Mrs Equigrow and I were lucky enough to visit Hampton Court Palace recently — not just for the usual contemplative stroll around the impressive grounds, but for a sales meeting with the Head Gardener there to see if he’d like to start using Equigrow products (watch this space). As if that weren’t exciting enough, we were allowed to take a walk around the gardens after our sales meeting — and honestly, we were absolutely intoxicated by the place. Especially the incredible kitchen garden.

It was a glorious early autumn sunny day and – what with it being mid-week during term time – the whole place was beautifully quiet. Just us, the plants, and the occasional bird darting about. I don’t know if it was the light, the setting, or just the chance to step into a bit of growing history, but I left feeling completely motivated and inspired.

Everything about the kitchen garden was pristine — really tidy, beautifully kept, and thoughtfully laid out. Seeing the way they organised beds and rotated crops was a real eye-opener. There were so many herbs and veg I hadn’t even considered growing before — lemon balm, lovage, liquorice, to name just a few. And some of the enormous squash (one of which dwarfed Mrs Equigrow!) really showed what you can achieve with healthy soil and proper preparation.

Even better, I spotted a bit of squash leaf mildew, which reassured me that even the professionals aren’t immune! It just goes to show how important good compost and soil health are — something we’re very passionate about at Equigrow. We always say: feed the soil, and the plants will follow. Our Organic Green Compost and Premium Soil Conditioner are ideal for exactly this — boosting soil structure, retaining moisture, and encouraging healthy microbial life that helps plants resist disease naturally.

One small but brilliant detail I loved were the DIY green-painted wooden stake labels. I’m assuming they were homemade — simple lengths of timber with names written in marker pen — but they looked fantastic. I’ll definitely be borrowing that idea!

The variety of produce was staggering. Chilli peppers, rosemary, sage, sorrel, dill, fennel, artichokes, asparagus, and more. There were even fig trees, multi-coloured lettuces, kohlrabi, pak choi, and things I hadn’t heard of before, like tatsoi and tahsai — both leafy greens similar to pak choi. It really drove home how much you can grow, even late in the season, when your soil is in good nick. This is exactly where something like Equigrow’s Real Farmyard Manure can work wonders — packed with nutrients, slowly releasing into the soil to support long-term growth.

The beans were truly next level — possibly cranberry or borlotti — in the most beautiful colours. There were standard, dwarf, and ginormous climbing varieties, in everything from deep purple to speckled cream. And the brassicas were all netted up, perfectly protected and thriving.

The entire garden was edged with immaculate hedging, the pathways were envy-inducing, and dotted throughout were educational signs — covering pollination, soil health, and the importance of organic matter for crop productivity. It felt like walking through a live-action version of everything we talk about at Equigrow. Seeing the principles of soil regeneration, mulching, and composting used at such scale was really rewarding — especially as it mirrors how our customers use products like Fertile Mulch at home or on the allotment.

We even saw their 17th century hotbeds — used hundreds of years ago for growing melons and other out-of-season crops. It was a beautiful reminder that growing doesn’t stop when summer ends. With the right inputs — whether that’s well-rotted compost, manure, or a good topsoil blend — you can keep planting and harvesting well into the colder months.

By the time we left, my head was spinning with ideas — and my shopping list was longer than ever. I’ve come home determined to finally crack leeks, spring onions, and other alliums from seed, which have eluded me thus far. This time I’ll be going in with a solid layer of Organic Green Compost, maybe blended with Topsoil to give them the best possible start.

If you ever get the chance to visit — especially midweek when it’s quieter — I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re a beginner grower or a seasoned gardener, it’s more than just a garden. It’s a reminder of what’s possible with care, passion, and a little help from nature.