Join Richard in this weeks podcast in which Richard has spent this Easter Weekend gardening. Chef Scott is also back with another tasty recipe.
Kitchen Garden Update: Easter Weekend Gardening
Over this weekend Richard has spent a lot of time in his kitchen garden. It started with a good tidy up ensuring all weeds where removed and the grass cut. Followed up with cementing in a washing line, another use for the garden and Richard finally removed an elder tree.
Richard was reluctant to remove this elder tree but being to close to the neighbours fence he felt it needed to go. Added to that Richard will also get wood chip from the removal of this tree.
On the bank holiday Monday Richard also spent the day potting up lots of his plants, getting them into bigger pots.
Allotment update:
Down the allotment Richard is still finding it a little too early to plant out any plants but that doesn't mean he cant prepare. He went through every bed removing every single weed and followed that up with a good cut of the grass paths. This has made the allotment look amazing and prepared for the growing season.
The grass clippings of course where not wasted and used as a mulch around many of Richards plants, Locking in moisture and suppressing weeds.
Added to that so many fruit trees and bushes are in flower and it looks like its going to be a good year for currents.
Chef Scott's recipe of the week
Chef Scott is back with another delicious recipe using a large amount of coriander. This Chermoula is a vibrant and tasty dip.
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29:11
#601 We’re Trying Again At Straw Bale Gardening
Join Richard in this weeks episode of the veg grower podcast. This week Richard is having another go at straw bale gardening in the kitchen garden. Down the allotment Richard has been sowing lots of seeds directly into the ground, and finally Richard is joined by Lee Connolly The Skinny Jean Gardener to discuss national kids gardening week.
Of course chef Scott is also back with another delicious recipe.
Kitchen garden update: Straw Bale Gardening.
A couple of years ago Richard tried Straw Bale Gardening. A method of growing plants in straw bales. However, when Richard tried he didn't feel it was as successful as it could be, so this year he decided to give it another go.
Richard has got 2 straw bales and set them in position and started the conditioning phase of this system. The conditioning phase is where Richard believed he went wrong last time as he used the incorrect fertiliser to start it off. This time he is using urea to add a high amount of nitrogen to the straw bales. This should hopefully get the bales started correctly but there is a routine to this conditioning phase as below.
Day 11/2 cup urea per baleWater until saturatedDay 2Water until saturatedDay 31/2 cup urea per baleWater until saturatedDay 45litre water per baleDay 51/2 cup urea per bale5litre per baleDay 65litre per baleDay 71/4 cup urea per bale5litre per baleDay 81/4 cup urea per bale5litre per baleDay 91/4 cup urea per bale5litre per baleDay 101 cup balanced fertiliser5litre per baleDay 111 cup balanced fertiliser5litre per baleDay 121 cup balanced fertiliser5litre per bale
After this the straw bales are ready for planting. Check out the Digwell YouTube Channel for more.
Allotment update: Sowing Seeds Directly.
Down on the allotment Richard has been busy clearing and preparing the allotment for the growing season. But that also includes sowing a few seeds directly, which is something Richard rarely does.
However some seeds do need direct sowing and they include:
Carrots
Parsnips
Peas
Links are included to Premier seeds direct.
Chef Scott's recipe of the week.
Chef Scott is back with his recipe of the week and this weeks its another simple dish using radishes. Roasted Radishes with feta is sure to delight anyone who eats this dish.
National Kids Gardening Week.
In the last segment this week Richard is joined by his friend and fellow gardening podcaster, Lee Connelly The Skinny Jean Gardener.
Lee's here this week to promote and upcoming event, National Children's gardening week. THe plan is to get as many children and families out into the garden this week, with prizes up for grabs.
Support this podcast
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40:12
#600 Hotbin vs Dalek
Join Richard in the 600th episode of the veg grower podcast. This week Richard has an update from the allotment followed by a new trail, Hotbin vs Dalek.
At the end of this podcast you can also be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets to gardeners world spring fair on Sunday the 4th May 2025
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30:11
#599 Seed Of The Month Pumpkins
Join richard in this weeks podcast in which Richard shares the seed of the month Pumpkins. Richard also shares the latest from the kitchen garden and his thoughts on this months book of the month.
Kitchen garden update Whitefly and more space.
Over the last week, while Richard inspected his young plants he noticed some white aphids on his chillies. While only a small infestation it was time to take quick action. Richard used an organic pesticide which worked within a day but wasn't Richards preferred choice.
Richard also needed his kitchen table back with family over for mothering Sunday. This table was full of plants so Richard went out and bought a vegtrug nursery to house his plants outside, but still undercover. So far so good.
Seed of the month Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a delicious and easy to grow edible, but often over looked as used for Halloween carvings. Well Richard prefers to grow food and this month Richard delves into growing pumpkins.
Links to suggested varieties
Crown Prince
Vif d'etempas
Atlantic giant
Big Max
JAck Be little
White baby boo
Chef Scott recipe of the week
This week Chef Scott has a delicious pea guacamole using pea instead of avocado
And finally
Richard finishes off with a review of the book of the month for March Allotted time by Robin Shelton. A great example of how gardening can help us deal with tough times.
Richard also answers a question about his root trainers
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30:01
#598 Springing Into Action
Join Richard in this weeks podcast in which Richard is springing into action. With Spring officially here its time to really get to work and this week Richard has been busy on the allotment cutting the grass and tending to his garlic. In the kitchen garden Richard has also been busy potting on lots of plants and planting up his greenhouse in order to grow food. Chef Scott is also back with another tasty recipe.
Allotment update: Springing into action
Down on Richards allotment, Richard has been cutting the grass over the last couple of weeks. Not the most exciting of tasks but this week Richard has made this task a little easier by investing in some new strimmer line for his ryobi grass strimmer and adding a bigger battery to his collection of ryobi batteries. This has made the grass cutting task much easier.
Added to that Richard has also tended to his over wintered garlic and onions. They are starting to show signs that they are springing into action. But they needed a good feed and with the dry spell we have had lately a good watering.
Kitchen Garden Update: Greenhouse is go.
Back at home Richard has been busy sowing more seeds, pricking out more seedlings and potting up young plants. All of which is taking up precious space!!
However there is light at the end of the tunnel as the weather has improved and temperatures inside the grow house and tunnel now means that young plants can live in this 2 places. With that Richard has moved plants into these areas freeing up space indoors.
Not only that with the greenhouse now war, enough Richard has planted some young veg plants into the autopot system in the greenhouse. Richard trailed the autopot system last year and was so impressed with the result he decided to expand upon it this year. If you are interested in the autopot don't forget Richards discount code AUTO10RVG when buying from Autopot
Chef Scott's Recipe Of The Week
This week Chef Scott is back with another delicious recipe. A delicious spring vegetable and mozzarella filo parcels cooked in an air fryer!!
A great snack or to take on a lovely picnic and cooked in an air fryer. What's not to love.
And Finally.
Towards the end of this podcast Richard turns his attention to propagation, in particular a method called layering. This method of propagation happens in nature and is a very reliable way to propagate new plants from existing plants.
Premier seeds direct for all your seed needs
Autopot uk a revolutionary watering system for growing the best veg easily. User discount code auto10rvg for 10%off
If you are interested in growing your own food , then this is the podcast for you. Each week Join Richard Suggett as he shares his experience of growing food in his allotment and back garden.
New Zealand