Episodes

  • After the heat, multifunctional fennel, and roses 101

    After the heat, multifunctional fennel, and roses 101
    Jul 2 2026
    This week we’re recovering from extreme heat to get back to what we love best: celebrating the joy of plants, how to grow them, and some tips for doing more in our gardens. Guy Barter emerges from the heat dome with some lessons learned from inside the furnace, and our science editor Olivia Drake shares an RHS Wildlife Wonder Plant for July that’s a hit with pollinators and people - bronze fennel. Horticulturist Oliver Ongley looks after the rose garden at RHS Garden Wisley, and he offers on successfully growing roses at home, with a nod to RHS Garden Rosemoor’s current Festival of Roses. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Guy Barter, Olivia Drake, Oliver Ongley
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    37 mins
  • Insect week: Beetling about, solitary bees, and summer strawbs

    Insect week: Beetling about, solitary bees, and summer strawbs
    Jun 25 2026
    Insects are vital ecosystem engineers in our gardens. Small but mighty, they help create healthy, balanced environments where plants can thrive. Of course, not all insects are flying or scuttling above ground all the time, so to mark Insect Week, we’re going underground with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones to explore the beetle larvae living in our soils. We’ll learn how to identify the species that benefit our gardens, and what to do about those that can cause problems. Bee expert Rachel Richards from conservation charity Buglife joins us to reveal the remarkable diversity of solitary bees that may be nesting right outside your door, and share simple ways to support these important pollinators. And finally, as the heatwave continues, we turn our attention to a seasonal favourite: strawberries. RHS Horticultural Advisor Chris Taylor shares his top tips for growing healthy, productive plants and getting the very best harvest. Plus a roundup of top tips based on the latest enquiries on rhs.org.uk Email your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Hayley Jones, Rachel Richards, Chris Taylor Links: How to help hoverflies Vine weevil Chafers in garden borders Ground beetle larvae and other predatory gardener allies More in depth ID features for chafers and stag beetles Previous episode on Hoverfly Heroes with Josie Stuart How to help hoverflies Strawberries
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    32 mins
  • A celebration of British blooms

    A celebration of British blooms
    Jun 18 2026
    Insects are drawn to them, poets and artists are inspired by them, and without them, much of our agriculture simply wouldn’t exist. Flowers are one of nature’s most remarkable inventions, and in honour of British Flowers Week, we’ve got three fantastic floral stories. Georgie Newbery, artisan flower farmer and passionate advocate for the British cut flower industry, joins us to share how years of campaigning is giving flower growers a stronger voice and greater visibility at a national level. We explore the sweet pea extravaganza at RHS Garden Wisley this week with National Sweet Pea Society President Roger Parsons. And finally we tackle one of the biggest challenges facing gardens: aphids. Josie Stuart from the RHS Plant Health Team explains how to keep these sap-sucking squatters under control using flowers, while maintaining the natural balance of the garden. Host: Nick Turrell Contributors: Georgie Newbery, Roger Parsons, Josie Stuart Links: National Sweet Pea Society Aphids advice
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    31 mins
  • Plants for sunny spots: the familiar and the unexpected

    Plants for sunny spots: the familiar and the unexpected
    Jun 11 2026
    In this summer edition of the Plant Review podcast special, we get stuck into the plants which love to bask in the sun. Journalist Phil Clayton shares his tips for success with bearded irises, and tackles one of the conundrums associated with this antisocial plant – what to grow them with! Taxonomist Julian Shaw introduces us to a striking new Arum hybrid that's been causing quite a stir among plant enthusiasts. And we dissect what lessons we can learn from mediterranean gardens. Hosts: Gareth Richards and James Armitage Contributors: Phil Clayton, Julian Shaw
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    27 mins
  • June in the kitchen garden

    June in the kitchen garden
    Jun 4 2026
    June is when many kitchen gardens begin to hit their stride. Horticulturist, author, and YouTuber Huw Richards joins us to explore the joys of growing your own food, the benefits of self-sufficiency, and why gardens of every size can have a big impact on people, communities and wildlife. Huw also shares details of the Top of the Plots competition, celebrating inspiring growers across the UK. RHS Wisley's Liz Mooney reveals what you can still sow this June, from reliable favourites to more unusual edible crops. And as gardens buzz into early summer, RHS Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake investigates lavender, our Wildlife Wonder Plant for June, and reveals which varieties prove most irresistible to bumblebees. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Huw Richards, Liz Mooney, Olivia Drake Links: Top of the Plots competition Lavender Wildlife Wonder plant of the month
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    28 mins
  • Heatwaves, houseplant hacks, hot new hostas, and more!

    Heatwaves, houseplant hacks, hot new hostas, and more!
    May 28 2026
    As the UK experiences some of the hottest May weather on record, we share practical tips for helping your garden cope during heatwaves. And if the soaring temperatures have you seeking shade indoors, we’ll hear from houseplant experts about their favourite indoor plants and their advice for tackling common houseplant problems. We also catch up with Chris Potts from Sienna Hostas to discover a breakthrough in hosta breeding that has produced the first truly red-leaved cultivar Hosta RED NINJA in the genus. And with the warm weather set to continue, why not visit an RHS Garden this weekend? We head to RHS Garden Bridgewater, where curator Tracy Snell tells us more about the transformation of this remarkable historic garden as it celebrates its fifth birthday this month. Plus a tribute to horticultural legend Matt Biggs, who sadly died last week. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Natalia (Conservatory Archives), John (Hugo & Green), Alice (Botanica Studios), Chris Potts (Sienna Hosta), Tracy Snell, Tim Upson
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    32 mins
  • The best of RHS Chelsea Flower Show

    The best of RHS Chelsea Flower Show
    May 20 2026
    The highlight of the horticultural calendar is back. This week, we’re bringing you the very best of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We speak to designer Darren Hawkes about The Lady Garden Foundation’s 'Silent No More' garden, and how outdoor spaces can be designed to encourage conversation and connection. Growers and exhibitors from the Great Pavilion share their favourite plants, must-see showstoppers, and expert tips on everything from getting the most out of your hostas to creating natural dyes at home. We also meet Joe and Laura Carey, designers of Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City, to explore London’s rich botanical history and discover how even the smallest urban gardens can become truly striking spaces. Plus, we take a look at the cutting-edge horticultural science showcased at the GreenSTEM exhibit. Whether you’re heading to Chelsea this year or simply looking for expert growing advice and fresh inspiration from some of the world’s leading designers and growers, there’s something here for everyone. Hosts: Jenny Laville, Tom Howard, Gareth Richards Links: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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    29 mins
  • Chelsea’s gnome battle, marvellous mulleins and free plants with hidden costs

    Chelsea’s gnome battle, marvellous mulleins and free plants with hidden costs
    May 14 2026
    Love them or loathe them, garden gnomes are back… and this time, they’ve even got royal approval as they’ll be appearing in the Kings Foundation garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which returns next week. Fiona Davison, head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS talks us through the history of the show’s infamous gnome ban. Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to marvel at the beauty of verbascums, which are this month’s wildlife wonder plant thanks to their multifaceted appeal to all kinds of garden insects, including birds, bees and mullein moth caterpillars. And if you’ve ever been inspired by a TikTok or Instagram video to try growing your own fruit and veg from supermarket leftovers, Dr Helen Latham from the Plant Health team joins us with words of wisdom about how plants for free can sometimes come with hidden dangers. Host: Nick Turrell Contributors: Fiona Davison, Olivia Drake, Helen Latham Links: May Wildlife Wonder plant - verbascums Gnome ban lifted Chelsea Flower Show Plant Health
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    32 mins