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Old Royal Naval College

Peter Gibbs hosts the horticultural panel programme from the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich with Chris Beardshaw, Bob Flowerdew, and Pippa Greenwood.

Peter Gibbs hosts the horticultural panel programme from the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Chris Beardshaw, Bob Flowerdew, and Pippa Greenwood join him to see in the new year.

The panel tackle questions about growing pumpkins in pots, replacing a recently departed Eucalyptus, and alternatives to grasses in a mixed border.

Also, Chris Beardshaw returns for his annual inspection of the herbaceous border that he planted in Greenwich Park.

Producer: Darby Dorras
Assistant Producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Jan 2016 14:00

Questions and Answers

Q – I planted some sweet corn, Edamame beans and pumpkins in large pots and they all grew very well but they only produced tiny items.  Why is this?

Bob – Growing in pots can confine these plants. You are trying to grow very hungry crops in containers.  For example, last year I grew one pumpkin plant that produced two decent pumpkins but that was in 1 cubic metre (35 cubic feet) of compost.  Butternut squashes might be better but it sounds like you’ve got too much competition and not enough feed.

Chris – When you look at root space that plants take up, we often underestimate how much room they need.  Research has suggested that the average root spread of a single tomato is 1 cubic metre (35 cubic feet). So you need to allow them room.


Q – I need to protect my peas from the frost – what are the cheapest, most effective hoops, over which to put horticultural fleece?

Bob – You can use all sorts of things. Thin bamboo canes can be good. If you cut a bicycle wheel (without spokes) than makes a nice strong arch.  Plastic tubing that electricians use, too.  


Q – Do you have a favourite architectural plant for a mixed border other than a grass?

Bob – Globe artichokes.  You get a height of 6ft or 7ft (1.8m or 2.1m) and they’re there most of the year.

Pippa – Crambe or a good portion of Gysophila. Or, though I find them a bit difficult, I always admire Cannas in a border.  

Chris – Crambe is a fabulous plant that is hugely under planted … but watch out because when it collapses in the frost it does smell a bit cabbagey! For foliage I would recommend Tetrapanax papyrifer.


Q – For this year’s London Marathon in April we would like to grow some Schizanthus or ‘Poor Man’s Orchid’ – when would you advise sowing those seeds? 

Pippa – A large part of this will have to be undertaken in artificial conditions but I would suggest starting yesterday! I would definitely start some as soon as possible – get as much artificial light and warmth on them asap.

Bob – I would think of them as more of an autumn plant than a spring plant and they’re not very hardy so this might be tricky.  For April I’d be thinking about universal Pansies and Primulas – just to be sure you’ll actually have things that will be flowering.

Chris – I’d go down the perennial route and try Tradescantias or something like that


Q – Purple algae is appearing in my pond for the second year running – what is causing it and should I get rid of it?

Pippa – I doubt it’s doing any harm – it probably just looks a bit unsightly. But I don’t think you can do much without totally starting the pond again from scratch.


Q – Our Eucalyptus has to be removed and its stump ground out – how soon can I replant in the hole and can you suggest something fairly solid but exciting?

Chris – You may require a mini-digger in to dig out a big enough area to replant in. You really need to think of this as starting from scratch as the soil will be undernourished.  Dig a big hole and then input good, loamy garden soil. Enrich with organic matter and then leave it to settle. Maybe plant an intermediate plant in that area for a season. Then I’d put in something like the Cercidiphyllum japonicum (the ‘Katsura Tree’). Betula utilis too. Prunus serrula.  Also, a summer flowering Clematis – something like a jackmanii.  Or Malus tschonoskii.  Lots of options!


Q – What aspect of gardening would the panel miss if they had to give it up?

Bob – Just going round eating the different fruits as they ripened.

Pippa – Gardening always gives you a reason to go outside and enjoy nature – that’s what I enjoy most about it.

Chris – For many of us gardening is a physical act but I think it’s more about experiencing plants so I don’t think you can every truly give up gardening!

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