Main content

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts. Kathy Clugston is joined by Pippa Greenwood, Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw. Together, they answer your gardening queries.

The panellists are in Narberth, Wales, where they explain what to do when lupins stop flowering, and what they really think about weed-control fabrics. They also diagnose a poorly clematis, and suggest some interesting types of Phlomis to grow.

Away from the questions, Anne heads over to The National Botanic Garden of Wales and speaks to Elle James and Matt Smith about their boulder garden.

Producer: Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer: Aniya Das

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

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Jul 2022 14:00

Plant List

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

Q – I have wonderful Lupins but they are now going over. Should I chop the flowers heads off to see if it will flower again, or should I simply let the seeds develop?

(1 minute 46 seconds)

Chris –

Westcountry hybrid Lupin

Tree Lupin

Q – My husband has put fabric weed control around our soft fruit bushes and artichokes. Without taking up the fabric, what is the best way of fertilising?

(4 minutes 55 seconds)

Chris –

CalendulaÌýofficinalis

Q – My dahlias are getting eaten but I can’t see any predators. How can I help them without harming other animals and organically?

(7 minutes 30 seconds)

Q – I have a ClematisÌýarmandiiÌý'Apple Blossom’, in a tall, 1 foot wide (30.5cm) planter with other plants. Many of the leaves are starting to brown, what’s going on?

(11 minutes 32 seconds)

Feature – Anne Swithinbank speaks to Elle James and Matt Smith about the boulder garden at The National Botanic Gardens of Wales.

(14 minutes)

Q – I have a rhododendron ‘Tortoiseshell Orange’ which I keep in a pot. It is browning and also seems to be being eaten. What is wrong with it?

(20 minutes 35 seconds)

Q – I have a star of Bethlehem which I’ve had for four years. It bloomed really well in the first two years but has since stopped flowering. What am I doing wrong?

(24 minutes 30 seconds)

Q – I bought three Phlomis russeliana plants. They didn’t flower last year so I planted them in a border which is 1m (3.2 foot) square. One has grown as expected but the other two are yellowing. What has happened?

(30 minutes 45 seconds)

Chris –

Phlomis fruticosa 'Lloyds Variety'

Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone'

Q – Can sweet peppers and chilli peppers be grown in the same greenhouse without cross pollination?

(36 minutes)

Q – My son and daughter-in-law have just moved into their first home with a garden. Should I nudge them into not making the same gardening mistakes that I made, or should they learn the hard way?

(37 minutes 20 seconds)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Jul 2022 15:00
  • Sun 17 Jul 2022 14:00

Six of GQT’s naughtiest gardening innuendos

When Gardeners' Question Time got mucky.

Podcast