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If you want to have perfect hanging baskets this year there are some essential tips to ensure you are the envy of your neighbours. This is what we look at in this weeks episode. 

Every year thousands of hanging baskets go out up and down the country however many never look as they should and after often taken down prematurely through neglect. 

So what do you need to do to ensure your baskets look great all year long. 

1. Use a growing media with water retaining gel or better still make your own using 1/2 top soil 3/8 multipurpose compost and 1/8 organic material ( farm yard manure or similar) also add water retailing gel at mixing time. 
2. Watering is essential and remember hanging baskets tend even in wet weather to get very little water. So to keep them at there best you will need to water every day or every second day little and often. If you have used just a peat based growing media ensure it does not dry out because if it does it is very difficult to re-wet. 
3. Feeding & deadheading these should be done every week. I find the best food for hanging baskets is to alternate seaweed fertiliser with a hanging basket food or tomato food. 

If you follow these tips you will have great baskets all summer long. 

RTE's Super garden are looking for budding garden designers and the winning garden will be re-created at Bloom 2023 if you are interested you can submit your application in the link below

https://submit.link/UE

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

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In this weeks episode we look at what can we sow in May in our gardens and other gardening jobs for this very busy month.

May is the month we can get outside with our sowing and although frost can still be an issue for another few weeks it is the month when temperatures rise and growth really kicks off after a cold spring.

Sowing of successional veg can begin outside sowing spinach, radish, spring onion etc. It is also the month to sow carrots, parsnips, beetroot, swedes and other root crops outside in prepared beds.

If you have been growing veg plants in module trays now is the time to start planting out to get an earlier crop that from the outdoor seed sown crops.

Annual flowers can also be sown in prepared ground outside seed such as Cosmos, Nigella, Cornflower and others will give abundant flowers later in the year.

It's a busy month but a highly rewarding one as nature and the pace in the garden starts to pick up pace.

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

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Listener question answered for this weeks episode of the podcast. The listener asked how can I extend the harvest period of strawberries?

Its a great question because strawberries are the number 1 soft fruit for grow you own but they are really fleeting, and if you only grow one variety then chances are you will only have fruit for 2-3 weeks. So can we extend it and how?

Firstly by growing different varieties from early, mid and late season croppers you will get an automatic extension and then by adding some simple husbandry and tricks we can extend the season by up to 5 months which would be great. 


There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

In this weeks episode of Master My Garden podcast I chat with Mark Cooke all about a fantastic new allotment set up in Enniscorthy Community Allotments.

It is great to see allotments being set up that have the right ethos and are all about community. Allotments that foster a spirit of helping and supporting each other this are the type of allotments that will bring joy their allotment holders and greater community. I hope to see more of these in the future.

You can find Enniscorthy Community Allotments here
https://www.enniscorthycommunityallotments.ie


There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

How to protect your plants from different threats this spring is the topic on this weeks episode of Master My Garden podcast. 

John looks at how to mind all those seedlings you have been minding and growing on your windowsill or greenhouse. At this stage your seedlings are really looking for more space and looking to get into the ground, but the weather and the different weather threats such as frost, hail, heavy showers and wind can all badly damage and even kill your precious little seedlings. So what can we do to ensure we can make sure they reach their full potential over the coming months. 

So here is what we can do to protect our seedlings:

·      Bring them outside during any mild days to toughen them up.

·      Feed them with seaweed fertiliser this will help them to harden up and will toughen the cells of the leaves and stems. 

·      Use frost fleece and after a nights frost do not remove the following morning until almost noon.

·      Earth up potatoes as they start to peep out of the ground

·      Use bio netting/ environmesh this will protect from hail, heavy showers and wind but allows water and air through so it’s a healthy environment inside for plants. 

So that’s the main points and while a little boring for a podcat episode it is vital information so we can get the best results from out last few months sowing. 

 There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

In this weeks episode of Master My Garden podcast John looks at the top 10 bulbs to plant now for abundant blooms this summer. From Dahlia's to Croscosmia and much more find out where to plant, use and much more.

John also talk about his in person grow your own vegetable course which is on Saturday 23rd of April detail below and the booking link is here.

https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


I am delighted to be running a “Grow Your Own vegetables” workshop on Saturday the 23rd April 2022. This workshop which will run from 10am until 3pm will cover all you are going to need to grow your own food this season.

