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Black Country Living Museum

Kathy Clugston and the panel visit the Black Country Living Museum.

Kathy Clugston and the panel visit the Black Country Living Museum. Matthew Pottage, Pippa Greenwood and Matthew Wilson answer the green-fingered audience's questions.

The panellists discuss how to prune a golden alder, give tips on encouraging a fig tree to produce fruit and offer recommendations for exotic plants with winter interest. They also consider what to do with a Christmas tree after the festivities and whether a poinsettia can be kept beyond the twelve days of Christmas.

Away from the questions, Pippa Greenwood explores the Museum to have a look round the gardens with researcher Nadia Awal and Pete Alexander.

Producer: Hannah Newton
Assistant Producer: Rosie Merotra

A Somethin' Else production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 29 Dec 2019 14:00

Plant List

Questions and time codes are below. Where applicable plant names are listed.

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Q – I have a yellow Hollyhock (AlceaÌýrugose) that always falls over. What do you use to prop up your leggy plants?

(1 minute 47 seconds)

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Pippa Greenwood - Hazel (Corylus) stems or twigs

Plain jute (Corchorus) twine

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Q – My artichokes are always small, spiky and unpalatable. What am I doing wrong?

(4 minutes 24 seconds)

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Matthew Pottage – Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)

Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

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Q – My wife and I planted a golden alder (Alnus incana aurea) 10 years ago and it’s grown too large for our garden, roughly 11ft (3.35metres). When is the best time to prune it?

(6 minutes 52 seconds)

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Q – What, if anything, can be done to a Hawthorn hedge which has had a severe attack of rust and lichen last year?

(9 minutes 9 seconds)

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FEATURE

(11 minutes 32 seconds)

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Q – I recently had to remove a cherry tree from the front of our house. I wanted to replace it with a monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) but I’m concerned it will be a nuisance to neighbours in years to come. Can you suggest another tree for a 1930s-type property? Ìý

(18 minutes 50 seconds)

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Matthew Pottage – Little Spire (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

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Pippa Greenwood – White beam (Sorbus aria)

Sorbus

Lilac (Syringa reticulata)

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Matthew Wilson – Foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

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Q – How would you encourage a potted five-year-old fig tree to produce fruit?

(24 minutes)

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Q – Could the panel suggest unusual or exotic plants to accompany my shrubs and climbing roses that will offer autumnal or winter interest?

(26 minutes 25 seconds)

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Matthew Pottage – Callicarpa

Cotinus obovatus

Colchicum ‘´¡³Ù°ù´Ç°ù³Ü²ú±ð²Ô²õ’

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Pippa Greenwood – Crocus

Colchicum (‘Naked ladies’)

Echinacea

Rudbeckia

Sedum

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Christmas Tree and Poinsettia discussion

(30 minutes 20 seconds)

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Q – I am helping to convert an allotment plot for use by a group of dementia sufferers. What plants would the panel recommend?

(34 minutes 37 seconds)

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Matthew Wilson – Delphiniums

Lupinus

Lamb’s-ear (Stachys byzantina)

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Q – I bought this plant (Rubus) because I was told it would be good on a bank. It’s gone haywire! How do I kill it?

(37 minutes 30 seconds)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 27 Dec 2019 15:00
  • Sun 29 Dec 2019 14:00

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