Cold soil, heavy rain, and an eager itch to plant—this is the moment gardeners choose between rushing the season or stacking the odds for a great harvest. We dive into a clear, practical guide to picking potato varieties that fit both your garden and your plate, from fast-maturing salad types to flavour-packed second earlies and reliable main crops for storage. Along the way, we ground every tip in real conditions: soil temperature as your green light, earthing up to beat late frosts, and smart timing to dodge blight season.

We start with confidence builders. Charlotte tops the salad list for clean skins, high yields, and a waxy bite that loves vinaigrettes, while Pink Fir Apple and International Kidney add character if you crave variety. First earlies like Duke of York, Red Duke of York, and Sharpe’s Express earn their space by finishing early, freeing beds for summer crops. Vitabella brings a safety net with extra blight resistance, and Alouette offers rare early flouriness if you manage slugs by earthing up.

If taste is king, we champion British Queens. Get them into warm soil early and they deliver that floury, comforting texture that makes a simple plate sing. For the long game, we compare main crops: Records for a rich, slightly yellow flesh; King Edward and Maris Piper for classic roast quality; Rooster and Kerr’s Pink for trusted staples. If blight has caught you before, Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Axona are your calm in the storm—vigorous growth, clean foliage, and solid harvests that improve with patient maturity.

Threaded through are the small habits that decide big outcomes: planting depth at 10 cm, earthing up in stages, steady moisture during tuber set, and choosing containers when space or soil is against you. We also pause to honour the late Dr Elaine Ingham, whose soil food web work reshaped how many of us see life underfoot. Listen to a great episode of the podcast with Elaine here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/857398/episodes/10640939

 We discuss upcoming workshop dates plus a free Grow Your Own Food webinar for those who can’t travel. Sign up to the webinar here

http://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodwebinar

Ready to pick a winning trio? Try Charlotte for a fast win, British Queens for flavour, and a Sarpo main crop for stress-free storage. If this guide helped, follow, share with a fellow grower, and leave a review to help more gardeners find us.

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If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

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Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Peat built our seed-starting habits because it made life easy: even moisture, airy structure, predictable results. But when carbon-rich bogs and vanishing habitats enter the frame, “easy” stops feeling right. We take a clear-eyed look at what peat-free really means for gardeners in Ireland, the UK, and the US—beyond labels, beyond trends—and ask how to balance strong germination with true environmental sense.

We start by mapping the policy shifts and market realities: Ireland still sells mostly peat-based compost; the UK’s retail ban has pushed rapid innovation; the US market offers a mature spread of growing media, from coir and wood fibre to biochar, vermicast, and tailored blends. Then we dig into performance. Peat-free mixes can be excellent but inconsistent, changing with feedstocks and age. Two bags from the same pallet may give different germination and salt levels. We explain why that happens, how peat-free holds water differently, and how to adjust watering and timing to avoid stalled seedlings or damping-off.

From there, we get practical. We’re trialling three seed-starting paths this season: a local vermicast blend opened with perlite and a touch of biochar for moisture balance; a highly regarded coir-forward seed mix known for uniform germination; and a very small reserve of peat-based compost used only for sowing. We also share DIY routes: hot-composting followed by a long cure to stabilise the material, blending with sharp sand or perlite, and using inert media like grit plus vermiculite for germination before an early prick-out into a proven mix. Along the way, we question coir’s “green” halo by tracing its journey across oceans and factories—great performance can still carry a heavy footprint if it travels farther than your holidays.

If you want reliable seedlings without greenwash, this conversation gives you a framework: use imports sparingly where they truly shine, switch to local bulk mixes for planters and potting on, learn the moisture cues of peat-free, and record what works in your climate. We’d love to hear your winning recipes and failures too. Subscribe, share this with a gardening friend, and leave a review with your go-to seed-starting mix so we can test it next.

Join my free Grow Your Own Food Webinar: 

http://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodwebinar

Last Few Places In Feb Workshop: 

https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

What if your garden could slow a storm, clean a river, and lift your mood in one sweep? We dive into the GLDA’s “The Interconnection of All Things,” a bold, practical look at how plants act as living infrastructure—supporting biodiversity, soaking up floodwater, buffering noise, and restoring our connection to place.

