Two Good Gardeners Dan Cooper & Julia Parker

Occasionally, your hosts like to explore a garden in depth ..... and have a good old natter. In this episode, Dan and Julia revisit Sissinghurst Castle, starting in an area of the garden known as Delos. Recently resurrected after a long spell in the doldrums, they consider the challenges of recreating a slice of ancient Greece in Kent. Back in the studio, they each share five ways that Sissinghurst inspired them. Dan reveals his current 'must have' garden tool and shares exciting news about new product launches. Julia talks about an alternative method of training and pruning her fig tree. As usual, Dan and Julia finish off with a list of essential jobs to do in your garden over the next two weeks and tell you where they'll be popping up next.
Jobs for the fortnight

Finish hardening off annuals and tender perennialsIf all danger of frost has passed, start planting containers and hanging basketsPrune forsythia, flowering currant and Japanese quinceTake cuttings of woody herbs such as hyssop, rosemary and thyme. Tie in wisteria, honeysuckle, passionflower and clematis to keep them from wandering in their own direction. Pheromone traps can be hung in apple and plum trees and box hedges to control pests like codling and box moths.Indoors, take stem cuttings from tradescantias, coleus, plectranthus, impatiens and pothos and root them in water.Damp down greenhouse paths on hot days to increase humidityTake the opportunity to clean garden furniture, jet wash patios and scrub barbecues.Settle down and watch the BBC coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - you'll have the best seat in the house.
Dan's product of the week:
Niwaki Japanese Weeding Hoe: https://www.dancoopergarden.com/products/niwaki-weeding-hoe
Dan's upcoming events:
Sunday, 19th May - Rare Plant Fair at The American Museum in Bath
Sunday, 26th May - Rare Plant Fair at Kingston Bagpuize House, Oxfordshire
Website links:

Dan Cooper GardenParker's Patch
This podcast was produced by the brilliant Scott Kennett of Red Lighthouse Local https://linktr.ee/redlocallighthouse
The episode was sponsored by Dan Cooper Garden, where garden lovers go to find outstanding garden products, sage advice, and abundant inspiration. You can shop online at dancoopergarden.com or plant fairs and garden events across the south and east of England.

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In this episode, Dan and Julia discuss whether no-mow May is good for our gardens and discover the many magical properties of copper tools. Julia advises on how to look after tomato plants while waiting for the weather to warm up, and Dan highlights Calycanthus, aka Carolina allspice, an increasingly popular shrub that produces exotic-looking flowers and a culinary spice.
The pros and cons of not mowing in May
Pros:
Reduces time spent mowingRequires no fertilisers, pesticides or watering Allows some wildflowers to bloom freelyEncourages insects, birds and mammals that like to shelter or feed in longer grassIt can look attractive and even romanticIt Increases the cooling of the surrounding air and locks up more carbon dioxide than short grass
Cons:
It may take a while to restore the neat appearance of a lawn, depending on the weather in JuneReduces space to play and walk in a small space.It doesn’t increase biodiversity long-term. It's a gesture rather than a long-term commitment.It may increase the number of weeds, especially dandelions, that appear in adjacent beds and borders.Some birds, insects and flowers prefer a habitat with shorter grass.
Our conclusion - a mix of grass lengths maintained all year round is probably better than not mowing for a month. However, No Mow May is a good reminder to take steps to balance what we need from our gardens against what wildlife needs.
Jobs to do in your garden this fortnight

Tie in sweet peasDeadhead tulipsSow runner and French beansContinue to sow salads, radish, and beetroot for succession cropsContinue to earth up potatoes to protect from frostPlace citrus trees outside in a sheltered spotNet gooseberries & strawberries as fruit forms to keep birds offWatch out for lily beetles and remove them fast!Ventilate greenhousesPinch out growing tips on broad beans when 3-4 ft tall
Dan's upcoming events:
Saturday, 4th May - Plant Fair and Open Garden at Saltwood Castle near Hythe, Kent
Sunday, 5th May - Chiswick Flower Market, London
Monday, 6th May - Spring Plant Fair at Belmont House, Throwley, near Faversham, Kent
Sunday, 12th May - Rare Plant Fair at Salthrop House, near Swindon, Wiltshire
Website links:

