大象传媒

Eric Robson chairs GQT from Alexandra Palace, London. Taking audience questions are Chris Beardshaw, Bob Flowerdew and Bunny Guinness.

We take a tour of the Edible Garden Show in the company of Pippa Greenwood, Christine Walkden and James Wong.

Assistant Producer: Darby Dorras
Produced by Howard Shannon
A Somethin' Else production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

Q: Could the panel recommend some exotic plants to grow on a sunny, yet exposed 2nd floor fire escape?
A: Capers, Gherkins, Nasturtiums and either the Siegerrebe or Boskoops Glory varieties of Grapevine. Rhubarb, Asparagus and Seakale can also be grown in small places with limited soil.

Q: Would it by possible to grow Crocus for saffron on a sunny, south-facing roof?
A: Yes. As long as your roof is reasonably weight bearing, you could grow crocuses in pots filled with soil as deep as possible.

Q: Is it a good idea to put fresh, dry, wood ash on beds growing potatoes?
A: Yes and no. Potatoes love potash as it improves the flavour, but they don't like lime because it gives them scabby skins. But it is best to be aware of the PH of your soil to make sure you do not let the soil get too alkaline. Invest in a soil PH testing kit and monitor the levels through the year. You might consider buying high-acidy compost (but be careful because this tends to be high in nitrogen) or ericaceous compost to restore PH balance. You could also add composted pine needles or tea bags to replenish acidity levels.

Q: Should I remove the Ivy that is taking over my shady flowerbeds?
A: Not necessarily. If you want to encourage variety, it is possible to grow Trachystemon Orientalis alongside the Ivy.

Q: I grow the 'Cambridge Favourite' variety of Strawberry, should I be growing another variety?
A: After a few years of growth, it is a good idea to introduce new varieties to boost the health of the crop. You might want to try the Malwina (Milvana) variety for later fruiting plants with a strong flavour. If you are after an early fruiting plant, you could try the Gariguette variety.

Q: What can I plant to fill in the holes beneath my yellow Forsythia hedge?
A: The easy option would be Euphorbia Robbiae, which has green-yellow flowers. Fox Gloves would give a more natural feel. Baltic Parsley and Epilobum Album would also be good editions. If you wanted to impregnate the hedge with other things, you could try a Eucalyptus Gunnii.

Q: I have an organic garden and my next-door neighbours up the hill have recently used heavy-duty weed killer. Will this kill the plants in my garden?
A: If the weed killer was applied by a professional and there hasn't been heavy rain, you're plants will be fine. But if there has been 'spray-drift' then you might begin to see a mottling effect on your plants.

Q: Could the panel suggest some grains (other than wheat) that could be grown in a school garden to make flour and then bread from?
A: Sweet Corn (you could grow your own popcorn, which is also very pretty!). You could also try growing Dahlia flowers, and you can use the tubers to make bread flour. Sweet Chestnuts can also be used to make bread along with Linseed, Rye and Oats.

Q: How does the panel feel about the use of carpets to suppress weed growth?
A: Carpets can be very useful. There is some debate about whether there are any harmful chemicals used in carpet manufacturing. Be careful not to use foam-backed carpets or lino, as they tend to break down and mix into the soil. An alternative would be newspapers, or hand weeding.

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