The outline of the day will be as follows:

9.45 am: Coffee/Tea, welcome meet & greet.

10.00 am: Discovery, here we will see where are you on your grow your own journey. This will allow me to give your specific detail for your garden set up and needs.

11.00 am: The fundamentals getting your set up right to ensure growing your own is easy and enjoyable. We will look at systems, bed styles etc.

11.30 am: Soil health and the importance of it for healthy and abundant crops.

12.00 am: What vegetables to grow, successional sowing, veg for all seasons,

12.45 pm: Light lunch and chat.

13.30 pm: Practical seed sowing, planting out, plant protection, watering and more.

14.30 pm: Group Q&A and brainstorming to ensure you are set up to have an abundant growing season.

15:00 pm: Finish.

Cost: The cost for the day is €70 Per Person and  limited to 12 people.

The setting will be my polytunnel demo area and garden in Crettyard, Co Laois full directions provided on booking.

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

In this weeks episode of Master My Garden podcast John looks at what we can sow in April.
April is the month when seed sowing and gardening in general ramps up but its also a month to exercise caution around sowing and planting outside. In some areas and especially in colder parts of Ireland frosts are still prevalent and will be until perhaps mid May so all sowing and planting should be done with a little caution at this stage. If planting out veg later in the month ensure it is hardened off first and if possible give it some form of protection from the elements. Later in the month tender crops can be sown including sweet corn, courgette, squash etc. Successional sowing can be continued on a fortnightly basis.

There are lots of other jobs in what will be a very busy month in the garden but go slow there is still lots of time. 

Did you know you can now support the podcast on "Buy me a coffee"  you can support the podcast on a one off or monthly member basis here all support greatly appreciated
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Mastermygarden

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

In this weeks episode John chats to Canadian Author Stephanie Rose about her new book "the Regenerative Garden"
Its a great chat talking about Stephanie's story about how gardening became an important part of her healing when she suddenly became unwell in 2006 and how that journey has led to many books and of course the newly released "the Regenerative Garden" .

We chat about the principles in the book, the importance of soil, companion planting and much more. You can find Stephanie on her website Garden Therapy
https://gardentherapy.ca

I think you will enjoy and get lots of information that you can use in your own garden. 


Did you know you can now support the podcast on "Buy me a coffee"  you can support the podcast on a one off or monthly member basis here all support greatly appreciated
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Mastermygarden

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

Food Security lets talk about it. I recorded and edited this episode and had to think hard as to whether I would release it or not for a few reasons. It is a little off topic for Master My Gaerden podcast in one way but still it has come up several times on episodes over the past two years.  But also  when I hear this conversation it sometimes seems hollow to me because in many parts of the world we are so privileged and lucky to not to have to deal with the harsh realities that cause food security issues for many around the world.

The current events around the world have brought this issue to the conversation again with suggestions that all farmer here in Ireland should devote a portion of land to growing grain in the coming year.

In our gardens growing fruit and vegetables to support our families does not only help at times like this but it also a great thing to do for our own health and for the environment. I think that's what we should all be striving for.  I know here in Ireland we here capable of growing so much in our gardens and we get generally the right climatic conditions to do that. The biggest obstacles people face generally in their garden is have enough time to tend to or manage a kitchen garden and to have the knowhow to keep on top of it all. Thats one aim of the podcast to help people with this knowhow bit and I hope that many of you can get something from the episodes to help you grow your own food this year. 


Did you know you can now support the podcast on "Buy me a coffee"  you can support the podcast on a one off or monthly member basis here all support greatly appreciated
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Mastermygarden

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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

Send Me A Message!!

Microgreens is the topic for this weeks episode and as I have never personally grown them I am joined by commercial micro green grower Brian Faulker from Adare Microgreens.

We chat about what are micro greens, how to grow micro greens , what are the benefits of micro greens, best varieties of microgreen and much more.

Its a great chat with Brian and after chatting I think both you and I have enough knowledge to grow micro greens for ourselves. You can find Brian and Adare Microgreen here
https://www.adaremicrogreens.ie


Did you know you can now support the podcast on "Buy me a coffee"  you can support the podcast on a one off or monthly member basis here all support greatly appreciated
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Mastermygarden

There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my
Website :https://mastermygarden.com/

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know.
Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG
or email [email protected]

Until next week
Happy gardening
John 

Support the show

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

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


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