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Hull: Venus fly traps, overgrown roses and controversial cucumbers

Any tips on how to keep a Venus fly trap alive? What unusual fruit or vegetable do the panel think is underrated? Kathy Clugston & the panel have all the answers to these and more.

Any tips on how to keep a Venus fly trap alive? How do I successfully grow a cucumber? What unusual fruit or vegetable do the panel think is underrated?

Kathy Clugston and a panel of horticultural experts are in the hot seat, as they answer the gardening queries from an audience in Hull. On the panel are head gardener Matthew Pottage, garden designer Bunny Guinness and curator of RHS Bridgewater Marcus Chilton-Jones.

Later, Hull-born panellist Matthew Pottage meets with Cllr Henry from Hull City Council, to learn more about their ‘Right to Grow’ initiative which allows people to grow on public land for the first time.

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 22 Sep 202414:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

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

Q – Do the panel have any tips on growing garlic? (01’37”)

Q – What are the panel’s favourite showstopper plants that flowers in May? (05’35”)

Matthew Pottage 

–

Tree peonies

Paeonia (Gansu Group”) 'Highdown' (S”), highdown peony

Bunny Guinness –

Tulipa, tulips

Allium, ornamental onion

Iris germanica, bearded irises

Verbenaofficinalis 'Bampton', vervain 'Bampton'

Marcus Chilton-Jones

Allium 'Globemaster', allium 'Globemaster'

Alliumhollandicum 'Purple Sensation', dutch garlic 'Purple Sensation'

Allium 'Mont Blanc', allium 'Mont Blanc'

Alliumcristophii, star of Persia

Azaleas

Rhododendrons

Rhododendron (May Day Group”) 'May Day', rhododendron 'May Day'

Q – How do I successfully grow a cucumber? (09’35”)

Q – Any tips on how to keep a Venus Fly Trap alive? (13’34”)

Q – I've recently been experimenting with rooting supermarket produce and planting seeds from bought food. Would the panel recommend this? (16’13”)

FEATURE – Matthew Pottage meets up with Tracey Henry from Hull City Council to learn about the ‘Right to Grow’ initiative (21’46”)

Q – How drastically should I prune my 20-year-old overgrown rose? (27’02”) 

Q – Do the panel have any advice on growing a mixed wildlife hedge in clay soil, in an area with strong winds? (32’26”)

Matthew Pottage –

Rugosa Roses

Acercampestre, field maple

Crataegus, hawthorns

Euonymuseuropaeus, spindle

Lonicera, honeysuckles

Amelanchier

Cotoneaster franchetii, franchet's cotoneaster


Bunny Guinness –

Ilexaquifolium, common holly

Marcus Chilton Jones –

Cotoneaster

Pyracantha, firethorn

Amelanchier

Berberis, barberry

Q – What would this panel suggest as a new unusual or different fruit or vegetable to grow? (38’03”)

Matthew Pottage –

Eriobotryajaponica (F”), japanese loquat

Marcus Chilton Jones –

Cornusmas, cornelian cherry

Cornusmas 'Jolico' (F”), cornelian cherry 'Jolico'

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Sep 202415:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 22 Sep 202414:00
    BBC Radio 4

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