Master My Garden Podcast
- Episodes
- 359
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 13, 2026
About the podcast
Master My Garden podcast with John Jones. The gardening podcast that helps you master your own garden. With new episodes weekly packed full of gardening tips, how to garden guides, interviews with gardening experts on many gardening topics and just about anything that will help you in your garden whether you are a new or a seasoned gardener. I hope you enjoy.John
Episodes 359
EP359- 5 Winter Planter Ideas - Listener Questions Answered Winter Pots That Last
Your summer bedding has finally given up and now the pots by the front door look tired. We tackle that exact problem with a listener’s question and five winter planter combinations designed for real gardens in …
Show notes
Your summer bedding has finally given up and now the pots by the front door look tired. We tackle that exact problem with a listener’s question and five winter planter combinations designed for real gardens in the UK and Ireland: darker days, wetter weather, and the need for colour that doesn’t collapse after a week.
We lean hard into winter container plants that earn their keep. Think evergreen structure from compact shrubs and dwarf conifers, movement from grasses like Carex Evergold, and flower power from ericas, violas, polyanthus, and underrated wallflowers for scent. We also weave in bulbs such as dwarf narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ and crocuses, so your pot quietly changes again in early spring when you least expect it.
You’ll hear a simple principle running through everything: build winter planters with a second life. Many of these plants can be lifted out later and planted into the garden rather than binned, giving you more longevity and better value. We also share an unusual Iceland-inspired container idea using kale and ornamental cabbage that genuinely changed our minds, plus a straightforward hellebore pot that can look stunning on its own in a sheltered, shady spot. And yes, we have a small rant about painted heathers and fake snow conifers.
If you enjoy practical planting recipes and want your winter pots to look fresh for months, hit play, subscribe, and share it with a fellow gardener. Leave us a review and tell us which combination you’re trying next.This weeks sponsors: Better Plants
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters (12)
EP358- Could You Grow Some Of Your Food? Food Security, Self Sufficiency & The Future Of Our Gardens.
Those government “be prepared” pamphlets spark an awkward question: how secure is our food supply really, and what happens if the easy options disappear? We take a calm, practical look at food security and …
Show notes
Those government “be prepared” pamphlets spark an awkward question: how secure is our food supply really, and what happens if the easy options disappear? We take a calm, practical look at food security and self-sufficiency through a gardener’s lens, from what “secure” food actually means to what a family can realistically do without turning life into a full-time smallholding.
We talk about how the weekly shop has shifted over the decades from basic ingredients to heavily processed foods, and why that changes the conversation about safety, nutrition, and long-term health. Using Ireland as an example, we unpack the reality of imports, seasonal eating, and why expecting tomatoes every week of the year quietly ties us to fragile supply chains. Then we bring it back to the ground: the real constraints are usually time, space, and consistency, not motivation.
Rather than chasing 100% self-sufficiency, I share a more achievable approach: grow something meaningful, build the skills, and stack small wins. Perennial herbs, a few productive staples, and even a couple of fruit or nut trees can cut food miles, improve freshness, and add resilience to your household. We also explore why buying local is not “more expensive” in the full sense, because money spent with growers strengthens the community food system in a way supermarket loss leaders never will.
If you enjoy practical gardening with a bigger purpose, subscribe to the podcast, share this episode with a friend who wants to grow more, and leave a review so more people can find it.This weeks sponsors: Better Plants
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters (10)
EP357- Grow Once Harvest for Years! Exploring Perennial Veg.
Planting vegetables every year is satisfying, but it can also feel like starting from scratch each spring. We go deep on perennial vegetables, the crops you establish once and then harvest for years, and why …
Show notes
Planting vegetables every year is satisfying, but it can also feel like starting from scratch each spring. We go deep on perennial vegetables, the crops you establish once and then harvest for years, and why they’re such a smart move if you want a more resilient, lower-effort kitchen garden without giving up fresh homegrown food. I also share where my own experience is solid and where I’m still learning, so you can decide what’s genuinely worth your space.
We weigh the real pros and cons: less annual sowing, earlier picking windows, and minimal soil disturbance for permaculture and food forest style gardens, balanced against the downsides of permanent planting, bulky growth, and the fact that some perennial veg simply tastes different to the annual versions. Patience matters too, especially with asparagus and rhubarb, where the best harvests come after a few seasons of establishment.
From there, we work through a practical crop list including globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, perennial kale varieties like Taunton Dean and Daubenton, nine-star broccoli, Egyptian walking onions, Welsh onions, wild garlic, horseradish, sorrel, sea kale, and even ways to get a “perennial effect” from crops like garlic or by changing how you harvest cabbage. I also mention Irish options for sourcing plants and why creating a dedicated perennial veg bed can keep everything manageable.
If you enjoy gardening tips, perennial veg ideas, and realistic advice for Irish and UK-style growing conditions, subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave a review. Which perennial vegetable are you most tempted to try first?This weeks sponsor Future Forest:
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP356 How To Choose An Irrigation System For My Greenhouse ? Greenhouse Irrigation Made Simple
Hand watering a greenhouse during a heatwave can turn into a daily scramble: alarms set for dawn, hoses dragged in unbearable temperatures, and still you watch water vanish into thin air through evaporation …
Show notes
Hand watering a greenhouse during a heatwave can turn into a daily scramble: alarms set for dawn, hoses dragged in unbearable temperatures, and still you watch water vanish into thin air through evaporation. We’ve both seen how quickly a polytunnel can dry out, how fast IBCs and water butts can empty, and how risky it feels to leave watering to someone who isn’t a gardener. So we get practical about greenhouse irrigation and how to set it up properly while the tunnel is relatively clear.
We talk through the main irrigation options and what they mean for plant health: why overhead sprinklers often create too much humidity for tomatoes and cucumbers, and why drip irrigation is usually the smarter choice. Porous pipe, layflat hose, dripper pipe and individual drippers all deliver water gently at the root zone, keeping leaves dry and reducing disease pressure. We also cover the real-world details people trip over, like pressure limits, maximum run lengths, and why you should always build your system in zones with shut-off taps so you can control each line.
