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The GQT panel answer questions on slugs, polytunnels and bay trees, among others, from Coventry.

How do I avoid slugs getting on my dahlias? How can I prevent problems in the polytunnel? Can I stop my bay tree getting bigger?

This week the GQT team answer all these questions and more from Coventry. Ready to rid you of all your weed-induced woes are plant pathologist Pippa Greenwood, grow-you-own guru Bob Flowerdew, and proud plants woman,Anne Swithinbank.

Alongside the questions, GQT producer Daniel Cocker discusses the connection between Coventry Cathedral, a handful of acorns and a...Beatle.

Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock
Producer: Dan Cocker
Executive Producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Apr 202314:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

Q –

1 minute, 18 seconds

Due to our large Irish population in Coventry, we have a tradition of planting potatoes on St Patrick's Day. Is this a good time to plant them, and do the panel have any specific planting days which they could recommend?

Bob –

Potato

Q –

4 minutes, 44 seconds

I’d like to grow dahlias for cutting but I have a lot of slugs. Should I put the tubas into pots and transplant them?

Bob—

Dahlia

Q –

7 minutes, 40 seconds

We have a mesh fruit cage, but we find there are little flies and white mites which kill off the leaves and stop the fruit growing. Our currant bushes outside are completely fine, what’s going on here?

Q –

11 minutes, 13 seconds

I’ve been asked to re-plant part of a south-facing churchyard, but the soil is very compacted, damp and covered with moss and liverwort. To dig or not to dig?

Anne– 

Grass

Snowdrop

Daffodil

Bob – 

Teasel

Liverwort

Moss

Foxglove

Verbascum Thapsus, great mullein

Knapweed

Primrose

Cowslip

Pippa – 

Fire fungus

Q –

22 minutes, 55 seconds

I’ve been given a pre-loved polytunnel. What are the main problems I can expect to encounter with this type of gardening and how can I minimise or avoid them?

Bob –

Tomato

Pippa—

Cucumber

Mullein

Q –

27 minutes, 53 seconds

In autumn 2021 I planted a violet willow, and I’ve noticed areas of dieback on quite a few branches. Should I cut these areas back?

Pippa—

Willow

Q –

31 minutes, 0 seconds

We have a 28-year-old bay tree in our garden which is 24 feet tall. We want to make sure it doesn’t grow any taller or wider, what should we do?

Anne –

Bay tree

Q –

33 minutes, 20 seconds

My allotment backs onto a lane with a hawthorn hedge under which I’d like to grow native flowers. What should I grow?

Anne—

Honesty

Red campion

Bob—

Lords-and-ladies

Cowslips

Pippa—

Purpurea, foxglove

Herb Robert

Q –

37 minutes, 15 seconds

I’ve been trying to grow broad beans. The first year I had a fantastic crop. The second year, I got nothing. This year, less than half germinated.

I was advised to soak them in paraffin. Should I try this next time?


Broadcasts

  • Fri 21 Apr 202315:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 23 Apr 202314:00
    BBC Radio 4

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