1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,480 Welcome to Gardening with Ben, the podcast where we dig into the soil of 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:09,080 our gardens and the depths of our green funds. I'm your host, Ben, 3 00:00:09,359 --> 00:00:12,839 here to guide you through the joys of gardening, from sowing seeds to 4 00:00:12,919 --> 00:00:18,280 reaping bountiful harvests. Each episode will explore tips, tricks, and tales from 5 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:24,800 the garden and allotment, sharing insights from ourself and stories from our own back 6 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,719 garden adventures. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for 7 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,960 the first time, there's something here for everyone, So grab your brew and 8 00:00:34,039 --> 00:00:40,520 gardening gloves and let's get growing with Gardening with Ben. Hello, and welcome 9 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,880 back to Gardening with Ben with a brand new podcast. We're now in March. 10 00:00:46,039 --> 00:00:50,399 Can you believe it? February is pasted already, Even though it's a 11 00:00:50,399 --> 00:00:56,280 longer month February was this month. It's still flown by. But wow, 12 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,119 have we got a lot done at my allotment. And as we're now in 13 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:03,079 March, we need to do our February right round up and share with you 14 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,159 everything that we've got done down at the allotment. Read eight before the next 15 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,120 episode, which will be what Jobs to do in March, so make sure 16 00:01:12,159 --> 00:01:18,000 you stay tuned for tomorrow's episode and that will be out early in the morning. 17 00:01:18,599 --> 00:01:22,159 So, yeah, what have we been up to down at the allotment 18 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:26,799 in February. Well, it's been NonStop. The weather has not been that 19 00:01:26,879 --> 00:01:30,000 bad, to be honest. It's been awful today beginning of March, but 20 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,040 it's not been a bad February whatsoever. And we've got absolutely loads done. 21 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,280 I've near enough got all my allotment ready now ready for the growing season. 22 00:01:40,519 --> 00:01:45,920 And I set myself a mission and I have completed it. I can't believe 23 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,879 how much I've actually done down at my allotment. I must have chucked at 24 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:55,439 least thirty bags of rubbish away this winter from my allotment from how much rubbish 25 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,920 have collected over the years and over the past year down at the allotment. 26 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,799 But it's certainly looking a lot more better. And yeah, what have we 27 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:10,599 been doing well this month. We've been concentrating mainly on sorting out all my 28 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,840 fencing down the side of my plot as it had been up a couple of 29 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:20,120 years. And you know, my DIY skill is absolutely rubbish and most of 30 00:02:20,159 --> 00:02:23,159 it had fell back down again. So we've put it in a lot stronger 31 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:29,439 out and it should periotically last quite a few years, but we'll see about 32 00:02:29,439 --> 00:02:34,159 that. So it's all back up, it's all nicely fastened together, and 33 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,520 we've sorted out all my flower boarders as well down the side of my plot. 34 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:44,639 As my plot is higher than the neighbor's plot, so it had a 35 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,680 lot of the soil had dropped out of it. So we've put a proper 36 00:02:47,719 --> 00:02:52,919 wooden border down the side to hold the soil in, and we've also filled 37 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,960 them all back up with fresh compost so that we can plant some summer bulbs, 38 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,080 and we can plant lots of flowers down the side of it now been 39 00:03:00,159 --> 00:03:06,360 out and purchase lots of Gladioli corns. They're not bulbs, they call corns. 40 00:03:06,879 --> 00:03:10,319 So we've picked up a load of Gladioli corns from our local being Que 41 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,960 because they ran out in other places. So I've been out and got some 42 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:20,439 from being Que and we're going to be planting them this month down the sides 43 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,240 of my plot. So obviously they'll need to be along my fencing so that 44 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,840 I can fasten them to them once the flowers appear, because the flowers do 45 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,199 get top heavy, so they do need something to fasten on to. So 46 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:37,800 hopefully if all them gladiolies grow, they'll look absolutely fantastic and the bees again, 47 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,879 we'll love them down there. So we've sorted all that out, so 48 00:03:40,919 --> 00:03:44,759 we've got all them to plant, and we need to start looking at getting 