Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This week I’m speaking to Philip Johnson of Johnson’s Sweet Peas. Philip grows and sells plants and seeds via his website and he sells and exhibits his plants at shows across the country, when they’re on! He judges at major shows and has put in 25 years service as a Sweet Pea judge. He is a former chairman of the National Sweet Pea Society/RHS Sweet Pea trials held at Wisley and is currently serving as a member of the RHS Herbaceous Committee. So what Philip doesn’t know abut sweet peas you could write on the back of a stamp and still have room to lick it. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Woolly Aphids About Johnson’s Sweet Peas  Johnson's Sweet Peas is a traditional Sweet Pea specialist, growing their own seeds and plants at their nursery in Kent. Through their extensive breeding programme, they occasionally have brand new varieties available for naming and introduction. Philip grows and sells plants and seeds via his website and he sells and exhibits his plants at shows across the country. He judges at major shows and has put in 25 years service as a Sweet Pea judge. He is a former chairman of the National Sweet Pea Society/RHS Sweet Pea trials held at Wisley and is currently serving as a member of the RHS Herbaceous Committee. What we talk about: When to sow sweet pea seeds Can we succession sow to prolong the season? Pinching out seedlings Deadheading; why? Essential? Why do stems get shorter as the season progresses?  Watering, feeding, soil requirements Best kinds of supports for sweet peas Pests and diseases Wildlife value Best varieties for scent Colours in sweet pea flowers Colour trends for next year. Exciting developments on the horizon in sweet pea breeding? Links: www.johnsonssweetpeas.co.uk Philip Johnson on Twitter Johnson’s Sweet Peas on Instagram  National Sweet Pea Society on Twitter 

This week I’m speaking to biologist and ecologist Sophie Leguil. Sophie is an outspoken and passionate advocate for nature, plants and wildlife and can often be found on social media, helping make sense of complex concepts that affect gardeners and their outdoor spaces. We talk a bit about public spaces, a bit about gardens and urban areas and we touch upon what can happen when you try to stand up for what you believe in. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Tardegrades About Sophie Leguil: “Trained as a biologist & ecologist, with experience in horticulture, I am fascinated by the natural world in all its forms. I have a soft spot for plants, from the tiniest orchid at the top of a Vietnamese mountain, to the blousiest iris in a 18th century garden. I currently work freelance in the UK and France, as a writer, photographer, speaker, translator and wildlife tour leader. My BSc research focused on pollens of Psychotria (a fascinating genus with ethnobotanical uses), and my MSc on systematics of a small genus of African orchids. I am particularly interested in the love-hate relationship between plant conservation and horticulture, and more specifically how growing plants can help us better understand, preserve and raise awareness on need to conserve plants.” https://naturanaute.com/about/ What we talk about: Rewilding Warren Park Meadows and wildflower planting Sophie’s ‘More Than Weeds’ Project Brownfield sites and their ecological value The future of nature under our current government Links: www.naturanaute.com www.morethanweeds.co.uk Sophie Leguil on Twitter Sophie Leguil on Instagram More Than Weeds on Twitter   

This week I’m speaking to garden designer, writer and podcast host Rachel McCartain. Rachel believes the garden should work for you, that it should suit your lifestyle. If you struggle to reconcile the garden you want with the time you have to spend on it, this is the episode for you. Whether you have your own garden or you create gardens for others, Rachel’s advice will no doubt prove useful. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Tree Bumblebees About Rachel McCartain: Rachel founded PlantPlots.com an online garden design company which is now one of the world's most popular websites. PlantPlots offers uniquely practical garden design advice, with the aim of making gardening easier for everyone. In addition PlantPlots creates affordable and practical garden design for anyone with a garden. She has designed gardens in both the UK and the USA and presents the popular gardening podcast The Plotting Shed. It was whilst transforming her second garden, she began to wonder why with all the thousands of gardening books available do so many gardens all look the same! A lawn in the middle surrounded by borders hugging the fence and a couple of hanging baskets. It began to dawn on her that the reason was because all these books showed how to make A garden but didn't say how the reader could change THEIR garden - and that's why PlantPlots was founded. To help you make the gardening easier. Rachel currently lives by the sea in West Sussex UK, she is married with 3 children. Although having pets has never been high on her list of must haves, her garden does boast a chicken wire heron named Eric, a shoal of wire ‘Michael’ fish (named after a departed uncle) and in pride of place a 7-foot sunbathing topiary leopard called Ingwe. Rachel is currently planning whether to ‘grow’ a giraffe or some antelopes. What we talk about: Useful ways of analysing your garden from a planting and design perspective Having a garden that works for your skills and your schedule Buying plants for your garden Links: I Want to Like my Garden by Rachel McCartain The PlantPlots website PlantPlots on Facebook PlantPlots on Instagram

