Master My Garden Podcast

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/growyourownfoodworkshopSupport the showIf 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 showIf 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 showIf 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

After a few years of procrastination and hiding I am delighted to launch my grow your own food workshops for 2026. Two dates 21st February & 21st March are the only two dates for this workshop in 2026. Ready to turn gardening advice into fresh salads, sweet strawberries, and a steady stream of herbs from your own space? We’re opening two small-group Grow Your Own Food workshops this spring, built for beginners and seasoned gardeners who want practical, no-nonsense results.Across a relaxed day in the polytunnel and garden, we’ll show the essentials that actually move the needle: reliable seed sowing, simple no-dig bed setup, correct fruit tree planting, smart spacing, and succession strategies that stretch your harvests. Bring photos and questions from your garden, balcony, or allotment. We’ll troubleshoot anything you are struggling with so you leave full of confidence.  Expect simple grounded information a light lunch, and time for one-to-one help so you leave with a clear plan for the season ahead. If you’ve been meaning to start or want better, longer harvests with less stress, this is your spring reset. Secure your spot, invite a friend, and come away ready to plant with confidence. To book your workshop visit the link: https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshopI look forward to welcoming you to my garden. Support the showIf 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

Ever wonder what gardeners truly need when the skies won’t clear and the soil stays cold and heavy? We open the vault on six years of downloads to reveal the ten most-listened episodes and the lessons they teach us about resilient design, living soils, and planting that thrives despite the weather. This is a practical, story-rich tour through the conversations that changed how we grow.We start with structure and colour: smart garden design and June Blake’s vivid plant choices that keep borders alive for months. Then we head underground. Dr Elaine Ingham demystifies the Soil Food Web, turning biology into decisions you can make at the bed edge. Charles Dowding’s no-dig approach shows the payoff of compost and calm soil—fewer weeds, better moisture, and crops that root fast. Along the way, we unpack the enduring pull of companion planting, from predator-friendly flowers to classic pairings that cut pests without chemicals.Craft and adaptation anchor the middle of the list. Compost coach Kate Flood maps hot heaps, worm farms, and bokashi to your space and schedule so you can turn waste into a reliable soil engine. We revisit organic growing with Klaus Leitenberger for varieties that actually like Irish summers, and we tap into Niall Macaulay’s creator mindset for simple, repeatable techniques. A surprise chart-climber—growing lavender in Ireland—proves that the right hardy varieties and drainage can deliver scent and pollinators even in a soggy year. We round out with wildflower meadows guided by Sandro Caffola, a masterclass in building habitat and beauty together.By the end, you’ll know where to start, what to try next, and which episodes to queue up for specific goals—better soils, cleaner beds, longer bloom, and crops that cope. If this countdown helps you plan your next season, follow the show, share it with a gardener who needs a lift, and leave a quick review so we can keep shaping episodes around what helps you grow most.Support the showIf 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