大象传媒

Chaired by Eric Robson, this week the Gardeners' Question Time team is in Upminster. Attempting to solve the local audience's horticultural queries are gardening experts Matthew Biggs, Anne Swithinbank and Bob Flowerdew.

Produced by Howard Shannon
A Somethin' Else Production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.

Overflow and notes:

Q. I had a Grade II listed bridge in my garden and would like to disguise the new fence I have put on top of it. The area between the fence and the parapet is 15in (38cm) and the depth is 6in (15cm).

A. Wisteria and other vigorous plants, such as Rambling Roses or even Rambling Rector, are recommended. Nasturtiums are suggested as a quick and easy alternative to roses and grape vines are also suggested, particularly varieties Siegerrebe, Boskoop Glory or Phoenix.

Q. We have several Acers. Their leaves are curled up and are dry and crispy. Will they recover?

A. Acers' natural habitat is the moist, humid canopy beneath other trees, protected from the frost and cold, drying winds. This year's weather is likely to have had an adverse effect upon them. Acers are not very robust, but making sure they are kept moist around the base, mulch in winter and see how they do next spring.

Q. I planted two 2ft (0.5m) Christmas trees in my garden 20 years ago. They are now taller than my two story house - how much taller will they get?!

A. These will probably grow by at least by another story, or possibly two. Some varieties, such as Scots Pine, shed branches and care should be taken if these are planted close to the house.

Q. I have three blueberry plants growing in pots. Last year, after erratic fruiting, I pruned them, only for this year's crop to be even worse. How can I get the best from them?

A. Blueberries make huge bushes so need to be in fairly large containers. They can overcrop and thus weakened themselves. They need little pruning, but if pruning, the young wood should be left and the oldest, twiggiest wood taken out, This can be done at any point in the year, but do not overprune. Feed with ericaceous plant food and water very regularly with rainwater.

Q. When potato plants have flowered and the green apples have formed, should the apples be removed or left? Or should the flowers have been removed earlier?

A. Energy is being wasted on growing the seedpod that could have been invested in growing potatoes! As such the flowers should be removed before the seed pods form.

Q. My strawberries, red-, white- and blackcurrants have done very well this year, but my raspberries have not. Is there something I can do to help them on?

A. Raspberries must have very good drainage and will not do well in clay soil. Blackberry cultivars such as Boysenberry, Silvenberry and other thornless blackberry varieties are suggested as alternatives that might do better in clay conditions. Despite the need for good drainage, raspberries need to be well watered from the time their leaves come out to the point of fruiting and thick mulch should be used, such as a leaf mould. Alternatively, raspberries can be grown in tubs though they are not very long-lived. A variety called Tulameen is recommended.

Q. I have a Chilean glory vine (Eccremocarpus Scaber) that I raised from seed around 10 years ago. It grows very well but has never flower. Why might this be?

A. The plant may be in a protracted winter dormancy. A similar thing happens with other foreign plants such as Oleanders, which can survive in the climate but become so dormant in the winter that they do not form flower buds in time. High levels of potash will help with flowering. It may be that this summer's heat wave will also help.

Q. I have dug up a white beetroot. Is it edible?

A. As long as it is a beetroot, then almost certainly. Chioggia is a white and red striped variety of beetroot and Burpee's Golden is a yellow variety, and Albina Vereduna is a white variety - so as long as you're sure the leaves look like beetroot then they are probably safe!

Producer: Howard Shannon
A Somethin' Else production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.

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