The Bargain Hunt experience
It was January 2025 when Julia excitedly exclaimed that she’d applied for us to go on a telly programme. Naturally, gardening programmes sprang to mind until she quietly uttered the words ‘Bargain Hunt’ under her breath!
‘Bargain Hunt?’ was the ricochet, which was repeated again!
‘Why Bargain Hunt?’ A simple enough question and in her haste, Julia quickly blamed her mum, Cynthia!
So that was that. Julia had already completed the application and in a matter of weeks we had a request from the BBC Bargain Hunt team, asking for a two-minute film outlining why we wanted to go on the show.
In fairness that was the most difficult thing for us to do during the whole process, as getting us to shut up is very tricky.
We completed it in just under four, which was good for us (although the content was dubious) with Julia continuing to blame her mum for us applying and Elaine outlining that she would have preferred a spot on Only Connect, but couldn’t find anyone else being able to answer any questions!
Amazingly, we were deemed worthy of going through to the next stage.
Dates were sent through and on February 7 – the coldest day in 2025 – we ventured to the Newark Antique and Collectors Fair where we were introduced to our very own production team as well as other applicants already kitted out in their blue or red coloured sweatshirts proudly displaying the well-known BH logo.
The obligatory health and safety input was administered, our clock set and we were off! We zipped out of the marquee and quickly our production team of five slid into invisibility as we dashed around the stalls, dragging our wonderful expert Ben Cooper along with us.
What a gent! Slowly, as the cold turned his face blue (but he did then co-ordinate with our sweatshirts) Ben persevered in trying to get a word in as we gallivanted around the grounds like two loose buffoons.
We tested benches, clambered round cabinets, perused precious plant pots whilst continuing to stuff ourselves with chocolate bars.
Finally, we settled for a set of wooden coat hooks, a huge cast iron garden planter (big enough to sit Julia inside) and finally, a fantastic bottle corker. Admittedly, not everyone’s choice but perfect for us and all bought with someone else’s money!
Sworn to secrecy about the purchases, we drifted back to Derby only to reconnect with the BH team again on Saturday February 22 at Johnsons Auction House in Nottingham for the live auction.
As our purchases appeared on the screen, all sanity and decorum were lost. We screeched like howler monkeys when our goodies lost money, though we thought we were playing for golden gravel not a golden gavel, so no great sadness when we didn’t get a badge.
Overall, we were well and truly beaten by our Nottingham opponents Andy and Loree, but we did get two days of laughter and know that money can’t buy that!
Garlic – the time to plant is now! (Image: The Potty Plotters)
Setting garlic
Growing garlic is easy if you set the cloves in the ground by December (at the very latest). We know that new plot holders usually go wrong by not planting them at the right time, allowing the cloves the period of cold weather to form into bulbs. But garlic truly enjoy growing during the winter months ready to be collected the following summer.
How do we do so well? We’ve tried growing in both open ground and containers but always prepare the area for growing garlic well in advance of planting by adding lots of sand into the soil mix.
Sand allows tiny air gaps to form within the soil structure preventing it from becoming claggy and wet which will simply rot the cloves before they have time to grow.
Once you’ve decided where to plant the garlic cloves, clear it of all weeds as all the allium family like weed free areas to grow. Once the patch is clean and dug over to a fine tilth (resembling breadcrumbs), we buy a variety of garlic bulbs from a horticultural supplier or garden centre.
Then, carefully separate the cloves from within the bulb being careful not to damage the roots. We set each clove around an inch under the surface of the soil and around four inches apart.
A couple of years ago we did a ‘garlic growing experiment.’ We planted three garlic bulbs: one was a previously home-grown bulb; another bought from a supermarket and one from a horticulturalist supplier (which was a few pence more expensive that the others.) All were set in the same raised bed and had the same conditions, light and feed.
The garlic bulbs formed from the bulb purchased from the horticulturalist supplier were twice the size of the others! Lesson learned.
A Christmas friend! (Image: The Potty Plotters)
Christmas ‘Friends’
There’s nothing nicer than friends dropping in at Christmas but when we say ‘friends’ we mean wildlife friends not people (though we do quite like people too!)
As the cold spell arrives, we try to care for birds and creatures on site by providing drinking water at ground level for them and leaving seed loaded plants on the plots for them to feed from.
As we prepared to chat live on BBC local radio from the greenhouse, a ‘friend’ literally popped up on the computer and almost left us speechless (not so good for a radio programme!)
Jam jar hyacinth (Image: The Potty Plotters)
Jam jar hyacinth!
At the end of the year, it’s time to go hunting in the sales for spring bulbs and whilst we plant most in pots, we plant some on top of jam jars for visible ‘entertainment’!
Using a clean jam jar, fill it almost to the rim with tap water. Balance a hyacinth bulb on the rim near to the water but not actually touching it.
Now place the bulb and jar in direct light and after a matter of days not only will the roots appear (and be visible) but shortly after, the flower will start to emerge!
Take a well-earned winter break! (Image: The Potty Plotters)
A winter break
It’s been a memorable year for one reason or another not least of all – the weather! The continuous lack of water on the plots has been a test, but we’ve battled on and found new ways of reserving our water as well as testing new equipment to help us access the supplies differently, such as a battery powered pumps.
As the water levels return to ‘normal’ and the plots are cleared ready for the new year ahead, we keep our fingers crossed for a deluge of snow to kill off the ground bugs – and enjoy our Christmas break!
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