The Dirt: the gardening podcast from Grow Your Own magazine

Get stuck in – gardening isn’t the hobby for the cautious, says Sarah Raven

Sarah Raven prides herself on being able to pick fresh salad leaves year-round and has some delicious recommendations for you to add to your kitchen garden (as well as a handy hack for harvesting cut-and-come-again leaves). Plus she confesses to the time she planted her tulips so deep that she almost expected them to emerge Down Under! 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – 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 

My giant pumpkin has been a part of my life, like a person, says Kirsty Ward

On The Dirt this week, Kirsty Ward tells us all about the joys of growing giant pumpkins, experts from Marshalls debate dig vs no dig and Laura and Blake discuss unexpected kiwis. We’re dispelling myths, dishing out tips and generally chewing the fat. So join us on The Dirt for more growing discussion than you can shake a stick at. 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – 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 

Bindweed is pure evil but you can turn it into homemade liquid feed, says Derek Daly

Derek Daly loves spending time on his Nottingham allotment accompanied by his young son. He joins us this week to tell us all about their plot successes, occasional fails and some handy pieces of gardening advice, too. Plus, Mike Bracegirdle from Marshalls Garden is on hand to reveal how you can grow bountiful fruit – even in the smallest of spaces. 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – 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 

Life’s too short to wait for turmeric to sprout in an airing cupboard, says Alex Mitchell

Alex Mitchell has a few funny tales to tell from her years of gardening, including the time that her flock of sheep ate most of her apple trees, or her realisation that a quick trip to Tel Aviv to buy lemons might actually be a more cost-effective way of obtaining citrus fruits, rather than attempting to grow her own. Plus, she can give you at least 100 ways to upcycle old tights in the garden. Listen now for all of this – and more! 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – 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 
 

Some years I’ve sown 3,000 seeds in return for six carrots, says Liz Zorab

You may be familiar with Liz Zorab from her popular YouTube channel where she documents life on her homestead – Byther Farm. This week Liz joins us on The Dirt to reveal all about her gardening journey to near self-sufficiency – and the highs and lows she’s encountered along the way. 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
🌱 Marshalls Garden also has a fantastic flash offer exclusively for The Dirt podcast listeners. Get £5 off any Organic Extra products (ends midnight 11th Feb 2021) by using the code ‘OE5OFF’ at the website checkout. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply, and full details can be found at marshallsgarden.com. 
🎙️ 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 
 

Get twice the yield for half the effort with this tomato hack, says Sally Nex

Garden writer Sally Nex drops by to tell us about her triumphant 8-foot tree chilli, some upside-down tulip bulbs that never gave up, and her best advice for low-carbon gardening if you’re hoping to reduce your environmental impact this year. Plus Mike Bracegirdle, Category Manager at Marshalls Garden, reveals his advice for getting your tomato crop off to a flying start. 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – 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 

I’m not a celeb, I’m just a man who loves his garden, says Gerald Stratford

Gerald Stratford has become quite the internet gardening phenomenon over the past year, captivating the Twittersphere with photos of his giant vegetable harvests. We were thrilled to get him on the line for a chat about his new-found fame, to steal some of his expertise for producing prize-winning carrots (and keeping pesky carrot fly at bay!), and to hear about that time he chopped off his marrow flowers by accident… uh oh! Plus we’re also joined by Malcom Catlin (from our sponsor Marshalls Garden) who reveals some exciting new seed varieties for 2021. We’re kicking the new year and new series off in style! 
🥕 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
🌱 Marshalls Garden also has a fantastic offer exclusively for The Dirt podcast listeners. Buy ANY 10 packets of seed across the range and receive an interactive vegetable seed wheel growing guide (worth £4.99) for free! To claim this offer simply add ANY 10 packets of seed, along with the seed wheel (product code 1090-3500) to your basket and then use code GYO10 when you check out. Hurry offer expires on the 27th January 2021. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply, and full details can be found on our website at marshallsgarden.com. 
🎙️ 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 

Simon says: Use companion plants to distract unwanted pests

For one final time, Simon Toomer of The National Trust joins Laura and Blake to unpick your gardening problems and offer his expertise to overcome them. Plus, with Christmas nearly upon us, the GYO team is here to spread some much-needed festive joy in this strange year! Take care and we’ll see you all in 2021. 
🛍 We’re delighted to bring you this special mini-series of The Dirt in association with the National Trust, and you can get 10% off everything in its online shop, from gardening tools and accessories, to books, stationary, clothes, toys, food and drink and much more. Simply use the code ‘NTGROW10’ at checkout when you visit nationaltrust.org.uk/shop until 31 Dec 2020. 
🌱 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
Do you have a question you’d like us to put to Simon? If so, 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 

Simon says: Get practical jobs done now to hit the ground running in spring

The National Trust’s Simon Toomer returns to shed some light on some of your biggest gardening problems right now, including planting sweetcorn, combatting canker in fruit trees and the tasks you should be finding time for on the plot during winter. 
🛍 We’re delighted to bring you this special mini-series of The Dirt in association with the National Trust, and you can get 10% off everything in its online shop, from gardening tools and accessories, to books, stationary, clothes, toys, food and drink and much more. Simply use the code ‘NTGROW10’ at checkout when you visit nationaltrust.org.uk/shop until 31 Dec 2020. 
🌱 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
Do you have a question you’d like us to put to Simon? If so, 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 
 

Simon says: These simple tweaks will help to boost your garden

Simon Toomer from the National Trust is back again to answer your gardening questions. In this episode, he’s giving his advice for improving sandy soils, getting more bang for your buck from strawberry plants and looking after cucumber crops to make sure you enjoy a bumper harvest! 
🛍 We’re delighted to bring you this special mini-series of The Dirt in association with the National Trust, and you can get 10% off everything in its online shop, from gardening tools and accessories, to books, stationary, clothes, toys, food and drink and much more. Simply use the code ‘NTGROW10’ at checkout when you visit nationaltrust.org.uk/shop until 31 Dec 2020. 
🌱 Don’t miss our special offer exclusively for listeners of The Dirt – you can get seven issues of Grow Your Own magazine for just £29.99 (that’s £11.94 off!) by calling 0800 904 7000 and quoting ‘GPOD7’, or visiting http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gpod7 – where you’ll also find the full terms and conditions. 
Do you have a question you’d like us to put to Simon? If so, 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