This week I’m speaking to botanical storyteller Amanda Edmiston. Amanda trained in herbalism and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of historical plants and botanical figures but in this episode, we focus mainly on what Amanda does and her work around Elizabeth Blackwell’s book ‘A Curious Herbal’. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Conopid Flies About Amanda Edmiston: “Amanda takes people into the stories she tells and brings other worlds, redolent with layers of history into people's lives. Immersion into one of Amanda's stories involves all the senses and often reveals facts which are often threatening to drift from the everyday consciousness. Each session is a magical experience and often stays in participants memories for years. Her work weaves together plants, herbs and flowers with traditional tales, facts and her own stories.Amanda creates an enchanted world to take people into, one that is frequently funny and full of unexpected twists. Her work illustrates and is inspired by oral traditions, history, food, smells, places, objects and the audience themselves. Working with people in museums , botanical gardens, libraries, wherever they are, Amanda's work opens up different possibilities and can enhance a range of events and projects.” https://www.botanicafabula.co.uk/about What we talk about: The art of botanical storytelling Elizabeth Blackwell’s ‘A Curious Herbal’ The lost connection with nature? Historical herbals Links: Amanda’s website: www.botanicafabula.co.uk The Botanica Fabula Facebook group 

This week I’m speaking to nationally acclaimed entomologist and author of the book ‘Wasp’, Richard Bugman Jones, about a species of wildlife that may not spring to mind as one of your immediate favourites. Wasps, yellow jackets, jaspers, stripy bastards…whatever you call these members of the insect world and whether you love them or loathe them, you will certainly learn lots about them as Richard explains their life cycles and the role they play in ecosystems. If you’re not convinced to become a full-blown wasp lover by the end of the episode, I suspect you will at least have a grudging respect for these resilient creatures. (FYI This episode was recorded a while ago, so it may sound as if we're talking in late winter.) About Richard Jones: Richard writes about insects, wildlife and the environment for a number of publications such as Gardener’s World and BBC Wildlife magazines, The Guardian and The Sunday times. He guests on programmes such as Radio 4’s Home Planet and Natural Histories, plus is the author of many books, full list below. He is a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and of the Linneaen Society of London. He’s past president of the British Entomological and Natural History Society.  What we talk about: The number of species of wasps plus which wasps you’re most likely to find in your garden The life cycle of a wasp A look at a typical nest What stings worse, a wasp, bee or hornet? Invasive species Links: Richard Jones’s website: www.bugmanjones.com Books by Richard Jones Wasp - Reaktion Books, 2019 Beetles - Collins New Naturalists Series, 2018  Call of Nature: The Secret Life of Dung - Pelagic Publishing, 2017  House Guests, House Pests - Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016  Nano Nature - Collins, 2008  Mosquito - Reaktion Books, 2012  The Little Book of Nits - A & C Black Publishers, 2012  Extreme Insects - HarperCollins, 2010  Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall   

This episode is somewhat of a follow-up to my interview with Jeff Lowenfels in Episode 51. Following that interview, I found myself asking a few more questions, particularly about how we’re progressing with research into mycorrhizal fungi here in the UK. So here I am talking to Petra Guy, who’s based at Reading University. Petra looks mainly at woodland health from the perspective of mycorrhizal fungi but we cover a lot of garden territory too including proprietary fungi mixes, composts and replant disease. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Crab Spider About Petra Guy: Petra is a postgraduate researcher at the University of Reading modelling the responses of trees to climate, land-use soils and mycorrhizal symbioses. Currently exploring game theory as a means of understanding different ectomycorrhizal/plant relationships and responses. What We Discuss: How long mycorrhizal fungi can persist in the soil without a host The efficacy of proprietary mixes Saving soil over the winter to inoculate next year's crop Replant disease Should we be building ‘soil bridges’? Susan Simard’s concept of mother trees in forests Links: Episode 51: Mycorrhizal Fungi with Jeff Lowenfels Suzanne Simard TED Talk Paul Stamets - Host Defence Mushropoms Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall  Instagram @rootsandallpod  Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon  Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe 

This week I’m talking to Vicki Cooke of Plant Heritage. Plant Heritage is a UK charity that works to conserve cultivated garden plants, predominantly through the National Plant Collection scheme and their Plant Guardians initiative. Think National Plant Collections are the preserve of stately homes with huge gardens or horticultural institutions? Not at all! In fact, you could start you own on an allotment, in your greenhouse or porch, you could choose a genera with a 1000 species or just one and choose anything from trees to houseplants. All you need is a passion for a particular group of plants and you can join the ranks of experts and plant fans helping to look after our cultivated plants for future generations.  Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Gooseberry Sawfly About Vicki Cooke: Vicki Cooke is the Conservation Manager at Plant Heritage, and has spent much of her career delving into plants and their history. From Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library, growing and saving seed from heirloom vegetables, to the Hampton Court Palace kitchen garden and now at Plant Heritage, Vicki has always been passionate about growing and conserving our garden plants. What We Discuss: What is Plant Heritage National Collections and why they are important The Missing Genera project Some of the genera that don’t already have a home What is involved in becoming a National Collection holder? How you can take part Links: www.plantheritage.org.uk Missing Genera top 10 for 2020, plus a link to the long list of all genera without a National Plant Collection  How to start a National Plant Collection  Join and support the National Plant Collections  Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall  Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon  Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe 

