North Wessex Downs
Peter Gibbs and the panel are in the North Wessex Downs
Peter Gibbs and the panel are in the North Wessex Downs. Chris Beardshaw, Matthew Wilson and Anne Swithinbank answer the horticultural queries.
This week, the panellists give tips on turning a front lawn into a vegetable patch, making the most of an unheated greenhouse during the winter, and the best indoor blooming plants for winter.
Peter Gibbs visits the Design Museum to see the new Moving to Mars exhibition, where he meets curator Eleanor Watson and discusses what could be grown on the Red Planet.
Producer: Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer: Jemima Rathbone
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
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Plant List
Questions and time codes are below. Where applicable plant names are listed.
Q – I have a stone circle in my garden. What can I plant around it that could grow throughout the year and add colour?
(2 minutes 21 seconds)
Matthew – Aquifoliaceae (Holly)
Anne - Stipa gigantea ‘Oat grass’
Dianthus carthusianorum
Dianthus barbatus ‘Sweet William’
Ferns
Chris - Geranium macrorrhizum
Geranium sylvacticum ‘Mayflower’ (Wood Cranesbill)
Sidalcea
Echinacea paradoxa (Yellow coneflower)
Lythrum salicaria ‘Swirl’
Anthriscus
Q – I have a potted Acer palmatum whose leaves turned brown, curled and fell off in August. How do I do better next year?
(7 minutes 8 seconds)
Q – I would like to plant low-growing vegetables in my front garden whilst maintaining an attractive, open look. What would be your advice?
(9 minutes 16 seconds)
Matthew - Buxus
Taxus baccata (Fastigiate yew)
Stepover apple
Allium schoenoprasum ‘Chive’
Calendula officinalis ‘Marigold’
Nasturtium
Chris – Hybrid tea roses
Alyssum
Lobelia
Salvia (Sage)
Sugar beet
Anne – Red cabbage
Oak leaf lettuce
Chard
Parsley
Q – How can I make the most of my unheated, wind-exposed greenhouse during winter?
(14 minutes 27 seconds)
Anne – Camellia
Rhododendron fragrantissimum
Cytisus canariensis
Pandorea jasminoides
Feature (16 minutes 15 seconds)
Q – When moving house, how does one go about bringing as much of their garden with them as possible?
(23 minutes 13 seconds)
Q – What is a natural remedy for black spot on roses?
(24 minutes 43 seconds)
Q – How best does one remove Hypericum?
(27 minutes 52 seconds)
Anne - Hypericum calycinum
Eremurus ‘Fox tail lilies’
Matthew - Alstroemerias
Saponaria ‘Soapwort’
Q – Can the panel recommend some indoor vigorous blooming plants?
(32 minutes 42 seconds)
Anne – Spathiphyllum ‘Peace lilies’
Guzmania
Ruellia makoyana ‘Monkey plant’
Acanthaceae
Q – I want some privacy in my garden. Do you have any ideas for big plants in smallish pots?
(34 minutes 27 seconds)
Anne – Arbutus unedo ‘Strawberry Tree’
Matthew – Holly
Elaeagnus
Chris – Pileostegia viburnoides
Viburnum cinnamomifolium
Viburnum davidii
Skimmia
Sarcococca
Ruscus
Spring bulbs
Q – Which is best, dahlia tubas or dahlia cuttings?
(39 minutes 23 seconds)
Broadcasts
- Fri 15 Nov 2019 15:00BBC Radio 4
- Sun 17 Nov 2019 14:00BBC Radio 4
Join us at RHS Garden Wisley and be part of the show as we host the BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time Summer Garden Party
Find out more about how to get tickets to this event.
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Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts
