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The GQT team are in Ditchling for this week's horticultural programme.

How do you revive a banana plant? Can you encourage wild orchids to grow in your garden? Would you accept a kitchen sink as the top prize of a gardening competition? 

In Ditchling to answer these questions and more in front of a live audience are Peter Gibbs and this week’s panel - garden designer Juliet Sargeant, pests and diseases expert Pippa Greenwood and Matthew Pottage, Curator at RHS Wisley. 

Beyond the questions, James Wong educates us on the science behind the effects of music on plants.  

Producer: Dominic Tyerman
Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock
Executive Producer: Louisa Field 

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 12 Mar 2023 14:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

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

 

Q – Can you suggest some fun categories to encourage new gardeners to enter into gardening competitions?

(1 minutes  46 seconds) 

 

Q – Where do I start with a new garden riddled with compact mulch and overgrown trees?

(5 minutes 04 seconds) 

 

Matthew:

Rhododendron

Camelia

 

Q –What shrubs and perennials would survive in a north facing garden on sand?

(9 mins 39 seconds )

 

Matthew:

Crataegus

Ribe

Fruiting Roses

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)

 

Juliet:

Pelargonium

Carex Grasses

Iris sibirica

 

Feature – The science behind music and plants with James Wong

(14 minutes and 17 seconds)

 

 

Q – Any tips on how to revive a banana plant?

(22 minutes 51 seconds)

 

Q – Any recommendations on plants that could add height variation and survive in my windy garden?

(24 minutes 51 second)

 

Juliet:

Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster

Pampas grass

Dwarf Pampass Grass

 

Pippa:

Amelanchier

Tamarix

Daphne

Viburnums

 

Matt:

Olearia

Hoheria

Cordyline

Pittosporum

Acacia Pravissima

Eucalyptus nicholii

Cortaderia richardii

 

Q – How can I encourage the growth of wild orchids in my garden?

(30 minutes 22 seconds)

 

Q – Why have my pink Roses suddenly died?

(34 minutes 24 seconds)

 

Q – What domestic item would you choose as the top prize of a horticultural competition?

(39 minutes 1 second)

 

 

 

Broadcasts

  • Fri 10 Mar 2023 15:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 12 Mar 2023 14:00
    BBC 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

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

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