How to excel in a head gardener interview with Alan Sargent

01/10/25 • 29 min

Having been in the landscape industry for over 53 years Alan Sargent is regularly commissioned to either take part in, or organise job interviews and recruit new senior and head gardeners.

On this week’s HortWeek Podcast Sargent takes us through some real life questions produced by himself for a recent interview for a head gardener. Beginning with advice on what to wear and bring to an interview Sargent examines interview questions, breaking down why they are being asked and how best to respond.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having been in the landscape industry for over 53 years Alan Sargent is regularly commissioned to either take part in, or organise job interviews and recruit new senior and head gardeners.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Carnivorous peat-free plants pioneer Sean Higgs

Sean Higgs, of Floralive, is the foremost authority on peat-free cultivation of carnivorous plants.

In this HortWeek Podcast he discusses his path growing peat-free plants which grow in peat in the wild,and the future of the houseplant market.

After the bounce delived by the John Lewis 2023 Christmas venus flytrap advert he relates how that has continued to make the plant dominant in the market, the challenges of fulfilling demand with UK one-stop houseplant shop HortiHouse and how CITES rules have affected imports.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Silvohorticulture with Ben Raskin and Andy Dibben

Ben raskin and Andy Dibben have written Silvohorticulture, A Grower's Guide To Integrating Trees Into Crops published in January 2025 by Chelsea Green Publishing.

Raskin is head of horticulture and agroforestry for the Soil Association and Dibben is head grower at Abbey Home Farms in Gloucestershire.

They say interactions between trees and crops is an under-investigated area and that trees can offer many benefits for food growers.

The foreword is by Stockfree Organic farmer Iain Tolhurst who calls this "agroforestry at its finest" and says which trees to choose is "no longer an act of faith".

There are negative impacts from planting the trees in the shade, but many crops do not actually need full sun all day.

Abbey Home Farms in Cirencester is a 650ha acre mixed organic farm, intercropping into 6ha of veg production with mixed top fruit tree, coppice species for wood chip, as well as peach trees in the glasshouses.

Also featured in the book are:

Eastbrook Farm in Wiltshire – 200 acre silvopastural system (trialing almonds, apricots, berries and other fruits into a 25year business plan)
Shillingford Farm in Devon – 420 acre fruit and veg farm using alley cropping systems
Troed-y-Rhiw Farm in Wales – 23 acre mixed organic farm growing top fruit and bush fruit, but outside and in tunnels

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.