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Q – I planted some sweet corn, Edamame beans and pumpkins in large pots and they all grew very well but they only produced tiny items.  Why is this?

Bob – Growing in pots can confine these plants. You are trying to grow very hungry crops in containers.  For example, last year I grew one pumpkin plant that produced two decent pumpkins but that was in 1 cubic metre (35 cubic feet) of compost.  Butternut squashes might be better but it sounds like you’ve got too much competition and not enough feed.

Chris – When you look at root space that plants take up, we often underestimate how much room they need.  Research has suggested that the average root spread of a single tomato is 1 cubic metre (35 cubic feet). So you need to allow them room.

Q – I need to protect my peas from the frost – what are the cheapest, most effective hoops, over which to put horticultural fleece?

Bob – You can use all sorts of things. Thin bamboo canes can be good. If you cut a bicycle wheel (without spokes) than makes a nice strong arch.  Plastic tubing that electricians use, too.  

Q – Do you have a favourite architectural plant for a mixed border other than a grass?

Bob – Globe artichokes.  You get a height of 6ft or 7ft (1.8m or 2.1m) and they’re there most of the year.

Pippa – Crambe or a good portion of Gysophila. Or, though I find them a bit difficult, I always admire Cannas in a border.  

Chris – Crambe is a fabulous plant that is hugely under planted … but watch out because when it collapses in the frost it does smell a bit cabbagey! For foliage I would recommend Tetrapanax papyrifer.

Q – For this year’s London Marathon in April we would like to grow some Schizanthus or ‘Poor Man’s Orchid’ – when would you advise sowing those seeds? 

Pippa – A large part of this will have to be undertaken in artificial conditions but I would suggest starting yesterday! I would definitely start some as soon as possible – get as much artificial light and warmth on them asap.

Bob – I would think of them as more of an autumn plant than a spring plant and they’re not very hardy so this might be tricky.  For April I’d be thinking about universal Pansies and Primulas – just to be sure you’ll actually have things that will be flowering.

Chris – I’d go down the perennial route and try Tradescantias or something like that

Q – Purple algae is appearing in my pond for the second year running – what is causing it and should I get rid of it?

Pippa – I doubt it’s doing any harm – it probably just looks a bit unsightly. But I don’t think you can do much without totally starting the pond again from scratch.

Q – Our Eucalyptus has to be removed and its stump ground out – how soon can I replant in the hole and can you suggest something fairly solid but exciting?

Chris – You may require a mini-digger in to dig out a big enough area to replant in. You really need to think of this as starting from scratch as the soil will be undernourished.  Dig a big hole and then input good, loamy garden soil. Enrich with organic matter and then leave it to settle. Maybe plant an intermediate plant in that area for a season. Then I’d put in something like the Cercidiphyllum japonicum (the ‘Katsura Tree’). Betula utilis too. Prunus serrula.  Also, a summer flowering Clematis – something like a jackmanii.  Or Malus tschonoskii.  Lots of options!

Q – What aspect of gardening would the panel miss if they had to give it up?

Bob – Just going round eating the different fruits as they ripened.

Pippa – Gardening always gives you a reason to go outside and enjoy nature – that’s what I enjoy most about it.

Chris – For many of us gardening is a physical act but I think it’s more about experiencing plants so I don’t think you can every truly give up gardening!