passionflower and clematis to keep them from wandering in their own direction. Pheromone traps can be hung in apple and plum trees and box hedges to control pests like codling and box moths.Indoors, take stem cuttings from tradescantias, coleus, plectranthus, impatiens and pothos and root them in water.Damp down greenhouse paths on hot days to increase humidityTake the opportunity to clean garden furniture, jet wash patios and scrub barbecues.Settle down and watch the BBC coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - you'll have the best seat in the house.Dan's product of the week:Niwaki Japanese Weeding Hoe: https://www.dancoopergarden.com/products/niwaki-weeding-hoeDan's upcoming events:Sunday, 19th May - Rare Plant Fair at The American Museum in BathSunday, 26th May - Rare Plant Fair at Kingston Bagpuize House, OxfordshireWebsite links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchThis podcast was produced by the brilliant Scott Kennett of Red Lighthouse Local https://linktr.ee/redlocallighthouseThe episode was sponsored by Dan Cooper Garden, where garden lovers go to find outstanding garden products, sage advice, and abundant inspiration. You can shop online at dancoopergarden.com or plant fairs and garden events across the south and east of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan and Julia discuss whether no-mow May is good for our gardens and discover the many magical properties of copper tools. Julia advises on how to look after tomato plants while waiting for the weather to warm up, and Dan highlights Calycanthus, aka Carolina allspice, an increasingly popular shrub that produces exotic-looking flowers and a culinary spice.The pros and cons of not mowing in MayPros:Reduces time spent mowingRequires no fertilisers, pesticides or watering Allows some wildflowers to bloom freelyEncourages insects, birds and mammals that like to shelter or feed in longer grassIt can look attractive and even romanticIt Increases the cooling of the surrounding air and locks up more carbon dioxide than short grassCons:It may take a while to restore the neat appearance of a lawn, depending on the weather in JuneReduces space to play and walk in a small space.It doesn’t increase biodiversity long-term. It's a gesture rather than a long-term commitment.It may increase the number of weeds, especially dandelions, that appear in adjacent beds and borders.Some birds, insects and flowers prefer a habitat with shorter grass.Our conclusion - a mix of grass lengths maintained all year round is probably better than not mowing for a month. However, No Mow May is a good reminder to take steps to balance what we need from our gardens against what wildlife needs.Jobs to do in your garden this fortnightTie in sweet peasDeadhead tulipsSow runner and French beansContinue to sow salads, radish, and beetroot for succession cropsContinue to earth up potatoes to protect from frostPlace citrus trees outside in a sheltered spotNet gooseberries & strawberries as fruit forms to keep birds offWatch out for lily beetles and remove them fast!Ventilate greenhousesPinch out growing tips on broad beans when 3-4 ft tallDan's upcoming events:Saturday, 4th May - Plant Fair and Open Garden at Saltwood Castle near Hythe, KentSunday, 5th May - Chiswick Flower Market, LondonMonday, 6th May - Spring Plant Fair at Belmont House, Throwley, near Faversham, KentSunday, 12th May - Rare Plant Fair at Salthrop House, near Swindon, WiltshireWebsite links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's Patch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of the new series of Two Good Gardeners, Dan and Julia debate whether it's worth saving your own seeds and throw a spotlight on wool, the secret ingredient our gardens have been crying out for. Julia shares her top tips for growing lemongrass to fill your kitchen with oriental flavours, and Dan waxes lyrical about hostas, the foliage plant we'd all love to love if slugs and snails didn't love them more! As always, your hosts round off with a list of things to do in your garden over the next fortnight and news of where you can find or hear them next.Jobs for your garden this fortnight:Plant out hardened-off sweet peas.Deadhead daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs.Put in supports for perennials and climbers before they get too large.Lift and divide hostas and other perennials you’d like more of.Protect fruit blossoms from late frosts.Feed citrus with summer feed.Plant out second-early potatoes.Sow carrots, beetroot, chard, spinach, salads, radish & peas.Watch out for box moth caterpillars and treat them if necessary.Ventilate greenhouses on sunny days.