Introducing Two Good Gardeners

I have been very quiet here lately, for which I apologise. Following a few subtle prompts, I thought I had better explain myself!

Dan Cooper Garden has been taking up more and more of my time as I prepare for a busy spring season selling at specialist plant fairs and garden openings all around the south and east of the UK. I’m popping up at some spectacular venues, including Saltwood Castle, Hatfield House and The American Museum in Bath – you’ll find details for April and May here. I have also been sourcing new products, writing lots of articles for the website and developing unique new services such as garden consultations and garden mentoring. It’s no wonder I’m feeling exhausted, but what a privilege it is to be doing what I love. I try to remind myself of that every day.

Since November, I’ve also been working on an exciting new project, a podcast with my friend and fellow gardener Julia Parker. We made a pilot episode in November (I called it a mock cast!), and finally, we have recorded and released episode 1. It’s available everywhere you’d usually find a podcast; on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Acast, or you can listen to it by tapping the play button below.

We know there are lots of gardening podcasts out there already. We are trying to make programmes that are finely tuned to the season, offering sound, credible, friendly advice at a comfortable pace with a dash of humour and a splash of personality. We are genuine, amateur gardeners who love what we do. We want to share our successes and failures so listeners can take comfort and enjoy their gardens. We take our hats off to everyone who makes a podcast – it’s not as easy as you imagine!

So, without further ado, I invite you to listen. We’re recording the next episode in a little over a week and welcome any feedback and suggestions for improvement. Please be kind. The first time around, we were concentrating so hard that we barely knew what we were saying! Happy listening. TFG.

The Secret of Saving Seeds – Two Good Gardeners

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.

1. The Secret of Saving Seeds 54:48
2. New Year's Resolutions 35:05
3. Sustainable Christmas Special 41:13
4. The Art of Glass 44:55
5. The Art of Overwintering 41:53

Categories: Bulbs, Container gardening, Flowers, Fruit and Veg, Podcast, Seeds and Sowing, Urban Gardens, Weather