Plus the Brighton radio gardening show that’s bucking the trend, and why a bean trench ticks two boxes at once
Plant this
A pink-flowered shrub might be a bit cloying in summer, but in winter, clusters of scented, rosy blooms on a bare-stemmed shrub are a welcome sight. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is a cinch to grow, tolerating most soils in sun or partial shade. Reaches 3m, but keep it in shape by pruning post-flowering.
Hear this
Gardening shows on the radio are a dying breed, but Brighton’s Radio Reverb is bucking the trend with Growing Wild, a show about community gardens, foraging, wild swimming and generally getting muddy outdoors.
Dig this
A bean trench is composting at its simplest, as well as a speedy way to get rid of all those vegetable leftovers and coffee grounds post-Christmas. Just dig a hole or trench of at least a spade’s depth and bung in your waste. Replace the soil, mark the spot and plant hungry crops such as beans nearby.