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's Patch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of Series 2, Dan & Julia reflect on the many highlights of a busy and eventful year and share their New Year's resolutions.They'll return with Series 3 in spring 2024. If you've enjoyed Series 2, then click follow on your favourite podcast platform, so you're notified when new episodes are launched. Leaving a rating or writing a review will help us know what you like and how we can do better in future.The book 'The Secret Gardens of Cornwall', which Dan talks about, is available from Waterstones. Sussex gardens are covered in 'Secret Gardens of the South East' by our friend Barbara Segall (which we really should have remembered!), also available from Waterstones.Your hosts wish you a very Happy New Year and look forward to entertaining you again soon.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas is a frenetic season when time and budgets are often overstretched. With less time to focus on living sustainably, how can we make the best environmental choices, especially when they're not always obvious? Talking as amateur gardeners, Dan & Julia discuss some of the options and reveal surprising facts - did you know, for example, that burning a real Christmas tree on a bonfire is far more sustainable than putting it out for collection and composting?Julia shares how much of her Christmas lunch she grows herself (prepare to be impressed), while Dan divulges how he keeps his dinner candles upright using a flower frog - watch him do it here.Your hosts wish all their listeners a very happy Christmas and a fruitful New Year 🎄 They'll be returning soon with a review of 2023, when they'll also share their resolutions for 2024.Useful links:Dan's guide to choosing the perfect real Christmas tree (and disposing of it!)Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owning a greenhouse is a luxury and privilege many gardeners dream of. In this special episode, recorded at Torberry Farm in Hampshire, Dan and Julia meet Nelly Hall, Brand Director at Alitex, to discover how to make the most of a greenhouse all year round. As the year draws to a close, Nelly explains how to use a greenhouse to prepare plants for Christmas and get an early start on spring, learning the importance of light and heat. Moving on to summer, we learn about ventilation, maintaining humidity and keeping pests under control before coming full circle to autumn for Nelly's tips on good glasshouse hygiene.Nelly's top greenhouse gardening tipsGood light in a greenhouse is as essential as heat to keep plants compact and healthy.Buy the biggest greenhouse you can - no one ever wishes they'd bought a smaller model!Think carefully about how you want to use your greenhouse to maximise the space and create the right growing conditions.Instal power in your greenhouse, even if you have no immediate plans. It gives you options in future.Consider using solar power to reduce energy costs.Make space for a chair and table so that you have somewhere to take time out and enjoy.Keep sacks of compost in the greenhouse over winter so it doesn't freeze and remains usable in cold weather.Play with a greenhouse to bring forward flowering and cropping to extend the growing season.Use the winter months, when there's less to do, to experiment by taking cuttings and making compost.Be vigilant and don't allow pests to take control - good hygiene is essential in an enclosed space.Don't over-sow and stagger your seed planting to avoid waste.Vents between a greenhouse and a cold frame can help keep a cold frame warmer.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the days get shorter and the nights colder, it's time to bite the bullet and protect your tender plants from the cold, wet and wind. Dan explains how to tackle different groups of plants, from annuals to evergreens, and Julia shares advice on keeping herbs, citrus, ginger, chillies and pineapples happy until spring.Your hosts anticipate the outcome of the Garden Media Guild Awards, where Two Good Gardeners has been shortlisted (see below if you want to know the result) and look forward to visiting their sponsor, Alitex, so record a special episode which will air before Christmas.Julia offers advice on growing garlic from shop-bought or own-grown cloves, and Dan reveals a new Christmas trend - including seeds in your Christmas cards.Dan's guide to overwintering tender plants: https://www.dancoopergarden.com/blogs/advice-inspiration/how-to-protect-tender-plants-over Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian GreenhousesAlitex Events*our congratulations to Gardens Illustrated, who won the category for best podcast or radio broadcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 4, Dan and Julia offer advice on filling your home with plants and flowers this Christmas, including how to force bulbs and buy and care for seasonal plants such as poinsettia and cyclamen. Julia explains how to grow a crop of spuds for your Christmas dinner, and Dan shares his favourite garden-inspired Christmas decorations. Julia champions the humble beetroot (pickling recipe below), and Dan is elated that others are finally joining his crusade to revive the much-maligned chrysanthemum.Julia's recipe for pickled beetroot, adapted from a recipe by Clodagh Mckenna Ingredients6 small beetroot 4 sprigs of thyme 160 ml white wine vinegar 150 ml cold water 110 g caster sugar ( Suggest adding 90 g, then taste if you want it sweeter, add the rest) ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp black peppercorns ½ tsp sea salt MethodCook the beetroot in a saucepan covered with cold water for 30-40 mins or until tender. Drain and refresh under cold water. Peel the beets and cut them into small wedges. Place in sterilized jars Put the thyme, vinegar, caster sugar, mustard seeds, peppercorns, sea salt and 150ml cold water in a saucepan and heat until all has dissolved. Pour this vinegar mixture over the beetroot and allow to cool completely. Seal and store in the fridge for up to one year. Dan's favourite chrysanthemums:'Dixter Orange' - very early, starting late June / early July and over by September - completely self-supporting and makes a terrific low hedge.'Percy Salter' - the colour of a well-baked custard cream, pretty and long-lasting.'EH Wilson' - produces delicate sprays of butter-yellow single flowers.'Breitner's Supreme' - lax form with white daisy-like blooms - use to flop over other plants.'Burnt Orange' - fiery orange quilled petals that are yellow inside.'Dulwich Pink' - neat and smothered with cranberry red flowers in November.Dan's Christmas decorations - https://www.dancoopergarden.com/collections/christmasDan & Julia's jobs for the next fortnightStart planting tulip bulbs and indoor bulbs to be forced.Keep gutters clear of leaves and moss.Gather fallen leaves and store them in hessian bags to break down into leafmould.Clean bird feeders thoroughly before filling them with fresh seed.Sow sweet peas, broad beans, peas, radishes and rocket.Cut away the old stems of autumn-fruiting raspberries, blackberries and loganberries.Reduce excessive top growth to prevent wind damage.Plant up, tidy and wash greenhouses and clear benches.Continue to mow lawns but on dry days.Visit arboreta to enjoy the blazing autumn colours.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 3, Dan and Julia mull the merits of putting your garden to bed for winter, sharing tips on preparing for windy weather and making space for tender plants that need protection from the cold. Julia chooses chillies for her 'top of the crops' slot and explains how to take cuttings from herb plants, while Dan offers advice on choosing and planting tulips, throwing the spotlight on three of his favourite bulb-planting tools.Julia's top chillies: 'Cayenne', 'Longhorn', 'Basket of Fire' (bush and yellow-green and red small chillies), 'Sigaretta di Bergamo' (suitable for decoration and it's not too hot), 'Habanero', 'Tokyo Hot'.Dan's most perennial tulips: 'Apeldoorn' (red), 'Golden Apeldoorn' (yellow), 'Apeldoorn's Elite' (yellow and orange), 'Pink Impression', 'Apricot Impression', 'Spring Green' (white and green), 'Flaming Spring Green' (red, white and green), 'Artist' (peach and green), 'Queen of Night' (inky purple) and 'Negrita' (smoky purple pink), Tulipa kaufmanniana, Tulipa greigii, Tulipa tarda, Tulipa turkestanica and Tulipa praestans.Dan's top bulb-planting tools: Dutch trowel, Tulip trowel, Barrel bulb planterDan & Julia's jobs for the next fortnightOrder and plant onion sets and garlic bulbsOrder tulip bulbs for planting next monthRemove spent tomato plants - burn them if you spot any signs of blightSow more salads, fennel and beetroot for late crops in a greenhouse or undercoverTake cuttings of herbs and salviasClean greenhouse benches and glazing as crops die backMake space in sheds and garages for plants that will need winter protection. Don't wait until the evening before the first frostLast spray of the season for box moth caterpillars; you won't see them until next May with any luck.Pick dahlias regularly, as they'll soon become pale and feeble.Take cuttings of plectrathus and coleus while the weather is still mild.Pick and store apples when they're dry and blemish-free - many varieties will keep for weeks or even monthsKeep an eye out in the hedgerows for sloes that can be steeped in gin to make a delicious winter warmer.