49 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:51,280 some perennial flowers that will keep growing back year after year because the more perennials 50 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,199 that have, the less I have to buy in the future because they'll just 51 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:58,240 keep coming back year after year. So I'm looking at getting some like lavenders 52 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,639 and maybe heavers down the side, but we'll see, we'll have a look 53 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,960 around. But obviously we'll still grow the annuals, which will be like some 54 00:04:04,199 --> 00:04:11,319 flowers and geraniums and petunias and stuff like that to add a lots more flower 55 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:14,840 to them. So we've got all them sorted. So that was one of 56 00:04:14,879 --> 00:04:17,439 my big main jobs what I wanted to do, as I've not sorted out 57 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,720 my flower borders for quite a long time. So I've obviously got my border 58 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,680 at the front of the plot, and I've got my border when I first 59 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,800 walk onto the plot, but the main border on my plot has not been 60 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,480 looked after really, so We've put quite a lot of time and effort and 61 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,360 money into sorting that out, and I will be spending a lot more money 62 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:39,839 towards the end of the year because I want to have spring bulbs all the 63 00:04:39,879 --> 00:04:43,240 way down the sides of the plots, So I'm going to be purchasing so 64 00:04:43,319 --> 00:04:48,079 many tulips, higher siems and daffodils to go all the way down the plot 65 00:04:48,399 --> 00:04:50,959 to make it look nice for next spring. So make sure you come back 66 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,199 next spring and check out my instagram and see all the pictures on there. 67 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,120 If you're not following my instagram, do give it a follow because we do 68 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,360 post lots of pictures on there. It's called Gardening with Ben. So we've 69 00:05:02,399 --> 00:05:05,759 sorted out all that. What else have we sorted out this month? We 70 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:12,560 have been sorting out getting all my beds fixed back together and all the pathways 71 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:17,120 sorted again, something that I haven't done for a few years. Like a 72 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,279 few years ago. What I did, I took out all the beds and 73 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:25,319 I rebuilt them all from scratch, And basically that is what I've done again 74 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,839 this year. I've taken them all up and rebuilt them all because some of 75 00:05:28,879 --> 00:05:30,480 the wood was rotten on some of them, so I had to take all 76 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:35,399 them up and they'd come unfastened, so they were trip hazards. All the 77 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:41,800 paths were not level anymore because I've got me walking on them, and the 78 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:46,399 black membrane had all had it what was down in between the paths. So 79 00:05:46,639 --> 00:05:50,759 yeah, I completely stripped the plot back and rebuilt it all from scratch, 80 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:56,800 So that has been a job and a half. And for my pathways, 81 00:05:56,959 --> 00:06:01,480 I've got two paths what are paving slabs, so nice to walk on and 82 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,240 they won't get muddy on them, and the rest of the paths of all 83 00:06:04,319 --> 00:06:09,279 wood chip as we had a load of wood chip delivered to our allotment site, 84 00:06:09,399 --> 00:06:13,000 so I've got loads and loads of wood chip paths all over the place. 85 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,560 I've still got a bit left to do. I'm just waiting on some 86 00:06:15,639 --> 00:06:18,959 more getting delivered and then all the paths will be finished as well. So 87 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,199 it is going to look pretty posh this year my plot and the amount of 88 00:06:24,399 --> 00:06:29,800 time and effort I've put into this winter will certainly hopefully pay off. The 89 00:06:29,879 --> 00:06:33,480 next main jobs over the next month will be to repaint all my beds and 90 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:38,360 getting them looking brand new again. Well they won't look brand new, but 91 00:06:38,759 --> 00:06:43,600 they'll look a lot nicer than they actually are, and we usually paint them 92 00:06:43,639 --> 00:06:46,959 green. Even though it does wash off after a bit of time, it 93 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,000 does make them look nicer for the time being and for the summer, and 94 00:06:50,399 --> 00:06:55,040 it helps stop the wood from rotting as fast. So we'll be getting all 95 00:06:55,079 --> 00:07:00,759 them painted and looking spot on. And another job will be to dig over 96 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,480 all the beds as well, which I'm planning on doing throughout the March time. 97 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:09,920 So March time we will be painting all the beds and getting them dug 98 