Martin Fish is a renowned Horticulturist and Broadcaster with over 45 years of experience .
Over the years he has shared his expertise through a multitude of medium channels , including radiocommunication , idiot box and magazine – but you might best recognise him from his time on BBC radio or his involvement in various prime show events across the UK .
Martin ’s passionateness for gardening is well defined by his commitment to civilise and inspire others – whether they are seasoned nurseryman or complete beginners – which was understandably evident during our discussion .
Can You Tell Us About Your Earliest Memories Of Gardening And How That Influenced Your Career?
“ I suppose my earliest retentiveness of gardening , like lots of people , was with my grandparents , ” jump Martin .
“ Both of my Grandmas were very keen gardener . One of them had a little garden , but she loved originate houseplant and tomato in the hothouse , whilst the other one had a big garden in Nottinghamshire where she hold fauna .
“ As a teenager , I used to cycle down to her garden and spend the daylight there . I did that for year . Being outside with my Uncle ( who lived there ) and my Grandma was amazing .
“ Another of my uncles grew vegetables as a hobby and used to display his onions at shows . Between all of this is where my love of gardening started .
“ My architectural plan after leaving school was to go into engineering , and work with my Dad , but I just had a moment one day where I thought , I ’d much opt to be a nurseryman instead .
“ My Chrysanthemum morifolium worked at a small nursery in the settlement during summertime , so I got a part - clock time caper there when I was 14 . That was it really , I sleep with I desire to function in gardening , so the rest , as they say , is story ! ”
How Have The Different Roles You’ve Held Over The Years In Horticulture Influenced You And Your Gardening Practice?
“ I started as an prentice nurseryman in a Parks Department when I was 16 and I trained at college and in the Parks nursery , ” he shares .
“ I thought at that stage I would stay on in Parks and work my room up to direction , but I suppose I always like doing dissimilar thing .
“ I loved growing plants and after 5 yr work in Parks and as a Head Gardener , I buy a small-arm of land and started my own greenhouse . I thought that would be what I did incessantly .
“ I then went on to do writing , radio and television . I opine having that motley has put me in a adept position , as I ’ve had experience in the community , industriousness and media sides , so I ’m perpetually gathering knowledge and meeting citizenry .
“ As a result , it ’s made me a much better gardener and I ’m always get and expanding my knowledge of gardening . ”
How Do You Manage To Balance These Different Aspects Of Your Career & Do You Have A Favourite?
“ It ’s hard to say because I truly do enjoy it all . I ’m very favourable that I make my living doing something that I know .
“ Having enjoin that , I do love the radio . I ’ve done that for 30 years now for the BBC . I had a short spell broadcast medium on Classic FM 20 twelvemonth ago , but the BBC has been unvarying for me and it ’s been great fun .
“ I get a kick out of it because it ’s live , so I ’m answering gardener ’s questions on the bit which test my knowledge and I get a real rush out of it . Unfortunately , local tuner is go through lot of changes at the moment , but I ’m grateful for the many opportunities it has move over me .
“ I love that I ’m help people too , as these are real trouble that gardeners are having . ”
How Did You Transition Into Gardening Writing And What Has Been Your Most Rewarding Experience As A Writer?
“ That started in 1993 when we had our baby’s room , ” Martin explicate .
“ I believe I would enjoy writing , so I convey in speck with the editor program of Garden News and explain who I was and asked if there were any writing problem . He replied enunciate that I could write a feature and if they liked it , they would issue it – which they did !
“ After I ’d been writing for 3 - 4 year , a new editor program came along and we started a demonstration garden from lolly on a small piece of acres which had a blossom , fruit , vegetable and herbaceous plant garden .
“ We did portion of hardheaded photoshoots in the garden and it was also used for radio broadcast and TV work over the years . Creating the garden was a actual highlight and leave to me writing for several more gardening magazines over the year .
As An Accredited RHS Judge, You Have The Opportunity To Judge Many Flower Shows. What Do You Look For When Judging And What Advice Would You Give To Aspiring Gardeners Looking To Participate?
“ I ’ve been fortunate to gauge show garden and nursery demonstrate all the RHS Show and many independent shows over the years .
“ My advice to an aspire room decorator would be to do your enquiry and contemplate the criteria in detail . When judging show gardens , we look at the purpose to ensure it fits the node ’s brief , timbre of construction and the all - important planting .
“ ensure the design works and ramp up the garden as if it ’s a permanent social system , so no shaky fencing or mismatched paving . Even though it ’s only going to be at a show for a matter of day , progress the garden as if you ’re doing it for a customer – the expression is life-sustaining !
“ Planting is also of import . Plants are the stars of any garden , so choose the right plant for the right locations . For example , do n’t desegregate plant that prefer ironic soil conditions with those that prefer moist territory as it direct out the incorrect message to the world . Also , endeavor to use big plants to get that wow factor .
“ With baby’s room exhibit in the floral marquees , we approximate the tone and range of the plant , the creativity of how it ’s staged and the overall finish or burnish of the display . We also take into account the amount of work in growing and preparing the flora .
“ All exhibitioner get feedback admit the positivist elements and how we feel it could be improved . I always say to exhibitor to take that feedback , sue it and then put it into practice for your next garden or display , which will hopefully ameliorate it ! ”
How Do You Envision The Future Of Gardening, Especially Considering The Challenges Posed By Climate Change?
“ I reckon we all need to be careful how we garden , ” he warns .
“ So many more people are now gardening as a pursuit which is bang-up for the industry , but I think we all call for to be gardening as sustainably as potential .
“ There are so many plants now bought from overseas , so although it ’s sustainable because of the nature of the product , it might still have a large carbon step . I always examine to buy locally grown plants if I can .
“ I recycle and never discombobulate plastic pots away – I just keep using them ! With the change climate , I also seek to plant to the atmospheric condition where I go . If you have dry ground , do n’t plantmoisture - love plants . ”
Can You Tell Us About Any Upcoming Projects?
“ Things we are doing more of at the instant include a mobile stage social unit called The Potting Shed that myself and Jill my wife take around the rural area to Flower show , ” Martin share .
“ The aim is to give practical gardening talks , demonstration and answer gardening query .
“ This year , we took it to the RHS shows inside the floral marquee to serve advance the greenhouse , which is something I really want to do because of my background in greenhouse growing . The more we can do to give autonomous specialist growers a rise , the good !
“ We have the Potting Shed Stage to 12 different horticulture events this summertime and are planning to do this again next year with the RHS and several other shows . I ’m really pleased with how that has been meet and we also get to work with some amazing multitude .
“ We also bring out a YouTube canal calledPots & Trowelswhich we started as a scrap of fun a few years ago but have kept it move . We do a practical subject every workweek base on my experience and they are start really well and sustain good feedback .
“ I ’m also toying with the mind of doing a podcast , something that was suggest to me by Gardener Arit Anderson . The bad on-going project is creating a new garden from scratch at our new home , too ! ”
Lastly, As A Person With A Wealth Of Experience In Gardening, What Advice Would You Give To Someone Just Starting Out?
“ Horticulture definitely involve more people in the industriousness of all ages , but particularly youthful people . It ’s not really offered as a vocation choice any more , which is quite sad , as it has lots of unlike career avenues .
“ We need to find a way to promote it and to get more people into the industry . Anybody start off , whether you ’re 18 or 40 , should just absorb as much information as you’re able to .
“ A mickle of citizenry want to specialise which is fine , but I think it ’s a good estimate to take in as much data as potential . I discover something new about horticulture every day – I do n’t think you could ever know it all !
“ For masses who are just garden for leisure , enjoy it . embed what you like and there are flock of different ways to garden , so if it function for you , do it !
“ Do n’t do too much in one go . If you ’re just get into horticulture , do n’t think that you ’ve puzzle to curb the world straight away . Start off little and just get a few plant at first .
“ People start off gardening as a hobby but it can release into a vocation , so keep an clear head ! When I initiate gardening with my Grandma almost 50 years ago I would never have think I would have done half the things I ’ve done . ”
