Home Grown with Martha and Jamie

In this weeks episode, Martha and Jamie explore the practical things gardeners can do to support summer wildlife, particularly in spells of prolonged warm dry weather. From providing food, water and shelter, to creating breeding spaces for insects, birds and other wildlife. They look at the habitats that help natural predators thrive, including mounds, leaf litter, log piles and beetle banks for ground beetles that eat the most common garden pests 'slugs'. Small ponds, half barrels and even an old Belfast sink can become useful wildlife spaces, while avoiding pesticides remains the most important starting point. Martha investigates whether the rare Viper's Bugloss Mason Bee could be visiting her parents' giant echiums, then tests a homemade moth trap and finds seven Jersey tiger moths

And 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 with 20% off your first order with code 'Homegrown':

Italian Purple Artichoke:
https://shegrowsveg.com/product/artichoke-italian-purple/

We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:

You now send us a message, voice note or picture on Whatsapp: 07999548073
or email us at: hello@homegrownpod.com

Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie Walton
Video Editor and Socials: Thomas Griffin
Artwork: Rare Studio
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August is a month of abundance, but it is also a key moment for planning what comes next. In this episode, Martha and Jamie discuss what to sow, grow and do this month, and why we should keep sowing before light levels fall, while also making the most of our flowers, vegetables and fruit that at their summer peak. They also explain why wasps become more interested in sugary picnics, how to identify and treat deter spider mites, and how to grow saffron and save strawberry runners. As always, this monthly round up episode is also full of personal anecdotes, fun, facts and a reminder to observe the wildlife and plants already sharing the garden.

And 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 with 20% off your first order with code 'Homegrown':

Japanese Wasabi Autumn Radish:
https://shegrowsveg.com/product/autumn-radish-japanese-wasabi/

We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:

You now send us a message, voice note or picture on Whatsapp: +447999548073
or email us at: hello@homegrownpod.com

Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie Walton
Video Editor and Socials: Thomas Griffin
Artwork: Rare Studio

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardening is becoming less predictable. A dry spring can be followed by a summer drought, a late frost can be followed by golf ball sized hail, and plants that once suited the local climate may struggle with new patterns. In this episode, Martha and Jamie explore gardening in a changing climate, from extreme heat and heavy rainfall to milder winters and crops that behave differently under stress. They share practical ways to cool buildings, improve drainage, reduce bolting and choose plants that can cope with less predictable conditions. From there, the conversation moves through El Niño, plants that need winter cold, raised beds, sloped paths, organic matter, cover crops and a call to protect the wildlife that still shares our gardens.

And 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 with 20% off your first order with code 'Homegrown':

Beef and Onion Tree:
https://shegrowsveg.com/product/beef-and-onion-tree/

We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:

You now send us a message, voice note or picture on Whatsapp: 07999548073
or email us at: hello@homegrownpod.com

Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie Walton
Video Editor and Socials: Thomas Griffin
Artwork: Rare Studio

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A garden can produce far more than the obvious harvest. In this episode, Jamie and Martha look at the plant parts, picking techniques and timing decisions that help growers waste less, save money and keep plants cropping for longer. From edible plant parts that supermarkets usually remove and a long-lived brassica that can be picked repeatedly, to succession sowing, relay cropping, cut-and-come-again lettuce and maximising yields from small spaces. This episode is filled with practical tips and advice, as well as the usual anecdotes and fun facts.

And 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 with 20% off your first order with code '
Homegrown:

Kale thousand head:
https://shegrowsveg.com/product/kale-thousandhead/

We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:

You now send us a message, voice note or picture on Whatsapp: 07999548073
or email us at: hello@homegrownpod.com

Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie Walton
Video Editor and Socials: Thomas Griffin
Artwork: Rare Studio

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flowers can do far more than look pretty. In this episode, Martha and Jamie explore the garden as a floral apothecary, looking at the ways flowers and useful plants can become balms, teas, tinctures, scents, natural dyes and simple homemade experiments. From hardy annuals to sow now for stronger blooms next year, and colour changing teas, to how to make a simple soothing slave from calendula, and which popular garden herb Jamie uses to make nourishing hair oil this episode is packed with practical advice and projects to enable you to make the most of those blooms. The conversation also covers natural dyes, from hapa-zome flower hammering and steam dyeing to sulphur cosmos, coreopsis, onion skins, woad, Japanese indigo and true indigo.

And 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:

Calendula Pink Surprise:
https://shegrowsveg.com/product/calendula-pink-surprise/

We love hearing your questions and comments - so please do get in touch:
hello@homegrownpod.com

Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie Walton
Video Editor and Socials: Thomas Griffin
Artwork: Rare Studio

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.