In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with special guest Andrew Mikolajski. Andrew, a well-known horticulturalist, and prolific author of over 40 gardening books, including his latest, ‘Who Ate My Plants’. Andrew discusses the ongoing battle gardeners have with garden pests and diseases.

Plant mentions: Grow as many varieties and species – native and non-native from the Northern Hemisphere as you can to increase insect biodiversity of wildlife to help attract predators. Marigolds as a companion planting with Tomatoes and the pairing of alliums with roses. Check vegetable seed packets for disease resilience. Lavender, Penstemon, Fuchsias and Hebes would benefit from a dose of a high potash fertiliser to help toughen them up. Use vine weevil nematode control for Heuchera, Heucherella, alpines and Fuchsias.

Product mentions: Slug pellets (use the jam jar method mentioned). Sand, Garlic wash, Box Tree Caterpillar Biological Control, Provanto Fungus Fighter (for Box Blight), Pheromone Traps (codling moth and plum moth), Organic pesticides, fleece over cabbage, good drainage essentials, include sand, potting grit, or Perlite to avoid overwet compost, Potassium (K) High potash fertilisers such as Sulphate of Potash, Tomorite, to help harden growth for the winter. Nematodes for slugs and vine weevil. Ladybird larvae and adults can be introduced.

Pest / Disease mentions: Aphids, Slugs, Snails, Muntjak, Deer, Rabbits, Oak Processionary Moth - a notifiable pest, Xylella fasidiosa, Box Blight, Box Tree Caterpillar, Rose Black Spot and Rose Mildew.

No Mow May, or maybe simply mow less often to encourage more flowers and diversity.

Look for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo.

Make friends with your fellow allotment holders, or join a gardening club / society to learn about local growing conditions if you move into a new area.

Judging at RHS show.

Andrew’s desert island essentials: A ball of garden twine and a pair of scissors and the Rose ‘Nostalgia.’

Find out more about Andrew on his website

Andrew’s book, Who Ate My Plants? is published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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This month on DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest gardening news, what’s on’s and as the peak gardening season is well underway, a look at those tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond.

What’s on

2 – 7th July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is held in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, Richmond.

12th July and 4th August: The Big Butterfly Count 2024.

17 – 21st July: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in Cheshire.

20th July: Great Dixter Summer Plant Fair at Great Dixter Gardens, Rye, East Sussex.

News

Plant Heritage will showcase a range of its National Plant Collections, including Kniphofia, Rubus and Hosta (miniature and small) at Hampton Court.

New 4-year project by the University of London is evaluating prescribing social pursuits like gardening to children.

New garden around the Natural History Museum opens this month.

The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don will be out on tour to share tales from his garden at Longmeadow and gardens he has visited around the world.

Belinda Howell has been appointed chair of the Peat-free Partnership to establish peat-free legislation across the UK and NI.

Susan Raikes is appointed the new Director of Wakehurst at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Nick Bailey, Gardener’s World presenter is appointed director of the University Leicester’s botanic garden.

Percy Thrower’s greenhouse, which once featured Shrewsbury’s main park, The Quarry, is to be restored by Shrewsbury Men’s Shed.

Bumper year for Box Tree Caterpillar reveals RHS.

Be alert for toxic oak processionary moth caterpillars.

How to take part in the Great Stag Hunt to help record the UK’s largest, and endangered beetle.

Asian Hornets: help needed to irradicate imported bee-killers.

The winning plants at last month’s BBC Gardeners World Live Show, include Hydrangea Eclipse and Apple Peter’s Gold. New plant awards annouced at the HTA Show including Digitalis Apple Blossom and Prunus Crystal Falls.

This month’s DIG IT top 5: Strawberry varieties. 1st Strawberry ‘Symphony’ 2nd ‘Cambridge Favourite’ 3rd ‘Hapil’ 4th ‘Honeoye’ and in 5th ‘Elsanta’.

Plant mentions: Apples (variety Scrumptious), Cherries, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Delphiniums, Euonymus Jean Hugues, Euonymus Green Spire, Pears, Plum, Sweet corn, Yew, Lonicera nitida, fuchsias, Dianthus, Carnations, Purple loosestrife, and Salvia Hot Lips. Sow Foxgloves, Sweet Williams, Wallflowers and Forget-me-nots and veggies including Round Carrots, Beetroot, Radish, Lettuce, and Spring Onions. Continue to plant Tomatoes and Peppers.

Product mentions: Bug Clear Ultra 2, Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes, Poppyforge plant supports, bird food, straw and terracotta pots for earwig control.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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Flowers are big business in Britain over 50% of British households bought cut flowers in 2022. However, according to Defra, only 14% of cut flowers sold in the UK are grown in Britain. In this edition of Dig it Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jessica Naish who runs a successful local flower farm in Buckingham. In the podcast we discover how Jess has developed her flower farm, plus the practicalities of growing a wide range of cut flowers from the field to the vase.

Flowers mentioned: Amaranthus caudatus (Love Lies Bleeding), Centaurea cyanus (Cornflowers), Cosmos, Dahlias, Godetia, Larkspur, Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist), Perennial and annual Phlox, Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Roses (including the Timeless range of roses), Sweet peas, Sunflowers, Ten Week Stocks and Wallflowers.

Fragrant foliage: Apple mint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and scented Pelargoniums to add fragrance to bouquets.

Bulbs mentioned: Alliums, Gladioli, Lillies, Narcissi and Tulips.

Buckingham brew: Nettles and Comfrey tea combo to feed plants organically.

Jessica’s major influence is Gill Hodgson, who set up Flowers From The Farm back in 2011. From humble beginnings, its membership is now more than 1,000 independent British growers, of which Jess is a member. The website allows you to search for your nearest local flower farmer.

Peach Fuzz, Pantone Colour of the year 2024.

Jess’s desert island essentials: Tool - the versatile Hori Hori Knife, plus a couple of plants one of the velvety purple mophead hydrangeas and Geranium ‘Attar of Roses’ famed for its amazing rose scented fragrance.

Find out more about Jessica’s flower farm, workshops and pick-your-own here

You can also follow Jessica on Facebook and Instagram

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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