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Can a mixture of coca-cola and milk help revive a neglected plant? How do you protect salvias during the winter? Peter Gibbs and the panel have all the answers in this week's GQT.

Can a mixture of coca-cola and milk help revive a neglected plant? When should I start feeding my germinated seedling compost? How do you protect salvias during the winter?

Peter Gibbs and a panel of horticultural experts provide some much-needed advice to an audience in the Vale of Pewsey. On the panel are pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, house plant specialist Anne Swithinbank, and award-winning garden designer Chris Beardshaw.

Later in the programme, regular panellist Dr Chis Thorogood takes us on an adventure deep into the jungle searching for a wild jade plant.

Producer: Dominic Tyerman

Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 10 Mar 202414:00

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – Can a mixture of Coca-Cola and milk help to revive a neglected plant? (1’14”)

Q

 – Any tips on how to navigate gardening in a frost pocket garden? (4’20”)

Q – When should I start feeding compost to my germinated seedling? (8’30”)

Q – What can I replace my deceased cherry tree with? that will make a statement (12’41”)

Chris Beardshaw –

Robiniahispida, rose acacia

Fagussylvatica 'Dawyck', dawyck beech

Fagussylvatica 'Dawyck Gold', beech 'Dawyck Gold'

Fagussylvatica 'Dawyck Purple', beech 'Dawyck Purple'

Paulowniatomentosa, foxglove tree

Anne Swithinbank –

Koelreuteriapaniculata, golden rain tree

Cladrastislutea, yellow wood or Cladrastiskentukea, yellow wood

Stewartia

Feature – Dr Chris Thorogood Jade hunting in the Philippines (18’16”)

Q – Which salvias are the panel’s favourite? Any tips on how to protect them during the winter? (22’44”)

Anne Swithinbank –

Salvia × sylvestris

Salviapratensis

Salvia nemorosa 'Amethyst', balkan clary 'amethyst'

Salvianemorosa 'Caradonna',balkan clary 'Caradonna'

Salvia × sylvestris 'Dear Anja', hybrid sage 'Dear Anja'

Salviapatens, gentian sage

Chris Beardshaw –

Salvianemorosa 'Caradonna',balkan clary 'Caradonna'

Salvia × sylvestris 'Mainacht', wood sage 'Mainacht'

Salviauliginosa, bog sage

Verbenabonariensis, purple top

Pippa Greenwood –

Salvia 'Hot Lips', sage 'Hot Lips'

Q – What could I grow between May and June? (27’15”)

Anne Swithinbank –

Digitalis, fox gloves

Dianthusbarbatus, sweet william

Hesperis matronalis, sweet rocket

Lonicera, honey suckle

Wisterias

Chris Beardshaw –

Paeonia, Peony

Papaver orientale, oriental poppy

Pippa Greenwood –

Geraniums

Dicentraspectabilis, bleeding heart

Allium

Q – Why have the Rosa Rugosas in my mixed hedge started dying off? (32’00”)

Q – Can I replace my old hydrangea 'Annabelle' with a new one that’s less troublesome? (36'01")


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