Gardeners' Question Time - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Postbag Edition: RHS Chelsea Flower Show May 23, 2025

Show notes

Kathy Clugston and a panel of green-fingered gurus, Kirsty Wilson, Pippa Greenwood, and Dr Chris Thorogood, explore the spectacular Chelsea Flower Show!

Meanwhile on the vibrant main avenue, roving reporter Peter Gibbs explores gardens shaped by climate challenges. He steps into the thought-provoking Save for a Rainy Day Garden to chat with designer Baz Granger about clever water-saving ideas. Then, he ventures into the lush creativity of the Hospitalfield Arts Garden, where he meets celebrated garden designer Nigel Dunnett for a conversation on art, ecology, and sustainable planting.

Producer: Dom Tyerman Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod and Suhaar Ali

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

From the Archives: Foliage Frenzy May 16, 2025

Show notes

Kathy Clugston prunes through the extensive GQT archive, which includes some much needed advice on all things Foliage.

With 77 years of experience in providing ample advice, our various GQT panellists are more than equipped to solve your gardening conundrums. They provide tips on the best plants for a foliage border, banana plants that can withstand the winter, and plants for a bed that never sees any sunshine.

Away from the questions, Matthew Wilson heads over to Sienna Hosta nursery to speak with Chris Potts, who explains how they keep their hostas slug and snail free.

Producer: Daniel Cocker Assistant 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 would be the best plants for a foliage border? (01'07")

Matthew Biggs – Euonymus fortunei f. radicans 'Silver Queen', spindle ‘Silver Queen’ Euonymus fortunei var. radicans, wintercreeper

Anne Swithinbank – Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'PBR , Siberia bugloss ‘Jack Frost’ Cornus canadensis, dwarf cornel

Matthew Wilson – Hosta, plantain lily Hosta sieboldiana, siebold’s plantain lily Hosta 'Big Daddy' (_sieboldiana_ hybrid) (v), plantain lily ‘Big Daddy’

Q- Why isn't my Christmas berry 'Red Robin' in here a lovely bright colour, like others? (04'22")

Q- Can banana plants stay outside during the winter? (08'10")

Matthew Pottage – Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish', banana 'Dwarf Cavendish'

Q – Why has my 12-year-old smoke bush has turned brown overnight? (11'19")

Feature – Matthew Pottage speaks with Managing Director of Sienna Hosta Nursery Chris Potts about how they nurture their Hosta’s to be pest free (17'07")

Q- What type of ferns should I use in my fernery? (22'40")

Matthew Wilson – Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance', copper shield fern 'Brilliance' Polystichum setiferum (Divisilobum Group) 'Herrenhausen', soft shield fern 'Herrenhausen' Matteuccia struthiopteris, shuttlecock fern

Pippa Greenwood – Primula vulgaris (Pr/Prim), primrose Wild violets

Q - What could I plant in a bed that never sees any sunshine? (27'51")

Matthew Wilson – Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign', lungwort 'Blue Ensign' Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance', copper shield fern 'Brilliance' Matteuccia struthiopteris, shuttlecock fern Deschampsia cespitosa, tufted hair grass

Christine – Rheum palmatum, Chinese rhubarb Heuchera, cora bells Ligularia

Q- How do I properly mow my lawn without ruining the foliage surrounding it? (32'33")

Q - What can I do to take care of my 3ft Poinsettias? (37'35")

Bangor: Second Chance, Shopping Lists and Hedgehog Gardens May 09, 2025

Show notes

How can you get a second season out of tulips grown in pots? What is the most natural and cost-effective way to add nutrients to my soil? How do you garden with hedgehogs in mind?

Kathy Clugston and her team of gardening experts return to Bangor, Northern Ireland where they solve some gardening dilemmas. Joining her are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Neil Porteous, and Head of Gardens at Balmoral Kirsty Wilson.

Later in the programme, continuing our Edible Essential Series is Bob Flowerdew, who provides the top fruits and vegetable to add to your shopping list this season.

Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock 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 should I do with my phalaenopsis orchid? (01'24")

Q- How do I look after auriculas during the summer? (05'02")

Q- How can you get a second season out of tulips grown in pots? (06’57")

Q- I’ve killed four Japanese acers over the years – what am I doing wrong? (19'30")

Feature – Bob Flowerdew’s edible shopping list. What fruit and veg you should grow this season (14'41")

Bob Flowerdew – Asparagus officinalis, asparagus Ribes nigrum, blackcurrant Chillies Allium sativum, garlic Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, globe artichokes Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichokes Allium cepa, onions Solanum tuberosum, potatoes Raphanus sativus, radish Rubus idaeus, raspberries Ribes rubrum, redcurrants Rheum rhabarbarum, rhubarb Allium cepa var. aggregatum, shallots Fragaria × ananassa, strawberries Zea mays var. saccharate, sweetcorn

Q- My soil is very much depleted of nutrients. What is the most natural and cost-effective way to remedy this? (18'44")

Q – What shrubs could I grow in containers that are exposed to extreme winds and sea salt? (23'36")

Neil Porteous – Grevillea rosmarinifolia, rosemary grevillea Euphorbia stygiana subsp. Santamaria, Ozothamnus rosmarinifolius, sea rosemary

Kirsty Wilson – Phormium tenax, New Zealand flax Hakonechloa macra, Japanese forest grass

James Wong – Pinus pinea, stone pine

Q - How do you garden with hedgehogs in mind? (29'38")

Q - I’m just about to dig out an area for a large pond. What plants do the panel recommend I use to get me started? (31’20")

James Wong – Soleirolia soleirolii, mind-your-own-business Nymphaea, waterlilies

Kirsty Wilson – Iris pseudacorus, yellow iris Hosta, Plantain lily Astilbe, astilbe Meconopsis, Himalayan poppy Cyperus alternifolius L., umbrella plant

Neil Porteous – Eryngium, sea holly Eryngium pandanifolium, pandan-like-leaved eryngo

Q - Can you recommend some plants that are showstoppers and conversation starters? (37'21")

Kirsty Wilson – Nepeta 'Blue Dragon', catmint 'Blue Dragon'

Neil Porteous – Vitex lucens, puriri

James Wong – Mahonia, oregon grape Daphne

Wokingham Borough: Pet Friendly Gardens, Homemade Compost and Silly Advice May 02, 2025

Show notes

What's your recommended recipe for homemade seed compost? What makes a dog friendly garden? What is the most inappropriate piece of garden advice that you've received?

Peter Gibbs and the panel offer advice to an audience of keen gardeners in the borough of Wokingham. Joining Peter are house plants expert Anne Swithinbank, garden designer Bunny Guinness, and proud plantsman Matthew Biggs.

Later in the programme, for Plant Health Week, Kirsty Wilson visits the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to meet biosecurity officer Matt Elliot and discover how new pests and diseases are threatening our gardens — and what we can do to fight back.

Producer: Matt Smith Assistant 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 - Do the panel have any favourite help or design features in their gardens made by their pets? (01'45")

Q- Could you give me some top tips on growing Dahlias? (05'40")

Q- How do you manage a wildflower area after the first year of flowering? (10’18")

Feature – Kirsty Wilson and Biosecurity Officer of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh discuss how we can protect our plants from new pests and diseases (14'20")

Q- My Fatsia Bush has flowered – do I prune it back or leave the fruits for the birds? (19'30")

Q - Which exciting new plants should we be looking forward to growing in the south-east of England? (22'31")

Bunny Guinness – Diospyros virginiana (F), common persimmon Diospyros 'Nikita's Gift' (F), Nikita’s Gift Persimmon. Salvia involucrata 'Hadspen', rosy-leaf sage ‘Hadspen’

Matthew Biggs – Salvia officinalis 'Bicolor', sage 'Bicolor' Echium Echium wildpretii, tower of jewels Echium pininana giant viper's bugloss

Anne Swithinbank – Leonotis Leonurus, lion's tail Dictamnus albus, burning bush Eriobotrya, loquat

Q - What is your recommended recipe for homemade seed compost? (28'00")

Q - I have a small starter allotment; can the panel advise me on how to make the most of my small plot? (32'10")

Bunny Guinness – Onion Garlic Lettuce

Matthew Biggs – Lettuce, fresh beetroot, fresh carrots, finger carrots Baby leaf Spinach radish courgettes French beans Runner beans

Anne Swithinbank – Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum, florence fennel

Q - What is the most inappropriate piece of garden advice that you've received, and did you follow it? (37'24")

Braintree: Indoor Gardening, Rich Compost and Propagating Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

What would be your top tips for creating compost? What's the best way to propagate Lamine raspberries? What could I grow in very dry soil?

Kathy Clugston and a panel of plant and gardening experts return to Ridgewell, Essex and offer advice to an audience of keen gardeners. Joining Kathy are grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew, garden designer Bunny Guinness, and gardener Matthew Pottage.

Later in the programme, avid urban gardener Martha Swales offers advice on how to grow edibles indoors. Continuing our 'Edible Essential Series'.

Producer: Matthew Smith Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

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

Q - What can I plant in my hanging baskets that would give a bright full display and will also attract bees? (01'31")

Bunny Guinness - Verbena officinalis 'Bampton', vervain 'Bampton'

Matthew Pottage - Delosperma Lameranthus

Q- My climbing rose refuse to flower consistently, should I dig it up and cut my losses or feed the ground? (04'59")

Q- Will my two large Cycas revoluta plants recover from frost damage? (09'41")

Q - What would be your top tips for creating compost? (13'36")

Q- What's the best way to propagate raspberry 'Tulameen'? (22'48")

Q - When should I cut back my Honeysuckles? And how hard should I cut them back? (24'48")

Bunny Guinness - Lonicera japonica 'Halliana', hall's Japanese honeysuckle

Q- What could I grow in very dry soil? (26'45")

Matthew Pottage – Ascanthus, bear's breeches Ruscus aculeatus, butcher’s broom Hydrangea petiolaris, climbing hydrangeas Euonymus fortunei 'Kewensis', spindle 'Kewensis'

Bob Flowerdew – Ficus carica (F), fig Vitis vinifera, grape vine

Bunny Guinness – Lavandula, lavender

Q - We’ve removed a Conifer hedge and replaced it with a fence. What can I plant against it? (31'26")

Matthew Pottage – Pileostegia viburnoides, climbing hydrangea

Bob Flowerdew – Ribes rubrum, common redcurrant Ribes rubrum 'White Grape', white currents Ribes uva-crispa, gooseberry Lathyrus odoratus, sweet pea

Bunny Guinness – Ficus carica Little Miss Figgy ('Lmf01') (F), fig [Little Miss Figgy] Clematis armandi, armand clematis

Q - As a legendarily useless gardener, I've always believed that gardening is a dark art into which I have not been initiated. What's the best way in? (36'14")

Postbag Edition: Belfast Botanic Garden Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

Why are my potatoes so floury? How do you banish lace bugs for good? And what mysterious plant has the panel stumped?

Kathy Clugston and a team of gardening experts explore the various locations of Belfast Botanic Garden. All while digging into the GQT postbag to answer your gardening conundrums.

On hand with their wisdom and wit are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Neil Porteous, and Kirsty Wilson, Head of Gardens at Balmoral. Guiding them through the garden’s hidden corners and floral highlights is Garden Supervisor Colin Agnew.

Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

West Yorkshire: Unorthodox Advice, Edible Essentials and Sodden Patches Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

What unorthodox advice have you heard as a gardener? What fruit and veg can I grow in a sodden patch? If you could take one bag of seeds to a desert island, what would it be?

Kathy Clugston and the Gardeners’ Question Time team return to Bradford, West Yorkshire, to unearth the answers to your gardening dilemmas. Kathy is joined by garden designers Marcus Chilton-Jones, Matthew Pottage and Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, we dig into the first edition of our brand-new Edible Essentials series. Ecological home grower and community gardener Poppy Okotcha shares her go-to spring checklist for growing delicious, sustainable crops.

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

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Twyford: Blueberry Dieback, Anosmia and Itchy Fingers Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Why are my blueberry plants experiencing blueberry dieback? How can we prevent or treat an infestation of whitefly in an eco-friendly manner? Which plant have you been most tempted to steal and why?

Peter Gibbs and a panel of plant and gardening gurus offer advice to an audience of keen gardeners in Twyford, Reading. Joining Peter are house plant expert Anne Swithinbank, garden designer Bunny Guinness, and proud plantsman Matthew Biggs.

Later in the programme, we hear from GQT's Kathy Clugston who visits a garden designed for individuals with no sense of smell.

Producer: Matt Smith Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Ridgewell Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

How do I keep my gladioli coming back? Why are my hellebores covered in black spots? Why do my courgettes go mouldy so quickly?

Kathy Clugston and a panel of plant and gardening experts are offering advice to an audience of keen gardeners in Ridgewell, Essex. Joining Kathy are grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew, garden designer Bunny Guinness, and gardener Matthew Pottage.

Later in the programme, we hear from Peter Gibbs about the increasing number of sponge cities in the UK.

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Bradford: Buddha's Hand, Yorkshire Climate & Upcycled Ginnels Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

What’s the best time to sow and harvest up north? Why won't my Buddha's hand plant produce fruit? Can nematodes get rid of codling moth?

Kathy Clugston and the Gardeners’ Question Time team head to Bradford, the UK’s City of Culture 2025, to tackle your trickiest gardening dilemmas. Kathy is joined by garden designers Marcus Chilton-Jones, Matthew Pottage and Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, Juliet visits a hidden gem transformed by the Lister Community Action Group. Discover how volunteers have breathed new life into a once-forgotten ginnel, turning it into a vibrant community oasis.

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

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Gardeners’ Question Time

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected