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Birmingham Botanical Gardens: Fertilisers, Fluorescent Plants and Clematis

What plants would you recommend to entertain five to six year-olds? Are rose fertilisers and tomato fertilisers the same thing? Kathy and the panel have all the answers.

What plants would you recommend to entertain five to six year-olds? How do I successfully grow Japanese banana plants? Are rose fertilisers and tomato fertilisers the same thing?

Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural champions visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens to solve the gardening gripes of the audience. On the panel this week are proud plantsman Matthew Biggs, ethnobotanist James Wong and garden designer Juliet Sargeant.

Later, Matt Biggs educates us on the life and legacy of renowned plant collector Ernest Wilson whose expeditions across Asia led to the introduction of over 2,000 plant species.

Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

Q 鈥 How do I successfully grow Japanese banana plants? (3鈥27鈥)

James Wong 鈥

Musabasjoo, japanese banana

Musalasiocarpa, chinese yellow banana

Musasikkimensis, sikkim banana

Q 鈥 I was recently sold rose fertilizer instead of tomato fertilizer? Are they the same? (6鈥45鈥)

Q 鈥 How do I maintain my Thunbergia Alata during the winter? (10鈥15鈥)

Matt Biggs 鈥

Pomoealeptophylla, bush moon flower

Eccremocarpusscaber, chilean glory flower

Lablabpurpureus, hyacinth bean

Gloriosasuperba, glory lily

Feature 鈥 Matthew Biggs discussing the life and legacy of Ernest Henry Wilson (15鈥54鈥)

Q 鈥 Which Clematis would you recommend for a shady spot? (21鈥13鈥)

James Wong 鈥

Clematisarmandi, armand clematis

Juliet Sargeant鈥

Clematis听'Nelly Moser' (EL), clematis 'Nelly Moser'

Clematismontana, himalayan clematis

Clematisviticella, purple clematis

Matt Biggs 鈥

Clematiskoreana

Clematis听'Henryi' (EL), clematis 'Henryi'

Q 鈥 Please could you recommend a low maintenance evergreen shrub for a container in an exposed southeasterly facing front garden? (30鈥57鈥)

James Wong 鈥

Tasmannialanceolata, mountain pepper

Matt Biggs 鈥

Carexcomans听'Frosted Curls', sedge 'Frosted Curls'

Juliet Sargeant 鈥

Sarcococcahookeriana听Winter Gem听('Pmoore03'PBR), sweet box [Winter Gem]

Osmanthusheterophyllus, holly olive

Escallonialaevis听Pink Elle听('Lades'PBR), escallonia [Pink Elle]

Q 鈥 What plants would you recommend to both entertain and educate five- to six-year-olds? (36鈥12鈥)

Juliet Sargeant 鈥

Decaisnea fargesii, Deads Man鈥檚 Fingers

Impatienscapensis, American snapdragon

Matt Biggs 鈥

Sarraceniapurpurea, common pitcher plant

Dahlias

Potatoes

Narcissus, daffodils

Mimosapudica, sensitive plant

James Wong

Nepenthes, tropical pitcher plant

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