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GQT at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ: Tiny Pots and Floppy Crops

Kathy Clugston hosts the horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Kathy Clugston hosts the horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts. Bob Flowerdew, James Wong and Christine Walkden are on hand to answer questions sent in by green-fingered listeners.

This week, panel answers dilemmas on stubborn peonies, floppy potatoes, and alternatives for a recently converted bamboo addict.

Away from the questions, Peter Gibbs takes a trip to RHS Wisley's brand new Science Centre - he gets shown around by regular GQT panellist Matthew Pottage and Head of Plant Health, Glen Powell.

Producer - Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer - Millie Chu

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

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

Ìý

Q – What kind of plants are easy to propagate? Are there any specific characteristics of plants that are good for propagation?Ìý

(1 minute 36 seconds)

Ìý

James –

Willow

Devil’s Ivy

Aucuba

Ìý

Bob –

Strawberries

Ìý

Q – I thought that I had planted two lily bulbs – they only produced green leaves with no flowers each year. This year, both have stretched up into beanstalk-like plants with hollow stems and regular leaf arrangements. I would love to know what I’ve actually planted!

(5 minutes 58 seconds)

Ìý

Christine –

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Ìý

Q – I’ve been gifted some lovely houseplants in the past that are in lovely pots about 2 inches in diameter. What should I be growing in them?

(9 minutes 8 seconds)

Ìý

James –

Cacti

Ìý

Bob –

Astrophytum

Ìý

Q – I have a beloved 3-year-old avocado plant. Should I remove the new large branch to promote taller growth or leave it well alone? I’m worried that the offshoot branch will weigh down the main stem.

(11 minutes 20 seconds)

Ìý

Feature – Peter Gibbs visits the new Science Centre at RHS Wisley – Part 1

(15 minutes 33 seconds)

Ìý

Q – The buds of my peony refuse to open. The leaves are absolutely fine, and this peony is usually the first to flower in the Spring.Ìý

(20 minutes 28 seconds)

Ìý

Q – My husband has been watching too many gardening TV shows and has decided he needs bamboo in our garden. Does the panel have any alternative suggestions?Ìý

(23 minutes 19 seconds)

Ìý

James –

Phyllostachys

Arundo donax

Sloe

Elder

Ìý

Bob –

Clematis

Ivy

Ìý

Christine –

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Z±ð²ú°ù¾±²Ô³Ü²õ’

Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’

Stipa gigantea

Ìý

Q – My dear friend bought me a Campanula. I’m curious to know why most of the flowers on the plant have five petals except for exceptional ones on the same plant that have four?Ìý

(28 minutes 34 seconds)

Ìý

Feature – Peter Gibbs visits the new Science Centre at RHS Wisley – Part 2

(31 minutes 46 seconds)

Ìý

Q – Every year I get floppy potatoes on my allotment. They come up beautifully, then the plant suddenly collapses. Any idea why?

(36 minutes 49 seconds)

Ìý

Q – We’ve all heard of builders’ bottom – well, I suffer from gardeners’ gap as I scramble around weeding borders. Does the panel have any remedies for this, and have they ever suffered from a wardrobe malfunction while working?

(39 minutes 22 seconds)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 25 Jun 2021 15:00
  • Sun 27 Jun 2021 14:00

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