We explore how language and myth can sharpen ecological awareness, then shift into concrete strategies designers can use right now. From award‑winning rewilding by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt to Biomatrix Water’s floating gardens that transform hard-edged docks into thriving habitats, the common thread is nature doing the heavy lifting. We unpack urban projects that blend SUDS, habitat corridors, and human access, showing how rain gardens, engineered tree pits, and permeable surfaces turn runoff into a resource. Heritage expert Neil Porteous brings the long view from estates and historic gardens, while the legacy of the late Séamus O’Brien reminds us how deep plant knowledge shapes resilient landscapes. Designer Margie Ruddick connects ecology to culture and community, with case studies from New York to China and Mexico that fuse stormwater design, microclimate, and everyday public life.

Expect clear takeaways for small city plots and large sites alike: mix native and adapted plants for function and beauty, design for water first, collaborate with gardeners for long-term care, and treat every garden as part of a wider network from mountain to sea. If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond hard landscaping trends toward spaces that actually heal, this conversation delivers inspiration and tools you can apply this season.

You can buy tickets here: 

https://glda.ie/

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a gardener or designer who’s ready to make their patch part of the solution.

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Ready to jumpstart a season of colour without babysitting trays for months? We map out a realistic February plan for ornamental flowers, focusing on what to sow now, when to wait, and how to keep seedlings strong with steady heat, bright light, and measured watering. If you’ve ever lost begonias to cold media or watched cosmos turn leggy on a dim windowsill, this guide shows the simple fixes that change the outcome.

We break down the crucial differences between edibles and flowers after germination, then list reliable annuals to start toward the end of the month: pansies, violas, begonias, busy Lizzies, calendula, cosmos, nigella, and bellflowers. You’ll learn why begonias and impatiens crave about 20°C, how to pinch cosmos to prevent stretch, and the best way to sow sweet peas using deep root trainers to protect their taproots. Watering strategy gets a clear, practical treatment too: keep compost slightly dry, use bottom watering, and avoid cold, wet mixes that invite damping‑off.

Seeds aren’t your only route to blooms. We outline smart alternatives available now, from bare root roses and peonies to agapanthus crowns, plus summer‑flowering bulbs like dahlias, gladioli, lilies, and tuberous begonias. You’ll hear when a potted rose may be worth the extra cost, how long agapanthus can take to flower, and why starting dahlias under cover offers an easy early win. For growers following along since autumn, we also note the timing to pot on perennial seedlings so they hit spring with strong roots.

If your space runs cool, we explain why waiting until March or April can actually simplify care and still deliver abundant blooms. The theme is consistent: heat, patience, and timing beat rushing. Subscribe for more practical, no‑nonsense gardening guidance, share this with a friend who’s sowing too early, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What are you starting first this month?

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Blue skies today, sleet tomorrow—February keeps growers guessing. We lean into that reality with a grounded sowing plan for edibles that starts slow, protects seedlings, and builds momentum toward a season of steady harvests. I break down what to sow, when to start, and how to adapt your timing to your garden’s microclimate so you avoid redoing work when the weather snaps back cold.

We begin with reliable early wins: spring onions on a steady rotation, seed-grown onions to reduce bolting, and small batches of hardy salads like spinach, mizuna, and mixed leaves that shrug off a chill under cover. Multi-sowing gets a spotlight too—grouping leeks, beetroot, and spring onions in modules makes transplanting faster and keeps trays tidy. If your household is lukewarm on early brassicas, keep volumes tight and save space for what you’ll actually eat. For a quick flavour lift, start peas for shoots on a windowsill and keep radish on repeat.

Heat lovers demand discipline. Peppers, chilies, aubergines, and tomatoes can start mid‑month if—and only if—you can keep temperatures warm and steady. I share why chilies and aubergines need the longest runway, and when it’s smarter to skip them than fight a cool tunnel. We also tackle early tunnel carrots for sweet, small roots, and we unpack the great potato question: chitting helps, but warm soil helps more. Aim for heated ground and simple frost protection rather than chasing a calendar date.

