In the last episode of this series, your hosts, Dan Cooper and Julia Parker, talk to Guy Watts and Jason Gilford of Architectural Plants about what makes the perfect sculptural specimen, the challenges of running a nursery during a heatwave, and how much risk to take when choosing borderline hardy plants. Julia shares her favourite architectural edibles, and Dan recommends mini shears for creating prize-winning Niwaki - all will be revealed when you listen!

Two Good Gardeners will return in Autumn 2025 for a sixth series - subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts for updates and special bonus episodes.

Website links:

• Architectural Plants Website
• Dan Cooper Garden
• Dan's Calendar of Events
• Parker's Patch
• Book Tickets to listen to Julia in conversation with Marian Boswall on 22nd July

Expertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan & Julia take a trip to Bolney in West Sussex, where small-scale flower growers and plant nurseries gather once a month to present their produce to florists and the general public. Julia talks to Laura Fisher at Wild Willow Flowers about the idea behind the Homegrown Market and chats with some of the visitors. Later in the episode, Dan reveals his favourite deadheading tools and Julia explains how to take cuttings from your favourite hydrangeas. Your hosts conclude with a list of jobs to do in your garden over the next fortnight.

Website links:

• Dan Cooper Garden
• Parker's Patch
• The Homegrown Market - next date, July 4th 2025
• Holmbush Flowers - cut flower growers
• Branshill Plants - species pelargonium specialists
• The Hampshire Seed Company - cut flower seed suppliers

Expertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan & Julia chat to Lorraine Caley of Caley Brothers, gold medal-winning mushroom growers. Lorraine and her sister, Jodie, have built a thriving business by running mushroom-growing workshops and selling mushroom kits, gaining fame with their eye-catching, intriguing displays of edible fungi at the Chelsea Flower Show. If you don't know a lot about fungi, listening to this interview is a must! Later in the episode, Julia shares her experience of growing oyster mushrooms using a kit, and Dan suggests ten things you can do in your garden over the next fortnight. Here's a reminder:

Jobs to do this fortnight

1. Plan spring bulb displays for autumn planting, succession planting for late summer colour and cropping.
2. Arrange for someone to water your garden if you’re planning a holiday in July or August.
3. Sow annual flowers for an extended season of colour, salads for summer, vegetables for autumn cropping, all the autumn and winter-picking brassicas and biennial flowers to bloom next spring.
4. Plant container-grown shrubs, roses, perennials and climbers. Summer bedding and dahlias. Plant up containers of all shapes and sizes.
5. Prune early-spring-flowering shrubs, taking care not to disturb nesting birds.
6. Harvest asparagus, broad beans, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, mint, parsley, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, spring cabbage, spring onions, strawberries, gooseberries, and elderflowers.
7. Pick - peonies, roses, delphiniums, lupins, alstroemeria, sweet peas, lavender. Please give them a long drink in a bucket of cold water before arranging.
8. Buy - plants that fill the ‘June gap’, young vegetable plants, bedding plants, peat-free compost for containers, tomato and lawn food, liquid seaweed and weeding tools. It might also be a good time to invest in a new hose or watering can.
9. Enjoy the early mornings and long, light evenings, the increasing temperatures, and strawberries and gooseberries eaten straight from the plant.
10. Visit - open gardens and nurseries across the country, but especially those specialising in roses.

Website links:

• Dan Cooper Garden
• Parker's Patch
• Caley Brothers' website

Expertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.