Crossword Genius

Talk about rain and new growth (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sprout

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'new growth' is the definition.
'sprout' can be an answer for 'growth' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'new' bit.

'talk about rain' is the wordplay.
'talk' becomes 'spout' (spout can informally mean to talk about something).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'rain' becomes 'r' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'spout' enclosing 'r' is 'SPROUT'.

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sprout that I've seen before include "Small cabbage from Brussels?" , "Put out shoots for a brassica" , "Grow during stupor" , "Suddenly grow" , "Begin to develop" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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