Gardeners' Question Time - TopPodcast.com

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Summer Garden Party Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Kathy Clugston and a crack team of top horticultural experts celebrate the return of the GQT Summer Garden Party in style — this year set against the stunning backdrop of RHS Garden Hyde Hall in the heart of Essex.

Kathy is joined by an all-star panel, including visionary garden designers Matthew Wilson and Bunny Guinness, RHS head gardener Matthew Pottage, and the king of all things edible, Bob Flowerdew. Together, they tackle a lively mix of questions from an enthusiastic audience of budding green thumbs, sharing expert tips, clever tricks, and plenty of inspiration to get your garden growing.

Senior Producer: Dan Cocker Assistant Producer: Rocky Cocker Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Postbag Edition: Finsbury Circus Gardens Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? What plants are resistant to shot hole disease?

This week, Peter Gibbs and a panel of gardening experts visit the beautifully restored Finsbury Circus Gardens – a green oasis in the heart of London, with roots stretching back to Roman times and now reopened to the public.

Joining Peter are garden designer Bunny Guinness, botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew. They're also joined by members of the City Gardens Management Team – Jake Tibbetts, Jessica Beatty, and Ed Freeman – to explore the newly renovated grounds and celebrate the space’s rich horticultural history.

The panel tackles a thorny crop of questions from the GQT postbag, offering expert tips on topics including how to prevent shot hole disease, successful techniques for growing Pak Choi, and the fascinating science behind a fern’s life cycle.

Senior Producer: Matthew Smith Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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

Q – What plants are resistant to shot hole disease? (04’09”)

Jake Tibbetts – Pinus parviflora 'Zelkova' Zelkova serrata, japanese zelkova Toona sinensis, chinese cedar

Chris Thorogood – Styphnolobium Aesculus parviflora, bottlebrush buckeye Stewartia

Q – Can you recommend plants to go under and around the tree which has very dry soil? (07’25”)

Ed Freeman – Pachysandra Polystichum, shield fern Polypodium, polypody Asperula, woodruff Brunnera macrophylla, Siberian bugloss Asplenium scolopendrium, hart’s tongue fern

Bunny Guinness – Daphne laureola, spurge laurel Crinum × powellii, swamp lily

Q – Could the panel recommend fruit trees that are resilient and adaptable to the changing climate? (12’54”)

Bob Flowerdew – Prunus armeniaca, apricot

Bunny Guinness – Amelanchier alnifolia, alder-leaved serviceberry Apples

Jake Tibbetts – Mulberries Pears Pyrus communis (F), common pear

Q – How do you encourage ferns to germinate? (17’55”)

Q – How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? (20’52”)

Dr Chris Thorogood – Arum italicum marmoratum, Italian arum 'Marmoratum'

Bunny Guinness – Matthiola incana, brompton stock

Q – Could you advise on how to fill a big dip in our lawn and some ideas on something more interesting? (23’13”)

Q – Why have the 50 bulbs I’ve planted failed to sprout any buds? (27’53”)

Dr Chris Thorogood – Angelica gigas, purple angelica

Jessica Beatty – Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebell Narcissus, daffodils Galanthus nivalis, snowdrops Crocus

Bunny Guiness – Allium 'Globemaster', allium 'Globemaster'

Q – How do I stop Pak Choi going to seed before they have hearted up? (33’06”)

Q – Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? (34’58”)

Bunny Guinness – Ficus pumila, creeping fig Rosa Basanti ('Ruicl0062a'PBR)

Bob Flowerdew – Plumbago, leadwort

Dr Chris Thorogood – Bromeliads

Q – Why haven’t my healthy 4-year-old bird of paradise hasn't flowered yet? (37’49”)

Bracknell Forest: Garden Gnomes, Carrots and Tools Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

If you could have a garden gnome what would it be doing? What tools should I have on my first allotment? Any tips on growing carrots on a sandy soil?

Peter Gibbs and a panel of green-fingered gurus head to the lush landscapes of Bracknell Forest, where a lively audience of passionate gardeners awaits answers to their most pressing plant problems.

Joining Peter are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, head gardener Matthew Pottage, and the ever-enthusiastic plantswoman Christine Walkden.

