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The Veg Grower Podcast

The Veg Grower Podcast

By: Richard
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 If you are interested in growing your own food , then this is the podcast for you. Each week Join Richard Suggett as he shares his experience of growing food in his allotment and back garden.Copyright © Podcasting 2021 Social Sciences
Episodes
  • #623 – Wet Weekend Gardening and Stormy Skies

    #623 – Wet Weekend Gardening and Stormy Skies
    Sep 15 2025
    This week on the Veg Grower Podcast, the weather has been the main story. With heavy showers and strong winds, I’ve had to adapt my plans in both the kitchen garden and on the allotment. Kitchen Garden Update At home, the wet weather kept me indoors more than I’d like, but I still managed to get some useful jobs done under cover. Seed sowing has continued in trays in the shed and greenhouse, ensuring a steady flow of crops as we move into autumn. These small steps mean the garden will keep providing, even when the weather isn’t on our side. Allotment Update The allotment has been a mix of challenges and small wins. The rain made weeding a little easier, and I managed to get a fair amount cleared. However, bigger jobs such as building a new compost bin had to be postponed thanks to the conditions. With the stormy winds picking up, I also spent some time checking and securing things around the plot. It’s a reminder to us all at this time of year that a sudden gust can undo a lot of hard work if we’re not prepared. In the Podding Shed This week I’ve also been in the podding shed, where I shared a voicemail from listener Maria, who’s had trouble with slugs getting to her pumpkins. It’s a problem many of us face, and it’s always helpful to hear these challenges so we can share ideas and solutions together. I also urged listeners to follow what I’ve been doing lately — taking some time to plan ahead for the coming year. Start by writing a list of the crops you’d really like to grow, then sketch out your allotment or garden space. Even a rough plan can make a huge difference in making the most of your growing area and ensuring everything has its place. Final Thoughts It hasn’t been the most productive of weekends, but that’s often the way when the weather turns against us. Still, there’s always something to do — whether it’s seed sowing under cover, planning for next season, or simply tidying what we can.
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    35 mins
  • Episode 622: Compost Wins, Edible Violas, and Garlic Growing Tips

    Episode 622: Compost Wins, Edible Violas, and Garlic Growing Tips
    Sep 8 2025
    This week on the Veg Grower Podcast I have been busy on both the allotment and in the kitchen garden. September always feels like the start of a new gardening year and with that in mind I have been preparing beds, harvesting plenty, and even picking up a bargain or two. Allotment Update: I started the week by harvesting a couple of cauliflowers and some broccoli. Timing is everything with these crops. Too soon and they are small, too late and they bolt. Thankfully these were just right and have been blanched for the freezer, made into cauliflower cheese, and enjoyed fresh. Harvesting them also freed up space in the brassica bed which will be home to garlic and overwintering onions. To prepare, I dug out some of my homemade compost and mulched the beds. It is satisfying to know that garden waste has come full circle to feed the soil for the next crops. While digging compost I also took the opportunity to tidy up the scruffy corner where the bins live. Nettles were cut back and the area generally smartened up, which gave me better access to my leaf mould bins. These will be filled with fallen leaves in October and left to break down into a useful soil conditioner. A trip to B&M also turned up an unexpected find. Trays of violas for just 20p each. After a good soak they perked up and I have planted them around the allotment and kitchen garden. Not only do they add colour but their flowers are edible too, perfect for salads or garnishes. Kitchen Garden update: At home compost has been another big theme. The hot bin continues to churn out high-quality compost and thanks to my neighbours pruning their vines I had more material to add. Chopping it up finely helps it rot down faster and makes a better end product. Looking ahead I am planning to try more polyculture planting next year in the kitchen garden. Rather than having beds for each crop, I want to mix things up with tomatoes and beetroot together or herbs tucked between vegetables. This will make the space more productive and resilient. Another highlight was pricking out thyme seedlings. The smell was fantastic and it reminded me why I want to grow more herbs. Not just for cooking, but also as companion plants. Thyme works well with brassicas as its scent confuses cabbage whites, basil helps tomatoes by repelling whitefly, and chives can deter aphids. Herbs really can bring both flavour and natural pest control. With rain finally arriving I have also been pumping water from full butts into others to make sure nothing goes to waste. My Autopot systems in the greenhouse have been a real help this year, keeping moisture levels steady and helping produce bumper crops. Recipe of the Week In the kitchen garlic was the star with a batch of homemade aioli. This is a simple garlicky mayonnaise made with garlic, egg yolks, mustard, olive oil and lemon juice. It is easy to make but full of flavour and shows just how versatile garlic is both in the ground and in the kitchen. Growing Garlic Finally, a few tips on growing garlic. I aim to plant mine around the 20th of September, which is also my wedding anniversary so I never forget. Garlic likes well-prepared, free-draining soil. I plant cloves 10cm deep and 10cm apart, pointy end up, and water well. Planting in September means the bulbs get the cold spell they need to split properly and by June they will be ready to harvest. Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow and one I always look forward to. Final Thoughts This week has been a reminder of how September is a turning point. Harvesting summer crops, preparing for winter, and planning ahead for next year. With compost, violas, herbs, and garlic all on the go it feels like the garden is full of energy and potential.
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    30 mins
  • #621 September Seed of the Month: Watercress, Rainwater Wins & Making the Most of Autumn

    #621 September Seed of the Month: Watercress, Rainwater Wins & Making the Most of Autumn
    Sep 1 2025
    As we step into September, the garden is changing pace – and this week I’ve been keeping dry in the shed, sowing our seed of the month: watercress, catching rainwater, and tidying up the allotment between showers. Seed of the Month: Watercress Watercress is one of those crops that often gets overlooked, but it’s such a rewarding and easy one to grow. I’ve started mine two ways this week: From seed: Sow into a shallow tray of seed compost or fine multi-purpose compost. The key is to keep it moist at all times – never let it dry out. Simply sprinkle the fine seeds on the surface (don’t bury them) and place the tray in a bright spot such as a kitchen windowsill. Germination takes 7–14 days. Once the seedlings appear, thin them to a couple of centimetres apart to allow airflow. From supermarket salad: Buy a bag of watercress, pick out a few stems, and place them in a shallow dish of water (gravel in the bottom helps with stability). Change the water every 2–3 days and soon you’ll see new shoots and roots. Once rooted, they can be potted up in compost. Watercress thrives in damp, shady conditions – it doesn’t need a pond, though it will happily grow in one! Keep it consistently moist (water-retaining compost in containers works well), and harvest by snipping outer leaves regularly while leaving the centre to keep growing. Avoid cutting more than one-third at a time to prevent stress. In the kitchen, wash well before using. Watercress is brilliant in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, stir-fries, and, of course, soups. It’s best just before flowering when the flavour is at its peak. Rain, Water Butts, and Saving Pennies August was unusually dry here in Littlehampton, with just 27 mm of rain – and 26 mm of that came last week! The downpours were a blessing, filling the water butts and saving countless watering trips. I’ve also been busy installing extra rainwater diverters. A quick tip here: make sure the diverter is fitted level with the water butt inlet. Too high and the butt will overflow; too low and it won’t fill properly. Installed correctly, they divert water into the butt until it’s full, then allow excess to continue down the drainpipe. It’s a simple job but pays off hugely – reducing bills, increasing self-sufficiency, and keeping the veg patch well-watered without relying on the tap. Allotment Update The allotment has benefitted from the rain too. Weeds are much easier to pull in the softened clay soil, and the plants look visibly better for the soak. Harvests are coming thick and fast: tomatoes, peppers, chillies, and aubergines are all doing well. I did notice something interesting – carrot seeds sown in beds rich with organic matter have germinated far better than those in bare clay. Another reminder that compost is king. Adding organic matter improves structure, water retention, and germination, and it’s why I’ll be digging out and spreading compost across the beds in the coming weeks. Security has also been on my mind. With darker evenings approaching, allotments can sadly be easy targets. I’ve secured my shed, avoid leaving anything valuable on site, and even set up a wildlife camera to keep watch. If food is taken, I’d happily share with those in need – I just wish people would ask rather than steal. Recipe of the Week: Watercress Soup With Chef Scott stepping back from weekly recipes, I’ve taken over this week’s cook-along. Naturally, it had to be a watercress soup – simple, peppery, and a beautiful shade of green. Listener Projects & Fermented Experiments I was delighted to receive a message from Andy in mid-Wales, who built his own hot bin from recycled polystyrene boards. I love these DIY projects – I’ve built compost bins and beds from pallets and reclaimed timber myself. Autumn and winter are perfect seasons to plan these projects, as the garden slows down. And thanks to Lynn for sharing her kombucha experiments!
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    26 mins
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