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a break from their standard format, Dan & Julia chat about how they began gardening, reminisce about their first gardens and recall the gardens and gardeners that inspired them.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchMiddle-Sized Garden You Tube ChannelAlitex Modern Victorian GreenhousesAlitex Adventures In Flowers Workshop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As summer eases into autumn, our gardens reach a colourful crescendo. In this episode, Dan & Julia share their favourite flowers and crops for extending the season, taking inspiration from their gardens and visits to Great Dixter, Sussex Prairies, East Ruston Old Vicarage and Doddington Place.Julia offers advice on autumn sowing and shares her top of the crops - delicious, juicy figs. Dan describes his new range of flower bowls and explains how to keep dahlias healthy and blooming for as long as possible.Find Julia's favourite fig recipe here.Explore Dan's collection of flower bowls here.This fortnight's jobs to do in the garden:Order onion sets.Order tulip bulbs.Keep watering and feeding pots and containers.Harvest courgettes regularly.Remove leaves on grape vines and figs, allowing more sunlight to ripen the fruits.Sow salads, fennel and beetroot for late crops in a greenhouse or under cover.Take cuttings - it's an ideal time for figs, hydrangeas, lavender, rosemary, salvias and coleus.Order indoor bulbs for Christmas forcing.Remove shading or netting in greenhouses as the light starts to diminish.Keep looking for box moth caterpillars and spray or pick them off.Dan & Julia's top plants for early autumn colour:Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ Rudbeckia triloba' Prairie Glow'Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstsonne' Helianthus' Monarch' Helianthus 'Velvet Queen' Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Bleeding Hearts’ Cosmos bipinnatus 'Double Click Cranberry' Ratibida columnifera ‘Red Midget’Eutrochium maculatum (Atropurpureum Group) 'Riesenschirm'Althaea cannabina Aster x frikartii 'Mönch' Eurybia divaricataVernonia arkansana 'Mammuth' Anemone japonicaHydrangea "Annabelle"Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian GreenhousesAlitex Adventures In Flowers Workshop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of this series, Dan and Julia share tips for adapting your garden to cope with hotter, drier summers. Julia offers advice on getting your plot holiday-ready, and Dan showcases a product that can act as a mulch, fertiliser and slug deterrent. This episode's drought-proof 'top of the crops' is the stately artichoke, and Dan chooses salvias as his sun-loving 'pick of the bunch'.Your hosts return in late summer / early autumn for Series 2 and would love to hear about any topics you'd like to be featured.Want to know more? Here are this episode's show notes:Dan's guide to creating a drought-tolerant gardenDan's guide to preparing your garden for the summer holidaysDan's guide to watering wiselyJulia's recommended artichoke varieties: 'Green Globe', 'Purple Globe', 'Romanesco'.Note that cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) are a close relative of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus). Cardoons are grown for their edible stalks rather than their flowers. The cardoon is much more cold-tolerant as well.Dan's recommended salvia varieties: 'Hot Lips' - red and white; 'Nachtvlinder' - inky purple; 'Royal Bumble - bright red; 'Trellisick Creamy Yellow'; 'Jemima's Gem' - cerise; 'Amistad' - purple; 'Blue Suede Shoes' - dusky pale blue; 'Amante' - pink.Jobs to do in your garden this fortnight:Find someone to water your garden if you plan a holiday this month or next.Sow salad leaves, turnips, French beans, spring cabbages, chicory, kohlrabi, dill, coriander and parsley.Take Cuttings of hydrangeas, lavender, rosemary, salvias, penstemon, mint, thyme and sage.Plant autumn-flowering bulbs such as colchicums, autumn crocuses, cyclamen and nerines.Prune early spring flowering