Later in the show, Pippa Greenwood takes us behind the scenes at Heathrow Airport, where she meets Kelvin Hughes from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Together, they uncover the fascinating work being done to safeguard the UK’s biodiversity from invasive pests and diseases hidden in overseas plants and produce.

Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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

Q – If you were forced to have one garden gnome, what would that garden gnome be doing? (01’38”)

Q – Do the panel have any advice on growing carrots in sandy soil? (05’47”)

Q – Are the panel opposed to the use of decorative wood chips in borders? (07’56”)

Q – Can they explain how buddleia can grow in church roofs and railway sidings and not come to much in my garden? (11’36”)

Matthew Pottage – Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight', butterfly bush 'Black Knight'

Feature – Pippa Greenwood meets with Kelvin Hughes with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to discover how Heathrow Airport protect the UK's biodiversity from overseas produce and plants. (18’31”)

Q – What could we grow in our south-west facing garden that will provide vibrant colours during the summer? (24’06”)

Matthew Pottage – Aesculus Aesculus parviflora, bottlebrush buckeye Eucryphia Eucryphia lucida, leatherwood Eucryphia lucida 'Pink Cloud', leatherwood ‘Pink Cloud’ Hydrangea quercifolia, oak-leaved hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Snowflake ('Brido') (d), oak-leaved hydrangea [Snowflake] Hydrangea quercifolia Ice Crystal ('Hqopr010'PBR), oak-leaved hydrangea [Ice Crystal] Hydrangea quercifolia 'Harmony', oak-leaved hydrangea 'Harmony'

Christine Walkden – Desfontainia Osmanthus

Q – I’ve just taken on an allotment in the last year, and I'd like to know what are the top five low-cost items you'd recommend? (28’20”)

Q – Is there an aesthetically please alternative to steaks and pea netting that I could use whilst my plants establish? (31’14”)

Q – What plant would you like to be remembered by? (36’03”)

Christine Walkden – Soldanella hungarica

Matthew Pottage – Araucaria Araucana, monkey puzzle tree

Pippa Greenwood – Magnolia stellata, star magnolia

South Staffordshire Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Why have my magnolia leaves turned brown? How do I care for a tamarisk? Why is growing poppies so difficult? Kathy Clugston and the panel are in South Staffordshire offering their top gardening tips. Joining Kathy to share their best horticultural advice is plantswoman Christine Walkden, RHS Bridgewater curator, Marcus Chilton-Jones and gardener Matthew Biggs. Meanwhile James Wong visits the Carbon Garden at Kew Gardens to learn about the importance of carbon in our ecosystem, low emission gardening and carbon-resilient trees.

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Crossed Wires Podcast Festival: Back to Basics Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

How important is health and safety in the garden? What disease has been growing on my tomatoes? What would the panel say was their most overrated plant?

Kathy Clugston hosts Gardeners' Question Time, recorded live at the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival.

Joining her on the expert panel are botanist and broadcaster James Wong, award-winning garden designer Matthew Wilson, and alpine plant specialist Bethan Collerton. Together, they tackle a lively array of gardening questions from an enthusiastic audience.

Later in the programme, James Wong takes a trip to Sheffield’s Winter Garden, where he shares his top picks for easy-to-grow plants - perfect for beginners looking to cultivate greenery both indoors and out.

Producer: Dom Tyerman Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

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

Q – How important is health and safety in the garden? (01’27”)

Q – What are the ideal conditions for growing wildflowers from seeds? (04’10”)

Q – What’s the best method for watering a very parched, dried out cacti? (07’57”)

Q – Why have my wisteria stopped flowering? (11’31”)

Feature – James Wong provides an essential list of plants you can grow indoors and outdoors. He’s visiting the Sheffield Winter Gardens (16’11”)

James Wong – Dichondra Strelitzia nicolai, white bird of paradise

Q – How do I stop slugs from eating my hostas? (24’05”)

Q – What would be your recommendations for plants that can survive harsh weather in coastal regions? (24’44”)

Bethan Collerton – Armeria maritima, thrift

Matthew Wilson – Griselinia littoralis, new zealand broadleaf Hippophae rhamnoides, sea buckthorne

James Wong Griselinia littoralis, new zealand broadleaf Quercus ilex, holm oak Tamarisk Trachycarpus fortune, chusan palm

Q – What disease has been growing on my tomatoes? (29’17”)

Q – I’d like to grow my Jasmine against a fence, do I hack it right back, start again or plant is as is? (32’44”)

Q – What would the panel say was their most overrated plant? (36’37”)

James Wong – Geranium Rozanne ('Gerwat'PBR), cranesbill [Rozanne]

Matthew Wilson – Heucheras

East Horsley: Potato Beetle, Indoor edibles and Fallow Year Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

Can I grow fruits or vegetables in a flat with no balcony? Could garlic help stop slugs from eating my Hostas? Why did you become gardeners?

