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Q – Why do my tomatoes split as they ripen?Ìý The varieties are ‘Vilma’ and ‘Sungold’.

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Bob – Usually erratic watering causes this.Ìý The skin has hardened as it has tried to grow and then when growing it has split.

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Bunny – Use capillary matting to aid water retention.Ìý One square metre will hold a gallon of water.Ìý (11sqft will hold 3.8 litres)

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Q – We often get gale force winds of over 90mph (145kmh); which hardy vegetables can you recommend on our wind-swept allotment?

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Matthew – Swiss chard or any of the rainbow chards.Ìý

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Bunny – Brussel sprouts (staked).Ìý Leeks.Ìý All the brassicas.Ìý Kale, parsnips, carrots, Jerusalem Artichokes.Ìý

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Matthew – On Shetland they use what’s called a Polycrub to combat the extremely windy conditions

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Q – I have created a wildflower patch at the bottom of my garden.Ìý However, part of it is in the shade and can be quite damp.Ìý Can you recommend plants that might survive there?

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Bob – Go down the fern route instead of flowers.Ìý Native arums (Lords-and-Ladies) would be ok.Ìý

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Bunny – I would try native grasses like Luzula.Ìý Also try Geum and Galium.Ìý Foxgloves would love that spot.Ìý Epilobium (‘Willowherb’).Ìý

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Q – Why won’t my Crocosmia flower?Ìý

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Matthew – It could be too congested so try dividing it.Ìý I have a yellow one called ‘Solfatare’.Ìý

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Bunny – It used to be called Montbretia.Ìý

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Bob – It could be lacking potash.Ìý

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Feature:

Echeveria

Sedum spathulifolium

Sedum ‘Cape Blanco’

Crassula cooperi

Pyrethrum

Begonias

Geraniums

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Q – I’ve been trying to grow rhubarb for the last four years but had no success.Ìý Why?

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Bob – Rhubarb likes cool, moist, rich conditions

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Q – We have birch trees grown and what to grow shrubs underneath them.Ìý Preferably native, providing some summer colour and ones that are deer-proof.Ìý What can you suggest?

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Bunny – Yew (Taxus baccata).Ìý Vibernum opulus and Ìý.Ìý Hydrangeas.Ìý

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Matthew – Dog rose.Ìý Sloe.Ìý Bullis.Ìý

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Bob – Redcurrants.Ìý Brambles.Ìý Japanese wineberry.Ìý Rubus canadensis.Ìý Elderberries (Sambucus).Ìý

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Eric – ‘Scotch Bridget’ apple tree

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Q – I’ve had a bad attack of powdery mildew this year.Ìý Is it safe to leave the leaves to mulch or do I need to clear it away?

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Bunny – Clear it up.Ìý Spray milk and water solution to stave it off in future

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Matthew – I spray courgettes and gherkins

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Bob – I would wait till all the leaves have dropped and then I would mulch on top to bury the mildew

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Q – I want to create a small Japanese garden at home in Scotland.Ìý What plants can I use?

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Matthew – Acers, hostas, ferns.Ìý

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Bunny – Ilex crenata, Yew, Phyllyrea.Ìý Bamboo.Ìý

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Bob – Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis)

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Q – What plants are the perfect match for each other?

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Bunny – I love blue and white together.Ìý Clematis durandii (blue) with a white repeat-flowering rose like ‘Claire Austin’

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Matthew – I like orange and purple together in high light levels.Ìý Allium christophii (purple) and Papaver rupifragum or Eschscholzia californica for the orange

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Bob – Scarlet pelargoniums and a bed of blue lobelia.Ìý