Dan Cooper GardenParker's Patch

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In the first episode of the new series of Two Good Gardeners, Dan and Julia debate whether it's worth saving your own seeds and throw a spotlight on wool, the secret ingredient our gardens have been crying out for. Julia shares her top tips for growing lemongrass to fill your kitchen with oriental flavours, and Dan waxes lyrical about hostas, the foliage plant we'd all love to love if slugs and snails didn't love them more! As always, your hosts round off with a list of things to do in your garden over the next fortnight and news of where you can find or hear them next.
Jobs for your garden this fortnight:

Plant out hardened-off sweet peas.Deadhead daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs.Put in supports for perennials and climbers before they get too large.Lift and divide hostas and other perennials you’d like more of.Protect fruit blossoms from late frosts.Feed citrus with summer feed.Plant out second-early potatoes.Sow carrots, beetroot, chard, spinach, salads, radish & peas.Watch out for box moth caterpillars and treat them if necessary.Ventilate greenhouses on sunny days.
Website links:

Dan Cooper GardenParker's Patch
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In the final episode of Series 2, Dan & Julia reflect on the many highlights of a busy and eventful year and share their New Year's resolutions.
They'll return with Series 3 in spring 2024. If you've enjoyed Series 2, then click follow on your favourite podcast platform, so you're notified when new episodes are launched. Leaving a rating or writing a review will help us know what you like and how we can do better in future.
The book 'The Secret Gardens of Cornwall', which Dan talks about, is available from Waterstones. Sussex gardens are covered in 'Secret Gardens of the South East' by our friend Barbara Segall (which we really should have remembered!), also available from Waterstones.
Your hosts wish you a very Happy New Year and look forward to entertaining you again soon.
Website links:

Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses

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Christmas is a frenetic season when time and budgets are often overstretched. With less time to focus on living sustainably, how can we make the best environmental choices, especially when they're not always obvious? Talking as amateur gardeners, Dan & Julia discuss some of the options and reveal surprising facts - did you know, for example, that burning a real Christmas tree on a bonfire is far more sustainable than putting it out for collection and composting?
Julia shares how much of her Christmas lunch she grows herself (prepare to be impressed), while Dan divulges how he keeps his dinner candles upright using a flower frog - watch him do it here.
Your hosts wish all their listeners a very happy Christmas and a fruitful New Year 🎄 They'll be returning soon with a review of 2023, when they'll also share their resolutions for 2024.
Useful links:
Dan's guide to choosing the perfect real Christmas tree (and disposing of it!)
Website links:

Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses
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Owning a greenhouse is a luxury and privilege many gardeners dream of. In this special episode, recorded at Torberry Farm in Hampshire, Dan and Julia meet Nelly Hall, Brand Director at Alitex, to discover how to make the most of a greenhouse all year round. As the year draws to a close, Nelly explains how to use a greenhouse to prepare plants for Christmas and get an early start on spring, learning the importance of light and heat. Moving on to summer, we learn about ventilation, maintaining humidity and keeping pests under control before coming full circle to autumn for Nelly's tips on good glasshouse hygiene.
Nelly's top greenhouse gardening tips

Good light in a greenhouse is as essential as heat to keep plants compact and healthy.Buy the biggest greenhouse you can - no one ever wishes they'd bought a smaller model!Think carefully about how you want to use your greenhouse to maximise the space and create the right growing conditions.Instal power in your greenhouse, even if you have no immediate plans. It gives you options in future.Consider using solar power to reduce energy costs.Make space for a chair and table so that you have somewhere to take time out and enjoy.Keep sacks of compost in the greenhouse over winter so it doesn't freeze and remains usable in cold weather.Play with a greenhouse to bring forward flowering and cropping to extend the growing season.Use the winter months, when there's less to do, to experiment by taking cuttings and making compost.Be vigilant and don't allow pests to take control - good hygiene is essential in an enclosed space.Don't over-sow and stagger your seed planting to avoid waste.Vents between a greenhouse and a cold frame can help keep a cold frame warmer.
Website links:

Dan Cooper GardenParker's PatchAlitex Modern Victorian Greenhouses
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