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Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural experts are in Penzance answering questions on woodlice and flowers for weddings.

Considering the climate, what type of produce should we grow in Cornwall? How can I reduce the number of woodlice in my shed? I’ve been asked to grow flowers for a wedding in June. What would you recommend?

Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural experts are in the coastal setting of Penzance for this week’s episode of Gardeners’ Question Time. Joining Kathy on the panel are houseplant expert Anne Swithinbank, self-proclaimed ‘botany geek’ James Wong, and garden designer Chris Beardshaw.

Head Gardener at Trebah Gardens, Darren Dickey chats to James Wong about the wonderful array of ferns growing on the sub-tropical site.

Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock
Executive Producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Oct 2023 14:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

GQT Freshwater Delivery

 

(1 minutes, 20 seconds)

 

Q—My verbena bonariensis seeds freely in the gravel paths but I can’t get them bushy at the base, they just stay spindly. Any advice?

 

James—

California poppy

 

(4 minutes, 17 seconds)

 

Q—I bought some autumn-fruiting raspberries. There has been no fruit or flower. Why is this?

 

 

(7 minutes, 6 seconds)

 

Q—My garden has thousands of woodlice. What can I do to reduce their numbers?

 

 

(11 minutes, 40 seconds)

 

Q—I have an East and West-facing dry stone wall with an earth top. What are the best plants for this coastal site?

 

James—

Sedum

Sempervivum

Aeonium

Semponium

 

Chris—

Fern ‘Blechnum’

Polypodium vulgare

Fern ‘blechnum spicant’

Anthemis cupiana ‘Nana’

Tulbaghia

Viola odorata

 

Feature at Trebah

 

James—

Tree fern ‘Dicksonia antarctica’

 

Darren—

Cyathea dealbata

Maidenhair fern

 

 

Anne—

Ladder fern

 

 

(24 minutes, 58 seconds)

Q—can you recommend any pulses and grains to grow?

 

Anne—

Flageolet

 

James—

Quinoa

Beets

Chickpea

Soybean

Edamame

Lupinus

 

Chris—

Dahlia

 

(31 minutes, 9 seconds)

 

Q— I’ve been asked to grow flowers for a wedding in early June. What would you recommend?

 

Chris—

Verbascum chaixii

Purple fennel

Germanic iris

Iris ‘Mer de Sud’

Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'

Borage

Echium

Lupinus ‘Persian slipper’

Geranium

Acanthus

Anchusa

Muscari

Hyacinthoides

 

James—

Water lily

 

(37 mins 1 second)

Q—Considering the climate, what type of produce would the team recommend growing in Cornwall?

 

Chris—

Caper

Mango Anwar Ratol

 

Anne—

Loquat

 

James—

Actinidia deliciosa, Kiwi

Cocktail kiwi

Chilean guava

Pineapple guava

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Oct 2023 15:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 22 Oct 2023 14:00
    BBC Radio 4

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