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Liz Nicholls chats to gardener and author David Domoney, who will star at the Ideal Home Show from Friday 10 to Sunday 19 April 2026 at London’s Olympia.
Hi David, how are you?
Good, thanks, Liz! Sun’s out, the days are getting longer, birds are singing… Hold on tight, we’re nearly there!
You’re at the Ideal Home Show, as well as Martin Lewis, Annie Sloan, George Clarke and more stars, aren’t you?
Yes, the show is so feel-good, I love it! Our gardens are where we relax. But horticulture isn’t just about gardens. Plants are part of everyday life: the air we breathe, the food we eat. We only get old on the outside – we’re all young on the inside!
Think of using a dandelion as a child to tell the time. Plants connect us to memory and emotion. Mint can make us feel cold, chillies hot. This will be a fun celebration of plants’ superpowers! On the cookery stage, I’ll look at plants to keep us feeling younger and healthier
Your RHS Chelsea Ace of Diamonds Garden was a real bobby dazzler!
Yes, at Chelsea I try to stretch people’s imaginations; we had £20 million worth of diamonds for that one! The Ace of Spades had a tattoo artist on the side. But your real perfect garden is your own taste, gnomes, whatever!
I love your social media channels, no wonder they’re so popular! What’s a good food to grow as a newbie like me?
Start with cress; it’s the fastest crop from seed to eating. Growing seeds activates positive neurotransmitters in the brain.
When you spot those tiny green shoots, you’ve created life! Cress has more calcium than milk, more vitamin C than broccoli, more folate than a banana. Herbs are easy too – you can even grow potatoes in a bin!
I’m also a fan of your fantastic bestselling book, My Houseplant Changed My Life! Are you proud of it?
Yes, it came after Chelsea in 2021 when we were very fortunate to win gold. House plants look good, pump out fresh oxygen and clean the air… love ‘em!
What’s your favourite plant?
Lemon-scented verbena. You can add your Pimm’s and flavour the ice cream with it. It smells of happiness.
You’re clearly enjoying your 40+ year career in gardening, David. What’s next!?
I love to engage more people with plants and use technology that’s taking us away from nature to reintroduce us to it.
I’ve got a million followers now on my YouTube channel, and I love to offer free step-by-step guides to share the magic. Look out for more ideas!
The Ideal Home Show returns to London’s Olympia for its 118th year, unveiling new and evolved features including The Bark Yard, The Edible Garden, DIY Live, The Smart Home, The BBQ Academy & The Design Studio.
Tickets from £14pp.
For more information or to book, visit idealhomeshow.co.uk.
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