Pot and Cloche Garden Podcasts – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Orchids have a reputation for being fussy, fragile divas – but what if they're actually some of the toughest, most forgiving houseplants you can grow? In this episode Joff Elphick chats with writer and garden media specialist Julianne Robertson about her new book, ORCHIDS: a no fuss guide to keeping your houseplant happy.  

Julianne explains what orchids really need to thrive indoors: the right light, temperature, feeding, and watering – without the myths, gimmicks or ice cubes. From the ever-popular Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) to other Cambria, Cattleya, Cymbidium, and Dendrobium, Julianne shares practical tips, surprising orchid history, and reassuring advice for anyone who's killed an orchid (or three) before.  

Whether you're an anxious beginner or an orchid addict looking to learn more, this episode will help you keep these elegant plants blooming for years, not weeks.  

 

In episode 36 Joff Elphick visits the Garden Press Event at London's Business Design Center.

Sue Morgan from Songbird Survival discusses the charity's work addressing the alarming 50% decline in UK songbirds over the past 50 years. She attributes this to complex factors including climate change, land use changes, pesticides, and habitat loss. Sue offers three key tips for bird-friendly gardens: provide shelter (places to perch and feel safe), food (through plants with berries and seeds), and year-round water sources. She also mentions their upcoming Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by Nicola Okey.

Alexander Hall from Everedge talks us through their range of powder-coated and corten steel raised-bed and edging products. Founded 30 years ago their products have been used in gardens such as Wisley as well as 100's of other gardens around the UK.

Mark Meadows from Buzzbox explains their beekeeping starter kit, which includes everything except the bees themselves. He describes how honey production works with the queen in the brood box and honey storage in the supers, separated by a queen excluder.

Andy Rollings reveals David Austin Roses' meticulous 12-year development process, starting with 40,000 hand pollinations generating nearly 400,000 seeds. Only roses tough enough to thrive without special care make it to market, budded onto Rosa laxer rootstock.

Paul Duffy from Onduline discusses their lightweight, recyclable corrugated roofing sheets, which are quieter than metal alternatives and last for 15+ years.

Anthony from Garden on a Roll offers pre-designed garden layouts on biodegradable paper with lettered plants to match, making gardening accessible for beginners.

Jane from Dale Foot Compost creates eco-friendly growing media from bracken (high in potassium) and sheep wool (providing nitrogen and water retention), while also working on peatland restoration.

Andrew Tolly from King Seeds highlights their heritage since 1888, specializing in sweet peas (100+ varieties) and vegetable seeds for allotments nationwide.

Lastly, Florian introduces Fryd, a gardening app that helps plan  gardens with automatic to-do lists for planting and maintenance.

In this episode sponsored by Genus gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Barbara Segall about her new book GARDENS of the SOUTH-EAST published by Frances Lincoln. Within its 144 pages are  20 gardens many of which often remain overlooked but all of which display the passion of the owners or gardeners that look after them. It's a fascinating talk with not just the gardens, but many names of people involved in horticulture scattered throughout the episode for one reason or another. Jane perrone, Alys Fowler, Peter Donegan, Rocky Coles, Marcus Harper, Fergus Garrett, Clive Boursnell,Beth Chatto, Christopher LLoyd, Tom Coward,William Robinson, John Brookes,  and Gertrude Jekyll all get a mention.

The publisher says:

A tour of some of the UK's most beguiling gardens in the counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, the counties that exemplify 'the garden of England'.

In these three counties a wealth of history and horticulture has combined with geography in the shape of rolling landscapes, wooded valleys and meandering waterways, to provide an attractive and fascinating collection.

They are in villages and towns, as well as in deep countryside, and all are privately owned. Some have been in the possession of the same family for many generations, while others have recently been transformed by new owners. Some open for the National Garden Scheme, while others are open privately and in some cases for just the occasional day for charity.

The stunning gardens explored in this visually rich guide include: Arundel Castle, Denmans, Gravetye Manor, Munstead Wood and Sussex Prairie Garden. The book also includes a gazetteer of other important gardens in the area with location advice, to enable readers to plan a more elaborate tour of this fertile garden area.

Filled with stunning, specially commissioned photographs by Clive Boursnell, Secret Gardens of the South East is a unique guide that opens the gates to the most intriguing gardens in this part of England.

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek about his career in horticulture and his new book Hortus Curious - discover the worlds most weird and wonderful plants and fungi. 

We talk about his work with Thompson and Morgan where he worked on plants like the Tom-tato and the Egg and chips plant. His TV work with Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch and QVC. 

His latest book Hortus Curious covers a wide range of the world's most fascinating plants and fungi  and we talk about Venus Flytraps, the origins of coffee, Miracle Berries, Wollemi pines, The Vulva Vine - Clitoria ternatea, peanuts (they're not a nut!), and the pyromaniac plant Dictamnus albus var purpureus.

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick travels to the north of the Cotswolds to visit Harriet Rycroft, a garden speaker, consultant, writer, and an expert in container gardening. They talk about her book 'POTS' and wander around Harriet's back garden, home to nearly 800 pots.

• The book has 4 chapters - Learn - Plan - Grow - Care
• Harriet's advice is right plant, right place, and right pot, but at the same time do experiment and have fun.
• A few pests and how to manage them without resorting to chemicals
• Drainage, watering feeding.
• Irrigation
• Pot materials and the question of pot feet
• We talk about a few specific plants. Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'. Oxalis 'Iron Cros'. Begonia carolineifolia. Begonia sizemoreae. Amicia zygomeris. The ' Honka' dahlias. Coleus 'Henna'. Canna 'Russian Red'. Abutilon 'Canary Bird'.
• Climbing plants in pots.

In this episode sponsored by the amazing Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to a number of the interesting exhibitors that can be found at The Malvern Autumn Show.

• Andie from Dahlia Beach tells us how her company, the first cut-your-own Dahlia farm in the UK came about. She also telss us about her plans to open the farm for 'dig your own' dDahlia plants at the thend of October. (It's a secret at the moment. keep it to yourself!!)
• David Whittaker is from the National Hedge Laying Society and with his superb mobile trailer of bonsai'd hawthorn hedges explains all the different styles of hedge laying in the country.
• Clive Saunders is a passionate private collector of early 20th century free standing engines that were often used  on farms and in workshops where belt drivenn tools were employed. It's a fascination subject that can become very addictive. Clive tells us that no-one ever has just one machine despite their best intentions.

In this Episode  sponsored by Genus Gardenwear I talk to Tamsin Westhorpe about her latest book Grasping the Nettle - tales from a modern country gardener.

Tamsin is a hands-on gardener who opens her garden Stockton Bury near Leominster to the public. She had worked as a parks greenkeeper, an interior landscaper, she had her own shop, and is probably best known for holding the position of Editor at The English Garden magazine. 

We discuss her childhood in the 70's. Being brought up surrounded by chickens and other crestures. Her holidays to Poole in Dorset where she spent a lot of time in her Aunty Margie's garden. 

Her transition to gardener wasn't a lightbulb moment.

We talk of catching a boyfriends while dissecting pig's hearts, art college, and summer days spent untangling Clematis at her uncle's nursery. 

She became a lecturer which was the most character building period of her life.

The commute from Herefordshire to The English garden in Cheltenham involved a commute by scooter. (It didn't last long)

During lockdown she became an international speaker talking to gardeners in America, Japan, the Uk and beyond. 

 

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to Silvana de Soissons about her book Natural Skincare for all Seasons. 

Chapters in the book include An introduction to the skin. Plotting the skincare garden. Choosing skincare plants.The natural skincare garden through the seasons. Formulations and Techniques.

Joff and Silvana discuss

• No dig gardening
• The use of 'weeds' in skincare.
• What are hydrosols, enfleurages, and tinctures
• How can we make a tussie-mussie bath-bomb?
• Gardeners hand scrub
• Sustainability

Joff can be found here

Find out more about Silvana's business by visiting the Farm Soap Co.

In this episode sponsored by Genus Performance Gardenwear Joff talks to Sandra Lawrence author of 'Miss Wilmott's Ghosts - The extraordinary life and gardens of a forgotten genius'.  They discuss Ellen Wilmott, her upbringing, and her inherited wealth.  The 11th century castle and the hidden 'treasures' in its damp cellars.

The legendary parties at Ellen's home Warley Place. 

'Wilmott Tombola' with dead mice and silverfish.

Ellen Wilmott 'snubbing' the RHS after being awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour.

Ellen's complicated friendship with Gertrude Jekyll.

Why every Victorian lady should carry knuckle dusters and a revolver.

 

 

In this episode sponsored by the amazing Genus Performance Gardenwear Joff taks to Kathy Slack who's book 'From the Veg Patch' was published last year by Ebury Press. They discuss the vegetables Kathy grows and the some of the deliciuos recipes in the book.