大象传媒

Eric Robson hosts a festive edition of the horticultural panel programme from Belsay Hall, Northumberland. Matt Biggs, Bob Flowerdew and Anne Swithinbank take questions from the audience.

Produced by Darby Dorras
Assistant Producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

This week's questions and answers:

Q. I planted Garlic for the first time this year at the end of October, when should I harvest it and when will I know it's ready?

A. As it starts to shrivel a little at the beginning of July dig it up and it will be ready.

Q. We have established an area of wild flowers in our village green, which mainly consists of perennials. It looks good but come July the area is dominated by Oxeye Daisy and Scabious, which fall over and smother the other plants. We've tried to reduce them and put in more annuals but with little success. Is it possible to grow annuals with perennials and do the panel have any advice on keeping colour throughout the season?

A. Annuals are difficult to grow in a meadow and so you'll probably just have to accept that the wild meadow is going to look a bit ropey at certain times of year. The exception to this is Yellow Rattle which can be grown successfully in a meadow by sowing in the autumn but you really need to score the ground a bit to get the seeds to germinate, even scarify the earth. Yellow Rattle is a partial parasite so will restrict the vigour of the grasses. You could always cheat by planting annuals in pots and then burying these pots so the rims are just below ground level. This will give the appearance of annuals growing through perennials.

Q. I have had a Russet Egremont Apple Tree for two years. It has produced three apples, which promptly fell off. Does it need pollinating?

A. As you didn't have a lot of blossom either, pollination is probably not the problem. It's probably just quite young and a bit too dry. Put down a good mulch to keep the moisture in and make sure grass isn't growing too close to the base of the tree. Just in case this is a pollination issue, plant any kind of Crab Apple tree and this is sure to pollinate it.

Q. What planting would you recommend for a low screen to divide a vegetable plot from flowerbeds given that we suffer from salt-laden easterly winds in the winter? We're 200 metres from the sea.

A. You might consider Brassicas - a low hedge of red Brussel Sprouts would look very different and are known to survive in costal conditions. There is also the perennial Nine Star Broccoli that can keep going for three or four years. You could also plant in a ridge of shingle, or put in a dry stone wall or a fence and grow Rosa Rugosa up it.

Q. Please tell me how I can get an obstinate Yucca Filamentosa to flower. I've had it 14 years and tried it in various locations and still no flowers.

A. It's been distracted by all the moving. Yuccas need really deep roots and a good crown of growth before they flower. So put in the ground in the spring. Choose a sheltered spot where it gets lots of sunshine and leave it well alone. It needs at least four years before it will flower. You could put stones or sand beneath it to increase the warmth.

Q. What do the panel feel about volunteer potatoes? The best ones I harvest have come up on their own from last year's crop.

A. The ones that 'volunteer' come up before the blight gets them. If you plant potatoes in the autumn, you encourage this to happen. This works well in cold winters but in warm wet ones the potatoes can rot in the ground. However, the crops planted in the autumn tend to be lighter. You can try growing Sarpo potatoes that are thought to be blight resistant but make sure you don't leave them in the ground too long as this can change the texture. You could also try the 'Carolus' potato.

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