Gardeners' World
08:00 am - 09:00 am, Thursday, September 3 on BBC Two England (2)
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About this Broadcast
Season 2026, Episode 23
As a summer marked by record-breaking heat and prolonged drought comes to a close, Monty Don reflects on how it has tested gardeners across the country. From parched borders to sun-scorched lawns, he looks at the impact of low or no rainfall and offers some solutions for the plants worst hit. Yet amid the challenges, there is reason for optimism. As the gardening year turns towards autumn, he gathers seed, takes cuttings and prepares the ground for seasons to come, proving that gardening is always an act of hope. Joe Swift visits a family-run nursery in Dorset and Rekha Mistry shares the results of her container challenge. In Essex, a grower showcases his agaves and in Cumbria a young couple share tips for a colourful garden
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Gardening
Leisure Hobbies
Cast & Crew
Monty Don
(Presenter)
Rekha Mistry
(Presenter)
Joe Swift
(Presenter)
Rosemary Edwards
(Executive producer)
Sharon Fisher
(Series editor)
More Information
Did You Know..
Monty Don
(Presenter)
Born:
July 08, 1955
in
Ivington, Herefordshire
Best Known For:
Fronting Gardeners' World.
Early-life:
Montagu Denis Wyatt Don was born in Berlin on July 8, 1955, where his soldier father had been posted. He and his twin sister grew up in Hampshire with their four other siblings. He went to school in Berkshire, Malvern and Basingstoke, before reading English at Cambridge. He worked as a dustman, labourer and waiter before founding his own jewellery company with his future wife, making and designing pieces which were sold all over the world.
Career:
In 1988, Don moved to Herefordshire with his wife and children, and when the jewellery business collapsed, turned to working in TV and journalism. He has on has appeared on programmes including This Morning, Holiday Programme, Tomorrow's World, Real Gardens, Fork to Fork, Lost Gardens and Don Roaming. He joined Gardeners' World in 2002, and became the show's first self-taught main presenter in 2003. An author and columnist, his books include My Roots, The Jewel Garden, The Complete Gardener, The Prickotty Bush, The Weekend Gardener, The Sensuous Garden, Gardening Mad, Urban Jungle and Fork to Fork. He suffered a minor stroke in 2008, and gave up Gardeners' World until 2011. He also presents More4's Monty Don's Real Craft.
Quote:
'If you are angry or troubled, nothing provides the same solace as nurturing the soil.'
Trivia:
In 2008, Don became president of the Soil Association.
Rekha Mistry
(Presenter)
Joe Swift
(Presenter)
Born:
May 25, 1965
in
London
Best Known For:
Presenting gardening programmes.
Early-life:
Joe was born in London on May 25, 1965. His father is actor Clive Swift and his mother is novelist Margaret Drabble. He has a brother, Adam.
Career:
Swift is a garden designer by trade and presents horticultural programmes on the BBC, notably Gardeners' World, Chelsea Flower Show and Tatton Park Flower Show. He has written about gardening in a number of national newspapers.
Quote:
'If you are not used to gardening, don't just go out and start digging without warming up with a little bit of stretching. Know your limits.'
Trivia:
In 2009, Swift published Joe's Allotment.
Rosemary Edwards
(Executive producer)
Sharon Fisher
(Series editor)