shrubs, rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias, conifers, plums, cherries, damsons and wisteria.Harvest courgettes, calabrese, French beans, Swiss chard, lettuce, mint, parsley, radish, beetroot, carrots, spinach, spring cabbage, spring onion, garlic, onions, globe artichokes, strawberries, raspberries and loganberries.Pick sweet peas, roses, zinnias, cosmos, gladioli, dahlias, lilies, carnations and pinks.Buy reduced perennials in your local garden centre - trim back, plant out and water thoroughly to encourage lush new growth. Stock up on plant food. Enjoy a stroll around the garden or a moment on your balcony after sundown.Visit open gardens across the country, especially those with herbaceous borders. The RHS holds shows at Hampton Court and Tatton Park in Cheshire this month.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian GreenhousesMiddleton Nurseries - salvia specialistsDyson's Nurseries - salvia specialists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan and Julia discuss how to spot and deal with common summertime pests, including cabbage white butterflies, red spider mites and asparagus beetles. Julia gets stuck into salads, explaining how to grow a succession of lush leaves throughout the year. Dan recalls happy memories of Dame Edna Everage and her wonderful gladies, sharing tips on how to grow these fabulous flowers without all the stiffness and formality they've become known for.Julia's Favourite Salad Leaves:Lettuce 'Black Seeded Simpson'.Lettuce (Little Gem) ‘Delight’.Lettuce 'Cocarde' - very attractive arrowhead leaf green-tinged red. Good for spring, summer and autumn growing.Lettuce 'Salad Bowl' - both green and red, RHS recommended.Lettuce 'Lollo Rosso'.Lettuce 'Butterhead'.Lettuce 'Winter Density' - good for cooler months.Wild rocket - hardy and the best flavour.Dan's Favourite Gladioli:G. papilio ‘Ruby’ - just delicious - the colour of crushed blackberries.G. communis subsp. byzantinus - Mediterranean but naturalised in the UK.G. murielae - the Abyssinian gladiolus - very late flowering and needs baking in a sunny spot, but the flowers are deliciously fragrant.G. ‘Sancerre’ - pure white.G. ‘Shaka Zulu' - deep, deep purple.The ‘Flevo’ varieties, such as G. 'Flevo Cool' and G. 'Flevo Laguna' are perfect for small gardens and growing in pots.Where you'll find us:Dan will be at Gilbert White’s House in Selborne near Petersfield for their 30th Annual Unusual Plants Fair on June 17th and 18th , ready to supply visitors with any last-minute Father’s Day Gifts. Alitex is hosting an open morning on 16th June 9 am - 4 pm, at Torberry Farm, near Petersfield. To book a visit, use this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for our first-ever outside broadcast from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. We celebrate Alitex's Best Trade Stand award and discover how Julia was involved in making it happen. We share our show highlights and reveal some of the work that goes on behind the scenes to deliver the world's most prestigious flower show.Please note that batteries for charging your phone can be hired for £3 for every 30 minutes, not every hour, as Dan states.Should we do more outside broadcasts? Would you like us to report from other RHS shows and garden events? We'd love to receive your feedback.Finally, leaving us a rating and a review will help us to reach other gardening enthusiasts like you. Happy gardening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 5 has a Chelsea Flower Show flavour. Dan & Julia debate the value of a ticket to the world's most prestigious horticultural event and explain how to administer the Chelsea chop to flowering perennials and herbs. Crisp, crunchy radishes are Julia's pick of the crop, and Dan breaks a self-imposed rule by celebrating deciduous azaleas, a plant that doesn't thrive in his chalky soil.For Dan & Julia's complete guide to surviving Chelsea, click here.For more advice on administering the Chelsea chop, click here, and you'll find the perfect pair of shears to do it with here.Plants that respond well to the Chelsea ChopYarrow - Achillea Dyer's chamomile - Anthemis tinctoria AsterBell flower - CampanulaConeflower - Echinacea Joe Pye weed - EupatoriumBlanket flower - GaillardiaSneezeweed - Helenium Perennial sunflowers - HelianthusCandytuft - IberisShasta daisy - Leucanthemum × superbumPurple loosestrife - Lythrum salicariaBergamot - Monarda didymaCatmint - NepetaPenstemonGarden phlox - Phlox paniculataBlack-eyed Susan - RudbeckiaStonecrop - Sedum telephium (now Hylotelephium telephium)Golden rod - SolidagoCulver's root - VeronicastrumChives - Allium schoenoprasumDan's favourite deciduous azaleas:FIREBALLGIBRALTARGOLD TOPAZIRENE KOSTERKLONDYKESTRAWBERRY ICEWhere you'll find us over the next fortnight:Julia will be at Nomad Books in Fulham on Saturday, 13th May, running a workshop and signing copies of her book. You'll also find her on the Alitex stand (MA 336) on the Chelsea Flower Show's Main Avenue on and off between the 23rd and 28th of May.Dan will be at Salthrop House, Wroughton, near Swindon, this Sunday, 14th May, 11 am - 4 pm and at the American Museum & Gardens in Bath on Sunday, 21st May, with Rare Plant Fairs. He takes his tea strong with milk, and no sugar, if you want to treat him to a cuppa!Alitex will be at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival from 11th -14th May, showcasing the Mottisfont greenhouse from the National Trust range. Then, they will be at RHS Chelsea Flower Show with their 'Good Life' inspired exhibit, styled by our very own Julia! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this fortnight's episode, Dan & Julia talk tomatoes, chat about compost and wax lyrical about wallflowers. Dan introduces his new Dutch planting trowel, similar to the traditional tool cherished by Monty Don, and Julia explains how to grow ginger from supermarket-bought roots. Your hosts look forward to an action-packed coronation weekend and the crowning of King Charles III, one of the nation's most celebrated garden makers.Julia's jobs to do in the next two weeks:Earth up potatoes as shoots emerge to protect them from frost and boost the crop.Harden off and plant out sweet peas and other hardy annuals.Sow pumpkins, sweet corn, courgettes, French beans and runner beans indoors.Sow sunflowers inside or out.Prune Forsythia and Ribes after flowering.Remember not to clear away daffodil foliage. Let it die down naturally to boost the bulbs.Repot houseplants now they're starting to grow again.Feed lawns with a nitrogen-rich feed to replace nutrients that have leached away over winter.Continue sowing tender herbs such as basil, coriander and dill. Sow salads and radishes at regular intervals.Check lilies and fritillaries for lily beetles - clumps of black gunge where leaves should be are a telltale sign they've been at work.Start using slug and snail protection as soon as vulnerable plants emerge from the ground.Protect fruit blossoms from late frosts using specially designed fruit sleeves.Plant ListJulia's tomatoes:San Marzano PlumBlack CherryGreen Zebra Yellow SubmarineBarry's Crazy CherryBlack RussianFeo De Riogordo Gardeners' DelightDan's wallflowers:Fire KingVulcanCloth of GoldCottage Fragrance' (mixture)'Persian Carpet' (mixture)Useful LinksDan's Signature Dutch trowelSaltwood Castle open garden and plant fair on April 29thHatfield House plant fair on April 30thOne Garden Brighton - Julia's book signing on May 1stBorde Hill plant fair on May 7thWebsiteshttps://www.dancoopergarden.com/https://www.parkers-patch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 3, Dan and Julia discuss how to grow awesome asparagus, go crazy for Japanese kenzan, celebrate a much-overlooked foliage plant and bemoan the fate of the suburban front garden. Julia explains how to get more bang for your buck when buying pot-grown herbs from the supermarket, and Dan reveals the top jobs to do in your garden over the next fortnight. You'll find these listed below, along with details of the plants, products and events mentioned in the podcast.Dan and Julia's jobs for the next fortnight:Plant potatoes - dig a trench or use a bulb planter to get them in, and remember to earth them up when the shoots emerge to protect them from frost.Sow sweetcorn, courgettes and pumpkins, butternut squash, basil, coriander, and other tender herbs and sunflowers under cover. Beetroot, carrot, chard kale, lettuces, radishes, pak choi, leeks, spinach and broccoli can now be sown directly outdoors.Sow annual flower meadow mixes into prepared soil, which should be weed-free and raked to a fine tilth, like a crumble mixture.Deadhead daffodils, unless you want them to seed.Water pots and containers, even when it's been raining.Cleaning patio furniture and terraces on a dry, sunny day.Tie in clematis, which will be growing vigorously now.Stake perennials, including peonies, lupins, phlox and delphiniums.Check for bugs and encourage predators such as ladybirds by leaving material in your garden that they can find shelter in.Remove rhubarb forcers, and don't