South Downs
Peter Gibbs hosts this week's horticultural programme from Ditchling, East Sussex.
Which herbs put you at ease? Which exotic fruits might it be possible to grow in our gardens in the future? Are there any themed gardens you dream of creating?
The GQT panellists are back in Ditchling to answer these questions and more in front of a live audience. Ready to share their smart solutions to all your plant predicaments are RHS Wisley curator Matthew Pottage, horticultural pathologist Pippa Greenwood, and garden designer Juliet Sargeant.
Alongside the questions, horticulturist and garden designer Cherry Carmen gives us plenty to pond-er with her tutorial on preparing your pond for spring.
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Last on
Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
Q – I have multi-sewn a number of seeds into a small modular tray. If there are too many seedlings, when and how should I remove them?
(0 minutes 46 seconds)
Matthew –
Beetroot
Spring onion
Q – Which herbs do the panel suggest to grow at home if you have limited space?
(3 minutes 40 seconds)
Pippa –
Rosemary
Juliet –
Lemon verbena
Lemon balm
Matthew –
Sage
Purple sage
Sage ‘Tricolor’
Silver sage
Juliet –
Tangerine sage
Pineapple sage
Q – My japanese pittosporum still looks sick after the summer drought. Can you help?
(6 minutes 30 seconds)
Matthew –
Pittosporum
Podocarpus
Pittosporum tobira
Q – We’ve recently built a pergola. Can the panel recommend some sensory climbing plants to provide cover and shade?
(10 minutes 37 seconds)
Matthew –
Wisteria ‘Prolific’
White-form Chinese wisteria
Akebia quinata, chocolate vine
Akebia quinata, cream flowered chocolate vine
Pippa –
Wisteria
Sweet pea
Juliet –
Holboellia latifolia
Rose
Clematis alpina
Clematis viticella
Feature –
(16 minutes 24 seconds)
Cherry –
Caltha palustris, swamp marsh marigold
Juncus effusus, soft rush
Q – I have recently refurbished a pond. Can I use top soil in it instead of expensive aquatic soil?
(22 minutes 16 seconds)
Matthew –
Iris
Yellow iris, yellow flag
pontederia cordata
Q – I struggle to grow euphorbia in our garden, any tips?
(25 minutes 50 seconds)
Matthew –
Euphorbia terracina
Euphorbia × martini 'Ascot Rainbow'
Euphorbia characias ‘Silver swan’
Q – With climate change in mind, should we consider growing more exotic fruit trees in our gardens?
(30 minutes 45 seconds)
Matthew –
Persimmon
Sharon fruit
Eriobotrya, loquat
Fig
Olive
Juliet –
Fig ‘Brown Turkey’
Kiwi fruit
Guava
Loquat
Pomegranate
Bladdernut
Pecan
Apricot
Pippa –
Peach
Apricot
Q – Last year, a caterpillar infestation stripped my brassica leaves bare. Have the panel had similar problems this year? And what is their solution?
(34 minutes 23 seconds)
Pippa –
Brassica
Q – What sort of themed garden would you enjoy creating and why?
(37 minutes 1 second)
Pippa –
Lonicera fragrantissima
Hamamelis
Viburnum
Winter box
Matthew –
Urn plant
Fern
Broadcasts
- Fri 17 Mar 202315:00BBC Radio 4
- Sun 19 Mar 202314:00BBC Radio 4
Podcast
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Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts


