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Postbag Edition: Barbican

What vegetables could I grown that aren't native to the UK? Which plant would make a great building structure? Peter and the panel have all the answers and more!

What vegetables could I grown that aren't native to the UK? Are there any punk-ish plants that thrive in a hot and humid room? Which plant would make a great building structure?

Peter Gibbs and a team of gardening experts explore the various locations of the beautifully brutalist Barbican Centre in London, all while digging into the GQT postbag to answer your gardening conundrums.

Joining Peter are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Juliet Sargeant and Head Gardener Matthew Pottage. Leading them around various locations is the Barbican Centre's Head Gardener Marta Lowcewicz.

Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for 成人快手 Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

Q 鈥 What secret tips or inside knowledge do the panel have that AI could never know? (02鈥02鈥)

Q 鈥 How do I germinate my ginkgo fruit tree? (05鈥50鈥)

Q 鈥 Any suggestions for plants with a punkish attitude that could thrive in hot and humid room? (11鈥20鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Yucca aloifolia, yucca

Juliet Sargeant 鈥

Poncirus trifoliata, japanese bitter orange

Marta Lowcewicz 鈥

Crassulaovata, jade plant

James Wong 鈥

forest cacti

Q 鈥 Could you suggest some vegetables for me to grow, which aren't commonly grown in the UK? (13鈥38鈥)

James Wong 鈥

Dahlias

Maize, sweet corn

Phaseoluscoccineus, runner beans

Pumpkin

Juliet Sargeant 鈥

Hosta, plantain lily

Fuchsia听FuchsiaBerry听(F), fuchsia [FuchsiaBerry]

Toona sinensis, chinese cedar


Matthew Pottage 鈥

Toonasinensis听'Flamingo' (v), chinese cedar 'Flamingo'

Feature 鈥 The GQT panel discuss the brutalist architecture of the Barbican and how the gardening team have adapted the horticulture around it.

Q 鈥 I recently acquired some concrete planters from a neighbour? What do I need to know about gardening in the material (23鈥18鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Juniperusprocumbens听'Nana', decumbent juniper 'Nana'

Juliet Sargeant 鈥

Pinusmugo, dwarf mountain pine

Callunavulgaris, heather

Q 鈥 I鈥檓 struggling to grow phormium tenax, Any tips on how I can do this successfully? (25鈥36鈥)

Q 鈥 Something is infecting my almond tree 鈥 do the panel know what it is? (30鈥35鈥)

Q 鈥 Could a strawberry tree survive on a sandy soil and endure Scottish weather? (33鈥39鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Arbutus听脳听andrachnoides, hybrid strawberry tree

Arbutusunedo, strawberry tree

Q 鈥 is there a plant with an amazing structure or pattern that you think would make a great building? (33鈥39鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Crassula听'Buddha's Temple'

James Wong 鈥

Giant Water Lily

Marta Lowcewicz 鈥

Carnegieagigantea, saguaro


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