From there, we move into the backbone of any reliable greenhouse watering system: rainwater harvesting and storage, proper filtration to prevent blocked drippers, and choosing a timer that matches your setup. We share a straightforward order of operations (water source, filter, timer, feed line, irrigation lines), plus a checklist for testing flow from the first metre to the last. Finally, we touch on greenhouse shading, mulching, and the mindset shift that matters most: automation helps, but you still have to observe and stay vigilant.
If you found this useful, please subscribe, share the episode with a fellow gardener, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help more people find the show.This weeks sponsors: Better Plants
See special offer here
https://betterplants.ie/product/seaweed-soil-conditioner-2-x-10kg-buckets-special-offer/
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP355 "Planting A Hedge ? Listen Before You Buy A Single Plant" Choose The Right Hedge
The quickest way to waste money on a hedge is to choose with your eyes first and your site second. With bare-root season around the corner, we walk you through a simple decision process that stops costly …
Show notes
The quickest way to waste money on a hedge is to choose with your eyes first and your site second. With bare-root season around the corner, we walk you through a simple decision process that stops costly mistakes and helps you pick hedge plants that actually suit your garden, your soil and the amount of maintenance you can commit to over the years.
We start with the big questions: what do you need the hedge to do, do you want privacy or shelter, are you trying to stock-proof a boundary, or are you building a wildlife-friendly habitat? From there we look at real-world garden conditions that make or break a hedge, like waterlogged patches along an otherwise dry run, coastal wind, exposure and frost. We also clear up the evergreen versus deciduous choice, including why beech hedging behaves like an “almost evergreen” option most of the year.
Then we get practical with a wide range of popular choices. We talk through evergreen hedges such as yew, holly, privet, box, lonicera nitida, escallonia, griselinia and laurel, including the key caveats around disease, cold damage and invasive potential depending on variety and management. On the deciduous side we cover beech, hornbeam for wetter ground, and native mixed hedging with hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel for better biodiversity, seasonal interest and a more natural look. Finally, we underline the make-or-break period after planting: keeping the base weed-free, protecting moisture during dry spells, and clipping early to avoid that dreaded gappy bottom.
If you want a hedge that looks good, works hard and stays manageable for decades, hit play, then subscribe, share the podcast with a fellow gardener, and leave a review so more people can find it. What job does your next hedge need to do?This weeks sponsors: Better Plants
See special offer here
https://betterplants.ie/product/seaweed-soil-conditioner-2-x-10kg-buckets-special-offer/
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP354- Brian O Hara Mia Raised Beds : The Aluminium Raised Garden Bed Built For Life
Timber raised beds rot. Cheap metal ones can rust, bow, and end up in the skip just as you’re getting the hang of growing. So what does a raised bed look like when it’s designed as a product for life? I’m …
Show notes
Timber raised beds rot. Cheap metal ones can rust, bow, and end up in the skip just as you’re getting the hang of growing. So what does a raised bed look like when it’s designed as a product for life? I’m joined by Brian O’Hara from East Cork, who built the Mia Grow Bed, an Irish-made aluminium raised garden bed with a 30-year warranty and a design that goes together in minutes.
We talk about the real reason so many of us start a kitchen garden when kids arrive: you want better food, less waste, and a way to show children where meals actually come from. Brian shares his first season growing kale, herbs, cherry tomatoes, beetroot, strawberries and more, plus the small moments that make it addictive, like a three-year-old checking the bed every day and claiming nearly every strawberry. We also dig into choosing crops that give quick returns, especially when space and time are tight.
Then we get practical and a bit nerdy: aluminium versus timber and galvanised steel, how rigid profiles stop beds bulging, what a wood grain finish really is, and why durability is a sustainability decision. We also cover modular raised beds, extension packs, and why manufacturing in Cork matters for quality and supply chain. If you care about grow your own, sustainable gardening, and smart garden design, you’ll take plenty from this one.
Subscribe for more practical gardening chats, share the episode with a friend who’s planning raised beds, and leave a review to help more growers find the show. What would you plant first in a new raised bed?To Find Out More Visit:
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP353- What To Sow In October & Other Gardening Jobs! October Seed Sowing Shortlist
This weeks sponsors: Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer. https://seedsireland.ie/masterOctober gardening is a strange mix of momentum and endings: the weather can still feel …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors:
Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer.
https://seedsireland.ie/master
October gardening is a strange mix of momentum and endings: the weather can still feel warm, growth can still be strong, yet the shortening days quietly shut the door on many sowings. We talk through a clear, realistic October seed sowing guide that focuses on what still delivers value, especially if you want winter salads and a head start on spring.
We run through the best autumn and overwintering crops to sow now, including winter spring onions, mustard leaves, mizuna, rocket, hardy spinach, late radish, and useful herbs like coriander, dill, chervil, and parsley. We also cover the winter leaf staples that thrive when light levels drop, plus the option of broad beans later in the month for an early crop next year. Alongside seeds, we dig into planting jobs that matter in October: garlic and winter onion sets, and why splitting your planting between polytunnel and outdoor beds can give you staggered harvests and a more resilient kitchen garden.
Beyond sowing, we get practical about seasonal maintenance. We share tips for ripening tomatoes as sweetness fades with lower light, preparing and mulching empty beds, using green manures, and keeping polytunnel soil life alive with sensible watering. With autumn winds on the rise, we also talk polytunnel and greenhouse checks and quick repairs that prevent small tears becoming expensive problems.
If you find the episode useful, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share it with a gardening friend, and leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. What are you sowing or planting this October?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP352 Dr Niamh Roche Senior Projects Manager Bat Conservation Ireland: Bats In The Garden
This weeks sponsors: Better Plants See special offer here https://betterplants.ie/product/seaweed-soil-conditioner-2-x-10kg-buckets-special-offer/Bats are flying over our gardens every night, doing a job most …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors: Better Plants
See special offer here
https://betterplants.ie/product/seaweed-soil-conditioner-2-x-10kg-buckets-special-offer/
Bats are flying over our gardens every night, doing a job most of us never see, and too many people still think they are blind, dangerous, or somehow “out to get you”. We sit down with Dr Niamh Roche, Senior Project Manager at Bat Conservation Ireland, to clear up the biggest bat misconceptions and replace them with the real story: bats are mammals built for precision flight, their wings are shaped like hands, and their echolocation is so advanced they can navigate and hunt tiny insects in near darkness.
We get into what Irish bats actually do for gardeners, growers, and biodiversity. From pipistrelles roosting in buildings to brown long-eared bats that can hover and pick insects off leaves, different species fill different niches. Neve explains why bats matter as a form of natural pest control, how exclusion studies in orchards and crops show significant increases in insect damage when bats are kept out, and why bat activity is often a sign of good environmental quality.
We also talk practical “gardening for bats” that you can start straight away: mowing less often, leaving patches of longer grass, accepting nettles and other native plants, and creating small messy corners that boost insect biomass. On the conservation side, Neve breaks down how Bat Conservation Ireland monitors bat populations with volunteers using bat detectors, car-based routes, waterway surveys, and roost counts, plus the resources you can use to learn more, including training and education materials. Subscribe, share this with a gardening friend, and leave a review so more people find the facts about bats and start making space for wildlife.For more information on Bat Conservation Ireland click the link below:
https://www.batconservationireland.org
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP351- How To Build An Autumn Garden That Adds Interest For Years! Build A Layered Autumn Garden
This weeks sponsors: Better Plants See special offer here https://betterplants.ie/product/seaweed-soil-conditioner-2-x-10kg-buckets-special-offer/Autumn colour can be breathtaking, but it can also disappear in …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors: Better Plants
See special offer here
https://betterplants.ie/product/seaweed-soil-conditioner-2-x-10kg-buckets-special-offer/
Autumn colour can be breathtaking, but it can also disappear in a flash. One week your garden is glowing red and gold, the next it feels flat and bare because the weather shifts and the best leaf colour drops fast. We want a better plan than hoping a single tree carries the whole season, so we take a practical look at how to build an autumn garden that holds its nerve from September right through to Christmas.
We walk through a layered approach that works in large gardens, small gardens, and even in pots. We start with late flowering perennials that still look “alive” when everything else is winding down, then move into reliable foliage performers like amelanchier, cotinus, acers, liquidambar and the ever-impressive red oak. From there we add the colour that keeps going after flowers fade: berries on viburnum opulus, sorbus, hawthorn, aronia and crab apples, all with a real biodiversity bonus for birds.
Then we lean into the plants that truly shine when the first frost hits. Ornamental grasses such as miscanthus and Stipa gigantea bring structure and sparkle on bright mornings, while bark and stems take over for winter with white birch trunks, peeling paperbark maple, and dogwoods in red or yellow. We finish with simple autumn bedding and container ideas plus a quick garden audit you can do today to spot what your space is missing. Subscribe, share with a gardening friend, and leave a review if the layered approach helps you plan your best autumn yet.If you want to join in the perennial grow along join here:
https://master-my-garden-perennial-grow-along.subscribepage.io/
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP350 Perennial Grow Along September 2026. What You Will Need To Grow Your Own Perennial Border.
Join The Perennial Grow Along here https://master-my-garden-perennial-grow-along.subscribepage.io/A full perennial border can look like something only open gardens and big budgets can pull off, until you do the …
Show notes
Join The Perennial Grow Along here
https://master-my-garden-perennial-grow-along.subscribepage.io/
A full perennial border can look like something only open gardens and big budgets can pull off, until you do the maths and realise you can grow the bulk of it yourself. We’re outlining the 2026 perennial grow along plan and showing how a few packets of seed, a handful of trays, and a bit of organisation can turn into a serious number of plants for next summer’s planting.
We talk through the whole timeline from autumn sowing to pricking out in October, keeping seedlings healthy through winter, and then topping up with spring sowing (including options like dahlias from seed). Along the way we share the essentials: choosing a colour scheme, picking perennial seeds that actually suit your border design, using any container with proper drainage as a seed tray, and labelling so you do not lose track of varieties and dates when things start to germinate at different speeds.
You’ll also hear the honest bit: not every seed tray will be a winner. Some perennials are brilliantly straightforward, while others are finicky or sporadic. We cover what to expect from tricky germinators like echinacea, why lavender often needs cold stratification, and how a cold polytunnel or greenhouse can help you grow on without babying everything.
If you want a high-colour, pollinator-friendly perennial border that you can genuinely say you grew yourself, join the grow along, then subscribe, share this with a gardening mate, and leave us a review so more people can find it.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP349- Spring-Flowering Bulbs For Maximum Colour With Minimum Effort
The fastest way to make next spring feel brighter starts right now with a bag of bulbs and a spade. We walk through spring flowering bulbs from the ground up: what to buy in September, where they shine in …
Show notes
The fastest way to make next spring feel brighter starts right now with a bag of bulbs and a spade. We walk through spring flowering bulbs from the ground up: what to buy in September, where they shine in borders, pots, lawns and under trees, and how to get a display that comes back year after year with almost no fuss.
We cover the classics and the standouts: tulips for bold April colour themes (plus the types that actually return), daffodils and miniature narcissus for a long flowering run from winter into spring, and early heroes like crocus and snowdrops for that first lift when the garden still looks grey. We also talk pollinator-friendly choices, including native bluebells, and a few underused favourites like snakeshead fritillaria, anemones and muscari for naturalising and texture. If you want one crowd-pleaser, we explain why alliums are so hard to beat for impact and bees.
