BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast Dame Mary Berry: my gardening life
Mar 10, 2026
Dame Mary Berry, renowned baker and author with a lifelong love of gardening. She recalls wartime gardening and childhood memories that sparked her interest. She shares practical tips on raised beds, roses, herbs for cooks and slug remedies. She celebrates visiting inspiring gardens, the wellbeing of garden routines and the joy of energetic weeding.
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Wartime Garden Shaped Her Gardening Beginnings
- Mary Berry grew up during wartime gardening with her father growing vegetables and her mother growing sweet peas.
- She remembers specific plots, celery wrapped in newspaper and the scent of phlox inspiring her lifelong love of gardening.
Order Bulbs And Seeds Immediately
- Act quickly when ordering seeds or bulbs because popular varieties run out fast.
- Mary scans catalogues as they arrive and orders promptly to avoid disappointment.
Pest Workarounds Led To Vegetable Success
- Mary avoided brassicas prone to pests but succeeded with kohlrabi and carrots using mesh and selective leaf removal.
- She grows carrots in raised beds to avoid carrot fly and plants successive sowings to ensure continuous harvests.
