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Crossed Wires Podcast Festival: Back to Basics
How important is health and safety in the garden? What disease has been growing on my tomatoes? What would the panel say was their most overrated plant?Kathy Clugston hosts Gardeners' Question Time, recorded live at the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival.Joining her on the expert panel are botanist and broadcaster James Wong, award-winning garden designer Matthew Wilson, and alpine plant specialist Bethan Collerton. Together, they tackle a lively array of gardening questions from an enthusiastic audience.Later in the programme, James Wong takes a trip to Sheffield’s Winter Garden, where he shares his top picks for easy-to-grow plants - perfect for beginners looking to cultivate greenery both indoors and out.Producer: Dom Tyerman Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly MailePlant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided. Q – How important is health and safety in the garden? (01’27”) Q – What are the ideal conditions for growing wildflowers from seeds? (04’10”) Q – What’s the best method for watering a very parched, dried out cacti? (07’57”) Q – Why have my wisteria stopped flowering? (11’31”) Feature – James Wong provides an essential list of plants you can grow indoors and outdoors. He’s visiting the Sheffield Winter Gardens (16’11”)James Wong – Dichondra Strelitzia nicolai, white bird of paradiseQ – How do I stop slugs from eating my hostas? (24’05”) Q – What would be your recommendations for plants that can survive harsh weather in coastal regions? (24’44”)Bethan Collerton – Armeria maritima, thriftMatthew Wilson – Griselinia littoralis, new zealand broadleaf Hippophae rhamnoides, sea buckthorneJames Wong Griselinia littoralis, new zealand broadleaf Quercus ilex, holm oak Tamarisk Trachycarpus fortune, chusan palmQ – What disease has been growing on my tomatoes? (29’17”) Q – I’d like to grow my Jasmine against a fence, do I hack it right back, start again or plant is as is? (32’44”) Q – What would the panel say was their most overrated plant? (36’37”) James Wong – Geranium Rozanne ('Gerwat'PBR), cranesbill [Rozanne]Matthew Wilson – Heucheras
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East Horsley: Potato Beetle, Indoor edibles and Fallow Year
Can I grow fruits or vegetables in a flat with no balcony? Could garlic help stop slugs from eating my Hostas? Why did you become gardeners?Kathy Clugston is joined by a panel of much-loved gardening experts in the picturesque village of East Horsley, Surrey, to answer listeners’ horticultural dilemmas and offer practical, down-to-earth advice. On the panel this week are botanist and broadcaster James Wong, plant health specialist Pippa Greenwood, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant.Later in the programme, Pippa Greenwood explores the growing threat of Colorado beetles to UK biosecurity in conversation with Tracy Wilson, Import Specialist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).Producer: Matthew Smith Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4Plant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided. Q – Can you suggest a suitable hedge that can be kept slim but tall to go between a six-foot fence and a path? (01’31”) James Wong – Trachelospermum jasminoides, star jasmineJuliet Sargeant – Muehlenbeckia complexa, necklace vine Osmanthus delavayi, delavay osmanthus Osmanthus heterophyllus, holly olive Elaeagnus × ebbingei Q – How do I encourage my 100-year-old rhododendrons to flower? (05’35”) Q – Is there a way for me to grow fruits or vegetables in a flat with no balcony? And if yes, what would you recommend with limited space? (08’54”) Juliet Sargeant – HydroponicsJames Wong – Tomato Chilli Basil Thai Basil Ocimum kilimandscharicum, camphor basil Ocimum basilicum 'Christmas', basil ‘Christmas’ Curry Leaves Mint LeavesPippa Greenwood – ChilliFeature – Pippa Greenwood discusses the threat Colorado Beetles have on our crops with Tracy Wilson (15’02”)Q – We have raised vegetable beds. I put a layer of mulch on them every autumn. Would it be a good idea to let a bed lie fallow occasionally? (19’49”) Q – What’s causing my Hydrangea petiolaris to die off? (24’05”) Q – What could I grow in a large rockery in our garden, that’s also difficult to kill? (28’31”)Q – Would wild garlic help stop slugs from eating my Hostas? (31’31”) Q – What possessed you to become the garden experts you are? And as a result. What advice would you give to up-and-coming young gardeners to continue? (36’00”)
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Postbag Edition: Belvoir Castle
What is stunting the growth of my Japanese maple tree? My red tip Photinia keep falling and dying, what’s causing this? What's the best way to get rid of moss from a pond?Peter Gibbs and the GQT panel take root in the historic grounds of Belvoir Castle, a site steeped in history since the Norman Conquest of 1066.Joining Peter are garden designer Bunny Guinness, horticulturist Matthew Wilson, and Belvoir Castle’s Head Gardener, Andy Tudbury. Together, they tackle a thorny selection of questions from the GQT postbag.This week, the panel shares expert advice on safely transplanting roses, taming an unruly Potentilla, and uncovering the reasons why some flowers lose their scent over time.Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.Plant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided. Q – My garden is filled with roses, but they’ve lost their scent, why is this? (03’31”) Q – What’s the best way to transplant and plant from one environment to another? (06’24”) Q – My garden has been completely taken over by Potentilla, how do I control it without using chemicals? (09’31”) Q – My red tip Photinia keep falling and dying, what’s causing this? (11’49”) Q – What is the problem with my Japanese maple tree? (17’40”) Q – My 10-year-old rainwater pot pond in a black plastic barrel has become overgrown with moss – What’s the best way to get rid of it? (21’22”)Q – Is it possible to cover the base of a 175-year-old copper beach tree with fallen moss? (24’19”) Q – Can I use sawdust as a mulch? (25’49”) Q – My mature Mahonia has flowered and ripened at two different time this year – what’s the reason for this? (31’20”) Q – We have recently moved into a new property. We would like advice, please on where to position a new greenhouse. (35’11”) Q – Could the panel suggest a way to keep our Melia azedarach whilst we’re away on holiday? (38’28”)