There’s more you can do before spring surges: plant bare‑root fruit trees and bushes, set rhubarb and asparagus crowns, and build no‑dig beds while growth is slow. Throughout, I focus on practical sequencing—successional sowing for continuous salads, strategic timings for longer‑hold crops like chard, and a simple framework for deciding what to start now versus what to delay. Subscribe for more monthly sowing guides, share this with a friend who’s itching to start seeds, and leave a review to tell me what you’re sowing first this month.

Want to come to my grow your own food workshops book here: 

https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Seed success starts long before the first tray is filled. We’re laying down a practical, no‑nonsense prep plan that saves you time, cuts waste, and sets your early crops up for real momentum once daylight returns in mid‑February. From testing old packets on kitchen paper to choosing the right trays and compost, we go deep on the details that quietly deliver stronger seedlings and bigger harvests.

We talk through the realities of germination rates, why seed vigour matters even when sprouts appear, and when to be ruthless about binning tired stock. You’ll hear a clear comparison between open pollinated and F1 hybrid seed—where resilience, seed saving, and flavour meet reliability, pest tolerance, and uniformity—so you can choose with intent. On kit, we separate “nice to have” from “need”: rigid seed trays and modules earn their place; heated propagators help with tomatoes and peppers; grow lights are optional if you time sowings for rising natural light.

Compost can make or break a sowing day. We weigh up peat’s consistency against peat‑free variability, call out premium peat‑free options that perform, and share a simple DIY seed mix: fine, mature compost or leaf mould for structure, perlite for air, and a light nutrient lift from vermicompost and seaweed. Then it’s technique: dense sowing with gentle pricking out, thinning to the strongest seedling, multi‑sowing spring onions for efficient beds, and watering that keeps media evenly moist without drowning roots. Airflow, patience, and timing bring it all together—wait until mid‑February and you’ll have more light, steadier temperatures, and somewhere sensible to move plants on.

Ready to start strong and skip the leggy mistakes? Listen now, get your seed box, trays, and compost lined up, and join us next week for the full February sowing guide. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a grower friend, and leave a quick review to help more gardeners find us.

Why not come along to my Grow your own workshops where you will learn all about seed sowing and growing your own food. 

https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Forest gardening doesn’t need acres or a cabin dream; it needs a clear purpose, one smartly chosen tree, and a layered understory that works as hard as it looks good. We sit down with permaculture designer and author Pippa Chapman to show how small, everyday gardens can deliver big yields, rich wildlife habitat, and year-round beauty without chemicals or overwhelm.

Pippa traces her move from conventional head gardener to organic, permaculture-led practice, revealing why values shape method: no herbicides, more observation, and design that treats maintenance as development. If you’ve ever felt “forest” means “too many trees,” this conversation flips the script. One canopy can unlock space for the real engine room—shrubs, herbs, perennial vegetables and groundcovers—so your beds offer colour, food and pollinators across the seasons. We dig into practical plant choices: Geranium “Rozanne” for a six-month nectar run, yarrow for first aid and insects, Taunton Deane kale for flavour and structure, Hablitzia as a climbing spinach, and currants, gooseberries and Japanese wineberries for preserves and snacks.

The heart of Pippa’s new book "Permaculture Planting Designs" is purpose-led design. Start with what you want—jams, herbal teas, craft fibres, or a pollinator corridor—then lift a ready-made themed plan or adapt it to your site. You’ll hear candid notes on which perennials taste great and which to skip, how to establish layers without letting bullies take over, and why small spaces benefit from a hands-on, light-touch rhythm: dense planting, timely edits, and simple tools instead of sprays. We also talk about her YouTube teaching and a new podcast for time-poor growers who want results without fuss.

If you’re ready to turn a tiny plot into a resilient, edible, beautiful ecosystem, this episode is your blueprint. Subscribe, share with a gardening friend, and leave a review with the first plant you’d add to your understory.

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Gardeners feel the pull to sprint in January, but nature is whispering a different message: slow down. We’re starting the year with a calm, practical roadmap that swaps panic for preparation and sets you up for a stronger spring. From frost-dried soil to incoming rain and storms, we read the season as it is and show why most sowing can wait until February—especially if you don’t have grow lights or steady heat for long-season favourites like chillies and aubergines.