You’ll leave with practical, confidence-building rules: avoid waterlogged soil, build free drainage in containers, plant bulbs at roughly three times their depth, and always set the pointy end upwards. We also share two container strategies for small spaces: staging pots for a tidy, swap-in display, and lasagne planting for layered flowering over weeks. Plus, we preview our upcoming perennial grow along and how to sign up. Subscribe, share this with a gardening friend, and leave a review if you want more simple wins like this.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP348 What To Sow In September & Other Gardening Jobs: September Seed Sowing Essentials
This weeks sponsors: Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer. https://seedsireland.ie/masterSeptember is the month where a small, well-timed sowing list can make your whole winter …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors:
Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer.
https://seedsireland.ie/master
September is the month where a small, well-timed sowing list can make your whole winter feel easier. We’re looking at what to sow right now for steady, dependable harvests, especially if summer heat, holidays, or a brief pause in sowing has left gaps in your beds or polytunnel. If you want salad leaves on the plate when growth outside slows to a crawl, this is the reset button.
We walk through a clear, practical seed sowing guide for September, focusing on crops that earn their keep: loose-leaf lettuce for repeat picking, chard as a reliable staple, and kale sown now for spring harvests. We also cover winter salad favourites like winter purslane, mizuna, mustard and spinach, plus herbs such as coriander and chervil. For anyone who likes to experiment under cover, we talk about late sowings of beetroot and carrots in the polytunnel, what to expect, and why it can still be worth a try if you are short on supplies.
There’s a bigger lesson running underneath the list: the garden may feel warm, but the light is slipping away fast. We dig into the sharp drop in daylight hours through September, why sunlight intensity matters for seedlings, and a simple action that makes a real difference: cleaning greenhouse glass or polytunnel covers so every bit of light reaches your trays. We also touch on flowers you can still sow now, from perennials to sweet peas and biennials, and the wider idea of autumn planning for a more resilient garden.
A quick thanks as well to Seeds Ireland for sponsoring, with seed, spring-flowering bulbs, and autumn onion and garlic sets worth having on your radar. If this guide helps, please subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave a review. What are you sowing first this September?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP347 - Now We Know The Weather Is Changing What Can we Do About It To Garden Better? Eight Practical Ways To Make Your Garden Resilient
Grow Your Own Herb Workshop Looking Forward To Seeing You here: https://subscribepage.io/growyourownherbalgardenThe weather doesn’t just “turn” anymore, it swings. One season can feel like weeks of soaked …
Show notes
Grow Your Own Herb Workshop Looking Forward To Seeing You here:
https://subscribepage.io/growyourownherbalgarden
The weather doesn’t just “turn” anymore, it swings. One season can feel like weeks of soaked ground and flooding risk, followed by a fast flip into heat, drought and stressed plants. We’ve felt it in everything from delayed sowing to polytunnels that need watering at dawn, and crops that simply never size up without consistent moisture. So we’re stepping back and asking a more useful question: how do we build gardens that keep going when conditions get extreme?
We share eight practical ways to make your garden more resilient, starting with a return to seasonal timing. Autumn planting gives shrubs, trees and hedging the rooting window they need to handle next year’s dry spells. We talk shelter too: protecting borders from wind, creating shade where it helps, and reducing bare soil so beds don’t lose water to evaporation. “Right plant, right place” becomes non-negotiable when a patch that was only mildly damp can now sit saturated for months.
From there we get hands-on with water and soil. We discuss simple irrigation systems with timers for polytunnels and vegetable beds, why watering at night can be more effective, and how rainwater harvesting needs to scale beyond a single butt if you want real security during hosepipe bans. We also dig into mulching, organic matter, wood chip, grass clippings, and alternative growing systems like hugelkultur beds and food forest style planting that can store moisture and buffer extremes.
If you enjoy practical gardening advice that matches the reality outside your back door, subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review. What weather shift is changing the way you garden this year?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP346- Is Ireland’s Weather Really Changing ? Ireland Is Not Simply Wetter Or Drier, It Is More Extreme
Grow Your Own Herb Workshop Looking Forward To Seeing You here: https://subscribepage.io/growyourownherbalgardenHosepipe bans, cracked soil, and then a day of rain so heavy it vanishes into runoff: if your …
Show notes
Grow Your Own Herb Workshop Looking Forward To Seeing You here:
https://subscribepage.io/growyourownherbalgarden
Hosepipe bans, cracked soil, and then a day of rain so heavy it vanishes into runoff: if your garden has felt like it’s lurching between extremes, you’re not imagining it. We step back from the week-to-week frustration and look at what the data actually says about Irish weather, using Met Éireann observations to ground the conversation in facts rather than doom or wishful thinking.
We talk through the big questions gardeners keep asking: is Ireland becoming drier, wetter, or just harder to predict? The answer is messy in a useful way. Recent years sit among the warmest on record since 1900, while rainfall totals can look “normal” even as individual months and 24-hour events become more intense.
The most practical takeaway is about gardening strategy. When dry spells lengthen and downpours intensify, timing matters more than ever: autumn planting can help trees and shrubs establish before summer drought, while rushing bedding plants out in cold, wet spring conditions still backfires. We also tee up what comes next: smarter water storage, better soil structure, more organic matter, mulching, and borrowing lessons from woodland systems that hold moisture through heat. If you want a calmer, evidence-based way to plan your Irish garden around climate and weather extremes, hit play, then subscribe, share it with a gardening friend, and leave a review.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP345 - September Herb Workshop & How To Revive Your August Garden.
Grow Your Own Herb Workshop Looking For To Seeing You here: https://subscribepage.io/growyourownherbalgardenYour garden can look “fine” in August while quietly running on empty. With weeks of heat and very …
Show notes
Grow Your Own Herb Workshop Looking For To Seeing You here:
https://subscribepage.io/growyourownherbalgarden
Your garden can look “fine” in August while quietly running on empty. With weeks of heat and very little rain, plants lose that fresh, lush look, new plantings stall, and even reliable beds start to struggle. We talk honestly about what prolonged drought looks like on the ground, from yellowed lawns and thirsty borders to the knock-on effects you can see across the countryside.
We also dig into the surprising stuff, like why blackbirds and crows start stripping apples and other fruit when everything turns dry. From there, we get practical: how to think about rainwater harvesting, why water butts feel essential the moment a hosepipe ban arrives, and why the best time to set up storage is long before the next heatwave. I share what I’m changing with my own polytunnel setup, and how early-morning watering becomes the only workable option in extreme temperatures.
Then we move to recovery mode: choosing plants that genuinely cope, using mulch to cut evaporation and keep the root zone cooler, and bringing in liquid seaweed as a simple way to boost resilience once moisture returns. We also touch on why seed sowing can fail in high heat, and how to adapt plans for carrots and other crops. To wrap up, I share details of our autumn herbal grow-your-own workshop with Laura Darcy, focused on building immunity with herbs, teas, and tinctures. If this helped, please subscribe, share it with a fellow gardener, and leave a review so more people can find the show.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP344- 10 Essential Fruits For Your Kitchen Garden: Fruit Truly Worth Growing.
You can grow a lot of things in a kitchen garden, but fruit is where the difference hits hardest. A homegrown apple or strawberry can make supermarket fruit taste flat, and that’s why we pull together our 10 …
Show notes
You can grow a lot of things in a kitchen garden, but fruit is where the difference hits hardest. A homegrown apple or strawberry can make supermarket fruit taste flat, and that’s why we pull together our 10 essential fruits for a kitchen garden, with a focus on what actually works in Ireland and what still works when space is tight.
We start with the reality of gardening life: coming back from holidays, dealing with dry weather casualties, and the constant battle to keep plants watered without burning out. Then we get practical about the fruit that gives the biggest return, beginning with apples. We talk rootstocks for manageable trees, growing apples in pots, the basics of pruning and feeding, and why pollination partners matter. There’s also a very real warning about birds, including blackbirds stripping fruit when conditions are dry and water is scarce.
From there we move through strawberries for true seasonal flavour, raspberries for unbeatable freshness, and reliable choices like Victoria plum and Conference pear. We also cover currants as heavy-cropping, low-fuss bushes, grapes as a brilliant greenhouse or polytunnel project, and a few curveballs like gooseberries and blueberries, including the key detail that blueberries need acidic, ericaceous compost. We finish with rhubarb, the crop that gives and gives with remarkably little effort once established.
If you enjoy growing your own food, subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s on your personal list of 10 essential fruits?This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP343- Seed Sowing Guide For August: What To Sow In August For Autumn Harvests
This weeks sponsors: Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer. https://seedsireland.ie/masterAugust arrives and the seed sowing list shrinks, but that does not mean the growing season …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors:
Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer.
https://seedsireland.ie/master
August arrives and the seed sowing list shrinks, but that does not mean the growing season is over. We talk through a practical August sowing guide that keeps your veg patch productive, especially if you garden in a UK or Ireland climate where late summer can still deliver plenty of growth when you pick the right crops.
We start with the dependable staples: spring onions for steady succession sowing, then lettuce choices that actually make sense now (think loose-leaf and butterhead rather than tight-heading types). We cover spinach variety switches as the month moves on, and why you can often sow a little more at this point because bolting pressure begins to ease. From there we move into quick, rewarding options like radish, plus the love-it-or-hate-it turnip, and how overwintering cabbages can be raised under cover and planted out for an early spring payoff, as long as you plan for protection from pigeons.
Autumn salads get a proper spotlight too: rocket, mustard leaves, winter cress, tatsoi, pak choi and endive bring flavour and continuity when summer salads slow down. We also touch on herbs still worth sowing, plus chard and kale under cover. Then we share a fun late-season project: Christmas potatoes grown in containers using cold-stored early varieties, including why blight vigilance matters and how the container routine flips as frost approaches. We finish with the August essentials around watering tomatoes, tidying beds after onions and garlic, and staying alert for caterpillars, slugs and disease.
If you find this helpful, subscribe, share it with a fellow gardener, and leave a review so more growers can find the show.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP342- 10 Essential Vegetables For Every Kitchen Garden: The 10 Vegetables Worth Growing
If you had to cut your kitchen garden down to just ten vegetables, what would you keep and why? We take on that exact challenge and build a list that is practical, flavour-led, and realistic for busy gardeners …
Show notes
If you had to cut your kitchen garden down to just ten vegetables, what would you keep and why? We take on that exact challenge and build a list that is practical, flavour-led, and realistic for busy gardeners who want maximum results for the least fuss.
We start with the five filters we use when deciding what deserves space in a bed: taste (does it beat the supermarket?), effort versus reward, ease of growing, cost to buy, and how many ways you can use or store it. That framework quickly separates “nice to grow” from “worth growing”, especially if you are gardening in limited space and want crops that keep paying you back over a long season.
Then we get specific. We talk through tomatoes for that unbeatable homegrown flavour, potatoes for freshness you cannot replicate, and everyday staples like salad leaves, carrots, French beans, spring onions, beetroot, Swiss chard, red cabbage for the winter gap, and garlic for year-round cooking and great storage. Along the way we share simple, experience-based tips on sowing frequency, harvesting for continuity, and choosing crops that fit how you actually cook.
If you enjoy vegetable gardening, growing your own food, and making a small garden more productive, hit subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review. What would your ten vegetables be?This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP341- 10 Essential Herbs To Grow In Your Garden: The Essential Herb List For Flavour And Health
If your herb bed could only earn space for ten plants, which ones would actually make your dinners better week after week? We take a listener request from Ivy in Connemara and build a clear, usable shortlist of …
Show notes
If your herb bed could only earn space for ten plants, which ones would actually make your dinners better week after week? We take a listener request from Ivy in Connemara and build a clear, usable shortlist of essential herbs for an Irish garden, balancing everyday cooking with what genuinely grows well in our climate.
We start with the hardy, low-effort staples that keep giving: rosemary, sage and thyme. We talk about why free-draining soil matters so much for Mediterranean herbs in Ireland, how many plants you really need for a household, and the little details that turn a struggling herb into a reliable year-round picker. From roast potatoes to stuffing and simple midweek meals, these are the herbs that justify their place.