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West Horsley
What causes onions to bolt? What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? How should I go about pruning my lilac tree? Kathy Clugston and a panel of esteemed gardening experts visit West Horsley, Surrey, to tackle common horticultural challenges and share practical solutions. Joining her are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, botanist James Wong, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant.Later in the programme, Bob Flowerdew wraps up our Edible Essentials series with a fool proof guide to feeding and watering your crops - ensuring a rich and rewarding harvest.Producer: Matthew Smith Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly MailePlant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided. Q – My Ficus Ginseng has lost most of its leaves, what am I doing wrong? (01’35”) Q – What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? (06’41”) Q – Can the panel suggest shrubs that will flower late spring, early summer and thrive in chalky soil? (10’57”) Juliet Sargeant – Philadelphus, mock orange Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine' (d), mock orange 'Manteau d'Hermine' Weigela All Summer Red ('Slingco 1'PBR) (All Summer Series), weigela [All Summer Red] Weigela All Summer Peach ('Slingpink'PBR) (All Summer Series), weigela [All Summer Peach] Ceanothus, californian lilacPippa Greenwood – Magnolia stellata, star magnolia Mahonia, oregon grape Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim', lilac 'Miss Kim' Deutzia × rosea 'Carminea', deutzia 'Carminea'James Wong – Pittosporum tobira, japanese pittosporum Wisteria Feature – Bob Flowerdew’s Edible Essential guide to watering and feeding crops (16’56)Q – What causes onions to bolt? (21’19”) Q – Can the panel advise on what I can plant on a north facing one-and-a-half-meter border adjacent my mixed hedge? (25’37”) Juliet Sargeant – Euphorbia robbiae, mrs Robb's bonnet Anemone hupehensis, japanese anemonesJames Wong – Digitalis, foxglove Primula vulgaris (Pr/Prim), primrose Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebell Hakonechloa, japanese forest grass Ferns LilliesPippa Greenwood – Hardy geraniums Epimedium Helleborus, helleboreQ – How should I go about pruning my lilac tree? (31’48”)Q – What plants would the panel take from your current gardens if you were moving to a much smaller garden with very poor soil and lots of builder’s rubble in it? (35’23”) James Wong – Tree fernsJuliet Sargeant – Iris germanica, bearded iris Ficus carica (F), fig Salvia 'Royal Bumble', sage 'Royal Bumble' Salvia 'Hot Lips', sage 'Hot Lips' Salvia, sage Salvia 'Amistad'PBR, sage 'Amistad' Erigeron karvinskianus, mexican fleabanePippa Greenwood – Aubrieta Eryngium, sea holly
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Perton Staffs: Used Compost, Angry Peonies and Ant-tics
What's the best way to revive a dying bonsai tree? Do Peonies hate being moved? I am inundated with ants – how do I get rid of them?Kathy Clugston hosts BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time, joined by a panel of esteemed plant and gardening experts in Perton, Staffordshire. Sharing their horticultural wisdom are the passionate plantsman Matthew Biggs, head gardener Marcus Chilton-Jones, and renowned plantswoman Christine Walkden.Later in the programme, Matthew Biggs has a chat with David Austen Jr to explore his father’s remarkable legacy in rose breeding at their prestigious nursery. He also gets an exclusive glimpse at some of their latest, most exquisite varieties.Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly MailePlant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided. Q – What colour would you paint a garden fence to best show off and compliment the plants in it? (01’32”) Q – Why have my Peonies stopped blooming? Is it because I’ve moved them? (05’03”) Q – Which plants would the panel recommend covering a roof of five feet by 10 feet with a depth of two and a half inches? (08’07”) Matthew Biggs – Thymus vulgaris, common thyme Thymus serpyllum 'Russetings', creeping thyme 'Russetings' Campanula, bellflower Campanula portenschlagiana, wall bellflowerChristine Walkden Sempervivum, houseleek Hylotelephium, sedum Mentha requienii, corsican mintMarcus Chilton Jones – Puschkinia Allium schoenoprasum, chives Ajuga repens, bugleQ – What are the panel's thoughts on reusing compost that's been used in pots for summer annuals? (10’53”) Feature – Matt Biggs speaks with David Austen Jr about his father’s legacy in breeding unique roses (15’01)Q – I wondered what was the best way to revive a dying bonsai tree? (19’26”) Q – How hard should I cut back our Ceanothus? (23’59”)Q – What can the panel recommend that's low maintenance and won't prickle anyone that I could plant in a two foot wide plot? (28’10”) Christine Walkden – Cyclamen hederifolium, ivy-leaved cyclamen Ajugas Lamiums Heucheras Thalamus Aquilegia Veronica, gentian speedwellMatthew Biggs – Hedera (ivy)Marcus Chilton-Jones – Lonicera, honeysuckle Dryopteris, wood fern Nettles Q – I am inundated with ants – how do I get rid of them? (33’49”) Q – How do I stop bugs from getting into my plums? (37’25”)
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