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.
Peat is one of the most popular and reliable types of growing media for plants, but peatlands are also a valuable store for carbon and as the UK Government tries to meet net zero targets, a peat ban is on the agenda.
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 2: From multi-purpose to pick 'n' mix, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by garden centres.
The first is the transition from selling peat-based compost to peat-free mixes. Challenges here include the variable quality of peat-free compost mixes, fears over supply of new ingredients, the higher price of these mixes and how they can help educate amateur gardeners learn to grow their plants.
Many have found difficulties in germinating seeds prompting fears that thousands of customers, particularly those trying to Grow-Your-Own fruit and veg, may give up, costing garden centres valuable customers in the process.
We hear about the initiatives from thought leaders in the industry on how these challenges can and should be addressed.
The second challenge relates to the sourcing of plants that have been grown in peat-free compost. This is where the interests of retailers intersect with the growers as peat-free adds to cost pressures. Ways to grow so-called tricky plants continue to be elusive prompting fears that we may lose the ability to buy whole categories of plants in the UK.
Written, produced, edited and presented by Christina Taylor
Listen to 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 (to be published 11 November 2024)
- Episode 4: A whole new take on horticulture (to be published 11 November 2024)
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)
 |  |  | |
| Becky - amateur gardener | Scott Smith - TV gardener (Beechgrove Garden) and head gardener at the Mayen Estate | Sam Rivers - technical manager at ICL Horticulture | Andy Bunker - owner of Alton Garden Centre |
 |  |  | |
| Georgina - amateur gardener | Bunny Guinness - garden designer and broadcaster (Gardeners' Question Time) | Simon Blackhurst - chair of the Growing Media Association and horticultural consultant | Steve Harper - Responsible Sourcing Scheme chair and Southern Trident CEO |
 |  |  |  |
| Ken Cox - managing director of Glendoick Gardens | Sally Drury - horticulturist and technical editor at HortWeek | Nikki Barker - RHS peat free transitition coordinator | Boyd Douglas-Davies - garden centre consultant and chair of the environmental horticulture group for the Horticultural Trades Association |
 |  |  | |
| Alistair Griffiths - director of science, RHS | Jonathan Sheppard - plant collection holder and grower | Steve Carter - general manager of Fleurie Plants | Tony Johnson - managing director of P B Horticultural |
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
