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Kathy Clugston and her team of gardening experts are in Portstewart.

Can weeds replicate the genes of the plants around them? How do you grow a perfect hot chilli? Are some gardeners naturally green-fingered?

Kathy and her insightful team of gardeners are on the windswept coast of Portstewart in Northern Ireland. Ready to share their horticultural knowledge are self-proclaimed botanical geek James Wong, passionate plantsman Neil Porteous, and experienced garden designer Kirsty Wilson.

Later, Kirsty visits Glenarm Castle to have a chat with Andrea and her prickly companion Precious about what we can do in our own gardens to keep hedgehogs safe.

Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Producer: Daniel Cocker
Executive Producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 May 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 – Is it possible to upkeep a green lawn when I have a dog?

(1 minutes 35 seconds) 

 

Neil

Ornithogalum Ponticum Sochi

 

Q – How is it possible for one type of apple seed to sprout a different type of apple?

(5 minutes 06 seconds) 

 

Q – Will my mature beech hedge still thrive if I cut it back? Or will it start balding?

(8 minutes 10 seconds)

 

Q – Is it possible for weeds to copy the genetic information of plants around it?

(10 minutes 08 seconds)

 

Feature – Kirsty Wilson’s hedgehog awareness feature.

(15 minutes 19 seconds)

 

Q – What low maintenance plants can I have in a raised bed that is north facing and windswept?

(20 minutes 44 seconds)

 

Neil –

Veronica Albicans

Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’ nana

Potentilla fruticosa

Erica x darleyensis

Ornithogalum dubium

 

James –

Mertensia Maritima

 

Kirsty –

Germaniums

Geranium ‘Rozanne’

Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’

Hebe

Taxus Baccata

 

 

Q – How do I successfully grow a hot chilli? Which variety is the best to grow?

(25 minutes 40 seconds)

 

James-

Carolina Reaper

 

Q – What sort of things could I make with the medlar fruits I grow?

(31 minutes 18 seconds)

 

Q – How do I get rid of leaf rolling sawflies?

(35 minutes 30 seconds)

 

Q – Do you think some gardeners are naturally green fingered?

(38 minutes 00 seconds)

 

Broadcasts

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

Find out more about how to get tickets to this event.

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