'Gardening with the RHS' offers seasonal advice, inspiration and practical solutions to gardening problems. Trusted gardening professionals give you the latest ...
With the festive gift giving season just around the corner, this week we’ve turned our attention to the botanical wonders awaiting us on the bookshelf. We’ve invited journalist, author, and gardening enthusiast Ann Treneman and horticultural hero and authority on all things plants, Guy Barter to join our host - head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS, Fiona Davison, to chat about some of their favourite garden reads from the past 12 months.
Host: Fiona Davison
Contributors: Ann Treneman, Guy Barter
Visit the RHS Bookshelf
Books mentioned:
Horti Curious: A Gardener's Miscellany of Fascinating Facts & Remarkable Plants by Ann Treneman
RHS Garden Almanac 2025 by Guy Barter and Zia Allaway
The Accidental Garden: Gardens, Wilderness and the Space In Between by Richard Mabey
Good Nature: The New Science of How Nature Improves Our Health by Kathy Willis
Brutalist Plants by Olivia Broome
Small Space Revolution by Tayshan Hayden Smith
A Year Full of Pots by Sarah Raven
A Garden A Day by Ruth Chivers
How Plants Can Save Your Life: 50 Inspirational Ideas for Planting and Growing by Ross Cameron
100 Herbs to Grow by Jekka McVicar
The Crevice Garden: How to Make the Perfect Home for Plants from Rocky Places by Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs
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33:05
Indoor passionflowers, Begonias, and miniature Christmas cactus
This week, we're teaming up with The Plant Review magazine for a houseplant special. Jenny Laville talks to Rebecca Hilgenhof of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to learn about the exciting prospect of growing passionflowers on the windowsill. James Armitage is in conversation with former RHS Director of Horticulture Jim Gardiner to chat all about his favourite houseplant, Begonia masoniana, and the famous plantsman who it is named for. Plus, Kevin Mann shares his love of the miniature Christmas cactus.
Passionflowers mentioned: Passiflora citrina, Passiflora murucuja and Passiflora boenderi.
Host: Gareth Richards and James Armitage
Contributors: Rebecca Hilgenhof, Jim Gardiner, Kevin Mann, Jenny Laville
Other Links:
The Plant Review
The Orchid Review
RHS Plant Finder 2025
Passion Flower Cultivation
Become a member of the RHS
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42:55
National Tree Week
We’re marking National Tree Week, an annual celebration at the start of the tree planting season, and an opportunity for us to wax lyrical about the wonderful world of trees. We’ll be hearing some fascinating stories about the art of tree collecting and the human connection to our woodlands from author and artist Amy Stewart. We’ll be catching up on the latest news from RHS Garden Rosemoor as they set out on a conservation project to protect one of our most rare but little known native trees. And if you’re feeling inspired to get outside and start digging, Bob Askew will be bringing us his thoughts on the best trees for small spaces.
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Bob Askew, Amy Stewart, Jonathan Webster
Other Links:
National Tree Week
How to plant a tree
Trees for small gardens
Amy Stewart - The Tree Collectors
Devon Whitebeam
RHS Garden Rosemoor
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29:57
Medlars, Ornamental Grasses, and Elizabeth Blackwell
This week we explore the fascinating stories and brilliant work of three exceptional plantswomen. Only recently has pioneering 18th-century herbalist Elizabeth Blackwell received proper recognition for her work A Curious Herbal – a beautifully illustrated botanical text that was, for centuries, mistakenly attributed to her scandal-prone husband! Fiona Davison, Head of RHS Libraries & Exhibitions, shares insights into Blackwell’s life and her groundbreaking work, which was created at a time of rapid botanical discovery in Europe as exotic plants flooded into the Western world. We also hear from passionate plantswoman Jane Steward, a dedicated advocate for the medlar, a rare fruit that was once beloved across the UK – even by King Henry VIII. And finally horticulturist Sarah Wilson-Frost from RHS Garden Hyde Hall will be sharing some excellent advice on growing ornamental grasses to add year-round interest to your garden.
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Jane Steward, Fiona Davison, Sarah Wilson-Frost, Jenny Laville
Other Links:
A Curious Herbal
RHS Hyde Hall
How to grow medlars
RHS advice on growing ornamental grasses
When is a grass not a grass?
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37:12
Hedgehogs, Houseplants and Homegrown veg
This week we find out how to help our beloved prickly friends, as RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist Helen Bostock explains the threats to hedgehogs, and what we can do as gardeners to support them. Next we head indoors to find out how tailoring your potting mix can give your houseplants a new lease of life, with the lovely folks at Soil Ninja. Finally, if you’re looking for an autumn project, why not build some raised beds? We glean some expert advice on how to go about this, with RHS horticulturist Peter Adams.
Host: Jenny Laville
Contributors: Helen Bostock, Amy Loosley, Levent Latif-Maeer, Peter Adams
Other Links:
National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy
Hedgehog-friendly gardening
Hedgehog street
Wild about gardens - Get creative for hedgehogs
Wild about gardens - Make friends with molluscs
Soil Ninja
Grow Your Own Veg Through The Year
Become a member of the RHS
'Gardening with the RHS' offers seasonal advice, inspiration and practical solutions to gardening problems. Trusted gardening professionals give you the latest horticultural advice, scientific research and tried and tested techniques to bring out the best in your garden.
Topics covered include: growing your own vegetables, flowers, garden design, lawn care and gardening with children. Plus expert masterclasses in topics ranging from cottage garden plants, growing orchids, to pest control and eco-friendly gardening.
Plus we’ll have behind the scenes reports from the country’s most prestigious flower shows. There’s something in these podcasts to interest every gardener, whatever your level of expertise.
For more info see www.rhs.org.uk/podcast
A Pixiu production.