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The Potting Shed at the GQT Summer Garden Party

Kathy Clugston presents a special Potting Shed edition of GQT. Visitors drop in for advice on rhododendrons, jasmine, climate resilient hedging and trees, and much more.

Kathy Clugston presents a special Potting Shed edition of Gardeners’ Question Time, recorded at the Summer Garden Party at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey.

Away from the main stage, visitors drop into the famous GQT potting shed for one-to-one advice from the panel. Dr Chris Thorogood, Marcus Chilton-Jones, Frances Tophill, Matthew Wilson, Matthew Pottage and James Wong help tackle a wide range of gardening dilemmas, from rescuing sun-scorched rhododendrons and reinvigorating star jasmine to choosing climate-resilient hedging and trees for a changing climate. Also, James Wong explores the growing scientific evidence behind gardening’s benefits for our health and wellbeing.

Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

* If listening on BBC Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.

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42 minutes

Last on

Last Sunday 14:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List


1. How can I revive a rhododendron in a pot that suffered from leaf scorch during the summer? (00’48”)

Marcus Chilton-Jones

  • Rhododendron spp., rhododendron

2. How can I encourage my star jasmine to grow beyond the top of a fence? (03’45”)

Marcus Chilton-Jones

  • Trachelospermum jasminoides, star jasmine

3. Can you recommend any unusual or exotic vegetables that will cope well in hot summers? (07’02”)

Dr Chris Thorogood

  • Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichoke

  • Asian cucumbers - cultivar/species not specified

  • Cucumis sativus, cucumber

  • Cucurbita spp., pumpkin

  • Lagenaria siceraria, bottle gourd

  • Trichosanthes cucumerina, snake gourd

  • Cucurbita pepo 'Vegetable Spaghetti', spaghetti squash

  • Cucurbita moschata, butternut squash

  • Litchi chinensis, lychee

  • Durio zibethinus, durian

4. What tree would provide dappled shade in a sunny garden and cope with a changing climate? (12’09”)

Matthew Wilson

  • Acer griseum, paperbark maple

  • Betula nigra, river birch

  • Malus 'Evereste', crab apple 'Evereste'

  • Quercus spp., oak

  • Acer palmatum Group, Japanese maple

  • Acer pseudoplatanus, sycamore

5. What should I replace a struggling privet hedge with to encourage wildlife? (17’38”)

Frances Tophill

  • Ligustrum spp., privet

  • Viburnum opulus, guelder rose

  • Crataegus monogyna, hawthorn

  • Pyracantha spp., firethorn

  • Prunus spp., cherry

  • Ribes sanguineum, flowering currant

  • Rosa canina, dog rose

  • Rosa rugosa, rugosa rose

6. Why have my tomatoes split and what can I do with them? (23’00”)

Frances Tophill

  • Solanum lycopersicum, tomato

  • Capsicum spp., chilli pepper

  • Ocimum basilicum, basil

  • Allium sativum, garlic

  • Capsicum annuum Group, sweet pepper

7. Will roses survive under a large lime tree? (26’27”)

Matthew Pottage

  • Tilia spp., lime

  • Dahlia spp., dahlia

  • Rosa spp., rose

8. Can tree ferns be grown permanently in pots? (29’12”)

Matthew Pottage

  • Tree fern

9. What can I grow on a steep south-facing bank? (33’17”)

Matthew Pottage

  • Trachelospermum jasminoides, star jasmine

  • Hedera helix, ivy

  • Narcissus spp., daffodil

  • Tulipa spp., tulip

  • Fritillaria spp., fritillary

  • Crocus spp., crocus

  • Galanthus spp., snowdrop

10. What are the health benefits of gardening? (37’22”)

Broadcasts

  • Last Friday 15:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Last Sunday 14:00
    BBC Radio 4

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