The Dirt: the gardening podcast from Grow Your Own magazine

If a plant won’t grow without spraying, grow something else, says The National Trust’s Andy Eddy

Have a bit of fun, experiment - and 'steal with pride' says Andy Eddy, from The National Trust. This week, we chat to Andy about working at the inspirational Osterley Park, why looking after soil is key, and how you don't need to feel pressured to create a perfect plot. 
Plus, the GYO team discuss growing in space soil, how to stay calm in the face of pressure on the plot, and things go a little weird in a detailed discussion about birds! We've also got you covered, with this week's jobs on the plot lined up and ready to go.
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt! You can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £5 - that’s a saving of a whopping 76%! Visit growfruitandveg.co.uk/gyo52 or call 0800 904 7000 and quote gyo52. Don’t miss out! 
 
🤩 Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or smart growing hacks, get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
 
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To me, there’s no such thing as green fingers, says Dominica McKevitt, Head Gardener at Ardgillan Castle

Even professionals make mistakes, says Dominica McKevitt, Head Gardener at Ardgillan Castle. This week, we chat to Dominica about her gardening journey from childhood, all the wonderful crops growing at Ardgillan Castle and much more! 
Plus, the GYO team discuss lazy gardening, popular influencers and the history behind cottage gardens - and we want to hear what your most rebellious gardening acts have been! We've also got this week's jobs on the plot lined up for the weekend.
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt! You can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £5 - that’s a saving of a whopping 76%! Visit growfruitandveg.co.uk/gyo52 or call 0800 904 7000 and quote gyo52. Don’t miss out! 
 
🤩 Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or smart growing hacks, get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
 
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag 
 
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag 
 
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

Gardening takes away all of life’s deadlines, says Carl Mintern from Self Sufficient Hub

In this brand new series of The Dirt, we're chatting to Self Sufficient Hub's Carl Mintern on his exciting growing journey over the past few years. We discuss the disconnect between seed to plate and how to tackle this, the mental health benefits of growing your own and so much more! The GYO team will also be talking about organic pest control hacks, tomatoes as carnivorous killers, and taking a look at the top jobs on the plot for a week.
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt! You can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £5 - that’s a saving of a whopping 76%! Visit growfruitandveg.co.uk/gyo52 or call 0800 904 7000 and quote gyo52. Don’t miss out! 
🤩 Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or smart growing hacks, get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag 
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag 
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

My wee killed my fruit tree, so always stay hydrated on the plot, says Kevin Wilson

Essex-based gardener Kevin Wilson shares his fruit growing journey, including his biggest achievements and fails on the plot. As well as this, the team talks gardening prescriptions, a campaign to get kids into veggies, and a frog the size of your fingernail!
🌱 The Dirt is sponsored by Gardening Works. Visit https://www.gardeningworks.co.uk for more information on their product range!
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine directly to your door for just £12.99 (that’s a saving of 38%) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘Grow 2’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grow2 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions.
🎙️ Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or easy growing hacks get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag
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Soil is the foundation of life, says David Jeffrey

David sheds light on his top gardening mantra, being beaten by blight and much more in this jam-packed chat. As well as this, the team talks secret gardens, looking at pests differently - and of course, chillies!
 
The Dirt is sponsored by Gardening Works. Visit gardeningworks.co.uk for more information on their product range.
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine directly to your door for just £12.99 (that’s a saving of 38%) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘Grow 2’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grow2 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions.
 
🎙️ Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or easy growing hacks get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
 
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

Apparently, male pee is good for your compost, says Lee from 2nd City Cottage

I never realised how important bamboo sticks would become in my life, says allotment grower Lee, who runs 2nd City Cottage, a YouTube channel dedicated to recording the highs and lows of his growing season on the plot in Birmingham. In this episode, Lee discusses the challenges and successes that have come from his first year as an allotment owner, and the lessons he has learned along the way.
 
The Dirt is sponsored by Gardening Works. Visit gardeningworks.co.uk for more information on their product range.
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine directly to your door for just £12.99 (that’s a saving of 38%) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘Grow 2’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grow2 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions.
 
🎙️ Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or easy growing hacks get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
 
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

It’s really rewarding – I know where our food comes from, says Rachel from gardening blog Don’t Crop Me Now

Gardening has changed a lot over the years, says allotment grower Rachel from Manchester. In this episode, Rachel discusses her growing journey with her husband, their gardening blog Don't Crop Me Now, and the unique ways in which she preserves her harvests.
 
The Dirt is sponsored by Gardening Works. Visit gardeningworks.co.uk for more information on their product range. 
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine directly to your door for just £12.99 (that’s a saving of 38%) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘Grow 2’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grow2 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
 
🎙️ Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or easy growing hacks get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media! 
 
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag
 
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag
 
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

When it comes to growing, the Victorians really were ahead of their time, says Heidi Savage

Gardening is a process of trial and error, and Anglia Ruskin student and allotment gardener Heidi Savage fully embraces this fact. She shared fascinating findings from her research of Victorian growing practices on this week's episode, including how she implements these traditional methods on her own plot.
 
The Dirt is sponsored by Gardening Works. Visit gardeningworks.co.uk for more information on their product range. 
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine directly to your door for just £12.99 (that’s a saving of 38%) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘Grow 2’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grow2 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
 
🎙️ Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or easy growing hacks get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media! 
 
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag
 
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag
 
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

Something always goes wrong, but people looking around the gardens don’t see that, they say it is just beautiful, says the National Trust’s Jonny Nort...

Gardening fails are regular, but are rarely noticed by others - and we learn a lot from them, says Jonny Norton of the National Trust's beautiful Mottisfont garden. He also shared his top tips and no-dig lessons on this week's episode.
 
The Dirt is sponsored by Gardening Works. Visit gardeningworks.co.uk for more information on their product range. 
 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine directly to your door for just £12.99 (that’s a saving of 38%) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘Grow 2’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grow2 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
 
🎙️ Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or easy growing hacks get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media! 
 
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag
 
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag
 
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag

Cottage garden vs traditional veg beds – which is best?

Grow Your Own magazine editor, Laura and The Plant Based Podcast’s Ellen Mary are discussing the pros and cons for quaint cottage gardening and good old fashioned veg beds. What's your verdict?
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt! You can get three issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £6 - that’s a saving of £11.97 - by heading to growfruitandveg.co.uk/podg – that’s p-o-d-g – or calling 0800 904 7000 and quote PODG. Don’t miss out! 
🤩 Could you be a future guest star of The Dirt? If you have some funny garden fails or smart growing hacks, get in touch on thedirt@growfruitandveg.co.uk, or say hello on social media!
ⓣ Twitter https://twitter.com/gyomag 
ⓕ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growyourownmag 
ⓘ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/growyourownmag