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Planting potatoes ‘Leitrim style’, the value of heritage seeds and Little Green Fingers in Augher Mar 19, 2022

Show notes

David Maxwell heads to Bundoran on St Patrick’s day where organic gardener Klaus Laitenberger is planting potatoes ‘Leitrim style’. He demonstrates his old Irish method of covering the seed potatoes with freshly dug turfs, showing how an area of lawn could easily provide a crop of spuds this season. Also on the programme, with seed sowing gathering pace in the garden, Amy Kelly explains why it makes sense to try heritage and heirloom varieties. They may have fallen out of favour with the supermarkets, but she says their taste, and the fact that you can save seed for next year, make them a good value choice. David visits Augher Central Primary School as part of the BBC’s ‘Little Green Fingers’ project. Teachers, pupils, volunteers there are transforming a neglected school garden into a wildlife haven and outdoor learning area. And how do you tell if that old packet of seeds at the back of the drawer is worth sowing?

Pruning trees, platinum trees and a return to Kilmacurragh Mar 12, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s programme, David Maxwell travels to the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh in county Wicklow. The country cousin of the gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin, Kilmacurragh covers over 100 acres and enjoys a mild maritime climate where rhododendrons and Chilean exotics flourish. David walks through the crocus lawn with head gardener Seamus O’Brien and gets a sneak peak behind the scenes at a newly acquired historic walled garden. Also on the programme, Tony Kirkham chooses Arbutus unedo, also known as the strawberry tree, as his ‘tree of the month’ and Ciaran Mulholland is pruning trees at his garden at the foot of Slemish mountain in county Antrim. David will also be putting questions from listeners to expert Brendan Little including how much wheat you need to grow to produce a home grown loaf.

Robot gardeners, Hidden Huntley and preventing puddles Mar 05, 2022

Show notes

David explores a secret walled garden close to Belfast where globe artichokes are on the menu. Hidden Huntley is one of the 19th century ‘linen houses’ of Lagan Valley and it’s been home to Antonia Malcolm’s family since the 1920s. But there is trouble in paradise as Box blight has wiped out an important element of the gardens structure. Still, there is more than enough soft fruit to go around and rhubarb is being ‘forced’ – David finds out what difference it makes. Also on the programme, a visit to Ciaran Mulholland’s garden at the foot of Slemish where he’s dividing snowdrops ‘in the green’, work continues at Glenarm on the new woodland garden and meet the robots that garden. Get in touch with the experts on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Not enough garden, too much garden and rental gardens Feb 19, 2022

Show notes

With more demand for space to build, gardens are getting smaller. In fact, owning a garden is just a dream for many younger people. This week, David Maxwell and the team will explore the options for those with no piece of earth to call their own. How can those with more than they need (or more than they can look after) make land available to those without. David chats to a Belfast born entrepreneur who’s developed an online platform where garden space can be rented out to those who want to grow their own food but don’t have a garden. Also on the programme, RHS Wisley curator, Matthew Pottage on making the most of the garden if you are renting your home and for those who have to garden indoors, some must have houseplants from Danae Diaz. Questions for the panel to gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Making gardening kids play at half term, Daphne delights, and the apprentice Feb 12, 2022

Show notes

At the start of the half term school holidays, David and his experts have ideas to keep the kids busy in the garden. It’s the perfect time to plant some fruit - Amy Kelly picks out some of her favourite varieties. On a visit to the National Trust’s Rowallane gardens, David’s nose leads him to the Daphne which are in full flower. Head gardener, Claire McNally also shows him a flowering quince which is clothing an old stone wall in pink blossom. Also on the programme, Judith Hooks is the first local National Trust apprentice. She explains how the programme works and why she took a second look at gardening after training as an optometrist.

Colourful Cornus, renting out your plot and the National Garden Scheme Feb 05, 2022

Show notes

Bring in the colour with cornus this winter. Presenter David Maxwell visits Maurice Parkinson at Ballyrobert Cottage Garden where the glowing stems of Cornus alba ‘Siberica’ and Cornus ‘Midwinter fire’ warm up the coldest days. Is your garden too big? The experts attempt to take the workload out of looking after a large plot. David explores renting out garden space with the local founder of the ‘Allotme’ garden rental website and the National Garden Scheme adds Northern Ireland to the famous yellow book. Questions for the team to gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Cut-price perennials, tree of the month and RHS community gardens Jan 29, 2022

Show notes

This week David gets around the problem of pricey perennials by finding out just how easy many are to grow from seed. Ann Fitzsimmons recommends ‘first year flowering’ varieties and shows how sowing some seed now can save gardeners a small fortune. It’s the weekend of the RSPB’s big garden birdwatch. Listeners are invited to text in what they are seeing and Claire Barnett from the charity has all the information on how to take part. Also on the programme, the RHS is gifting 4 community or school gardens this year. David has been chatting to chief horticulturalist, Guy Barter, on what they are looking for. And in the first of a new series, Tony Kirkham, aka ‘the king of trees’ from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on his favourite tree for January.

Little green fingers, seed sorting and the wonder of winter in the garden. Jan 08, 2022

Show notes

As 2022 begins, David Maxwell and his gardening experts are getting ready for the season ahead. Colourful perennials don’t come cheap from the garden centre, but for the cost of a few packets of seeds, Ann Fitzsimmons shows how to save money and transform your outside space. Also on the programme, Gardeners’ Corner is teaming up with BBC Learning this year to follow several primary schools in their journeys to create, resurrect or develop their outdoor spaces. Kicking off the project is St Malachy’s Primary School in Bangor where an existing wildlife garden is going to get a new lease of life. Amy Kelly is sorting her seeds ahead of the growing season to come, and David will be joined live by Ann Fitzsimmons and Claire McNally to answer gardening questions from listeners. Contact the programme gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

A new year in the garden Jan 01, 2022

Show notes

A new year of gardening with David Maxwell and his expert guests. David finds inspiration from visits to Jimi Blake’s garden in county Wicklow, advice on how to grow veg in a small space from Amy Kelly and he explores plants that are living at the edge of their comfort zone, including Tree ferns with Billy Alexander and grapes grown outdoors at a vineyard in Lusk. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Gardeners’ Corner Christmas special Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

David Maxwell presents a special Gardeners’ Corner Christmas programme from Kerrykeel in County Donegal. With twinkling lights and a fire crackling in a courtyard garden, David is joined by Cherry Townsend and Brendan Little for mince pies, mulled wine and gardening chat. What’s the best way to grow that gifted Amaryllis, how do you care for potted Christmas trees and can cut trees be put to use in the garden after the festivities. Also on the programme, Klaus Laitenberger on what home grown organic veg he’ll be bringing in for the Christmas dinner, Amy Kelly on plants with a Christmas connection and Helen Mark visits St Columbs allotments in Londonderry where plans are afoot for an end of year party.

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