From there we move into the heavy lifters and the seasonal favourites: chives for near-daily use, parsley as a biennial you can easily preserve by freezing into ice-cube trays, and Italian cooking essentials like oregano, basil and bay laurel. We also get honest about the love-it-or-hate-it herbs, including coriander and dill, plus the practical reality that coriander needs repeat sowing if you want a steady supply. To round things out, we mention a few brilliant medicinal herbs for teas and wellbeing, and share details of our upcoming herbal workshop with Laura Darcy on 5 September.
If you enjoy practical growing advice and want more flavour from your garden with less effort, subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review.This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP340- Rhonda Fleming Hayes Discusses Her New Book Garden For life : Practical Ways To Keep A Big Garden Enjoyable
A big garden can be a gift, right up to the day it starts to feel like a second job. We’re joined by American garden writer Rhonda Fleming Hayes to talk about her book *Gardening for Life* and the practical …
Show notes
A big garden can be a gift, right up to the day it starts to feel like a second job. We’re joined by American garden writer Rhonda Fleming Hayes to talk about her book *Gardening for Life* and the practical reality behind a question many of us avoid: how do you keep gardening as you age without letting the work take over the joy?
We dig into strategies that make a garden more manageable without stripping away what you love. Rhonda shares a simple but powerful idea for accessible garden design: create zones, bring the most intensively planted beds closer to the house, and let the far edges shift towards lower-maintenance planting, native plants, and even rewilding. We also chat about raised beds, elevated planters, and vertical gardening, especially for anyone thinking about “right sizing” to a smaller space while still wanting fresh herbs, salads, and colour.
Safety gets a proper spotlight too, because a fall can change everything. We talk through common trip hazards, why it’s worth reviewing paths and patios, and how to rethink pride around getting help, whether that’s hedge cutting, ladders, or tree work. Along the way we touch on smarter, more ergonomic tools that reduce strain and keep you gardening longer.
If you’ve got a big lawn, long hedges, or a garden you want to enjoy for decades, this one is for you. Subscribe for more, share it with a gardener in your life, and leave a review to help others find the show.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP339- Seed Sowing Guide For July: Stop Treating July Like The Finish Line
This weeks sponsors: Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer. https://seedsireland.ie/masterJuly is where a lot of edible gardens quietly lose momentum and it’s exactly why so many …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors:
Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer.
https://seedsireland.ie/master
July is where a lot of edible gardens quietly lose momentum and it’s exactly why so many plots run out of steam in autumn. We’re keeping it simple and practical with a July seed sowing guide that helps you stay productive well beyond summer, even if your beds look full and you’re half in holiday mode.
We talk through what’s genuinely worth sowing now for succession and speed: salad leaves like lettuce, spinach, rocket and spring onions, plus quick wins like radish and turnips. We also cover the “last chance” feel of July for crops such as beetroot and carrots, and how choosing the right timing and varieties sets you up for lifting and eating later in the year. If your germination has struggled in the heat, we share straightforward fixes, including avoiding trays baking in direct sun and keeping watering steady.
The big focus is on brassicas for overwinter harvests and early spring rewards, from autumn cabbage and savoy to calabrese, kale, cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli. We also get into the unglamorous but crucial side of mid-summer growing: protecting seedlings from cabbage white butterfly with netting, keeping polytunnels ventilated, watering tomatoes properly, and staying vigilant for aphids, slugs returning after rain, and potato blight warnings. There’s also a useful run-through of herbs you can still sow now and a list of flower seeds that can keep your borders moving.
If you want your vegetable garden, polytunnel, or allotment to produce for as close to 12 months as possible, this is the moment to act. Subscribe, share the episode with a gardening mate, and leave a review with the one crop you’re committing to sow this July.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP338- Carlow Garden Festival Preview With Eileen O Rourke CEO Carlow Tourism: Nine Days Of Garden Talks Across Carlow
Carlow Garden Festival is back better than ever in 2026 with an amazing line up of speakers: a pick-and-mix week where you can build your own perfect gardening break. We’re joined by Eileen O’Rourke, CEO of …
Show notes
Carlow Garden Festival is back better than ever in 2026 with an amazing line up of speakers: a pick-and-mix week where you can build your own perfect gardening break. We’re joined by Eileen O’Rourke, CEO of Carlow Tourism, to walk through the programme day by day so you know exactly what’s on, where it’s happening, and how to choose the events that match your garden and your curiosity.
We talk biodiversity and working with nature, from lessons that come straight from the seasons to practical ways of supporting beneficial insects and healthier soil. We also dig into the design side: how to “paint with plants”, how to combine colour and texture for long-lasting borders, and why plants should stay the star of the show even when modern garden features try to steal the spotlight. If you’ve been searching for real-world planting design advice, sustainable gardening ideas, or a gardening event in Ireland that’s genuinely useful, this lineup is built to send you home with plans.
We also get into the fun bits that make the festival feel like a holiday: evening talks in garden settings, guided tours, great cafés, and a garden-party atmosphere at Altamont. There’s space for specialist interests too, including herbal medicine talks on Irish medicinal plants and hands-on botanical print workshops, plus an honest nod to the “plantaholic” urge we all understand.
Have a listen, pick your must-see talk, and then subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the podcast.You can get your tickets here:
https://carlowgardentrail.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
Or phone:
Phone: 059-9130411
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP337- Online Garden Consultations That Get You Unstuck
June 2026 consultations available to book here https://mastermygarden.com/consultation/You can spend months staring at your garden and still not know what to do first, especially after a new build, a …
Show notes
June 2026 consultations available to book here
https://mastermygarden.com/consultation/
You can spend months staring at your garden and still not know what to do first, especially after a new build, a renovation, or a big change in how you want to use the space. We’re sharing a short, practical announcement episode about a service we’ve brought back: online garden consultations that help you move from ideas to a clear, doable plan.
We explain exactly what you get from a one-hour-ish Zoom garden consultation, including a simple pre-call questionnaire to clarify your goals, what’s blocking you, and the budget you’re working with. This is not a garden design service. It’s hands-on garden coaching focused on actionable next steps, smart sequencing, and the kind of decisions that stop you wasting money on plants, trees, and materials that don’t suit your site.
You’ll also hear real examples of what people bring to these calls: a 1970s house renovation needing boundary, pond and patio guidance; a steep, tricky site that needed a staged landscaping plan; a new build with a paper plan that didn’t match real conditions; and even an outdoor classroom garden designed to feel private, welcoming and rich in pollinator-friendly planting.
We keep availability intentionally tight with only two slots per month, and we share the current booking details, price, and how to secure a time. If you want tailored garden advice you can act on straight away, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who’s stuck, and leave us a review.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP336- One Problem Three Solutions: Why Seeds Fail After Germination.
This weeks sponsor: Crann From Probio Carbon https://www.probiocarbon.ieYour seeds are not “mysteriously bad” overnight. When carrots, peas, and lettuce fail again and again, the real culprit is usually the …
Show notes
This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
Your seeds are not “mysteriously bad” overnight. When carrots, peas, and lettuce fail again and again, the real culprit is usually the same thing we have all been living through: wild swings in soil temperature and moisture, plus bursts of intense sun followed by heavy rain. We break down what those swings do at the exact moment seeds try to germinate, and why the first few days after emergence are the most vulnerable stage of the entire growing season.
We get specific about the tricky crops. Carrots can sit in cold, wet ground and do nothing, or they can germinate and then vanish when the surface dries before roots establish. Lettuce brings a different problem: once temperatures climb above around 20°C, lettuce seed may refuse to germinate at all, especially in a polytunnel or greenhouse that can hit extreme heat. We also talk about the frustrating stuff that looks like a germination failure but is actually slug and snail damage, plus why seed quality is worth considering even if it is not the most likely cause.
Then we lay out a simple, practical rescue plan to save your season and avoid a harvest gap: sow peas and lettuce in trays and in the ground for a staggered backup, manage heat with shade during germination, keep compost evenly moist with quick daily checks, and use plug plants strategically to bridge missing weeks (with a clear warning on carrot plugs). If you have been doubting yourself, this is your reminder that even seasoned growers get failures, and the best growers adapt to what their own garden is doing.
Subscribe for more practical vegetable gardening advice, share this with a friend who is re-sowing for the third time, and leave a review so more growers can find the show. What crop is giving you the most trouble right now?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP335- When The Rain Ruins The Roses. How To Save Your Summer Flowers.
This weeks sponsor: Crann From Probio Carbon https://www.probiocarbon.ieRain that never seems to end, sunshine that vanishes in minutes, and wind that flattens the best-looking borders can make this June feel …
Show notes
This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
Rain that never seems to end, sunshine that vanishes in minutes, and wind that flattens the best-looking borders can make this June feel like a constant battle. We’re not trying to “beat” the weather, but we are determined to stop it stealing the best part of the gardening year, especially when roses, peonies and early summer perennials should be putting on a show.
We talk through the real damage caused by this mix of warmth and moisture: flowers that hold water and rot, stems that snap after repeated rocking, and the rapid rise of fungal problems like mildew and botrytis. Then we get practical. We share a ruthless deadheading approach that protects the next flush of blooms, simple support methods for tall plants, and the key housekeeping that boosts airflow and reduces disease pressure. We also cover container gardening tactics that make a huge difference, from bringing hanging baskets into shelter for a “breather” to moving pots into a less exposed spot so they can recover and thrive.
You’ll also hear how to spot the plants that are genuinely unbothered by rough weather, and how to use that information for smarter planting choices later. Finally, we explain the Chelsea Chop, when it still makes sense to do it in a late season, and which perennials respond best with bushier growth and a longer flowering season.
If you want more flowers and fewer disappointments this summer, hit subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. What’s taking the biggest beating in your garden right now?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP334 Rethink Conifers In The Garden & Bloom Review: 10 great conifers.
This weeks sponsor: Crann From Probio Carbon https://www.probiocarbon.ieConifers have spent years stuck in the “dated garden” box, but we’re starting to see them differently and for good reason. After spotting …
Show notes
This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
Conifers have spent years stuck in the “dated garden” box, but we’re starting to see them differently and for good reason. After spotting standout examples in show gardens and design work, we talk through why conifers are quietly making a comeback and how a single well-chosen evergreen can add structure, texture and calm to a border all year round. If you’ve ever thought “conifers aren’t for me”, this is the rethink.
We also unpack a very real gardening problem: weather whiplash. Going from cold conditions to near 30°C heat and then straight back into wind and heavy rain doesn’t just feel dramatic, it changes how plants grow. We share what we’re seeing on the ground, from scorched seedlings in polytunnels to onions, garlic and leeks starting to bolt after heat shock, plus why fluctuating moisture levels can push plants into stress.
With wetter conditions back, we flag what to watch for right now: slugs and snails appearing in big numbers and potato blight risk rising quickly, especially where soft growth has been knocked about by wind. Then we move into practical, listener-friendly conifer picks and care tips, including compact pines, classic trees like Cedrus deodara and Metasequoia, and evergreen staples such as Taxus baccata for hedging and clipping.
If you enjoy these practical garden check-ins and plant-focused deep dives, subscribe to the podcast, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What conifer would you actually plant in your garden?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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EP333- Buds & Blossoms Laois Garden Festival Preview : A Weekend For Garden Lovers
A good garden festival should leave you inspired, better informed, and itching to get back into your own patch and Buds and Blossoms in County Laois aims to do exactly that. We’re right in the heart of garden …
Show notes
A good garden festival should leave you inspired, better informed, and itching to get back into your own patch and Buds and Blossoms in County Laois aims to do exactly that. We’re right in the heart of garden festival season, so we record this bonus guide to help you decide if the Laois Garden Festival is worth the trip and how to plan it properly, especially if you want to turn it into a full weekend away.
