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 joints 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 ourselves 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 --> 00:00:40,159 gardening gloves and let's get growing with Gardening with Ben. Hey, everyone, 9 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:45,759 and welcome back to a brand new episode of Gardening with Ben. Well, 10 00:00:45,759 --> 00:00:50,520 it's been a while since our last episode, but we have been so so 11 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:56,359 busy and I'm here to tell you everything that we have been up to down 12 00:00:56,399 --> 00:01:00,200 at the Allotment recently, and then the next couple of episodes, I'll be 13 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,439 telling you the monthly jobs are what we need to plant and what jobs need 14 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:10,760 doing in the garden and an allotment. So where have we been and what 15 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,760 have we been up to? Well, I've been away this Easter weekend I 16 00:01:15,879 --> 00:01:21,200 decided to get away for a few nights and enjoy myself and just be able 17 00:01:21,239 --> 00:01:26,400 to chill out and relax really, as I have been doing too much at 18 00:01:26,439 --> 00:01:30,719 the moment, so I just needed some time to myself to enjoy a weekend 19 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,359 away. But now we are back, and now we are back into it 20 00:01:34,519 --> 00:01:40,719 and hopefully cracking on with everything down at the allotment as it's getting to that 21 00:01:40,799 --> 00:01:45,120 time of year when it's starting to get busy and we've got lots to get 22 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,280 done, and I keep buying more and more plants. But yeah, what 23 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,879 have we been up to down at the plot. Well, last month we 24 00:01:55,079 --> 00:02:00,079 planted all my march seeds what needed planting. That consists, of course, 25 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:06,920 yet marrows, pumpkins, lettuce, beet root, sweet corn, peas. 26 00:02:07,719 --> 00:02:12,879 We've got all them in. And then today we started planting a lot of 27 00:02:12,879 --> 00:02:17,120 our march seeds, so that includes runner beans and climbing beans. We've got 28 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,159 all them in. And we've planted a lot of runner beans this year, 29 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,199 so hopefully we get a good crop. And those are using the seeds for 30 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:30,879 my dad's runner beans last year what he grew, so I haven't had to 31 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:35,919 purchase any seeds. I've just used all the ones that he got from his 32 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:42,639 old plants, so hopefully they'll Germany and we'll get some good crops from them. 33 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:49,159 And also this week I've also planted all my potatoes. Yes I'm a 34 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,879 bit late we're planting them, but we've got them all in and I'm planting 35 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,039 them in boxes again this year. As when I've planted them in the ground 36 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,560 in the past, when I'm digging them up when they're ready, I tend 37 00:03:00,599 --> 00:03:05,199 to end up putting a fork through one, or I end up leaving a 38 00:03:05,199 --> 00:03:07,719 load to baby ones in the ground, and I keep getting potatoes a year 39 00:03:07,759 --> 00:03:12,400 after year from them. So if you grow them in a box, you 40 00:03:12,479 --> 00:03:15,520 will obviously just be able to empty the box and get out all the potatoes 41 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:22,000 without having to stab them or dig around for them until you find them. 42 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,159 They'll all grow well in the box. And as well with growing them in 43 00:03:25,159 --> 00:03:30,719 a box, what you can do is like what I'm doing, is I'm 44 00:03:30,759 --> 00:03:34,759 actually growing them inside in my polytonnel at the moment where it's a lot warmer 45 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,039 and there's no chance of frost to slow them down or with them away. 46 00:03:39,439 --> 00:03:45,719 They can get a good headstart in my polytunnel where it's probably about five to 47 00:03:45,759 --> 00:03:50,520 ten degrees warmer in there than it is outside, so they'll get that kickstart 48 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,240 and headstart and hopefully a better crop from them. But what I'll do is 49 00:03:54,280 --> 00:04:00,159 when it gets to about March maytime, I'll pully move them outside, like 50 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,360 keep some watered with the rain, etc. I'm having to keep watering them 51 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,879 while they're inside, but they won't need much water at the moment because they've 52 00:04:06,919 --> 00:04:11,639 only just been planted. If you get me, they'll need more water as 53 00:04:11,879 --> 00:04:15,360 the season moves on and the plants start growing and the potatoes start growing on 54 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,240 them, because without the water, you won't be able to get lots of 55 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:23,680 little potatoes growing on the planet. So hopefully we'll get a good crop from 56 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,879 them. We did it last year and we got a decent crop from my 57 00:04:26,959 --> 00:04:31,439 potatoes, So fingers crossed we get another good crop formed potatoes that we grew 58 00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:40,279 this year. And yeah, I'm growing Charlotte and I'm growing I can't remember 59 00:04:40,319 --> 00:04:44,879 the other one. I'll have to check, but we're definitely growing Charlotte potatoes. 60 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,079 We've got two varieties that we're growing, So fingers crossed we do get 61 00:04:49,079 --> 00:04:54,759 a good crop and they turn out absolutely fantastic, so we got them growing. 62 00:04:55,839 --> 00:05:00,800 So everything's coming along pretty much now, and yeah, I'm impressed with 63 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:05,120 how it's all coming along. Everything seems to be growing fast in the shed, 64 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,199 which is a good thing because I didn't have my shed last year. 65 00:05:09,639 --> 00:05:14,600 My shed had collapsed the winter before and I hadn't got around to rebuilding it. 66 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:17,160 Also, I didn't manage to start off any seeds last year. I 67 00:05:17,199 --> 00:05:21,279 had to purchase all the plants that I wanted plant in, which, yeah, 68 00:05:21,319 --> 00:05:25,319 it's an expensive job. Obviously, you don't get as many plants because 69 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,879 you're only buy a view in a tray stuff like that. So we didn't 70 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,920 have many plants growing last year. So we've got a lot to do this 71 00:05:33,079 --> 00:05:38,959 year, and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we'll start doing all the 72 00:05:38,959 --> 00:05:43,319 pricking out and start planting them up. But we won't be planting anything outside 73 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,160 until it gets to May time, when the chance of frost has passed. 74 00:05:47,399 --> 00:05:51,720 Some plants, yes, can cope outside with the frost, but I tend 75 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:58,279 to just wait until May and since everything's passed, then I'll plant everything out 76 00:05:58,319 --> 00:06:02,920 and hopefully everything will grow fine. The same goes for runner beans. Like 77 00:06:02,959 --> 00:06:08,519 I said, I plant my runner beans this week today. And what I 78 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,560 do with my runner beans, rather than start them off in the ground, 79 00:06:11,639 --> 00:06:15,279 I start them off in plant pots. And I do the same for peas 80 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:19,879 until they get to a decent height, and then I'll plant them outside when 81 00:06:19,879 --> 00:06:26,639 they're big enough to survive. Because when they've tied it and small my soul 82 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,279 come along. Rats, they'll coming along. They'll sniff them out and they'll 83 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,839 eat the bean and you'll end up losing it, so you'll end up with 84 00:06:32,879 --> 00:06:36,920 hardly any crop whatsoever. So I want them to be at a decent size 85 00:06:38,199 --> 00:06:41,120 so that they can protect theirselves. And when they're big enough, what I'll 86 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:46,040 do is I'll put a bottle around it and some netting to stop any pigeons 87 00:06:46,079 --> 00:06:48,959 from eating them. And then we've got a good chance of survival of the 88 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,839 plant, because that's what you need to do, make sure it survives to 89 00:06:53,959 --> 00:06:58,720 keep it growing well. So yeah, I'm looking forward to this year. 90 00:06:58,759 --> 00:07:00,600 It's going to be a good sea and down at my allotment and we're going 91 00:07:00,639 --> 00:07:08,519 to get some great produce and some fantastic pictures for you. One and if 92 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:12,480 you've not checked out my Instagram recently, go and check it out. The 93 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:19,399 tulips down there look absolutely phenomenal. I cannot say how happy I am with 94 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:25,879 the outcome of all my allotment this year. It's looking absolutely stunning, the 95 00:07:25,879 --> 00:07:30,480 best it's ever looked in a long time. And yes, it costs me 96 00:07:30,519 --> 00:07:32,560 a lot of money for all the spring bulbs and everything like that, but 97 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:38,879 it was worth it to see what it looks like now is out of this 98 00:07:38,959 --> 00:07:42,959 world. I wouldn't be able to think of anything what it had looked like 99 00:07:44,319 --> 00:07:47,639 without it. It's the best display that I've ever had on my plot, 100 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:54,120 and it smells phenomenal. The smell just hits you as soon as you walk 101 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:59,839 on from the highest simps and the jewelips. It's absolutely studded. Everybody down 102 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,519 the oppment site have said how nice it is. So if you've not checked 103 00:08:03,519 --> 00:08:05,360 out my photos, go and check them out. I'll probably be posting the 104 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:11,319 spring flowers for the next few years. But yeah, that is for sure. 105 00:08:11,399 --> 00:08:16,639 I'm so impressed with it, and I'll keep sharing them pictures and sharing 106 00:08:16,639 --> 00:08:20,959 them all with you. So what have we got left to do over the 107 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:24,879 next few months, Over the next few weeks, let me say what I'll 108 00:08:24,879 --> 00:08:28,519 probably end up doing is I'll probably end up potting up all my plants i've 109 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,360 started growing. That'll be the big job of doing all that. I'll probably 110 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,159 be planting some more seeds. We need to go and get some more seeds 111 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:39,799 and start some off. I need to start some geraniums off. That's one 112 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:45,960 thing I do need to start off. And yeah, I think I've planted 113 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:50,559 all my vegetable seeds for the time being. I'm quite happy with harmony veg 114 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:56,120 I've got growing and got started, so we'll have to see how we get 115 00:08:56,159 --> 00:09:01,879 on, and I'll be sharing everything of I've been growing. I'm obviously growing 116 00:09:01,879 --> 00:09:07,559 my carrots in my polytunnel at the moment in a big tub. They're all 117 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,039 shooting through. They seem to be growing well. I can't complain at the 118 00:09:11,039 --> 00:09:16,960 moment. It seems that we're getting a good crop from stuff. So hopefully 119 00:09:16,159 --> 00:09:20,519 we do get a good crop from you'll be able to see how well they 120 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:26,320 grow when we'd pull them out. I've never had any luck with carrots whatsoever, 121 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:31,720 but fingers crossed, this is the first year that we have a good 122 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:35,080 crop of carrots. I'm keeping the watered. There's no chance of carrot fly 123 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:41,960 because they're high off the ground and the soil is perfect. They won't split 124 00:09:41,039 --> 00:09:46,960 because there's no stones in x amusing compost. So hopefully we do get a 125 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,120 fantastic crop of carrots this year, and this will be my first year in 126 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:56,360 eighteen years of having my allotment that we will have a fantastic crop, So 127 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,919 keep your eyes peeled for them. And if they do grow a fantas I'll 128 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,679 be jumping from the ceiling and then you'll be getting a photo of them every 129 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,039 single day for the rest of my life as well. But yeah, I'm 130 00:10:07,039 --> 00:10:13,440 happy with it all and we'll see how we get on. So yeah, 131 00:10:13,159 --> 00:10:16,240 that has been today's episode, a little catch up and a little bit of 132 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:22,240 how things getting on. So make sure you tune back for tomorrow's episode where 133 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,440 we're going to start talking about what jobs need to be done in the allotment 134 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,639 and garden in April. And yeah, remember bring your notepad as well. 135 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:35,039 So until next time, remember keep smiling, keep shining, and keep gardening 136 00:10:35,039 --> 00:10:39,919 with Ben. Everyone, And that wraps up another episode of Gardening with Ben. 137 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:46,399 Thank you for joining me in this journey. Remember, every seed planted 138 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,519 is a step towards a greener world, and every day is a chance to 139 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:56,840 grow something beautiful. Keep nurturing your gardens and your souls. Until next time, 140 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:01,600 I'm gardening with Ben, reminding you to let your garden b your sanctuary. 141 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:07,600 Happy gardening, and see you in the next episode. Remember keep smiling, 142 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:11,080 keep shining, and keep gardening with Ben.