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Great Torrington

Peter Gibbs and the panel answer horticultural questions from an audience in Great Torrington, Devon.

Peter Gibbs is joined by Anne Swithinbank, Pippa Greenwood, and Matthew Pottage. Together, they answer your gardening queries.

The panellists are near Great Torrington, Devon in the beautiful garden of RHS Rosemoor where they recommend some methods for growing the most delicious courgettes, divulge the secret to cultivating successful delphiniums, and get excited by ideas for aquatic planting in and around a pond.

Away from the questions, Pippa Greenwood heads to RHS Rosemoor’s Southwest and Devon orchard to hear about their bumper crop of apples and Chris Beardshaw celebrates the character, history and folklore of a deciduous tree native to the UK - the hazel.

Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer: Bethany Hocken

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

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Oct 2022 14:00

Plant List

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

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Q – How can I grow better sweet peas?

(1 minutes 29 seconds)Ìý

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Q – At a time when there is interest in rewilding, I’m more interested in re-taming my garden. It’s a bit daunting with an invasion of winter heliotrope, alexanders in the spring, and advancing brambles. Does the panel have any advice on how to tackle this?

(3 minutes 36 seconds)Ìý

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Q – Last year, I moved into the village of Alsweir and we live on the banks of the river Mull. I built three raised beds out of sleepers and planted them with courgettes. The courgettes have turned yellow and rot on the ends and fall off. Can the panel help, please?

(7 minutes 59 seconds)Ìý

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Q – Is there a secret to growing delphiniums?

(11 minutes 10 seconds)

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Feature – Pippa Greenwood headed to RHS Rosemoor’s Southwest and Devon orchard to hear about their bumper crop of apples.

(14 minutes 14 seconds)

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‘Pig’s Nose’

‘Hangy Down’

‘Bradninch Black’

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Q – I grow camelias and would love to propagate some of the most beautiful ones. As I’m almost 75 years old, I would like some suggestions for speedy results.

(21 minutes 29 seconds)

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Camellia, ‘Doctor King’

Camellia, ‘Doctor Burnside’

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Q – I have two neighbouring ash trees - one of which has ash die back disease, the other appears to be healthy. Should I remove just the affected one or both?

(25Ìý minutes 03 seconds)

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Q – I’ve created a wildlife pond in my garden. What native plants can the panel recommend to add colour and structure to the pond?

(26Ìý minutes 20 seconds)

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Pippa –

Bladderwort

Stratiotes, Water soldier

Hydrocharis, Frogbit

Matthew –

Purple loosestrife

Aponogeton distachyos

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Feature – Chris Beardshaw celebrates the character, history, and folklore of the hazel.

(31 minutes 04 seconds)

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Q – Is there any way to integrate green manure into a no dig system?

(34 minutes 16 seconds)Ìý

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Maize

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Anne –

Broad beans

Borage

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Q – Have the panel ever been traumatised by a gardening experience?

(37 minutes 48 seconds)Ìý

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Pippa –

Beetroot

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Matthew –

Dahlia

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Broadcasts

  • Fri 7 Oct 2022 15:00
  • Sun 9 Oct 2022 14:00

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