The main festival day lands on Sunday 7 June at Spink Community Grounds (12 to 6), and the speaker line-up is built for mixed interests. We talk through what you can expect from Edward Hayden bringing the cooking and food angle, Kieran Fitzgerald sharing insights from restoring Johnstown Castle with a strong ecological gardening ethos, and Darragh McCullough on the modern reality of a diverse Irish farm that blends farming, cut flowers, bulbs, and more. If you like gardening talks with real substance plus a bit of variety, this programme delivers.
Saturday 6 June adds another layer with Laois Garden Trail events, from open gardens and a pollinator-focused beekeeping session to yoga and meditation in woodland pathways and a hands-on willow workshop. We also run through a long list of vendors and specialist nurseries so you can target the plant stalls that match your garden, whether you’re after shade plants, trees, David Austin roses, scented pelargoniums, wildflowers, or something truly unusual. Add food stalls, a kids’ area, and nearby gardens like Emo Court and Heywood Gardens, and you have a ready-made Laois gardening weekend.
Subscribe for more practical gardening chats, share this with a friend who loves a plant fair, and leave a review if the show helps you plan your next garden day out.Festival website:
https://laoisgardenfestival.com
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP332 Seed Sowing Guide for June: June Sowing Made Simple
This weeks sponsors: Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer. https://seedsireland.ie/masterJune is where gardeners quietly win the year, or accidentally drift into gaps, gluts, and …
Show notes
This weeks sponsors:
Seeds Ireland High Quality Seeds: See link below for listener offer.
https://seedsireland.ie/master
June is where gardeners quietly win the year, or accidentally drift into gaps, gluts, and empty beds. With April and May running unusually cold, I’m using this June seed sowing guide to reset the clock and show what still makes sense to sow now, especially once soil temperatures rise and growth finally kicks on.
We talk through the real-world effects of sudden heat, particularly under cover. If your polytunnel is spiking into the 30s and 40s, some seeds simply will not play ball. Lettuce is the big one: once temperatures push past about 20°C, germination can stall, so tray placement matters as much as watering. I also share why seedlings are most at risk right now and how capillary matting can keep modules evenly moist for 24 to 48 hours, helping you avoid that heartbreaking “burnt to a crisp” moment.
Then we get into the sowing list, grouped in a way that makes planning easier: repeat salad sowings like spring onion, spinach, radish and lettuce, plus the smart-harvesting approach that stretches heads for longer. We shift into autumn and winter thinking with brassicas such as Brussels sprouts, cabbages, sprouting broccoli, calabrese, cauliflower and leeks, followed by roots like parsnips, beetroot, swede and carrots. Herbs and warm-season crops get a look in too, from basil and parsley to cucumbers, courgettes, French beans, squash, sweetcorn and peas. I finish with what you can still sow for flowers, why seed compost quality can stall growth, and how perennials and biennials started now repay you next spring.
If this helps, subscribe, share it with a gardening mate, and leave a review so more growers can find the podcast. What are you sowing first this June?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP331 Slugs & Snails & How To Combat In The Garden ? Slugproof Your Seedlings
This weeks sponsor: Crann From Probio Carbon https://www.probiocarbon.ieSlugs and snails can turn a thriving spring garden into a patchwork of chewed seedlings almost overnight, especially when a mild, wet …
Show notes
This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
Slugs and snails can turn a thriving spring garden into a patchwork of chewed seedlings almost overnight, especially when a mild, wet spell meets rising temperatures. We talk through how we handle that pressure in a way that protects young plants now and reduces damage over time, without pretending there’s a magic switch that makes slugs disappear forever.
We start with the long game: building a garden that recruits natural predators. From song thrushes and starlings to hedgehogs, frogs and ground beetles, we explain the habitats and garden choices that make a real difference, including why no dig gardening can support the beneficial insects that disrupt the slug life cycle. If you want organic gardening methods that work with nature rather than against it, this is the foundation.
Then we get practical about slug control and snail control when you need results fast. We compare ferric phosphate organic slug pellets, beer traps (including how much area one trap covers and how often you need to empty it), and barrier methods like copper tape, sheep’s wool pellets, dried seaweed and oyster shells. We also touch on Grazer’s G2 as a deterrent spray, plus what’s going on with slug nematodes and why they can be difficult to get at times.
We also share a quick note on Bloom, including our talk times and where to meet us for a hello. If you find this helpful, please subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave a review so more growers can find the show.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]
Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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- EP330 Colour By The Coast, Plants That Thrive By The Sea: Coastal Garden Survival
This weeks sponsor: Crann From Probio Carbon https://www.probiocarbon.ieCoastal gardens are brutally honest. If your planting can’t handle salt-laden wind, sudden gusts that change direction, and soil that …
Show notes
This weeks sponsor:
Crann From Probio Carbon
Coastal gardens are brutally honest. If your planting can’t handle salt-laden wind, sudden gusts that change direction, and soil that drains in minutes, it won’t last long and it won’t look good doing it. We dig into what really makes coastal gardening difficult, why it can feel cold and harsh even in late spring, and how to stop wasting money on plants that never had a chance in an exposed spot.
The big idea is simple: don’t try to “block” the wind, filter it. We talk through building structure first with tough windbreak shrubs and coastal hedging, then using that shelter to expand your plant choices. You’ll hear practical, proven options for coastal gardens across Ireland, including pittosporum, griselinia, olearia and escallonia, plus flowering shrubs like fuchsia, rock rose (cistus) and tamarisk that can take a battering and still reward you with colour.
From there, we move into dependable perennials that cope with exposure and keep your borders lively, from verbena bonariensis and achillea to nepeta, sea thrift, hardy geraniums and sedum. We also make the case for alpines as some of the best coastal plants you can grow, especially in gritty, low-nutrient ground. Finally, we cover how pots, bedding plants and compact bulbs let you create sheltered pops of colour through the seasons, even when the wider garden is still taking the full force of the weather.
If you’re designing or rescuing a coastal garden, subscribe for more practical planting advice, share this with a friend who gardens by the sea, and leave a review so more growers can find the show. What’s the one plant that always struggles in your coastal garden?If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
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Until next week
Happy gardening
JohnChapters
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