This week I’m talking to Dr Lionel Smith, horticulture lecturer and author of the book Tapestry Lawns: Freed from Grass and Full of Flowers. As the title suggests, a tapestry lawn replaces grass with flowering dicots, increasing biodiversity, lowering maintenance needs and seriously upping the aesthetic value of a lawn. Living with a tapestry lawns involves a little bit of self-education around how you treat plants and I start by asking how to overcome one of my own biggest worries about having one… Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Painted Lady Butterfly About Dr Lionel Smith: Dr Lionel Smith received his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Reading in 2014. He is currently Lecturer in Horticulture at Myerscough College, Lancashire, and lives in St. Anne’s-on-Sea. What We Discuss: The history of lawns What is a Tapestry lawn? Tapestry lawn maintenance Height convergence and why it's relevant to Tapestry lawns Tapestry lawns and wildlife  Tapestry lawns over winter Sourcing plants for a Tapestry lawns What does the future hold for Tapestry lawns?  Links: www.grassfreelawns.co.uk   Tapestry Lawns : Freed from Grass and Full of Flowers by Lionel Smith - Taylor & Francis, 2019 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall  Instagram @rootsandallpod  Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon   Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe 

This week I’m chatting with Stephanie Hafferty. Amongst other things, Stephanie is a writer, speaker, long-time champion of No-Dig gardening, a food growing expert, a talented chef she shares some brilliant tips with us this week. The knowledge comes thick and fast in this episode, so you may want to grab a pen and paper before you begin listening! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Asian Hornets About Stephanie Hafferty: “I’m an organic no dig kitchen gardener, plant based cook, award winning food & gardening writer, small scale homesteader and mum of three. I live in Bruton, a small market town in rural Somerset where I grow delicious vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs in my garden and allotment using no dig methods.  I love reading (I studied  Literature and Art History at university and worked as an English teacher), crafting, visiting interesting places, exploring the countryside, trying out new recipes and food, making potions and learning new skills.” https://nodighome.com/about/ What We Discuss: Avoiding bolting crops The best way to pick leafy crops to prevent bolting When to sow to stop bolting Eat crops like rocket and mustard greens when they’ve flowered Quick fillers for gaps Gluts of crops How can we avoid gluts Preserving food Deadheading and harvesting Crops that people might think have gone past their best but are actually still usable Links: Stephanie's website nodighome.com Stephanie Hafferty on Twitter  Stephanie Hafferty on Instagram  The Creative Kitchen by Stephanie Hafferty No Dig Organic Home & Garden by Charles Dowding & Stephanie Hafferty  Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall  Instagram @rootsandallpod  Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon  Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe 

This week I’m speaking to Andrew Hesser, the man behind Bryan’s Quest, a website and YouTube channel dedicated to exploring the natural world from the perspective of Bryan, a blind person. Andrew is also blind and draws on his personal experiences of gardening, volunteering for the National Trust and getting out and about in nature to produce videos and a library of resources for gardeners, in order to highlight how the natural world can be experienced without sight. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Grasshoppers About Andrew Hesser: “I’ve been blind for many years and I’ve enjoyed the challenge of study, work and family life. There have, of course, been difficult times when I’ve struggled to keep positive as I’ve ‘battled’ hard to get information made accessible to me. It is, for example frustrating to find shops full of cookery and gardening books totally inaccessible to me. Then there are the significant challenges of getting around using buses, trains, taxis and on foot, especially in new locations. It is only in the past five years, or so that I have started to discover new ways of engaging with and enjoying nature and this naturally leads to wanting to learn more about the wonderful wildlife we are all surrounded by. However, much of the natural world is presented in a visual way, with colourful photos in books and amazing television documentaries. In fact it’s easy for all of us to think of nature being predominantly a visual experience, with all those beautiful views across gardens, countryside landscapes and hill-top vistas. However, I continue to explore the opportunities to appreciate nature using hearing, touch, smell and taste. There is a lot of work to be done to arrange facilities and services to fully exploit the use of all five senses to appreciate the natural world. Gardening is one readily available pastime that brings me very close to nature. Without sight all of the non-visual senses can be applied to get success in the garden and a feeling of achievement.  However, this can only be obtained by developing discipline to be  methodical, patient and resourceful to get truly meaningful pleasures from sowing, growing and caring for plants.” What We Discuss: Some of the biggest challenges faced by partially sighted or blind gardeners Navigating around the garden and other outdoor spaces What we’re missing out on in gardens if we just focus on the visual Playing to the other senses - including particularly good plants or garden features Methods and processes that help when working in the garden  Gardening as an activity for those visually impaired people who may not have already tried it What do visually impaired people need more (or less of) of in public gardens? Helpful resources  Links: www.bryansquest.org  Bryan’s Quest on Twitter  Bryan’s Quest YouTube Channel  www.look-uk.org  www.sensing-nature.com  Mr Plant Geek  Carry On Gardening Candide App  Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall  Instagram @rootsandallpod  Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon