Episode 664: Heatwave Gardening – Early Mornings, Water Wisdom & Edible Ponds

Welcome to Episode 664 of the Veg Grower Podcast. This week has been shaped by one thing: heat. With temperatures soaring and humidity making everything feel heavier, Richard has been adapting his gardening routine to keep both the kitchen garden and the allotment thriving during a heatwave.



In this episode, he shares how early mornings, deep watering, mulching, and a few clever tools have helped him stay on top of things during a UK heatwave. If you’re growing food in hot weather — or want to be prepared for when the next heatwave arrives — this is an episode worth listening to.



In the Kitchen Garden: Heatwave Gardening



The kitchen garden has been a challenge and a joy this week. With the house feeling like an oven, Richard has been heading outside at 5:30am to make the most of the cooler hours. These peaceful early mornings have become the perfect time to water, tidy, and enjoy the garden before the heat sets in.



In the podcast, Richard talks about:




How he’s using deep watering to keep crops alive



Why his Ryobi pump has been a huge time‑saver



Filling gaps with tomatoes, chillies and peppers



Updates from the edible pond and its oxygenating plants



Improvements planned for the chicken area



What’s been harvested despite the heat




If you want to hear how the kitchen garden is coping — and what’s thriving — tune in to the full episode.



Down the Allotment



It’s been a productive week on the allotment too, especially with a fantastic 6kg harvest of Morello cherries. Richard shares how he processed them and what’s next for the stone fruit trees now that harvesting is complete.



In the episode, you’ll hear about:




Summer pruning of cherries, peaches and plums



How straw mulch has been the hero of the heatwave



What’s growing well in straw bale beds



Sweetcorn, squash, pumpkins and onions



This week’s allotment harvests




If you’re looking for practical allotment tips for hot weather, this segment is packed with them.



Recipe of the Week



Tomato & Herb Summer Salad with Chickpeas



This week’s recipe is a refreshing, no‑cook dish perfect for hot weather and ideal for using up homegrown tomatoes and herbs.



You’ll find the full recipe in its own blog post.



From the Podding Shed



In this week’s reflective segment, Richard talks about how gardening is changing as UK summers become hotter. He shares his thoughts on adapting our growing methods, staying safe in extreme heat, and planning for the future.



Topics include:




Working early or late in the day



Staying hydrated and sun‑safe



Providing water for wildlife and chickens



Increasing rainwater storage



Growing more drought‑tolerant edible crops



Why mulch continues to be essential




It’s a thoughtful discussion about how we can all continue growing food even as the climate shifts.