We share the simple jobs that pay off now: build or refresh no-dig beds, plan rotations and varieties, set up rainwater harvesting and basic irrigation, and check your kit so you’re not scrambling when the light returns. You’ll hear what’s coming next: a hands-on seed-sowing setup guide and a rich conversation on permaculture design with Pippa Chapman, focused on adapting resilient systems to small gardens and creating plant combinations that work in real life. Along the way, we celebrate messages from listeners across the world—a reminder that practical, step-by-step gardening advice travels—and we pause to honour the legacy of Seamus O’Brien of Kilmacurragh, whose deep horticultural knowledge shaped gardens and gardeners alike.

If last year’s most-played episodes taught us anything, it’s that you value clear, tangible guidance you can take into the garden the same day. So that’s our promise: simple timing, smarter prep, and fewer stretched seedlings. Subscribe, share this with a gardener who needs a calmer January, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What will you prepare this week so February sowing feels easy?

Grow your own food workshop link here look forward to seeing you here: 

https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Before the tinsel settles and the kettle boils again, we press pause to send a heartfelt Christmas message from our garden to yours. This cosy sign-off wraps the year with gratitude for a community that tunes in from around the world, tries the ideas, shares wins and setbacks, and makes the whole project worth doing. If you’ve ever listened on a commute, sown seeds with earbuds in, or sent a question that helped shape a future topic, this one is for you.

We keep it short and warm: a big thank you to everyone who supported the show through reviews, messages, Buy Me a Coffee, workshops, and courses. That support keeps the conversations practical and grounded, and it helps us plan topics that meet real needs across different climates, spaces, and skill levels. We also look ahead to a bright 2026, wishing you safety, rest, and the kind of garden plans that lift your mood on grey days. Think seed-starting setups that actually fit your home, soil care that builds resilience, wildlife-friendly planting for pollinators, and smart pruning that respects the rhythm of your plants.

There’s a little housekeeping too. We’re closing the year on episode 309 and taking a short festive break. Weekly episodes return on 9 January with focused guidance, seasonal calendars, and step-by-step tips to help you grow with confidence—whether you tend a balcony, an allotment, or a rambling back garden. Expect clear, no-fuss advice anchored in real-world gardening, plus the same friendly tone you’ve come to trust.

Thanks for listening, for sharing the show with friends, and for being part of a generous, curious community. If you enjoyed this brief holiday message, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a gardener who could use a smile. See you on 9 January—until then, happy Christmas and happy garden.

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

Weather wrote a dramatic script this year: a stormy opening, a dreamlike spring, a steady but clouded summer, and a rain-soaked autumn that tested paths, beds, and patience. We trace how those swings shaped real decisions in the garden, from staking and sowing to what to protect, what to lift, and when to wait. You’ll hear why an almost flawless spring can carry a season, how to plan for dry spells without overwatering, and why soil structure—not just plant lists—decided who finished strong when the rain would not quit.

We also open the door on our growing community. Two-thirds of listeners tune in from Ireland, with big pockets in the United States and the United Kingdom and a surprising spread across Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia. That global map fuels new ideas: keeping monthly sowing guides tied to live weather, answering listener questions that help many growers at once, and bringing back hands-on workshops to sharpen practical skills. Along the way, we share how most of you listen—on mobile, often in the car or out among beds—and what that means for pacing, formats, and planning ahead.

Looking to next year, we’re doubling down on what works: clear, timely guidance, honest talk about trade-offs, and a focus on steady supply to the kitchen while restoring parts of the garden that need care. Expect more listener-led episodes, pragmatic tips for wet and warm winters, and tools for protecting soil in heavy rain. If you’ve been navigating storms, celebrating a perfect spring, or wondering how others handled the wettest weeks on record, you’ll find both perspective and practical steps here.

If you enjoyed this, follow the show, share it with a gardener who needs a lift, and leave a short review—it helps new growers find us. Tell us where you’re listening from and what you want us to tackle next.

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John