Kathy Clugston is joined by a panel of much-loved gardening experts in the picturesque village of East Horsley, Surrey, to answer listeners’ horticultural dilemmas and offer practical, down-to-earth advice. On the panel this week are botanist and broadcaster James Wong, plant health specialist Pippa Greenwood, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, Pippa Greenwood explores the growing threat of Colorado beetles to UK biosecurity in conversation with Tracy Wilson, Import Specialist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Producer: Matthew Smith Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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

Q – Can you suggest a suitable hedge that can be kept slim but tall to go between a six-foot fence and a path? (01’31”)

James Wong – Trachelospermum jasminoides, star jasmine

Juliet Sargeant – Muehlenbeckia complexa, necklace vine Osmanthus delavayi, delavay osmanthus Osmanthus heterophyllus, holly olive Elaeagnus × ebbingei

Q – How do I encourage my 100-year-old rhododendrons to flower? (05’35”)

Q – Is there a way for me to grow fruits or vegetables in a flat with no balcony? And if yes, what would you recommend with limited space? (08’54”)

Juliet Sargeant – Hydroponics

James Wong – Tomato Chilli Basil Thai Basil Ocimum kilimandscharicum, camphor basil Ocimum basilicum 'Christmas', basil ‘Christmas’ Curry Leaves Mint Leaves

Pippa Greenwood – Chilli

Feature – Pippa Greenwood discusses the threat Colorado Beetles have on our crops with Tracy Wilson (15’02”)

Q – We have raised vegetable beds. I put a layer of mulch on them every autumn. Would it be a good idea to let a bed lie fallow occasionally? (19’49”)

Q – What’s causing my Hydrangea petiolaris to die off? (24’05”)

Q – What could I grow in a large rockery in our garden, that’s also difficult to kill? (28’31”)

Q – Would wild garlic help stop slugs from eating my Hostas? (31’31”)

Q – What possessed you to become the garden experts you are? And as a result. What advice would you give to up-and-coming young gardeners to continue? (36’00”)

West Horsley Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

What causes onions to bolt? What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? How should I go about pruning my lilac tree?

Kathy Clugston and a panel of esteemed gardening experts visit West Horsley, Surrey, to tackle common horticultural challenges and share practical solutions. Joining her are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, botanist James Wong, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, Bob Flowerdew wraps up our Edible Essentials series with a fool proof guide to feeding and watering your crops - ensuring a rich and rewarding harvest.

Producer: Matthew Smith Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

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

Q – My Ficus Ginseng has lost most of its leaves, what am I doing wrong? (01’35”)

Q – What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? (06’41”)

Q – Can the panel suggest shrubs that will flower late spring, early summer and thrive in chalky soil? (10’57”)

Juliet Sargeant – Philadelphus, mock orange Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine' (d), mock orange 'Manteau d'Hermine' Weigela All Summer Red ('Slingco 1'PBR) (All Summer Series), weigela [All Summer Red] Weigela All Summer Peach ('Slingpink'PBR) (All Summer Series), weigela [All Summer Peach] Ceanothus, californian lilac

Pippa Greenwood – Magnolia stellata, star magnolia Mahonia, oregon grape Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim', lilac 'Miss Kim' Deutzia × rosea 'Carminea', deutzia 'Carminea'

James Wong – Pittosporum tobira, japanese pittosporum Wisteria

Feature – Bob Flowerdew’s Edible Essential guide to watering and feeding crops (16’56)

Q – What causes onions to bolt? (21’19”)

Q – Can the panel advise on what I can plant on a north facing one-and-a-half-meter border adjacent my mixed hedge? (25’37”)

Juliet Sargeant – Euphorbia robbiae, mrs Robb's bonnet Anemone hupehensis, japanese anemones

James Wong – Digitalis, foxglove Primula vulgaris (Pr/Prim), primrose Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebell Hakonechloa, japanese forest grass Ferns Lillies

Pippa Greenwood – Hardy geraniums Epimedium Helleborus, hellebore

Q – How should I go about pruning my lilac tree? (31’48”)

Q – What plants would the panel take from your current gardens if you were moving to a much smaller garden with very poor soil and lots of builder’s rubble in it? (35’23”)

James Wong – Tree ferns

Juliet Sargeant – Iris germanica, bearded iris Ficus carica (F), fig Salvia 'Royal Bumble', sage 'Royal Bumble' Salvia 'Hot Lips', sage 'Hot Lips' Salvia, sage Salvia 'Amistad'PBR, sage 'Amistad' Erigeron karvinskianus, mexican fleabane

Pippa Greenwood – Aubrieta Eryngium, sea holly

Perton Staffs: Used Compost, Angry Peonies and Ant-tics Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

What's the best way to revive a dying bonsai tree? Do Peonies hate being moved? I am inundated with ants – how do I get rid of them?

Kathy Clugston hosts BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time, joined by a panel of esteemed plant and gardening experts in Perton, Staffordshire. Sharing their horticultural wisdom are the passionate plantsman Matthew Biggs, head gardener Marcus Chilton-Jones, and renowned plantswoman Christine Walkden.

Later in the programme, Matthew Biggs has a chat with David Austen Jr to explore his father’s remarkable legacy in rose breeding at their prestigious nursery. He also gets an exclusive glimpse at some of their latest, most exquisite varieties.

Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

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

Q – What colour would you paint a garden fence to best show off and compliment the plants in it? (01’32”)

Q – Why have my Peonies stopped blooming? Is it because I’ve moved them? (05’03”)

Q – Which plants would the panel recommend covering a roof of five feet by 10 feet with a depth of two and a half inches? (08’07”)

Matthew Biggs – Thymus vulgaris, common thyme Thymus serpyllum 'Russetings', creeping thyme 'Russetings' Campanula, bellflower Campanula portenschlagiana, wall bellflower

Christine Walkden Sempervivum, houseleek Hylotelephium, sedum Mentha requienii, corsican mint

Marcus Chilton Jones – Puschkinia Allium schoenoprasum, chives Ajuga repens, bugle

Q – What are the panel's thoughts on reusing compost that's been used in pots for summer annuals? (10’53”)

Feature – Matt Biggs speaks with David Austen Jr about his father’s legacy in breeding unique roses (15’01)

Q – I wondered what was the best way to revive a dying bonsai tree? (19’26”)

Q – How hard should I cut back our Ceanothus? (23’59”)

Q – What can the panel recommend that's low maintenance and won't prickle anyone that I could plant in a two foot wide plot? (28’10”)

Christine Walkden – Cyclamen hederifolium, ivy-leaved cyclamen Ajugas Lamiums Heucheras Thalamus Aquilegia Veronica, gentian speedwell

Matthew Biggs – Hedera (ivy)

Marcus Chilton-Jones – Lonicera, honeysuckle Dryopteris, wood fern Nettles

Q – I am inundated with ants – how do I get rid of them? (33’49”)

Q – How do I stop bugs from getting into my plums? (37’25”)

Crowthorne: Caterpillars, Rusty Spots and Up-Cycled Objects Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

Why do my ferns have rusty spots? Any tips for stopping caterpillars eating my cabbages? Have you upcycled any objects in the garden?

Peter Gibbs and a panel of plant and gardening experts are in Crowthorne, Berkshire and offer advice to an audience of keen gardeners. Joining Peter are pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, head gardener Matthew Pottage and proud plantswoman Christine Walkden.

Later in the programme, house plant expert James Wong visits the Of The Oak exhibition at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which celebrates the Lucombe oak and oak trees as a vital hub of biodiversity. He's joined by visual artist Ersin Han Ersin and arborist Cecily Withall.

Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

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

Q – The council have recently cleared a raised flowerbed at the front of the Morgan Centre. It previously had in it a giant prickly pyracantha. What would the panel suggest? (02'02")

Matthew Smith – Callistemon rigidus, stiff bottlebrush Alstroemeria Indian Summer ('Tesronto'PBR) (Summer Paradise - Summer Series), Peruvian lily [Indian summer] Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', Balkan clary 'Caradonna' Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group (Ro), rosemary Prostrata Group

Q - Why have my ferns developed rusty looking spots – is it caused by a disease? (06'31")

Q – Any tips on growing miss Willmott's ghost? (09'08")

Q – I have a bank of mature Heathers. Can I prune them as they're quite tall now or do I need to replace them as they get straggly? (13'13")

Q- How do I stop caterpillars from eating my cabbages? (17’05")

Feature – James Wong visits the 'Of the Oak' at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which celebrates the Lucombe oak. He's joined by Ersin Han Ersin and Cecily Withal (21’28”)

Q - How do we encourage our Camellia to flower? (25'56")

Q – I would like to plant some other more interesting climbing plants in a shady spot – what do the panel recommend? (29'13")

Matthew Pottage – Hydrangea petiolaris, climbing hydrangea Hydrangea petiolaris 'Silver Lining'PBR hydrangea 'Silver Linng' Hedera colchica 'Dentata Variegata' (v), ivy 'Dentata Variegata'

Christine Walkden – Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Virginia creeper Dactylicapnos scandens, yellow bleeding heart vine

Pippa Greenwood – Lonicera, honeysuckle

Q – How often do Clematis Clematis’ flower? (34'02")

Q – Can the panel recommend any other ways to repurpose objects? (36'26")

Q – I’d like you to recommend plants for a red hot, south facing gravel garden? (36'25")

RHS Chelsea Bandstand Show May 30, 2025

Show notes

How do I take care of a kokedama? How do you take care of a sedum living roof? Why won't my trollius flower?

For the first time ever, GQT sets up shop at the heart of the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show, broadcasting from the charming bandstand. Kathy Clugston is joined by a panel of horticultural heavyweights, including Bunny Guinness, Matthew Wilson, and James Wong.

Keep your ears pricked up for some familiar voices - among the questioners are none other than Scott Mills, David Tennant and Zoe Ball, each bringing their own garden problems to the table.

Later, Peter Gibbs takes a tranquil detour to the stunning Songbird Survival Garden on Main Avenue. There, he chats with designer Nicola Oakey and dedicated volunteer Bee about how we can turn our outdoor spaces into welcoming sanctuaries for Britain’s beleaguered songbirds.

Producer: Daniel Cocker Producer: Dominic Tyerman Producer: Matthew Smith Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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

Q – I’ve got a floppy snake plant – is this because I’ve overwatered it? (01'17")

Q - Why do the flower buds fall off my chameleon each year? (02'38")

Q - Hello, it's David Tennant here. I've been gifted a beautiful kokedama. How do I water this? How do I not kill it? (05'26")

Q – Could you recommend some pretty and low maintenance for flowers for window boxes? (07'34")

Bunny Guinness – Verbena officinalis 'Bampton', vervain ‘Bampton’ Polystichum setiferum, soft shield fern Salvia rosmarinus (Ro), rosemary

Matthew Wilson – Thymus vulgaris, common thyme Thymus praecox

James Wong – Portulaca, porcelain Mesembryanthemum Delosperma.

Q- My trollius hasn’t flowered this year. What am I doing wrong? (12’58")

Feature – Peter Gibbs visits the ‘Songbird Survival Garden” on main avenue, where he meets with designer Nicola Oakey and volunteer Bee (17’22”)

Q - We've got a garden room with a sedum living roof – how do we look after it? (22'20")

Q – Hello! Zoe Ball here! How do I stop squirrels from eating all my plants? (32'06")

Q - My trachycarpus and dicksonia antarctica. They're getting thinner and thinner each year – how do I appropriately thin them out? (28'54")

Q – Hi GQT, it’s Scott Mills. How do I stop my dog’s pee from ruining my lawn? (28'54")

Q – I’d like you to recommend plants for a red hot, south facing gravel garden? (36'25")

James Wong – Hardy aloes Aloe polyphylla Eschscholzia californica, california poppy Bunny Guinness – Salvia confertiflora, sabra spike sage

Matthew Wilson – Rosa 'Sally Holmes' (S), rose 'Sally Holmes' Dasylirion wheeleri, spoon flower Aloiampelos striatula, striped-stemmed aloe Beschorneria yuccoides, yucca-leaved beschorneria

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