Star Q&A: Gardeners’ World star, Adam Frost

Liz Nicholls

Round & About Editor, Liz Nicholls, chats to Gardeners’ World star Adam Frost about pets, plants and passions ahead of his extended spring speaking tour.

Q. Hello Adam! You and I always seem to chat in gloomy winter: how are you this time around?

“Good, thank you! We’re just back from Thailand and Vietnam, which was incredible. It was really special spending time with the family – proper time.”

Q. Your UK speaking tour has been extended – that must feel good?

“It does. I honestly wasn’t expecting it, but I love getting out there, meeting people, hearing their stories.”

Q. Life at home sounds busy – how many pets are we on now?

“We’ve added another dog! My daughter got another Labrador, Buster, so we now have Raven and Buster… plus cats. Ash the cat is still very much in charge, though. He keeps the others in line with the occasional whack, to remind them who owns the place.”

Q. You’ve always said you’re a cat man as well as a dog lover…

“I love them all, honestly. Animals bring so much joy and grounding, don’t they? Ash the cat especially has impeccable timing – if there’s a camera around, he knows exactly how to find it.”

Q. Your book, ‘For the Love of Plants’, celebrates joy over perfection. Is that where gardening is heading?

“I really think so. I don’t like talking about ‘trends’, but what’s gaining traction is the idea of backing off a bit. Leaving seed heads, not tidying everything away – it’s better for nature.

“Gardens don’t need to be perfect to be beautiful… I mean, having said that, it’s still an ongoing conversation in this house because, unlike me, Mrs Frost is a bit of a control freak, you know. So we just work our way to find a balance as every couple does.”

Q. You describe yourself as an ‘old romantic fool’. What does romance look like in a garden?

“It’s about how a space feels. Gardens are deeply personal. They’re for family, cooking, for sitting, being. It’s not just how something looks – it’s the atmosphere, the emotion.”

Q. You even link parts of the garden to music, including Louis Armstrong, Mumford & Sons and more…

“Music captures moments. A lyric, a mood, a feeling – and suddenly that becomes a planting idea. Bruce Springsteen’s song Secret Garden says it all really.”

Q. You’ve gardened all over the world – Japan in a monsoon must have been the hardest?

“It’s fascinating rather than challenging. Plants are plants, wherever you are – it’s the people that make it special. Working alongside local growers and teams is always the richest part.”

Q. What advice would you give to beginner gardeners feeling overwhelmed?

“Gardening is for everyone. Start small. Grow herbs in a pot. Test your soil and watch where the sun goes to help you start, and have a go. Once you nurture your first plant, you’re hooked.”

Q. What would improve life the most?

“A switch to slow time down. Time speeds up far too quickly as you get older. We all need to stop, breathe… and smell the roses.”

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