Gardening with the RHS Gardening Through Extremes: Survival, Heatwaves & Budget Hacks
Aug 21, 2025
Join Tom Hart Dyke, a modern-day plant hunter and founder of the World Garden, as he shares an extraordinary tale of survival from the Panamanian jungle. Guy Barter, RHS chief horticulturist, offers essential tips for thriving plants during extreme heat and drought, including sustainable watering methods. Nick Turrell, RHS horticultural advisor, shares budget-friendly gardening hacks to help you cultivate your green space without overspending. Together, they explore how to adapt and innovate in the face of climate challenges!
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Plant Hunting Has Evolved
- Historic plant hunting often involved exploitation and ecological harm during colonial eras.
- Modern plant hunting focuses on conservation, collaboration and legal protections with local partners.
Memorable Botanical Moments
- Tom describes seeing Puya berteroniana's enormous flowering spikes and naming a penstemon after his granny.
- He contrasts plant losses in captivity with long-term joy from establishing diverse collections at Lullingstone.
Water Deeply, Not Frequently
- Water deeply and less frequently to reach roots instead of just wetting the surface.
- Use repeated watering with pauses or ponding until about four watering cans per square metre soak in.