HortWeek presents The End of Peat, a new four-part podcast series that will hear from leading horticulturists and garden retailers as they navigate a transition to peat-free that is piling pressure on a sector facing stresses on all sides.
Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.
In Episode 3: The cost of trial and error, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by UK horticultural growers.
Where peat-free might cause an amateur gardener to lose a batch of lettuce seedlings, professional growers face the loss of entire crops as many attempt to trial new, and quite alien, growing media mixes.
Professional growers tell us their stories of trial and error, what they have learned in the process and discuss the fears that some plants and specialist nurseries will be lost to the UK for good.
Series writer, producer and presenter is Christina Taylor
Listen to the other Episodes
- Episode 1: Do we need a peat ban?
- Episode 2: From multipurpose to pick 'n' mix
- Episode 3: The cost of trial and error
- Episode 4: A whole new take on horticulture
If you have enjoyed The End of Peat, please consider rating and reviewing the series on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcast platform of choice.
Contributors
(in order of appearance)
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| Tony Johnson - managing director of P B Horticultural | Eliot Barden - aftercare, purchasing and training director at Majestic Trees | Darren Everest - Darren Everest Dahias and Sweet Peas | Nikki Barker - RHS peat free transitition coordinator |
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| Jonathan Sheppard - plant collection holder and grower | Simon Blackhurst - chair of the Growing Media Association and horticultural consultant | Michael Buck - head of horticulture at Creepers Nurseries | Sam Rivers - technical manager at ICL Horticulture |
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| Guy Watts - owner of Architectural Plants | Andy Bunker - owner of Alton Garden Centre | Sally Drury - horticulturist and technical editor at HortWeek | Ken Cox - managing director of Glendoick Gardens |
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| Steve Harper - Responsible Sourcing Scheme chair and Southern Trident CEO | Melanie Asker - managing director at Greenwood Plants | Steve Carter - general manager of Fleurie Plants | Alistair Griffiths - director of science, RHS |
Series writer, producer, editor and presenter is Christina Taylor
Special thanks to Jonathan Sheppard for his permission to use clips from his podcast In Conversation About Peat Free with the RHS.
Editor: Matthew Appleby
Further reading, listening and useful links
Hortweek Podcast: Should we ban peat for horticulture? Plant collection holder Jonathan Sheppard and dahlia and sweet pea grower Darren Everest debate the peat ban
Explore HortWeek's unrivalled and exclusive peat and peat-free coverage
The International Peatland Society: https://peatlands.org/
RHS Peat-free Hub:- https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat
