Home Grown with Martha and Jamie

In this episode, Martha and Jamie dive into the joyful, hardworking world of flowers in the vegetable garden. 🌸From multifunctional companion plants that deter pests and boost soil health, to edible blooms that elevate both flavour and beauty on the plate, they explore why flowers deserve a central place in productive spaces. They discuss flowering vegetables and what bolting really means, share fascinating pollination facts, and unpack how attracting insects isn’t just good for biodiversity, it also increases our yields. Expect practical growing tips, fascinating facts, and plenty of encouragement to let your add more blooms to your patch. If you would like to grow our seed of the week, or some of the other varieties we discussed, you can find the links below:Dahlia Bishop’s Childrenhttps://shegrowsveg.com/product/dahlia-bishops-children/?srsltid=AfmBOoorvxUtdcaiseqRdQA1sUhc9chWhxLwOaqr1EYb1WeaJzBnsBM4Nasturtium Purple Emperorhttps://shegrowsveg.com/product/nasturtium-purple-emperor/We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:hello@homegrownpod.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Thomas GriffinArtwork: Rare Studio

In this episode, Jamie and Martha are joined by foraging educator Fern Freud of Foraged by Fern, and Nimbus the dog. From wild garlic and nettles to mushrooms and truffles, they discuss how to start safely, common mistakes, sustainable harvesting, foraging's relationship to gardening, and why it is as much about mindset and as it is about food.We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:hello@homegrownpod.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Thomas GriffinArtwork: Rare Studio

What should we be doing in the garden in February? In this episode, Martha and Jamie walk through February in the garden. They explain what this month is really for, what seeds are worth starting now, what should wait, and how to work with light, cold, and soil to get your plants off to the best possible start. They discuss practical growing advice, seasonal mindset shifts, plant science, and simple rituals that set up the growing season.If you’d like to try our “Seed of the week” or some of the other varieties mentioned, links below:Link to Dwarf Aubergine "Lilac Wand"https://shegrowsveg.com/product/dwarf-aubergine-lilac-wand/Link to Swiss Chard "Peppermint"https://shegrowsveg.com/product/swiss-chard-peppermint/We love hearing your questions and comments - so do get in touch:hello@homegrownpod.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Thomas GriffinArtwork: Rare Studio

In this episode, Jamie and Martha explore everything you need to know about growing chillies and so much more. From when to sow seeds, top tips for success, and how to care for plants indoors or out, to why chillies evolved to be spicy, why you can feed them to a parrot, and how heat is measured, this episode blends practical growing advice with plant science, history, fun trivia, and flavour.If you’d like to try our “Seed of the week” or some of the other varieties mentioned, links below:Link to Chilli “Zimbabwe black”https://shegrowsveg.com/product/chilli-pepper-zimbabwe-black/Link to Chilli “BUENA MULATA”https://shegrowsveg.com/product/chilli-pepper-buena-mulata/We love hearing your questions and comments - so do get in touch:hello@homegrownpod.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Thomas GriffinArtwork: Rare Studio

Why does being in nature make us feel better? In this episode of Home Grown, Jamie and Martha explore the science behind gardening, mental health, and the power of plants. From dementia prevention and grounding to the plant that helped create the contraceptive pill, this is a deep dive into how plants shape our bodies, brains, and society.We love hearing your questions and comments - so do get in touch:homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Thomas GriffinArtwork: Rare Studio

This episode sees Martha Swales and Jamie Walton joined by botanist, author and broadcaster James Wong for a wide-ranging conversation about plants, curiosity, and seeing the natural world a little differently.From growing up in Singapore to training at Kew, James shares how early experiences shaped his fascination with plants and why experimentation has always been at the heart of his work. The chat explores ethnobotany and why culture matters just as much as science when it comes to understanding how we grow, eat, and use plants.They talk TV, from memorable moments on screen to making complex plant science genuinely accessible, as well as James’s famously packed indoor growing experiments and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. They discuss unusual edibles, surprising crops, and plants worth growing now for the future.Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Kate McIntosh and Charlie HewittExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio