Not Just a Garden

On Gardeners' World 2026 Episode 25 Recap, we discuss sterile mosquitos, the perils of taking too many antibiotics, magic shampoo, Monty modelling, mountain ranges, and how we got on with Toby Buckland's efficient scything technique.On Gardeners' World this week, Adam Frost shares the latest upgrades to his new garden, and Sue Kent shows us some jobs that need doing in her place in Swansea. We meet Fred Groom and Ronja Schlumberger at Vital Seeds in Ashburton in South Devon and Alex Crossman gives Frances Tophill a tour of his beautiful wildlife garden in Radstock, Somerset. Finally Steve Jenner and Chris Briggs show their pretty garden and meadow in Saltdean, Brighton.🌿Don't forget to subscribe to receive episode plant lists and early access on offers🌸More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

Awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for his dedicated work in the field of Horticulture, and once dubbed "The Plant Messiah" (a name subsequently used by Sir David Attenborough), we were delighted that Señor Don Carlos could join us for a Chit-Chat.  Carlos had many a story to tell! We learn all about the smallest waterlily in the world, how it was discovered, and how Carlos brought it back from the brink of extinction - thanks largely to his tortellini Eureka moment. And we hear all the details about his work with the "living dead" Café Marron that we saw on Gardeners' World 2026 Episode 1.We also find out about Carlos' unconventional route into Kew, Brits and their tea vs Spanish and their wine, his affection for Asturias, the disparity between plant and animal conservation, user-friendly cacti, the draw of "flowery powery", headless tortoises, rare plants being stolen and sold on eBay, what Carlos gets up to with the quince tree at Kew, and why grannies know best. Gardens or nursery recommendations from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Kew GardensMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/

Post Drama FrenzyOn Gardeners' World 2026 Episode 24 Recap, we learn the sad news that Monty Don is hanging up his Gardeners' World boots and blue shirts at the end of this series.We also find out about how vultures deal with parasites and bacteria on carcasses, the unsavoury way Xanthan gum is made, what it means if you have nightmares once a week, a final indefinite definitive answer to whether it's a mole or mould at Longmeadow, and we have a generous offer for our listeners and subscribers, from Harrogate Autumn Flower Show🕺On Gardeners' World this week, we hop on another Zoom call with Carol Klein - this time she's chatting leaves with leaf physiologist Dr Lorna McAusland from the Hounsfield Facility at Nottingham University. Kyle and Filo Hamilton show us their houseplants in Edinburgh, and Rachel De Thame chats with Millie Souter, Head Gardener at The Serge Hill Project in Abbots Langley. Finally Garden Designer Paul Foster from Allium Gardeners shows us around his beautiful wildlife-friendly garden in Suffolk.🌿Don't forget to subscribe to receive episode plant lists and early access on offers🌸Relevant links can be found on our website: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

Kevin, Head of Tree Collections and Arboriculture at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, was on Gardeners' World 2026 episode 8 when he joined Eliot Barden at Majestic Trees to talk about native versus non-native trees in our changing climate.On this episode of Chit-Chats, we hear about Kevin's background as a commercial tree surgeon for 10 years before arriving at Kew and pursuing an HND, degree, a Masters, and now a PhD - phew! We find out about stomatal conductance, the impact of dry heat versus humid heat on trees, rethinking the Great British garden, what drinking water in 2050 is going to be like, and how it's not a one rule fits all.We also learn about the responsibility we have when it comes to managing our own gardens in terms of practical planting and how we irrigate, and the very important role garden designers play.  Gardens or nursery recommendations from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Kew GardensHirkan National ParkHillier Tree NurseryMajestic TreesWakehurst Botanical GardensMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/

On Gardeners' World 2026 Episode 23 Recap, we look at returning to uni, mushroom-based coffins, droughty plans for the garden, and was it mould or moles?🤷🏼‍♀️In our CCCUP, we hear about the wonderful Nigel Palfrey from ep15 of Chit-Chats. He was of course on Gardeners' World in 2024 showing viewers his incredible Crinkle Crankle Folly, and is currently working on a Crinkle Crankle Cabin for St Margaret's hospice in Somerset. And if you're lucky, you can help him with the build!We also remind our listeners of the fantastic offer from the RHS - 25 pairs of free tickets to the Gardeners' Question Time recording at 2pm on 5th September at RHS Wisley Flower Show. First come, first served, but if you're quick, you too can be added to the guest list to pose your questions to Matthew Pottage, Chris Beardshaw, Chris Thorogood, Matthew Wilson, Pippa Greenwood, Frances Tophill, James Wong, Marcus Chilton-Jones and Kathy Clugston. You may also find yourself sitting next to one or two of our awesome Chit-Chat guests👀On Gardeners' World this week, abi and Tom Attwood from Abi and Tom's Garden Plants, show us around their beautiful nursery in Grange-Over-Sands, and Joe Swift is in Dorset with Alison and Alan Redman, and Maxine and Rob at their inspiring Glenholme Herbs nursery in Sherborne. Finally Rekha Mistry talks pots in the Peak District before Ian Scott shows us his impressive agave collection in Harold Wood.🌿Don't forget to subscribe to receive episode plant lists and early access on offers🌸Relevant links can be found on our website: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

Stephanie was on Gardeners' World 2022 Winter Special Episode 4 when she gave a masterclass in growing food for year-round harvests.On this episode of Chit-Chats, Stephanie shares her views on crop rotation and companion planting, how she's handling heatwaves and drought on her smallholding, grim reaper waterproofs, viking zombies, what to do with rhubarb, and the beauty of bleak.We also hear what Stephanie would have in her dream garden, spoiler - there are edibles galore!Gardens or nursery recommendations from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Ian Sturrock & SonsMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/