Trafford
Peter Gibbs hosts this week's horticultural programme from Trafford, Greater Manchester.
Which luxury vegetable shall I grow in a northern climate? Why are my potatoes perfect on the outside, but black on the inside? How can I get my wife to spend more time in the allotment?
The GQT panellists are back in Trafford to answer these questions and more in front of a live audience. Ready to share their top tips on all your garden gripes are proud plantswoman, Christine Walkden, the ‘Mr Cool’ of the plant world Ashley Edwards, and passionate ethnobotanist James Wong.
Also, regular GQT panellist, Juliet Sargeant sheds light on the mysterious practice of potato chitting.
Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock
Executive Producer: Louisa Field
A Somethin' Else production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Last on
Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
Ìý
Peter –
Ìý
Silene stenophylla, Narrow-leafed campion
Ìý
Christine –
Ìý
Soldanella Alpina
Ìý
Ashley –Ìý
Ìý
Snowdrop
Ìý
James –Ìý
Ìý
Opuntia, Cactus
Ìý
Ìý
Q – After the winter frost, my cordyline has black, wilted leaves. How can I stimulate new growth?Ìý
(3 minutes 49 seconds)
Q – My bathroom orchid has ugly grey roots sprouting out the pot, can I chop them off?
Ìý
(6 minutes 45 seconds)
Q – I’ve been using a terracotta rhubarb forcer with no success, what am I doing wrong?
Ìý
(9 minutes 20 seconds)
Q – If I’m using commercial nematode slug deterrent, should I avoid growing tagetes nearby?
Ìý
(12 minutes 3 seconds)
Ìý
Christine –Ìý
Ìý
Tagetes exotica
Ìý
James –
Ìý
Tagetes minuta
Ìý
Huacatay, Peruvian black mint
Ìý
Mycorrhizal fungi
Ìý
Q – What are your preferred potato varieties?
Ìý
Christine –Ìý
Ìý
Charlotte potato
Ìý
James –
Ìý
Peruvian potato
Ìý
Ashley –Ìý
Ìý
Anya potato
Ìý
Q – My potatoes look great on the outside with no obvious signs of damage, but when I cut them open, they’re black and hollow. What could be the cause?
Ìý
(24 minutes 16 seconds)
Q – Which luxury fruit would the panel recommend to grow in a northern allotment?
Ìý
(26 minutes 12 seconds)
Ìý
James –
Ìý
RosemaryÌý
Ìý
Sage
Ìý
Salad
Ìý
Raspberries
Ìý
Blackcurrants
Ìý
Gooseberries
Ìý
Ashley –Ìý
Ìý
Pineapple sage
Ìý
Wasabi rocket
Ìý
Christine –Ìý
Ìý
Melon
Ìý
Q – I want to bring some summer colour into the garden so it attracts bees. Which flowers should I grow in my shaded flower bed?Ìý
Ìý
(30 minutes 10 seconds)
Ìý
Ashley –Ìý
Ìý
Schizophragma
Ìý
Christine –Ìý
Ìý
Pittosporum tobira
Ìý
Q – What is the best way of using spent tomato compost?Ìý
Ìý
(32 minutes 24 seconds)
Ìý
Q – Except for hostas and ferns, which plants with flowers can I grow under the shade of trees?Ìý
Ìý
Christine –
Ìý
Aquilegia
Ìý
Aconitum
Ìý
Scilla peruviana
Ìý
Chionodoxa
Ìý
Whatsonia
Ìý
CyclamenÌý
Ashley –
Ìý
Astrantia
Ìý
wood aster
Ìý
epimedium
Ìý
James –
Ìý
Tulips
Ìý
fritillaries
Ìý
Lunaria
Ìý
cow parsley
(34 minutes 47 seconds)
Q – How do I get my wife to spend more time on the allotment?
Ìý
(38 minutes 9 seconds)Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Broadcasts
- Fri 3 Mar 2023 15:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
- Sun 5 Mar 2023 14:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Six of GQT’s naughtiest gardening innuendos
When Gardeners' Question Time got mucky.
Podcast
-
Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts