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Postbag: RHS Urban Gardening Show

What's the difference between anvil secateurs and bypass secateurs? What should I do with well-used compost? Peter Gibbs and panel answer these and more questions from listeners.

What's the difference between anvil secateurs and bypass secateurs? What should I do with well-used compost? If you could design a gardening utopia, what would you include?

Peter Gibbs and his team of horticultural experts have packed up the wellies and travelled to Manchester for the RHS Urban Gardening Show. While exploring the exhibitions, they dig through the GQT inbox to answer your gardening queries. On the panel this week are self-proclaimed botanical geek James Wong, house plants expert Anne Swithinbank, and Curator of RHS Bridgewater Marcus Chilton Jones.

The GQT team are also joined by 'unusual houseplant' specialist Jacob James, 'Cloud Gardener' Jason Williams and landscape designer Conal McGuire, who provide some insightful knowledge on how we can create greener and more eco-friendly spaces in urban environments.

Senior Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for ±«Óătv Radio 4

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42 minutes

Last on

Sun 5 May 2024 14:00
±«Óătv Radio 4

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Plant list

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

Q – Is there any use for anvil secateurs? And are they any better than Bypass Secateurs? (4’28”)

Feature – Chat with Jacob James on picking the right house plants (7’08”)

Q – What compost do the panel recommend I use that’s not peat free? (9’48”)

Q –ĚýCan I train my indeterminant cherry tomato plants to grow horizontally or is it better to leave them to grow vertically?ĚýĚýĚý(14’12”)

Feature – Chat with "Cloud Gardener" Jason Williams about the possibilities of gardening on a balcony (17’00”)

˛ĎĚýĚý– What should I do with well-used compost? (19’45”)

Q – Is it possible for me to plant some hedging plants to fill the gaps in my hawthorn? (23’48”)

James Wong –

Nasturtium

RosaĚýcaninaĚý(S”), dog rose

Q – Could I grow gaura alongside my daffodil bulbs? If not, what could I grow that will flower throughout the summer? (26’44”)

Marcus Chilton Jones –

RhinanthusĚýminor, yellow rattle

James Wong –

Allium, ornamental onion

Cosmos

Feature – Chat with landscape designer Conal McGuire on creating a thriving garden in shady spots (31’12”)

Conal McGuire –

Dicksonia ferns

Blechnum ferns

BergeniaĚýcordifoliaĚý"Purpurea", elephant's ears "Purpurea"

Epimedium

Vinca

Q – Could the panel suggest some plants and shrubs that could survive in planters that are in harsh urban conditions and exposed to light-fingered neighbours? (33’12”)

Marcus Chilton –

Choisya ternate, mexican orange blossom

AucubaĚýjaponica, japanese laurel

Camellias

James Wong –

Echium

Brugmansia, Angel's trumpet

Citrus plants

CitrusĚýĂ—Ěýjunos, yuzu

Q – If the panel could design a gardening utopia, what would you include? (37’45”)


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Broadcasts

  • Fri 3 May 2024 15:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 4
  • Sun 5 May 2024 14:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 4

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