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Rosewell: Plant Names, Reflection and Perlite

What would the panel plant in a garden for reflection? Are there any alternatives to perlite and vermiculite? Kathy and the GQT panel answer these questions and more.

What would the panel plant in a garden for reflection? Are there any alternatives to perlite and vermiculite? Is the weather to blame for my shamefully small brassicas and tiny potatoes?

Kathy Clugston and a team of experts are in Rosewell, Midlothian, to solve the gardening questions of the audience. Joining Kathy are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Neil Porteous and Head of Gardens at Balmoral Kirsty Wilson.

Later in the programme, James Wong meets researchers Dr Hannah Atkins and Sadie Barber to discuss the extensive process of naming 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

Plant list

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

Q 鈥 How do I overwinter an oleander plant in Scotland? (01鈥29鈥)

James Wong 鈥

Bougainvillea

Q 鈥 Is the weather to blame for my shamefully small brassicas and small potatoes? (04鈥13鈥)

Q 鈥 Will gaura seeds germinate if I plant them in pots? (7鈥04鈥)

Neil Porteous 鈥

Gauralindheimeri, white gaura

Seneciocandidans听Angel Wings听('Senaw'PBR), shining-white ragwort [Angel Wings]

Q 鈥 Could the panel suggest alternative compost additives that aren鈥檛 perlite and vermiculite? (10鈥43鈥)

Q 鈥 We've just moved into a brick house in a conservation area. What can we plant to disguise our solar battery and air source heat pump? (14鈥58鈥)

Kirsty Wilson 鈥

Rhododendron听'Praecox', rhododendron 'Praecox'

Neil Porteous 鈥

Pileostegia viburnoides, climbing hydrangea

Hydrangeaseemannii, seemann鈥檚 hydrangea

James Wong 鈥

Miscanthussinensis, eulalia

Feature 鈥 James Wong discusses the naming of plants with researchers Dr Hannah Atkins and Sadie Barber (19鈥56鈥)

James Wong 鈥

Begonia Darthvaderiana

Kirsty Wilson 鈥

Sorbusrandaiensis

Neil Porteous 鈥

Begoniagrandis听subsp.听sinensis听'Red Undies'

Dendropanax trifidus

Q 鈥 The various shrubs and trees that I planted last year were destroyed by wind. Many of the leaves dried and dropped off prematurely. What do you think the prognosis is for next year? (28鈥21鈥)

Neil Porteous 鈥

Ranunculusrepens, creeping buttercup

Thujopsisdolabrata, hiba

Echium

Q 鈥 My sweet peas have been keeling over and dying. What can I do to grow them more successfully? (32鈥18鈥)

Q 鈥 What type of plants would the panel have in a garden for reflection? (37鈥06鈥)

Neil Porteous 鈥

Tsugaheterophylla, western hemlock

Kirsty Wilson 鈥

Crocus

Galanthus, Snowdrops

Erythroniums

Camassia, quamash

Colchicum

James Wong 鈥

Salviarosmarinus听(Ro), rosemary

Thymusvulgaris, common thyme

Salviaofficinalis, common sage

maroram

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