put any further strain on forced crowns by continuing to pick the leaves.Start hardening off plants if you live in milder areas.Remember to wear sunscreen! The April sun is fiercer than you think.Plant ListDichroa' Long March' (Chinese quinine)Delphinium' Blue Tit'Lathyrus vernus' Rainbow' (spring pea)Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican flea bane)Baptista australis (false blue indigo)Ocimum basilicum 'Sweet Genovese' (sweet basil - as you will find in supermarkets and atop pizzas)Ocimum basilicum 'Crispum' (lettuce-leaf basil)Ocimum basilicum var. minimum (Greek basil)Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora (Thai basil)Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens x kilimandscharicum (African blue basil)Asparagus officinalis 'Gijnlim''Pacific 2000'Solenostemon's Burgundy Wedding Train', 'Lord Falmouth', 'Pink Chaos', 'Wisley Tapestry', Henna', 'Campfire'Useful LinksSongbird Survival charityArtisan nestersGreat Comp Spring Fling Plant FairGreen Rooms MarketArundel Castle Plant FairAlitex open morninghttps://www.dancoopergarden.com/https://www.parkers-patch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will it? Won't it? As March draws to a close, spring is teasing us, but Dan and Julia see signs of spring everywhere they look. In episode 2, the Two Good Gardeners get animated about April, celebrating foraged food in the form of wild garlic, sharing the joy of daffodils and warning against planting delicate plants outside too soon. Dan offers advice on growing dahlias from seed, cuttings and tubers, and Julia shares a thrifty Easter project involving egg boxes.Additional resources:Dan's guide to growing dahliasDan's advice on hardening off seedlings and plantsDan's April garden guideMore about wild garlicMore about daffodilsDan & Julia's jobs for the next fortnight:Start to feed citrus with summer feedMow lawns. (start with the blades set high).Sow hardy annuals outside...Plant out potatoes: earlies in the first half and main crop at the end of April.Sow squashes, courgettes, and pumpkins under cover this month and protect them from mice.Stay on top of weeds.Sow parsnips direct into the ground.Hand-pollinate peach and apricot blossoms using a paintbrush.Plant out leeks.Pot up dahlia tubers and take cuttings when shoots reach 5-7cm long.https://www.dancoopergarden.com/https://www.parkers-patch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Two Good Gardeners, sponsored by Alitex, home of the modern Victorian greenhouse. In our first episode, we ask the question 'to chit or not to chit', share thrifty tricks with toilet roll tubes, explain how to help your garden survive the mad March snow and offer tips for staying on top of your garden over the next fortnight.If you've enjoyed our foray into podcasting, please subscribe for notifications when we upload new episodes.ResourcesFor more on how to chit potatoes, you'll find Dan and Julia's combined wisdom crystalised right here.If you're interested in using seaweed as a garden fertiliser and soil conditioner, there is more information on Dan's blog, The Frustrated Gardener.For help with snow damage, and how to revive ailing plants, there's help at hand here.You can find out all about Julia on her website: https://www.parkers-patch.com/To buy rubber seed trays and explore Dan's range of handpicked garden tools, accessories and gifts, visit https://www.dancoopergarden.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gardens at Great Dixter are famed across the globe for their exuberance, colour and intimacy. Driven by a sense of adventure and a mission to help others get involved in horticulture, Fergus Garrett has built on the legacy of his friend and mentor, Christopher Lloyd, never allowing Dixter to stand still and delighting thousands of visitors every season.In mid-August 2023, Julia and I were lucky enough to grab half an hour with Fergus to get his tips on late summer colour, discover his desert island plants and understand what he looks for in a plant when choosing what to grow. We cover a lot of ground, and Fergus is as generous with his knowledge as his time. Make sure you listen right to the very end, as there are gems throughout!If you enjoy this episode, be sure to follow us on your favourite podcast platform and leave us a rating and review. We'll be back in September with a brand-new series!https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/https://www.dancoopergarden.com/https://www.parkers-patch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.