From The Archive: Container Gardening

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

Q – What’s the difference between houseplants and potted plants? (0’50”)

Q – What plants could I have in my window box that will bring some colour into my life? (3’13”)

Alan Gemmel

Petunias

Tagetes

Aubrieta

Fred Lodes

Chlorophytum, spider plants

Bill Sowerbutts –

Begonia Pendula

Fuchsia "Tennessee Waltz"

Q – What potted plants would the panel recommend I grow on the roof of my boat? It must be stable, seagull proof, and very weatherproof (07’56”)

Pippa Greenwood –

dwarf sunflowers

balkon geraniums

Bunny Guinness –

Pelargoniums

Bob Flowerdew –

Sempervivum, Houseleek

Q – Could you recommend a container for a small pond, and what could I grow in it? (11’47”)

James – 

Colocasia esculenta, elephant ears

Canna "Taney"

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

Q – Five years ago I bought a small Callistemon and each year I’ve potted it on in John Innes, watered it, fed it and overwintered it. But it isn’t producing the ‘bottlebrush’ spikes I’m looking for. What am I doing wrong? (14’48”)

Q – I have a terracotta pot, which is not advertised as frostproof, what is the best way to guarantee protection from frost, if indeed that is possible? (19’53”)

Q – Is there any research on growing vegetables in vertical containers? (35’38”)

Fred –

French beans

Bush tomatoes

Phaseolusvulgaris 'Pickwick', bean (climbing French”) 'Pickwick'

Tom –

Garlic

Petrosilenum crispum, parsley

lettuces

turnip

rooted radishes

Q – Does the panel think liquid sheep manure is a sufficient feed for tomatoes and pot plants? (27’23”)

Q – What’s worse for hanging baskets and plants in pots – overwatering or underwatering? (27’23”)

Q – What shrubs are suitable for going in pots in a south-facing courtyard garden? (33’31”)

Matt –

Alyogynehuegelii, lilac hibiscus

Pelargonium, Fragrans Group (Sc”)

Coprosma

Pippa –

Japenese Acers

Arbutus unedo, strawberry tree

Q – After all the years the panel have been getting their hands dirty amongst the creepy crawlies, is there anything that they would rather not see when turning over a flowerpot? (37’50”)