Things we talk about in this episode:

Judging at Chelsea

Objectivity and how the judging system works

James’s gardening journey

Sex, death and deliciousness

The gardener as referee

The recipe for a good garden

Making sure that the practical essentials are in the right place

James’s own garden

The corner of shame

Calling in help when life gets in the way

James’s inspiration

Show gardens and unattainability

Gardening as larceny

Removing sentimentality (and diseased trees)

Watching and waiting

Dealing with the boring stuff first

Barefoot compost heaps

Gardens, garden designers, succulents, cacti, azaleas and rhododendrons

Roses and revolutionary verve

Stopping gardening when it becomes a chore

Designers and Chelsea show gardens

The cult of the designer

James’s 7 minute Chelsea garden

Evil wisteria

Stop worrying

Fortnum and Mason manure

Plants for dry shade

Right plant right place

Self control

Growing rhododendrons in the cotswolds

And watching them die

Seed sowing

Leggy chillies

Snow hating

Shed cleaning

Weeding with a hula hoop

Apres freeze watering

Dahlias

Slugs and how to deal with them

Slugs vs snails 

Evil slugs

Evil drunken slugs

Savage slugs

Hedgehog homes

Podcasting as gardening