Tales From The Potting Bench

Adam Kirtland
Tales From The Potting Bench

A weekly ramble with the most diverse folk from our world of green fingers, green thumbs and dirty knees. Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, herbs and more - it’s bound to be covered. On your commute, or in the garden of your choosing - we’ll be here to keep your ears busy.

  1. 6D AGO

    Louise's Kitchen Garden - Bake, Cook, Grow!

    🍌 Do you like to make food from what you grow? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. This week we’re talking about a plethora of topics – because my guest is…well, they’re someone who does so many different things! If you’re on TikTok and Instagram then you’ll have no doubt have come across Louise’s Kitchen Garden! Louise is a baker, a cook, a gardener and so so much more. In this episode we talk about it all and also how Louise makes so much food from scratch, with the majority coming from her own garden. This is one episode that you’re not going to want to miss! Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Louise then you can find her on Instagram as @louiseskitchengarden1 and also over on TikTok as @If you’d like to see more from Louise then you can find her on Instagram as @louiseskitchengarden1 and also over on TikTok as @gardeningwithlou. Both channels are full to the brim with fantastic food and growing ideas, tips and advice!. Both channels are full to the brim with fantastic food and growing ideas, tips and advice! If our conversation about fruit, veg and flowers has whet your appetite for growing your own then why not build yourself a raised bed and get growing? When it comes to filling your bed then your best option is Raised Bed & Vegetable Soil from Westland Horticulture! This is the perfect foundation for your veg growing journey! This soil is both rich and fertile, with the optimum blend of nutrient for strong roots and leafy, bountiful crops. It is rich in organic matter with a free draining structure that nurtures roots while retaining moisture. Either mix the Raised Bed & Vegetable Soil into your existing soil or create a new vegetable bed to grow bumper crops all year round. Make sure to check out gardenhealth.com now, for more. Until next week, do have a look at my blog and website, below! ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 My Instagram: Here! 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    37 min
  2. MAR 23

    Thomas Radford - Foraging for Food!

    🍄 Have you ever wanted to go foraging but don't know where to start? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. This week I’m in conversation with someone about a topic that I’ve wanted to cover on the podcast for years, foraging! Thomas Radford, otherwise known online as @eatthecountry, is a forager and fanatic about wild food. Across his platforms he shares his experiences with foraging, through not only informative but also genuinely funny content. Listen along now as we discuss how to get started with foraging, what to avoid and not forgetting those all important deadly plants! Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Thomas then you can follow him on all major social media networks where you’ll find his as @eatthecountry! If you’re interested in going on one of his foraging walks then you can find out more on eatthecountry.com If all this talk of foraging and foliage has got you thinking about your plants then why not give them a good feed with Westland’s Organic Seaweed Plant Growth stimulant? This feed is designed and formulated to be the perfect mix to use around your whole garden, specifically giving your plants what they need to growth strong and healthy roots! Not only that but your plants will also benefit from increased strength against disease too! Using Organic Seaweed Plant Growth Stimulant ensures an abundance of stronger, healthier, veg, fruit and flowers. Make sure to check out ⁠gardenhealth.com⁠ now, for more. Until next week, do have a look at my blog and website, below! ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    35 min
  3. MAR 16

    Kevin Smith - Editor of Gardener's World Magazine!

    📖 Ever wondered what it would be like to be the editor of Gardener's World Magazine? Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. This week’s guest has a huge role in the world of horticulture, and in fact – their job is one that sees them sitting at the helm of one of the nation’s most loved magazines. Kevin Smith, is the editor of Gardener’s World Magazine – which is no mean feat! In this episode we talk all about the magazine, what it’s like to have the responsibility for something that we all hold so dear and a big project in his own garden! Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Kevin then you can follow him over on Instagram, where you’ll find him as @kevinsmithgarden If you’d like to give your plants the very best chance of blooming and growing to the best of their ability then give them some oomph with Boost All Purpose Multi-Action Granules, new for 2025! These granules support your plants at every single stage of their growth and provide up to 6 months of slow release feed, resulting in even stronger roots, greener foliage, healthier plants, and you guessed it, more blooms! Simply mix them into your Boost All Purpose Compost when planting up, and continue with regular feeding using Boost All Purpose Liquid Plant feed to give your plants the ultimate boost all round! Make sure to check out gardenhealth.com now, for more. Until next week, do have a look at my blog and website, below! ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    35 min
  4. MAR 9

    Ben Newell - Terrific Terrariums!

    🪴This week, it's all about terrariums! Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. This week’s guest does something truly unique in the plant world, in fact I don’t know anyone else at all that does it quite like them. Houseplants come in all shapes and sizes but my guest this week has chosen to adopt terrariums as their particular area of interest. Ben Newell, otherwise known online as Worcester Terrariums, is a content creator and terrariums fanatic that has created terrariums that have gone seriously viral online, amassing millions of views, and for good reason! We discuss how Ben got into terrariums, what makes a good terrarium and so much more. Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Ben then you can find him right across all major social media platforms, such as Instagram, as @worcesterterrariums And don’t forget to seek our Ben’s book, Hello Tiny World, available now from all good bookshops and you can find out more, here. Outdoor gardeners or indoor growers, we’re all the same really – doing this for the love of plants. And right now, there is lots to be getting on with indoors, with looking after your houseplants. Thankfully Westland have an extensive range of composts and potting mixes to keep all your plants thriving. Their houseplant potting mixes even include some specially developed for nourishing for Bonsai, Cacti and Citrus plants too! Not only that, but they also have houseplant feeds that are enriched with the essential nutrients that keeps your plants growing strong and healthy. Whether you’re a seasoned houseplant pro or a newbie, check out Westland’s houseplant hub at gardenhealth.com/houseplant-hub for some great advice on caring for your indoor jungle! Until next week, do have a look at my blog and website, below! ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    44 min
  5. MAR 2

    David Domoney - Plants with Superpowers

    The podcast is back and with a bang!! 💥 Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, your go-to podcast for all things green and growing! This is where, you'll hear fascinating stories from plant lovers, experts, and passionate growers who are just as obsessed with plants as you and I. Let's kick off Season 8 as we mean to go on and in the first episode of a brand-new season, I'm joined by someone with passion, enthusiasm and knowledge by the barrow load - broadcaster and horticulturalist, David Domoney. David is well recognised right across the UK for his appearances on many TV shows over the years, as much as he is for his numerous show gardens and displays at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and beyond. David is also the author of a brand-new book, which you’re going to love! We discuss all of that, and more, in this episode - enjoy! If you’d like to see more from David then you can find him on Instagram as @daviddomoney! David’s YouTube Channel, which can also be found on there as @DavidDomoney – where you’ll find hints, tips, advice and more on a wide range of topics. David’s upcoming book Plants with Superpowers: 75 Remarkable Plants for your Garden and Home is out at the end of this month, and you can pre-order it now, here. While it might be winter, there is plenty to be doing in the garden right now and thankfully Westland have a range of composts to keep you gardening right through these colder months! Right now, I’m potting up new perennials with their excellent Boost All Purpose, peat free compost which is proven to give you up to four times more blooms from your flowers! You’ll be pleased to know that Westland have also got a huge selection of other composts and growing mediums, ensuring you’ll have something for your every growing need. From Ericaceous compost for your acid loving plants, and rose compost – formulated especially with a 6-month slow release feed, they even have a peat-free aquatic planting and potting mix for all your water based plant needs! Until next week, do have a look at my blog and website, below! ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    46 min
  6. 12/15/2024

    Ashley Edwards - Plants For Wellbeing

    🧠 This week we’re talking about how gardens heal! Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, a planty podcast where you’ll hear all manner of stories from knowledgeable, passionate and invaluable people who love plants as much as you and I. Well, we’re here are final episode of season 7! 7 seasons of conversations with guests, spanning right across the horticultural world – from far away to nearby, every corner of the landscape has been surveyed, and we’ve learned a lot along the way. I’d like to thank you for listening, as always, and being the reason that I’m able to continue making this. You listening is the reason I make this, and you enjoying it, makes it completely worthwhile. The endless hours of producing, editing and writing, have come together in a season that I’m hugely proud of, and I hope you continue to enjoy it even more. I’d also like to give a huge thank you to the wonderful Westland Horticulture for coming on board as sponsors of this season (and beyond). They truly are the powerhouse of the plant world and their dedication to empowering everyone to grow, to learn skills and to gain knowledge about growing is the perfect match for this podcast. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, great gardening starts with great compost, and Westland has a trusted range of composts for your every gardening need, from giving your baskets and containers the best start in life to filling your vegetable patch with nutrients ahead of a bountiful season. Now, I’ve got something of a tradition on this podcast now – after 7 seasons, it's become a little thing that I challenge myself with. And that challenge is simple, every season should have a guest on that also happens to be a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time, and this season is no different. In this episode, I’m joined by head gardener at Horatio’s Garden in London, and GQT panellist, Ashley Edwards. Ashley has a wide-ranging background in horticulture – starting from a very young age, and in this episode we go right back to the beginning and end with the current day. So, grab yourself a drink or maybe pop your headphones in and head out into the garden and listen along with us now. Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Ashley then you can follow him on Instagram where you’ll find him as @plantsforwellbeing. You can also follow along with Horatio’s too, and you’ll be able to find them as @horatiosgarden If we've whetted your appetite for growing, and you know that the appetite of your plants could do with some attention then do try Westland’s Growmore general purpose plant food! Growmore provides the three major plant nutrients in equal proportions. This makes it a superb general-purpose feed for use all around the garden. Its balance of nutrients ensures even stimulation of growth in all plant parts, meaning lots of fruit and flowers, abundant foliage as well as a strong root system. Find out more by visiting gardenhealth.com now. Fear not, I WILL be back in the new year with season 8 and the list of guests is already signed and sealed, so look out for that from February onwards! ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    41 min
  7. 12/08/2024

    Kim O'Brien - Dahlias For Days!

    💐 This week we're delving into dahlias! Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, a planty podcast where you’ll hear all manner of stories from knowledgeable, passionate and invaluable people who love plants as much as you and I. We’re here at the monumental 7th season of the podcast and thanks to you, the listeners, we’re back with even more guests and this season promises to be even bigger, even better and with even more planty goodness! This season I'm focussing on those people who really know what they're talking about in a series of episodes I'm calling 'Experts In Their Field'. Along with a brand-new season, is a brand-new sponsor, and I’m thrilled to share that I’m joined for season 7 by the powerhouse of the plant world, Westland Horticulture. Westland are dedicated to empowering everyone with the skills, knowledge, and tools to help every gardener give it their best, season after season. Great gardening starts with great compost, and Westland has a trusted range of composts for your every gardening need, from giving your baskets and containers the best start in life filling your vegetable patch with nutrients ahead of a bountiful season. Now, this year has been an interesting one for us gardeners and growers, in the UK the weather has been less than favourable. In my own garden because of the wet weather, the dahlias have struggled more than ever so in this week’s episode I’ve turned to my good friend and dahlia expert, Kim O’Brien, for some sage advice. Kim is not only a dahlia expert but she’s also a renowned florist and a whizz with all sorts of cut flowers too. In this episode we discuss the highs and lows of dahlia growing, top tips for better blooms and much more! Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Kim, then you can follow her over on Instagram where you’ll find her as @dahliafarmerama. Also, make sure to check out Kim’s floristry workshops at the BBC Gardener’s World shows across the year in 2025. Tickets are available for the Spring Fair at Beaulieu now and you can find them here. If all this talk of dahlias has got you thinking about more blooms in your garden next year then give your plants the ultimate head start with Westland! Plant your dahlias in Boost All Purpose peat free compost, which is proven to give you up to four times more flowers on your plants. And while you’re at it, give them even more of a powerup by feeding them with Boost, All Purpose Liquid Plant Feed. You’ll have the most stunning floral display and an abundance of healthy fruit and veg too. Using its unique Plantsense™ technology, Boost will feed all ornamental and ericaceous plants, plus all fruit and vegetables and give you incredible results. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    54 min
  8. 11/30/2024

    Roz Chandler - Farming For Flowers!

    💐 This week we're talking cut flowers! Welcome to Tales From The Potting Bench, a planty podcast where you’ll hear all manner of stories from knowledgeable, passionate and invaluable people who love plants as much as you and I. We’re here at the monumental 7th season of the podcast and thanks to you, the listeners, we’re back with even more guests and this season promises to be even bigger, even better and with even more planty goodness! This season I'm focussing on those people who really know what they're talking about in a series of episodes I'm calling 'Experts In Their Field'. Along with a brand-new season, is a brand-new sponsor, and I’m thrilled to share that I’m joined for season 7 by the powerhouse of the plant world, Westland Horticulture. Westland are dedicated to empowering everyone with the skills, knowledge, and tools to help every gardener give it their best, season after season. Great gardening starts with great compost, and Westland has a trusted range of composts for your every gardening need, from giving your baskets and containers the best start in life filling your vegetable patch with nutrients ahead of a bountiful season. Picture the scene, we’ve all been there…you’ve grown a whopper of a dahlia, or your Ranunculus have had a storming year and suddenly, you’ve decided you want to be a cut flower farmer! The truth to cut flower farming is far from the romanticised world you might think it is but by gosh is it fun (but with lots of hard work added in for good measure). Roz Chandler is a cut flower expert, a flower farmer and a business guru with years of experience across all of those fields. In this episode we discuss the reality of cut flower farming, both the good and the bad, running your own business and much much more. Enjoy! If you’d like to see more from Roz, then you can follow her on Instagram where you’ll find her as @fieldgateflowers. Roz’s account not only share the highs and lows of cut flower farming, but its also jam packed with tonnes of business advice too! Roz’s podcast, The Cut Flower Podcast is also well worth a listen for even more advice from the world of flowers. And you can listen to that across all major podcast platforms now. If your blooms are in need of a boost then try Westland’s Boost All Purpose Liquid Plant Feed. You can achieve four times more blooms, giving you an even more stunning floral display and an abundance of healthy fruit and veg too. Using its unique Plantsense™ technology, Boost will feed all ornamental and ericaceous plants, plus all fruit and vegetables and give you incredible results. ✍️ Read My Blog and More: ⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📩 Email Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    34 min
4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

A weekly ramble with the most diverse folk from our world of green fingers, green thumbs and dirty knees. Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, herbs and more - it’s bound to be covered. On your commute, or in the garden of your choosing - we’ll be here to keep your ears busy.

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