Talking Heads - a Gardening Podcast
Follow head gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain as they reveal exactly what it’s like to be professional horticulturists leading busy teams on large, private estates. Lucy and Saul have a decade of Head Gardening experience and it soon became clear to them both that life as a Head Gardener can be incredibly diverse, occasionally challenging and hugely rewarding and so they regularly discuss horticultural topics close to their hearts and give you an insight into their lives as gardeners. If you wish to support the podcast you can via our BuyMeACoffee page - just click the link at the end of the podcast description or the donate button found at the bottom of this page.
Episodes
267 episodes
Ep. 237 - It's a question time special! Sian's bindweed, Andrew's wildflower meadow, Ben's raspberries and Matt's tomatoes all get the Talking Heads treatment - plus, we report back on Lucy's recent garden tour of the SouthWest
With Summer behind us and the touch of Autumn on the horizon, it's time to say a fond and lengthy farewell to the 2024 garden season. But that's not to say there is still a tremendous amount of gardening to be done. Lucy will be revelling in he...
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Episode 237
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43:48
Ep. 236 - For the past few weeks Lucy and Saul have been all round the UK visiting gardens, trialling vegetables and enjoying UK horticulture at it's finest, so here are some of the highlights.
With Summer behind us and the touch of Autumn on the horizon, it's time to say a fond and lengthy farewell to the 2024 garden season. But that's not to say there is still a tremendous amount of gardening to be done. Lucy will be revelling in he...
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Episode 236
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34:16
Ep. 235 - As summer slides into Autumn, Lucy and Saul can be found at BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair at the beautiful Audley End leading tours of the Walled Garden with the English Heritage team, here are some highlights.
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardeners are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling the...
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Episode 235
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39:40
Ep. 234 - It's Lucy's birthday! Very self-indulgently, she celebrates her milestone with a solo episode that describes 50 jobs that you can complete in your garden right NOW. Resting on your laurels in the summer sun? Not on our watch...
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardeners are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling the...
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Episode 234
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50:32
Ep. 233 - It's time for the great East/West divide! While Saul is wrapped up in his Devonshire dungarees and long sleeves, Lucy is sweltering in Essex in anything but - as the UK conforms to its traditional weather patterns, for now...
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardeners are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling the...
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Episode 233
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31:37
Ep. 232 - Is August the least favourite month for gardening, controversial but Lucy and Saul have a chat about it, plus trimming your dangling beans and how to break into some Garden writing.
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardeners are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling the...
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Episode 232
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35:33
Ep. 231 - It's been hot! The professional gardening duo discuss how best to tackle watering in these high temperatures, and with school summer holidays in full swing we also showcase some family-friendly projects courtesy of the RHS
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardeners are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling the...
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Episode 231
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33:00
Ep. 230 - The weather may dampen a few spirits, but gardening continues as Lucy visits RHS Wisley to trial some Tomatoes, Saul's first Ginger has flowered and listeners share some of their self-employed gardening experiences.
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling th...
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Episode 230
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34:27
Ep. 229 - Summer is here! The weather is warming, and growth is abundant. Garlic, broad beans and Florence fennel get discussed, plus Saul and Lucy are concerned by the apparent lack of birds and bees
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling th...
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Episode 229
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36:54
Bonus Episode #20 - Saul and Lucy are joined in conversation by Scottish self-employed gardener Susan Stephen - who won our 200th anniversary quiz - and found the career of gardening to be both healing and immensely rewarding
From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of c...
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47:03
Ep. 228 - Join Saul in his back garden where the tasks are never ending - so he spends a day looking after his collection of Jungle plants, focusing on how he feeds and setting up the start of his potential micro-nursery.
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling th...
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Episode 228
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31:23
Ep. 227 - Returning to our gardens after BBCGWL, it's a wall of heat and humidity, but that doesn't stop Lucy and Saul with questions from listeners on Agretti and (weirdly) Waterproof coats, failing Sweet Peas and the need for ice cream!
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling th...
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Episode 227
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36:33
BBC GWLive 2024 Bonus Episode: Saul and Lucy are at the BBC Gardeners World Live show at the NEC for another year as the Plant Experts, giving tours of the Floral Marquee, answering garden queries and running brand new Workshops on Houseplants and GYO.
Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live 2024 as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 13th-16th June and is a sprawling show of the finest gardens and plants to grace mid-June (as well as the BBC Good Food Show). As well as early morning...
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32:01
Ep. 226 - What's better than looking after all your favourite plants, well buying new ones of course. And that's what Saul is up to as he takes you along on his visit to the Tregrehan Rare Plant Fair.
The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling th...
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Episode 226
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35:12
Ep. 225 - It's the Grow Your Own episode! Lucy takes you on a tour of her home plot, where she's been applying all she's learnt about growing delicious fruits, vegetables and herbs
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 225
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36:00
Ep. 224 - The RHS Chelsea Flower show happens with a floral big bang every year, and Lucy and Saul bring you some of their highlights as they get a privileged Monday preview.
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 224
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39:52
Ep. 223 - Our gardens are ramping up! Whether it's edibles on their plots or ornamentals at Stonelands and Beth Chattos, Saul and Lucy can see that the rate of growth has hit warp speed - and talking of things speeding along, it's almost Chelsea o'clock
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 223
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35:19
Ep. 222 - It's been a whole year, but Talking Heads is back at Beaulieu for their annual outing at BBC Gardeners World Spring Fair - leading tours and running workshops - its one of the most enjoyable parts of the year!
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 222
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31:56
Ep. 221 - Blossom season is upon us, and what a season we're having. Orchards are heaving with flower, so Lucy and Saul discuss the impacts of having an Orchard and visiting the National Fruit collection at Brogdale.
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 221
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32:36
Ep. 220 - It's the greenhouse special! Lucy gives you a guided tour of her beloved greenhouse, explaining how she manages light, temperature, location, space and cropping cycles to gain optimum performance from this precious under cover area
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 220
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31:14
Ep. 219 - This week, we discuss the 3 Ps: Precipitation, Propagation and Pests - all three of them are in full swing in Devon and Essex! Pls accept our apologies for expletives...
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 219
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35:29
Ep. 218 - With more rain scheduled in Devon, most of Saul's gardening at the moment is under cover, and that's when his Houseplant collection keeps his plant addiction thriving, so join him for some Houseplant chat.
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 218
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31:13
Ep. 217 - When will the rain stop? Who knows, but until then the Talking Heads pair bring you more Horticultural waffle looking at grow lights, where to get a good Garden job and Alpine plants.
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 217
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34:33
Ep. 216 - Join Lucy and Saul in their Essex and Devon gardens as Spring unfolds, the gardening pair bring you along as they bask in the glory of the season's blossom and check their precious vegetable seedlings.
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 216
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35:23
Ep. 215 - Is it Spring, is it not spring - that's the question as Lucy and Saul continue to wrestle their wet gardens into fit shape, and one of the projects you can do is creating Raised Beds, the subject of this weeks guest David Hurrion's new book.
Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture. A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful sp...
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Episode 215
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31:29