The Kitchen Garden Magazine Podcast

Eaten by the ancient Egyptians more than 2500 years ago, there must be something about leeks that has kept the human palate keen. It might be that it’s a tasty and nutritious crop, that once it’s planted it more or less looks after itself, or that it provides an autumn/winter crop when there’s not so much to harvest on the veg plot. Whatever the reason, this member of the onion family is well worth the initial effort. Written by Tony Flanagan, read by Rachel Atkins.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Steve, Emma and Tony chat about the benefits of raised beds – a great way of keeping your vegetable plot contained and they can reduce the workload, making them ideal for newcomers to veggie growing. Raised beds are a popular way to grow vegetables, even though they require an initial outlay. However, if you are a new gardener and you struggle with time, a raised bed is going to be helpful to you.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s hard to beat the flavour of sweetcorn freshly picked from the plot and cooked straight away. Once tried, forever smitten, says writer Tony Flanagan. Read by Rachel Atkins.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is sponsored by Backsaver Garden Tools, home of the ‘Backsaver Autospade’, which has helped a huge number of people to dig without backache and at twice the speed.A lot of gardeners struggle to get the best results with their gardening through no fault of their own, due to age or injury. The Backsaver Autospade allows you to continue your hobby for years to come, pain free! With a stainless steel or carbon steel blade, the Autospade is an easy-to-use tool which helps remove the strain of bending down when digging in cultivated ground.So whether you’re young or old, novice or professional, take it easy and let the Autospade do the work. To find out more, go to: www.backsavergardentools.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is sponsored by elho, who create beautiful designer pots and planters in Holland from sustainable materials using 100% wind power. We all need to take responsibility for saving tap water and reducing the use of single use plastics in gardening. So it’s good to know that rain water is better for your plants. The Green Basics rain barrel from elho is made from 100% recycled plastic, and 12 used detergent bottles are recycled to produce the matching Green Basics watering can. It’s a far more sustainable solution than using a sprinkler or a hose. Going green doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style. Sustainability and design go hand in hand with the new Greenville Collection from elho. Made from plastic production waste, these planters have an integrated water reservoir to minimise water waste and keep your plants – and the environment – happy for years to come.  To find out more go to www.elho.com.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informatio

Rachel Atkins reads Julie Moore's report on a school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, where the principles of sustainability and a healthy approach to food are central to the curriculum. Inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales’ book 'Harmony', which speaks about the philosophy of sustainability and the way nature is all interconnected, headteacher Richard Dunne has incorporated seven key principles of harmony into the school curriculum.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In episode 58 of the Kitchen Garden Podcast, join the team on a hot summer’s afternoon as they talk about the luxuries of gardening in the summer months, the best products for the season and how the dry months have affected Tony’s potatoes! Also, why does the courgette get such a bad press, and can you make wine from it? Find out in the latest Kitchen Garden Podcast! This episode has been supported by GardenSite, the online garden centre - head over to GardenSite.co.uk and start browsing their products today.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Eden Project first opened its doors in 2001 and still maintains its initial purpose to highlight the importance of plants in every aspect of our lives. Take a tour with the head of Eden’s outdoor horticultural team, Julie Kendall (read by Rachel Atkins).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recorded 'on location' at Easton Walled Garden, Lincolnshire, Steve, Emma and Tony talk about their favourite salads and give you their top tips for growing. This episode has been supported by GardenSite, the online garden centre - head over to GardenSite.co.uk and start browsing their products today.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sowing seeds can be great fun, but there is an alternative that can produce super tasty crops with much less fuss. KG editor Steve Ott sings the praises of plug plants - read by Rachel Atkins. This episode is supported by Defland Nurseries https://www.delfland.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is there an alternative to slug pellets? – We talk about controlling slugs naturally using Nemaslug Slug Killer, which contains natural nematodes that are effective at controlling slugs, but unlike chemical controls, are safe for children, pets, birds and wildlife. The nematodes in Nemaslug are found naturally in UK soil and have been approved for use in organic gardening by the Soil Association. This episode is supported by Green Gardener https://www.greengardener.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who needs bling bling when you can have pure carrot gold? The history of the humble carrot is shrouded in mystery, with rumours, facts and old wives’ tales all mixed into the story. Involving kings, rebellions, night vision, war and designer veg, it certainly is a veg worth shouting about! This episode, written by Rob Smith and read by Rachel Atkins, is supported by Gardenlines, the home of all your gardening needs https://www.gardenlines.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's April already, and this week Steve, Emma and Tony talk about chitting and planting out second early potatoes. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Abel & Cole. Start your organic journey today by visiting https://www.abelandcole.co.uk and entering code KITCHEN at checkout. As a Kitchen Garden podcast listener, you'll be getting your first and fourth boxes for half price.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Asparagus so expensive to buy, why not invest in growing your own - all you need is a bit of time, space and patience for long-term rewards. Written by Tony Flanagan, read by Rachel Atkins. This episode is supported by the Garden Prong from https://www.prongcroft.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A polytunnel is an elongated semi-circular or square shaped tunnel. It is most often constructed using steel and is covered in polythene. Polytunnels come in a range of sizes and are used to keep plants, vegetables and fruits warm enough to grow in temperate regions. It can also enable you to grow fruits, vegetables, and plants out of season. Recorded live, in a polytunnel on the hottest day in February on record, Steve, Emma and Tony tell you everything you need to know. This episode has been supported by First Tunnels: https://www.firsttunnels.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Something slightly different for this episode. Editor Steve and Deputy Editor Emma gave a talk to the Horncastle U3A Edible Garden Club. Steve covers how the magazine is put together and Emma looks at some interesting fruit and veg she has attempted to grow!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chillies? Choose heritage. Continuing his series on heritage fruit and veg, Rob Smith shares some of his favourite varieties of chilli and points out that although the heat can be important, it’s the flavour that counts. Read by Rachel Atkins. This episode is supported by Victoriana Nursery Gardens. To find out more, go to https://www.victoriananursery.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This month, Steve, Tony and Emma talk about getting your garden ready for spring planting, and take a close look at mulches. This episode has been supported Strulch - the light and easy to use garden mulch made from wheat straw for organic gardening https://www.strulch.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We try to reduce ‘vegetable miles’ by growing our own and buying locally, but often forget that their journey actually starts with the seeds. Hardly any of the vegetable seeds sold to UK gardeners and growers are produced in this country. Similarly, other products with local provenance are valued – local cider or breeds of livestock, for example – but rarely local varieties of vegetable.Change could be on its way, however. Small independent seed companies are becoming more popular; Brexit could bring new regulations that govern which vegetable varieties they can sell; and there are moves to encourage local production of seed. All this could lead to more choice for gardeners – giving us some tailor-made varieties and better quality seed.Rachel Atkins reads Sue Stickland's thoughts on the future of seeds... Post-Brexit.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A Christmas Eve treat for our listeners - Gardening writer Wendy Pillar violated the rule ‘never meet your heroes’ when she visited veg growing legend Joy Larkcom at her home in Ireland. She was very glad that she did. Read by Rachel Atkins. Merry Christmas everyone!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.