Compton Acres: Correspondence Edition
Peter Gibbs presents a correspondence edition from Compton Acres in Dorset. Anne Swithinbank, Christine Walkden and Bob Flowerdew help answer the questions.
Produced by Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer: Laurence Bassett
A Somethin' Else production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Fact Sheet
Q – I would like some hanging baskets but the spot gets a lot of sun.Ìý How can I increase water retention, stop them drying out, and can you recommend suitable plants for a drier/sunnier basket?
Ìý
Christine – Get washing up sponges, mince them and mix them in with the soil.Ìý You could also line the basket with washing up sponge squares.Ìý
Ìý
Bob – Put plastic sheeting on the lining
Ìý
Anne – Plant an old saucer in the base.Ìý Succulents like Portulacca, Pelargoniums would work
Ìý
Christine – Mesanreanthemums would work
Ìý
Bob – On hot days put ice cubes on top of the soil and they’ll slowly melt in
Ìý
Charlie (from Compton Acres) – We use a mixture of swell gels and John Innes-based compost.Ìý Grasses would work in a drier basket.
Ìý
Q – I[ve inherited several purple/white heathers but they’re getting too big so I’d like to divide them.Ìý How can I do it?
Ìý
Anne – You can’t really divide heathers because they’ve got such a woody base
Ìý
Bob – Cutting hard back will probably kill them
Ìý
Anne – You can easily take cuttings
Ìý
Q – Is it safe to apply moss killer where Crocuses are growing?
Ìý
Christine – It should have any effect.Ìý Always read the instructions.
Ìý
Anne – You don’t need to get rid of moss
Ìý
Bob – Feed the lawn better rather than trying to kill the moss
Ìý
Q – I have a problem with brown rot on my ninety-year-old apple tree.Ìý What can be done?
Ìý
Bob – Old apple trees are prone to running out of potash.Ìý Give it some wood ash.Ìý
Ìý
Christine – It could be bird damage
Ìý
Anne – Codling moth could be the culprit
Ìý
Q – I potted a Christmas Cactus cutting twenty years ago (15cm x 10cm) and it seems happy enough but do I need to repot it?
Ìý
Christine – I have one that’s about 4ft across!Ìý I would definitely repot into a slightly bigger pot (8 or 10 inches), fill that with John Innes No2 and keep it watered.
Ìý
Peter – Unlike a regular cactus you should keep a Christmas Cactus shaded and wetter.
Ìý
Q – I have a large courtyard which I’ve filled with pots of annuals and Hostas.Ìý I want to propagate the Hostas from seed but only three of the plants produced seed pods.Ìý How can I get more seeds?
Ìý
Bob – Hand pollination with a paintbrush is the answer
Ìý
Christine – Feed with potash too
Ìý
Bob – Remove the flowers that you haven’t pollinated and then the plant will put all its energy into that one
Ìý
Anne – Sow the seeds fresh in the autumn and leave them in the greenhouse until the next spring
Ìý
Q – I have a thyme lawn that I planted in 2013 and it has become quite patchy.Ìý What can I do?
Ìý
Bob – Thymes are short-lived plants.Ìý Decorative ones like Dune Valley go very quickly. I would start again.
Broadcast
- Sun 1 Apr 2018 14:00´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4
Six of GQT’s naughtiest gardening innuendos
When Gardeners' Question Time got mucky.
Podcast
-
Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts