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Any top tips on growing good-sized brassicas? What plants would you suggest I grow to encourage my two children to get stuck into gardening? Peter and the panel have the answers.

Any top tips on growing good sized brassicas? Can I have some recommendations for a good compost mix for pots, which will sustain them all summer? What plants would you suggest I grow to encourage my two children to get stuck into gardening?

Peter Gibbs and his team of gardening experts are in Central Oxford for this week's episode of Gardeners' Question Time.

Joining Peter to resolve the audience's horticultural conundrums are passionate plantswoman Christine Walkden, garden designer Chris Beardshaw, and Head of Oxford Botanical Gardens Dr Chris Thorogood.

Later in the programme, Dr Chris Thorogood clears up some of the common misconceptions we have about ants, and provides some insight on how beneficial they are to protecting the plants in our garden.

Producer: Dan Cocker

Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Jun 202414:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

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

Q – How do I convince my husband to spend less time speaking to nearby allotment holders and more time speaking to our plants? (1’27)

Q – Any top tips on growing good sized brassicas? (4’54)

Q – Which variety of Brunnera can I plant in my garden that will sway the opinion of my wife, who hates them? (6’51)

Chris Beardshaw –

Brunnera jackfrost

Leucojums

Celandines

Camassia, quamash

Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebells

Narcissus lobularis, lent lily

Lunariaannua, honesty

Christine Walkden –

Bergenia,elephant's ears

Lamiums

Ajuga, bugle

Galiumodoratum, sweet woodruff

Q – How do I start growing Dill? (12’04)

Q – How do I stop mildew from growing on my Sweet Peas? (14’59)

Feature – Dr Chris Thorogood on the benefits of ants in the garden (18’04)

Q – What can I plant on an east facing wall to replace my dead Clematis? (23’10)

Chris Throgood –

Passifloracaerulea, blue passion flower

Minalobata, Spanish flag

Rhodochitonatrosanguineus, purple bell vine

Cobaeascandens, cup and saucer vine

Chris Beardshaw –

Sophora Sun King ('Hilsop'), kowhai [Sun King]

Schizophragmahydrangeoides, japanese hydrangea vine

Akebiaquinate, chocolate vine

Christine Walkden –

Dicentrascandens, yellow bleeding heart vine

Q – What are the panel's recommendations for a good compost mix for pots which will sustain them all summer? (27’36)

Q – Can I create a bog garden in a container? Would it need to have drainage holes? What else would I need to consider? (33’15)

Christine Walkden –

Trolliu’s

Uvularia’s

Calatheas

Primulasinensis, chinese primrose

Primulabulleyana (Pf), bulley's primrose

Chris Beardshaw –

Iris sibirica, Siberian flag

Calthapalustris var. palustris, swamp marsh marigold

Equisetum arvense, Horsetail

Chris Thorogood –

iris ensata, japanese water iris

Irispseudacorus, yellow iris

Darlingtoniacalifornica, californian pitcher plant

Sarraceniapurpurea, common pitcher plant

Droserarotundifolia, round-leaved sundew

Q – What plants would you suggest I grow to encourage my two children to get stuck into gardening? (37’23)

Christine Walkden –

Mimosapudica, sensitive plant

Chris Beardshaw –

Fragariavesca (F), alpine strawberries

Sauromatumvenosum, voodoo lily

Chris Thorogood –

Ananas comosus (F), pineapple

Broadcasts

  • Fri 14 Jun 202415:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 16 Jun 202414:00
    BBC Radio 4

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