The James & Joe Garden Show – Details, episodes & analysis

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The James & Joe Garden Show

James Alexander-Sinclair & Joe Swift

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/10d. Total Eps: 70

Join James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift every week where they tackle a garden topic, from the sensible to the completely ridiculous, armed with sharp opinions, 40 years’ worth of stories and a habit of wandering wildly off-topic. Listeners can also send in their weird and wonderful garden questions for the chance to win our treasured mascot - The Garden Collective gnome, Jekyll. Our only two rules? No dead plants and no dull questions. Got a burning garden question, or a bizarre problem you just need to share? Email us at gnome@jamesandjoegarden.com

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Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - homeAndGarden
29/08/2026
#86
🇬🇧 Great Britain - homeAndGarden
29/08/2026
#19
🇩🇪 Germany - homeAndGarden
29/08/2026
#96
🇨🇦 Canada - homeAndGarden
28/08/2026
#75
🇬🇧 Great Britain - homeAndGarden
28/08/2026
#19
🇩🇪 Germany - homeAndGarden
28/08/2026
#75
🇺🇸 USA - homeAndGarden
28/08/2026
#82
🇨🇦 Canada - homeAndGarden
27/08/2026
#58
🇬🇧 Great Britain - homeAndGarden
27/08/2026
#12
🇬🇧 Great Britain - leisure
27/08/2026
#63

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&amp
100 shares
https://www.kress.com/en-gb/
25 shares
https://join.scribehound.com/gardening%E2%81%A0
20 shares

https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_

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Score global : 38%

Publication history

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Year

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Welcome to Scribehound Gardening!

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 • Duration 31:14

To celebrate the launch of Scribehound Gardening, Sue Biggs (former Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society) and James Alexander-Sinclair (award-winning garden designer and author) discuss the process of putting together the team of writers, what kind of content you can expect on the platform, and why gardening deserves great writing.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Question Time: Botanical Tattoos, Bribing the Judge & Which Gardener to Eat First

Season 4 · Episode 2

Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 39:33

You send us the questions no other garden podcast will touch — and this week you've properly outdone yourselves.James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift dig into the mailbag and hand out perfectly unreasonable answers to: what your next botanical tattoo should be (and where Joe's swift tattoo has been hiding for 35 years); whether putting on a show garden is only for the well-off; the most desperate bribe a designer ever slipped James on judging day; which Gardeners' World presenter would build a veg patch first if they were all marooned on a desert island — and, more importantly, which one you'd eat first; whether it's ever acceptable to take a saw to your neighbour's tree for a better sunset; and the single most offensive garden trend currently dominating social media.Two rules, as ever: no dead plants and no dull questions. Get yours in for a chance to win Jekyll, the most coveted prize in horticulture.To ask us a question email gnome@jamesandjoegarden.com or go to our website www.jamesandjoegarden.comAbout our hostsJames Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022.Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV's Gardeners' World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.For ad free listening and bonus content then join us at the Garden Collective. Not only will you get us but new articles every week from some of the best garden writers around and access to a bulging archive from (without wishing to drop names) the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, Ann-Marie Powell, Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith, Advolly Richmond, Jan Etherington and many others. Come and join the Collective for essays, seasonal notes, reflections and stories.Follow James & Joe on Instagram: @jamesandjoegardenFollow The Garden Collective on Instagram: garden_collective_Contact us: gnome@jamesandjoegarden.comwww.jamesandjoegarden.com

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Garden Parties: Glorious Fun or a Disaster Waiting to Happen?

Season 4 · Episode 1

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 45:24

Is the only reason anyone has a garden now… to throw a party in it?

This week James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift take on the great British garden party — and James goes full grumpy old codger about outdoor kitchens, outdoor rugs, and the terrible idea that a garden is just an extra room with a bar in it. Joe, of course, is having none of it.

Along the way: the impossible dilemma of balancing a cucumber sandwich, a cup of tea AND shaking the King's hand at a Buckingham Palace do; James eating his way through Le Manoir as a wandering MC; watching England on a bedsheet in the middle of a Welsh woodland; Joe's straw-bale 60th that turned into a festival; the perils of the damp fire pit and the friend who set his hair alight on a Green Egg; Arne Maynard's amphitheatre; a Japanese roof garden with motion-sensor music; and, inevitably, James's unstoppable march towards pop stardom.

Tell us about the best garden party you've ever been to — and the worst (the one that ended in A&E).

To ask us a question email gnome@jamesandjoegarden.com or go to our website www.jamesandjoegarden.com

About our hosts
James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022.
Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV's Gardeners' World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

For ad free listening and bonus content then join us at the Garden Collective. Not only will you get us but new articles every week from some of the best garden writers around and access to a bulging archive from (without wishing to drop names) the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, Ann-Marie Powell, Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith, Advolly Richmond, Jan Etherington and many others. Come and join the Collective for essays, seasonal notes, reflections and stories.

Follow James & Joe on Instagram: @jamesandjoegardenFollow The Garden Collective on Instagram: garden_collective_Contact us:

Question Time: At What Age Do You Officially Become a Horticultural Bore?

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • Duration 35:10

James and Joe are back for another "unhinged" Q&A. With Joe calling in from a hotel room (and struggling with a single device for both recording and reading), James takes the lead on the accents, the questions, and the "perfectly unreasonable" answers.

In this episode:

The "Horticultural Bore" Threshold: Scarlett from Northampton asks when the transition from "contemporary" to "old bore" is complete. James reveals the true litmus test: Do you like Alpines yet?
The Mystery of the Ghostly Trowels: A listener from Edinburgh finds random tools buried in their beds. Joe reflects on the "Brookside" husband-under-the-patio trope and the actual treasure they've found, from Victorian oyster shells to poison bottles.
Scent & Memory: Sarah from Manchester (via Australia) asks about the power of smell. Joe talks about cut grass and football pitches, while James recalls the "musty humidity" of greenhouses and his grandmother's waxy Hoya plant.
The Rhubarb Ribbon Revolution: An amazing tip from a listener in Hawaii/Oregon—making "cordage" (that’s string for the unpretentious) out of dried daylilies and crimson rhubarb ribbons.
Front Garden Veggie Wars: Nigel from Derby wants a front-yard veg patch, but his wife thinks it’s "not the done thing." Joe gives a masterclass in how to sell it as a "Potager" to avoid the "keeping up appearances" drama.
Royal Near-Misses: James recounts the time he nearly took out the Queen with an extravagant elbow gesture at Chelsea and the terrifying physics of a vibrating glass garden floor.

Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers.

Chelsea Flower Show 2026: The Secrets the BBC WON'T Tell You!

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 40:00

James and Joe are in high spirits as the "Flower Show Season" officially kicks off. With Joe calling in from a BBC-funded hotel in Tewkesbury and James gearing up for his 20th year of judging, this episode dives into the chaotic, glamorous, and occasionally freezing world of the Chelsea Flower Show.

In this episode:

The Malvern Warm-up: Joe shares his "smart day" filming schedule at Malvern and why James is relieved to be skipping the stage after 20 years of "three grannies" in the audience.
Thirty Years of Chelsea: Joe reflects on 24 years of filming and James on two decades of judging. James reveals how a rude complaint to the RHS head of shows accidentally landed him a judging gig.
The Front-Right Tree Rule: The boys share a legendary show-garden secret: why a tree in the front-right corner is the ultimate "tantalizing" design move.
Logistics & "Ronald McDonald": Meet Steve, the traffic legend who keeps 15-ton trees moving on an 11-acre site, and why the embankment turns into an articulated lorry graveyard.
The Gala & The Stars: James’ "indiscreet" wedding at the Royal Hospital, Joe’s invite from The Times, and a look at David Beckham’s upcoming appearance on a garden designed by the brilliant (and potentially exhausted) Frances Tophill.
Canteen Secrets: Why the "Exhibitors Restaurant" has gone from "rough" to "delicious," and James’ tradition of throwing Haribo (and nuts for the vegans) at landscaping teams to keep them moving.

Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers.

Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

Question Time: Why Modern Sport is Ruined by Bad Grass (and Why Goalkeepers Hate Daisies)

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • Duration 36:20

This week, we’re answering your perfectly unreasonable questions while James attempts to explain why he treads on his compost bags to get an extra 10 litres of value.

In this episode:

The "Horticultural Bore" Transition: Scarlett from Northampton asks at what age we officially become "bores." Joe and James debate the warning signs - is it the corduroy trousers, the interest in heritage potatoes, or the sudden, inexplicable love for Alpines?
Lush Cornish Jungles: James from Cornwall is worried his garden is becoming a Jurassic Park set. The boys discuss "machete gardening" and why the Lost Gardens of Heligan stayed lost for so long.
Chelsea Survival Kit: Georgina from Oxfordshire is heading to the Chelsea Flower Show with "financial dread." Joe offers a Martin Lewis-style savings plan: take out cash, leave your credit card at home, and whatever you do, buy a Horatio’s Garden mug.
The Hedgehog Census: A shocking fact about 1950s hedgehogs vs. modern wood pigeons. Plus, Joe’s footage of a resident hedgehog in his "March update."

Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers.

Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain).

Are Robotic Mowers the Future?

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 • Duration 38:17

James and Joe are digging into the future of horticulture - or at least the part where we can sit in a hammock while a machine does the "bloody" mowing. From Joe’s "Doofy" the robot mop to James’ beloved "Kressida" the mower, the boys explore whether technology is a blessing or a way to distance ourselves from the soul of our gardens.

Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers.

Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain).

You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.

It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0

Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/

Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/

Question Time: The Great Horticultural Royal Rumble - who wins in a fight?

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 37:29

Welcome back to the James & Joe Garden Show, where the rules are made up and the singing is (mostly) banned by court order of James’ wife. This week, we’re answering your questions with our trademark blend of dapper charm and "bloody" bad advice. From the hidden paths of York Gate to the sewers of London, we’re digging deep.

In this episode:

The York Gate Connection: James admits to "stealing" path designs from the legendary Perennial garden, York Gate. Plus, the rise of the "Sand Garden" trend—is it a revolution or just a weed-filled sandpit?

The Traveling Gnome: Kathy from Yorkshire wants to send her gnome on an Amélie-style world tour. James suggests Machu Picchu; Joe suggests a plumbing-challenged rocket to the moon.

The Mystery of the Drowning Worms: Andrea from Lancashire has a pond full of stinking, dead worms. Joe thinks they’re stupid; James thinks there’s a bird "refrigerator" conspiracy or a child with a fishing rod involved.

A Canadian Winter: Jackie from Ontario asks if she’s "naughty" for gardening after four months of snow. The boys discuss "snuggling" as a winter hobby and the mental health cost of being snowbound.

The Main Event: A Royal Rumble of gardening legends. Can Charlie Dimmock take down Christine Walkden? Is Carol Klein the ultimate cage fighter? And why is Tommy Walsh disqualified for dirty goalkeeping?

Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

Who decides what makes a truly great garden?

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 • Duration 39:43

James and Joe are back, and per James’ wife’s instructions, the singing has been (mostly) binned. This week, the boys tackle a thorny question: Who actually has the rubber stamp that declares a garden "Great"? Is it a committee over a long lunch, or is it the snogging teenagers behind the topiary at Sissinghurst?

Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0

Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/

Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Question Time: Is Gardening by the Moon Total Lunacy or the Future of Garden Trends?

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 32:11

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

About our hosts

Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.

Subscribe now⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow James & Joe on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The James & Joe Garden Show – Details, episodes & analysis

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The James &amp; Joe Garden Show – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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The James & Joe Garden Show – Details, episodes & analysis