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From The Archive: Container Gardening

Kathy Clugston has a rummage through the GQT archives for advice around gardening in containers.

Kathy Clugston lifts the lid on the GQT archive, in search for some advice on gardening in containers, pots and hanging baskets.

Gardening in pots and containers has become more of a hot topic in recent years and the GQT panellists have dished out their fair share of advice on it.

The programme's horticultural experts share their knowledge on the potted plants that can be grown on the roof of a narrow boat, the type of pot that can prevent frost damage to a plant, and whether liquid sheep manure is a sufficient feed for tomatoes and pot plants?

Later we hear a fiery debate between Bill Sowerbutts and Dr Tom Rochford on the differences between houseplants and potted plants.

Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod鈥
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Jun 2024 14:00

Plant list

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

Q 鈥 What鈥檚 the difference between houseplants and potted plants? (0鈥50鈥)

Q 鈥 What plants could I have in my window box that will bring some colour into my life? (3鈥13鈥)

Alan Gemmel

Petunias

Tagetes

Aubrieta

Fred Lodes

Chlorophytum, spider plants


Bill Sowerbutts 鈥

Begonia听Pendula

Fuchsia听"Tennessee Waltz"

Q 鈥 What potted plants would the panel recommend I grow on the roof of my boat?听 It must be stable, seagull proof, and very weatherproof (07鈥56鈥)

Pippa Greenwood 鈥

dwarf sunflowers

balkon geraniums

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Pelargoniums

Bob Flowerdew 鈥

Sempervivum, Houseleek

Q 鈥 Could you recommend a container for a small pond, and what could I grow in it? (11鈥47鈥)

James 鈥撎

Colocasia esculenta,听elephant ears

Canna "Taney"

Nymphaea听'Pygmaea Helvola'

Q 鈥 Five years ago I bought a small听Callistemon听and each year I鈥檝e potted it on in John Innes, watered it, fed it and overwintered it.听 But it isn鈥檛 producing the 鈥榖ottlebrush鈥 spikes I鈥檓 looking for. What am I doing wrong? (14鈥48鈥)

Q 鈥 I have a terracotta pot, which is not advertised as frostproof, what is the best way to guarantee protection from frost, if indeed that is possible? (19鈥53鈥)

Q 鈥 Is there any research on growing vegetables in vertical containers? (35鈥38鈥)

Fred 鈥

French beans

Bush tomatoes

Phaseolusvulgaris听'Pickwick', bean (climbing French鈥) 'Pickwick'

Tom 鈥

Garlic

Petrosilenum crispum, parsley

lettuces

turnip

rooted radishes

Q 鈥 Does the panel think liquid sheep manure is a sufficient feed for tomatoes and pot plants? (27鈥23鈥)

Q 鈥 What鈥檚 worse for hanging baskets and plants in pots 鈥 overwatering or underwatering? (27鈥23鈥)

Q 鈥 What shrubs are suitable for going in pots in a south-facing courtyard garden? (33鈥31鈥)

Matt 鈥

Alyogynehuegelii, lilac hibiscus

Pelargonium,听Fragrans Group (Sc鈥)

Coprosma

Pippa 鈥

Japenese Acers

Arbutus听unedo, strawberry tree

Q 鈥 After all the years the panel have been getting their hands dirty amongst the creepy crawlies, is there anything that they would rather not see when turning over a flowerpot? (37鈥50鈥)

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