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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022: Postbag Edition

Kathy Clugston is joined by experts Matthew Wilson, Anne Swithinbank and Matt Biggs to answer listener's questions from this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Kathy Clugston is joined by experts Matthew Wilson, Anne Swithinbank and Matt Biggs as they head to this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. To celebrate 75 years of the programme, for the first time ever, Gardeners' Question Time has its very own exhibit at the show.

The exhibit, designed by Matthew Wilson and planted by the whole team, exemplifies all things GQT - from right plant, right place, to the joys of 'grow your own'. The panellists enjoy the GQT exhibit and answer questions from the postbag.

They also catch up with Juliet Sargeant and finally see her designs come to life in the new Blue Peter Garden: Discover Soil.

Meanwhile, roving reporter Peter Gibbs explores the showgrounds. He meets with exhibitors Jane Lyndsey from Tynings Climbers, Joanne Jackson and David Lloyd of Ottershaw Cacti and Chris Potts from Sienna Hosta.

Producer: Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer: Bethany Hocken

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

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 29 May 2022 14:00

Plant List

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

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Q – We have a few Verbena bonariensis and Salvia ‘Amistad’ in our front garden. They get incredibly tall during their flowering season. We’re thinking of doing the Chelsea chop to keep them under control, would you advise it?
(5 minutes)

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Q – One of my hostas is developing discolouration on its leaves. It started happening after I split it and repotted it. What could be the matter?

(8 minutes 30 seconds)

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Q – I’ve had a Paeonia lactiflora for the last 10 years. I’ve always had a good display, but last year none of the buds flowered. What’s going on?

(10 minutes)

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Q – I’ve got a Purple Japanese Maple which I planted on the north side of my house 9 years ago. This year the buds started forming during the winter but they’ve stopped developing. Is the weather to blame, or am I waiting in vain?
(13 minute 40 seconds)

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Feature – Peter Gibbs heads to The Great Pavillion at Chelsea to explore.

(15 minutes 35 seconds)

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Feature – We catch up with Juliet Sargeant and see her New Blue Peter Garden at Chelsea.

(21 minutes 5 seconds)

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Q – I moved to a new house and the garden turf has been laid on just a few inches of sandy soil, and underneath that are bases of sheds and hutches. I can’t dig it out. What can I plant in this shallow soil?

(22 minutes 50 seconds)

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Juliet –

Grasses

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Matthew –

Corokia cotoneaster

Nigella
Eschscholzia

Mexican daisy

Thyme

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Q – Why has my runner bean plant got entirely white leaves?

(25 minutes 20 seconds)


Matt –

Ipomea

A behind the scenes look at building GQT’s Chelsea Flower Show exhibit with Kathy, Bunny Guinness and Ashley Edwards.

(27 minutes 20 seconds)

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Q – I bought a Maidenhair fern plant. The central heating has dried it up. I’ve tried to salvage it. What can I do to bring it back to its best?

(31 minutes 45 seconds)

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Q – I planted a crab apple tree in October last year, and it’s had a lovely display of blossom this spring. Should I prevent the fruit from developing in its first year?

(33 minutes 55 seconds)

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Q – ÌýTwo years ago I bought 75 Hidcote lavender plants to make a lavender bed. We pruned it in October after flowering, and this all of the plants have died. The bed was made from sand, grit and loam and is irrigated morning and night. Did we prune it incorrectly?

(34 minutes 47 seconds)

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Q – I’ve moved out of London to a much bigger garden and I’m doing No Mow May. It’s now just long grass with buttercups and daisies. What do I do next?

(38 minutes 15 seconds)

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  • Fri 27 May 2022 15:00
  • Sun 29 May 2022 14:00

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