HortWeek Podcast

As demand for sustainable growing media rockets, ICL technical sales manager Sam Rivers discusses peat-free composts and what growing media products are available for production horticulture.

They explore who is asking for what, the raw materials available, differences in nutrition, and other products which may need to be added to help boost plant quality, such as biostimulants.

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The YPHA was founded in 2020 for under 35s in the industry to better facilitate collaboration, education and innovation and to consider how the industry might evolve to appeal to a younger demographic than has previously been the case.

Giving their views are YPHA members: Chris Wiley, founder of Sow Successful, Virginia Colquhoun González, nursery supervisor at Allensmore Nurseries, and Holly Geipel, Vitacress Commercial Manager - Horticulture and Independents.

The trio discuss how their careers officer never mentioned horticulture, tell us how they got into the industry, and explode the myth that all young people in horticulture are from family businesses.

In a wide-ranging discussion, they give tips for those considering a career in horticulture, discuss how wages and conditions might be improved and what they would change, the well-being benefits of working in the sector, and their career plans.

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Horatio’s Garden is a national charity creating and nurturing beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres.

Leading landscape designers such as Cleve West, Tom Stuart-Smith, Bunny Guinness and Sarah Price are among those who have lent their talents to design the gardens.

In this podcast, Dr Olivia Chapple discusses the mission and value of the charity's gardens, which came into sharp relief during the coronavirus crisis:

"Our head gardeners team were all deemed to be essential workers by the NHS and we've kept the projects going throughout the whole of the pandemic...It's really affirmed to us the vitalness of having access to gardens in hospitals."

Dr Chapple discusses the and the fundraising needed to get them off the ground and plans for the future.

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Peat-reduction is a big issue and with Defra's Peat Strategy consultation around the corner, demand for compost higher than ever, horticulture is facing a tricky transition to be peat-free by 2024.

Southern Trident's Steve Harper talks about the challenge of creating products fit for the horticultural production market and persuading retail consumers that it is worth paying extra to go peat-free as supply constraints force prices up by an expected 10-20% in 2022.

But Harper hopes the coir-based Harmony range of growing media products, the first carbon-neutral range ever, to be launched at Glee will be part of the solution along with consumer-friendly changes to packaging.

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GE Current offers a range of professional LED lighting fixtures and hybrid solutions for indoor and greenhouse horticultural applications, from propagation and microgreens production through to lighting for large indoor farms and commercial greenhouses.

Horticulture business development manager Malcolm Yare and commercial operations manager Sally Thomas speak about the benefits of supplemental lighting, trends in the market and transitioning from HPS to LED as well as how growers can secure financial support for their horticulture projects.

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Online sales doubled during the pandemic says owner Chris Smith, but changes in regulations are making some imports, such as seed potatoes, onion sets and garlic from France and Holland, impossible and could lead to significant pressures come the autumn.

Shifting demographics of nursery owners and customers mean horticultural shows could decline as the market shifts from face-to-face to mail order and nurseries cater for newer gardeners, who want instant results and minimal work, favouring salads, soft fruit and perennials, he says.

But the veteran grower is enthusiastic about the 'Ten Tomatoes That Changed The World' display planned for this year's autumn Chelsea Flower show and he picks a formidable 'Desert Island Plant'.

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"Our aim ...is to have an apprentice on every contract that we maintain", says Countrywide Grounds Maintenance managing director Paul McKeown.

Having worked in horticulture his entire working life, a desire to give back to the 46 local communities where the firm has a presence led to 'community first' - an initiative which aims to train and recruit local talent.

McKeown also discusses the firms's journey so far, how the business fared through Covid-19 and goals for the future - as well his love of geraniums and Sunderland FC!

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Adrian Wickham, Glendale corporate development director, and Tessa Johnstone, Johnstones Landscapes' director, give a fascinating insight into their work on promoting greater diversity in the industry for the British Association of Landscape Industries.

They discuss routes into the industry, how to break through cultural conservatism in recruitment and how improving diversity could enhance the industry and help address the skills gap.

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A fixture of the turf management sector calendar, and after a year's hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, GMA Saltex show is back.

Saltex operations manager Derek "Mr Saltex" Walder and Grounds Management Association CEO Geoff Webb join Horticulture Week technical editor Sally Drury to discuss Saltex's long and eventful past, present and future.

They discuss the challenges of health and safety at the show, including how it will create a safe environment during the still unpredictable Covid pandemic.

Derek, Geoff and Sally share stories and anecdotes from shows past and discuss key improvements in technology the exhibition showcases.

Finally Sally asks how the GMA is addressing the urgent need to attract younger people to the industry and what is there for them at the show.

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