Buckingham Garden Centre

Season 1 - Episode 21 - January in the Garden

In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day welcome 2022 and the promise of a new gardening year! We chat to Andrew Peck, managing director of Malvern Garden Buildings and discuss the massive rise of interest in outdoor rooms whether for business (home offices) or for pleasure. Andrew chats about the evolution of garden buildings from the humble shed (and who doesn't love their sheds!) to more sophisticated buildings such as the Breeze House. In today's everchanging world with home working becoming more popular as well as having the flexibility of an additional covered space in the garden for entertaining or hobbies or simply the perfect escape into the garden through these challenging times. Peter and Chris look at some topical news stories, including a chat about the way Garden Centres are evolving from traditional plant-based companies to becoming more diverse in the products and services they offer to the customer.  Although it's January there are still a few tasks to be getting on with including winter fruit tree spraying, planting new hedges, looking after our feathered friends and controlling slippery moss on pathways.

Published:
01/01/2022

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Exploring the Heritage Seed Library

Chris and Peter discover how the Garden Organic’s Seed Heritage Library is helping to ensure older, traditional seed varieties are maintained for future generations. We chat with Catrina Fenton, who is the Head of the Heritage Seed Library on it’s history, the fascinating processes of open pollination, seed capture, the work of the seed guardians and the workings of the library today in conserving and helping to protect varieties for the future.

Published:
15/01/2022

Season 1 - Episode 19 - December in the Garden

In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day herald the start of Advent by talking about the popular festive favourite, the Poinsettia and its special day in December. We chat to Pam Haigh, the UK general manager of the charity Ripple Africa in Malawi, a charity the Garden Centre is keen to support in its epic work in planting trees - over 17 million trees to date - in Malawi.

Published:
01/12/2021

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Houseplants with Jane Perrone

In this Dig It podcast we celebrate indoor gardening as we chat with top gardening journalist Jane Perrone about her lifelong passion for growing houseplants and how this has developed into one of the most popular gardening podcasts - On the Ledge. Jane provides great advice on growing indoor plants from keeping them healthy, selecting plants for the home, stories from Jane’s On the Ledge podcast, trends on what we are purchasing at the Garden Centre and the best ways of displaying your potted favourites, plus we get a sneak peek into Jane’s forthcoming new book, Legends of the Leaf which profiles 25 iconic houseplants, charting their history and provides tips to help them thrive in your home.

Published:
15/12/2021

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Trees For Small Gardens

In this special Dig It podcast we talk to Nick Dunn, managing director and top tree nurseryman of Frank P Matthews. Founded in 1901, Matthews are one of the UK's leading ornamental and fruit tree growers supplying trees to the Garden Centre trade. We discover the processes of growing in the field, containerising, budding and grafting, popular tree favourites, new trees coming to the market, top tips on growing them and much more. Nick brings his unique insight on trees and his words of wisdom are bound to encourage you to plant a tree this winter.

Published:
17/11/2021

Season 1 - Episode 14 - October in the Garden

In this autumnal edition of Dig It, Peter and Chris discuss the recent September Chelsea Flower Show and how a change of season has created a very different event. Elsewhere the demise of the front garden and the lawn, the concerns over our failing tree population and how moths are being affected by the change from sodium to LED street lights.

Published:
29/09/2021

Published:
06/10/2021

Season 1 - Episode 15 - English Cider

In this podcast Peter Brown chats with local apple enthusiast Michael Jones about his passion for producing cider from an 11-acre community orchard in North Buckinghamshire. In the podcast we learn that cider is basically fermented apple juice however the process from apple to bottle is far from simple! You need plenty of buckets, different apple varieties and the necessary kit, but it’s fun and you are always learning from the process.

Published:
13/10/2021

In this episode Chris Day and Peter Brown chat with local apple enthusiast Mike Jones. We learn about his apple growing journey from childhood memories to establishing a successful and productive 11-acre community orchard in North Buckinghamshire where they grow of plums, apples, pears and quince.

Published:
27/10/2021

In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss topics including the new RHS planet friendly campaign, Malvern Garden Buildings collecting a well-deserved Gold Medal at Chelsea for their Houseplant themed Green Room and the Queen’s green canopy scheme in conjunction with the Woodland Trust. They also discuss essential jobs this month in the garden including final lawn mows and pruning for new hedges.

Season 1 - Episode 12 - September in the Garden

September is the month of mellow mists and fruitfulness and in this month’s Dig It podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day look at how the gradual change in seasons is beginning to affect what we harvest, plant and sow in our gardens.

Published:
01/09/2021

Published:
15/09/2021

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Bulbs for Spring

In this podcast we talk to Ian Clark, Business Manager from Taylors Bulbs. Our chat covers the history and overview of Taylors Bulbs, a look at the commercial aspects of growing bulbs in the field and how spring bulbs continue to rise in popularity with gardeners.

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Wildlife in the garden

In this episode we chat with Ed Turpin, Community Wildlife Officer East (Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire) from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).

Published:
11/08/2021

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Celebrating roses

In this podcast we chat with James Taylor, Nursery Manager and Jo Davey, Marketing Manager from Whartons Nurseries. We look at how roses continue to be admired and prized as our No. 1 favourite flower in the UK.

Published:
14/07/2021

Published:
28/07/2021

Season 1 - Episode 10 - August in the Garden

Peter and Chris look ahead to what you need to be doing in your garden during the month of August and discuss other interesting topics.

Season 1 - Episode 8 - July in the Garden

Peter and Chris look ahead to what you need to be doing in your garden during the month of July

Published:
30/06/2021

Published:
15/06/2021

In this episode we chat with Stuart Lowen, Marketing Manager from Ball Colegrave. We look at how bedding plants have evolved over the years as well as examine many of the traditional bedding we still enjoy in our gardens.

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Bedding Plants with Stuart Lowen

Published:
01/06/2021

As June arrives, Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the important tasks in the garden including vegetable planning and sowing, allotment hedging ideas, creative planter and basket tips as well as sowing for spring colour.

Season 1 - Episode 6 - June in the Garden

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Growing Orchids

In this episode of Dig it Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss growing orchids with orchid expert Manos Kanellos from Growth Technology.

Published:
26/05/2021

Published:
10/06/2021

In this episode of Dig it Peter Brown and Chris Day look at how the late spring is affecting our gardens and how using specific plant fertilisers will help your plants recover and prosper this summer.

Season 1 - Episode 4 - May in the Garden

Season 1 - Episode 3 - April in the Garden

Chris Day and Peter Brown discuss some things to do in your Garden in April.

Published:
16/04/2021

Published:
16/04/2021

An interview with John Marshal, expert in growing potatoes and Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner.

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Growing Potatoes in Your Garden

Published:
16/04/2021

Chris and Peter's first show, giving you a bit of background on who we are, our horticultural background and what to look forward to in our upcoming shows.

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Dig It Introduction