613 – Filling the Gaps, Compost Trials & The Great Driveway Move

This week’s episode of The Veg Grower Podcast is a true slice of life from the garden and allotment. As the height of summer brings its usual mix of challenges and opportunities, I share what I’ve been up to, what’s working, and what I’ve learned.



Here’s what you can expect:







Allotment Update: Back on Track



After weeks of feeling behind, I’ve finally managed to get the allotment back under control. I spent time working through every bed, tidying, weeding, watering, and harvesting a satisfying haul – including potatoes, broad beans, raspberries, rhubarb, cabbage, gooseberries, and more.



I also talk about thinning out my apples and pears by hand this year, due to a surprising lack of the usual June drop. Thinning feels counterintuitive, but the results in fruit size and quality are worth it.







Dealing with Weedy Boundaries



I touch on the ongoing battle with brambles spilling over from the neighbouring, abandoned allotment. It's a persistent nuisance and a reminder of how quickly things can get out of hand without regular maintenance.







Straw Mulch Continues to Prove Itself



The ongoing dry weather has made watering a near-daily task – but the beds mulched with straw are noticeably better at retaining moisture. I share just how well it’s working, and why I’m planning to mulch all beds with straw after laying compost each year.







Filling the Gaps – Mid-Summer Sowing



With a few crops failing (including sweetcorn devastated by slugs), and others now harvested, I’ve started sowing again to avoid empty beds. I walk you through what I’m sowing in the potting shed to fill those gaps:




Dwarf French beans



Chard



Spinach



Lettuce



Microgreens




Plus suggestions for what to sow direct this month:




Carrots



Beetroot



Radish



Turnips



Kohlrabi



Salad crops




My approach continues to favour starting in modules to avoid confusion with weeds – except for root crops, which go straight into the soil.







Visitors, Filming & The Great Driveway Move



It’s been a busy week not just in the garden, but at home too. I hosted a filming day with the team from AutoPot, who make one of my favourite irrigation systems. We use their kit in the greenhouse and now in the potting shed – it’s a game-changer for watering seedlings and young plants.



On top of that, the front driveway is being replaced – a big job, and one that required relocating every single fruit tree and plant growing out front. I talk about what that process was like and why we chose a porous surface to help with drainage and sustainability.







Compost Trial Update: HotBin vs Dalek



I share the latest progress in our composting experiment between a HotBin and a traditional Dalek bin. The HotBin continues to impress – producing compost more quickly, breaking down volume effectively, and even generating more liquid feed than my wormery. I discuss materials, challenges with browns, and the signs that it’s working well.



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Recipe of the Week: Fennel Salad with Grapefruit & Capers



Chef Scott celebrates our seed of the month, Florence Fennel, with a light and refreshing summer salad featuring grapefruit, lemon, capers and olive oil. A perfect pairing with grilled fish or pork – and another clever way to enjoy this bold-flavoured vegetable.







Listener Comments & Questions



We hear from:




Annabel , who shares her support for the podcast and a bit of shed envy!



Lynn, who’s struggling to stop her pak choi from bolting. I offer some advice: keep the soil moist, offer partial shade, and try spring or autumn sowings when temperatures are cooler.








Final Thought:The key message this week? Keep sowing, keep growing, and don’t be afraid to try again. Whether it's replanting a failed crop, trying a new composting method, or moving a garden full of fruit trees, there’s always something to learn.