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,720 over. I've also bought a silver as well, because i want to save 99 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,560 the soil because it's a lot of stones in it. So I'm going to 100 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,160 try and sieve as many stones out as possible and try and get rid of 101 00:07:18,199 --> 00:07:21,879 them, just to make it better for growing in. And we're also going 102 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:27,120 to add some nutrients into the soil. We're gonna have some manure into it, 103 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,639 we're gonna have some compost into it. We're just going to improve the 104 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:33,560 soil and hopefully improve our planting. Yes, we are spending a lot of 105 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:38,040 money on it this year, and it's probably cheaper to buy the vegetables from 106 00:07:38,079 --> 00:07:42,279 the supermarket, but they won't taste as nice, and hopefully once they're done 107 00:07:42,319 --> 00:07:46,160 that it will last for a few years and hopefully we'll get a good crop 108 00:07:46,199 --> 00:07:49,079 of stuff. And I don't care about if it costs cheaper to buy it 109 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:54,879 from a supermarket. Sometimes it's about the enjoyment of being outside in the garden 110 00:07:55,079 --> 00:07:59,519 in the fresh air and being with nature, and that's what I get, 111 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,279 and it's good for my mind while i'm down there, and obviously I live 112 00:08:03,279 --> 00:08:05,879 in a flat on my own, so it's good to get out and about 113 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,759 earn every day when i'm off work, I'm always down there, come rain 114 00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:13,839 or shine. I was down there this morning when it was absolutely chucking it 115 00:08:13,879 --> 00:08:16,600 down, but I got out of the flat and out and about down to 116 00:08:16,639 --> 00:08:20,040 the allotment for a bit. So yeah, it has been a busy in 117 00:08:20,079 --> 00:08:24,639 February, and again I'm very impressed with what I'm doing. This month is 118 00:08:24,639 --> 00:08:28,759 going to be even more busy because we've got all the seeds to start planting 119 00:08:28,759 --> 00:08:31,480 this month, which I do enjoy. That's my favorite timeel for you. 120 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,639 Hence the reason why I get all these jobs done on my allotment through the 121 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:43,120 winter, because March April time, May time we're busy months. We're sowing 122 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:48,759 seeds and potting on and getting them all ready to plant out, and that's 123 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:52,799 the exciting part. The winter period is the hard work I always class it 124 00:08:52,799 --> 00:08:56,279 as. So, yeah, we have got it all ready, and that's 125 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:01,799 why I always say to start getting you all ready for the year after from 126 00:09:01,919 --> 00:09:07,519 September October onwards right through winter and just keep on going and keep going down 127 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,360 and getting that work done and it pays off like it has done for me. 128 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,559 And again hopefully this year is going to be the best year ever down 129 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,240 there. So that has been what we've been up to in February. So, 130 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,399 like I said, make sure you come back for tomorrow's episode. Tomorrow's 131 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:28,320 episode with talking about all the jobs which need doing in March in the garden 132 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,960 allotment, fruit areas and flower areas, so make sure you come back for 133 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:37,559 that episode. If you've not followed or subscribed to this podcast, make sure 134 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,600 you click the follow button and the notifications on so that you know when new 135 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:46,120 episodes do appear. Feel free to leave a comment as well. On Spotify 136 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,600 you can leave a comment or leave a review, and you can leave a 137 00:09:48,639 --> 00:09:54,840 review on iTunes as well. So yeah, thanks for listening to today's episode. 138 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,960 As always, everyone, remember keep smiling, keep shining, and keep 139 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,960 gardening with Ben. Everyone, and that wraps up another episode of Gardening with 140 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:11,919 Ben. Thank you for joining me in this journey. Remember every seed planted 141 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:16,000 is a step towards a greener world, and every day is a chance to 142 00:10:16,039 --> 00:10:22,320 grow something beautiful. Keep nurturing your gardens and your souls. Until next time, 143 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,120 I'm Gardening with Ben, reminding you to let your garden be your sanctuary. 144 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:33,120 Happy gardening, and see you in the next episode. Remember keep smiling, 145 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,639 keep shining, and keep gardening with Ben.