Main content

GQT at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ: Fertilised Vines and Garden Crimes

Kathy Clugston hosts the gardening Q&A with a panel of experts.

Kathy Clugston hosts the gardening Q&A with a panel of experts. Joining Kathy and the virtual audience this week are Christine Walkden, Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw to discuss your questions on caring for Pilea plants, growing Hollyhocks and starting a gravel garden.

Away from the questions, the panel delves into the controversial topic of peat and, to celebrate the inaugural National Hedgerow Week, James Wong meets with Sara Lom of the Tree Council to discuss all things hedgerow.

Producer - Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer - Millie Chu

A Somethin' Else production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

Μύ

Q – What would the panel think about using banana skins roasted and ground to a powder and dug into the soil as a fertiliser? How suitable would that be for a vine?

(2 minute 10 seconds)

Μύ

Chris –

Staghorn fern

Μύ

Q – I wondered if you could give me any tips on growing beautiful big hollyhocks in my garden.

(5 minutes 35 seconds)

Μύ

Q – I’ve been thinking about creating a gravel garden instead of my lawn. How would I go about starting this, and how do you keep a gravel garden going if you can’t mulch?

(8 minutes 14 seconds)

Μύ

Christine –

Alliums
Colchicum
Crinum powellii
Nerine
Ceanothus
Cistus
Hebe
Juniper
Lavender
Rosemary
Euphorbia

Μύ

Q – We have a peach tree that’s now fruiting for the first time. What should we do to support the branches and I understand I should use tomato feed, but how frequently? And finally, it is getting quite big – is it possible to plant it outside or what can we do to keep it a manageable size for our conservatory?

(13 minutes 33 seconds)

Μύ

Feature – Jeremy Wong meets Sara Lom of the Tree Council on National Hedgerow Week

(16 minutes 18 seconds)

Μύ

Q – My question is about a previously contained growth of Cuckoo-pint, which has spread really rapidly and become invasive. What would the panel recommend to eradicate it without destroying other plants at the same time?

(19 minutes 55 seconds)

Μύ

Q – Why can’t I keep a Pilea plant?

(25 minutes)

Μύ

Anne –

Pilea cadierei (Aluminium plant)

Pilea involucrate

Pilea microphylla

Μύ

Panel Disco – Peat

(28 minutes 24 seconds)

Μύ

Q – Have the panel any memories from childhood of garden crimes that they would like to own up to?

(35 minutes 26 seconds)

Μύ

Christine –

Tigridia (Tiger-flowers)

Μύ

Anne –

Chrysanthemum

Μύ

Chris –

Clematis

Broadcasts

  • Fri 28 May 2021 15:00
  • Sun 30 May 2021 14:00

Six of GQT’s naughtiest gardening innuendos

When Gardeners' Question Time got mucky.

Podcast