Gardening with the RHS

Meet one of our most loved and hated native plants. You might think of ivy as a destroyer of buildings or a nuisance weed, but it’s actually just been crowned the most popular flower with pollinating insects in an 8 year study by the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. It’s also the RHS Wildlife Wonder plant for October, so our Science and Horticulture editor Olivia Drake is here to explain what makes it so valuable, and worth including in your garden. Staying with plant wonders, did you know if you dream of cucumbers, it means you might speedily fall in love? RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions Fiona Davison offers fascinating tales of vegetable folklore for an upcoming online seminar. Hyde Hall’s Andy Tebbutt tells us why autumn is the best time of year for planting, but what’s happening to that plant when you put it in the ground? And Gareth Richards and Melissa Mabbitt answer your gardening questions.

Host: Gareth Richards

Producer: Dan Cocker

Contributors: Olivia Drake, Fiona Davison, Andy Tebbutt, Melissa Mabbitt

Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk

Links:

Ivy

Butterfly Conservation pollinator survey

Vegetables, dreams and folklore

RHS Libraries

Why autumn is the best time for planting

A new season, and a new edition of The Plant Review, the quarterly magazine published by The RHS that delves a little deeper than the regular RHS Garden mag. If you prefer your plant stories and horticultural happenings that bit more detailed, The Plant Review is the publication for you. In this special programme, RHS plant pathologist Jassy Drakulic talks fungi in lawns, Plant Review editor James Armitage tells the story of Blanche Ada’s Thornycroft apples, and Gareth Richards and Melissa Mabbitt answer your gardening questions.

Host: Gareth Richards, James Armitage

Producer: Dan Cocker

Contributors: Jassy Drakulic, Melissa Mabbitt



Links:

The Plant Review

Waxcap Watch

Thornycroft apples

Plants mentioned by James:

Haplocarpha scaposa

Lepechinia hastata

Eryngium pandanifolium

Vernonia crinita

Cyperus involucratus

Carex secta

Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk

So many jobs to do at this time of year, but not enough time! As we rush to garden centres and nurseries, you can make it easier on yourself by narrowing down your new plant choices to those which are ultra wildlife friendly. Pollinators will always appreciate a helping hand, and a good place to start is with a new RHS guide, Plants for Pollinators. One of the authors, RHS entomologist Josie Stuart, is on the podcast to talk about what to plant now to boost wildlife diversity. If edibles are more your thing, Guy Barter offers sobering news on the future of Britain’s favourite brassicas – is it the end of the line for cauliflowers? And we continue our guide to essential jobs to do in autumn, this time it’s why and how to divide perennials.

Host: Gareth Richards

Producer: Dan Cocker

Contributors: Josie Stuart, Guy Barter, Nick Petters, Melissa Mabbitt

Links:

Plants for Pollinators

Autumn ox eye daisy - Leucanthemella serotina

No more cauliflowers Guardian article

Dividing perennials

Rootstocks for fruit

Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk

Head to the bottom of the garden this month and you might end up with a face full of spiders’ webs. Before you run screaming into the house, RHS spider expert Ben Brough offers an insight into why an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare is a fantastic garden ally. Want more plants for next spring without the cost of buying? RHS Garden Wisley’s Sam Gallivan teaches us how to take root cuttings and instantly multiply your plants for free. Last week we ended our series looking at bulbs to plant now for spring interest, and today we begin a new series of serious jobs for serious gardeners throughout a busy autumn, beginning with autumn veg planting with Liz Mooney.

Host: Gareth Richards

Producer: Dan Cocker

Contributors: Ben Brough, Sam Gallivan, Liz Mooney, Melissa Mabbitt



Links:

Wildlife gardening advice

Plants for bugs

Taking root cuttings

Grow your own fruit and veg: September

Liz Mooney’s allotment life

Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk

Many listeners’ turf will have taken a bashing over summer, and now is the time to glow-up the green. RHS Garden Wisley’s Jim Millward shares his tips on how to get your grass ready for autumn. The holiday is officially over for our houseplants, time to bring them back inside after enjoying a hot summer. RHS indoor plant specialist Freddy Fuller offers do’s and don’ts for seasonal houseplant success. And to round-off a month of spring bulb suggestions, RHS Wisley’s Jess Jansdotter offers her choice in the final 'Bulb of the Week' of September. Plus, we answer some of your gardening questions.

Host: Gareth Richards

Producers: Dan Cocker

Contributors: Jim Millward, Freddy Fuller, Jess Jansdotter, Melissa Mabbitt

Links:

Lawncare advice

Autumn houseplant advice:

Snowdrops

Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk