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GQT From The Archives: Sustainability Special

Peter Gibbs takes a look through the GQT archives for top tips on sustainable gardening.

Peter Gibbs takes a look through the GQT archives for top tips on sustainable gardening.

Over the years the GQT panellists have shared plenty of knowledge on how to be a green gardener. They look at everything from how to make your driveway more environmentally friendly, to efficiently collecting rainwater at home.

We also hear Hafsah Haferji's "how-to" on companion planting, and head back to RHS Wisley with Matthew Pottage and Environmental Researcher Tijana Blanusa to learn how trees help us with carbon capture.

Producer - Hannah Newton
Assistant Producer - Bethany Hocken

A Somethin' Else production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

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Q – Can the panel recommend inexpensive seeds to grow things which are great for pollinators?

(1 minutes 40 seconds)

Ìý

James Wong –

Fennel

Dill

Caraway

Fenugreek

Ìý

Bob Flowerdew –

Poppy

Clover

Buckwheat

Phacelia

Ìý

Q – Could the panel share some ideas for striking objects that could be recycled for use as planters?

(3 minutes 25 seconds)

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Q – I want to buy a water butt but I don’t have a downpipe from my gutter. Is it possible to have a freestanding water butt to capture rainwater?

(7 minutes 20 seconds)

Ìý

Q – I would like to turnover our front lawn to grow vegetables whilst maintaining an attractive look. Can you suggest some low growing but attractive vegetables we could grow?

(11 minutes 10 seconds)

Ìý

Matthew Wilson –

Buxus

Taxus baccataÌý(Fastigiate yew)

Stepover apple

Chive

Marigold

Nasturtium

Ìý

Chris Beardshaw –
Hybrid tea roses
Alyssum
Lobelia
SalviaÌý
Sugar beet

Anne Swithinbank –
Red cabbage
Oak leaf lettuce
Chard
Parsley

Feature – Hafsah Hafeji talks us through the art of companion planting
(16 minutes 55 seconds)

Q – What can you put down or plant to make a nature friendly, green driveway where you can still park your car?
(20 minutes 15 seconds)

Matt Biggs –
Grasses
Bulbs

Chris Beardshaw –
Ferns
Adiantum
Polypodium
Polystichum

Q – I have a black, plastic compost bin which was provided by the council. Whenever I open it I see that a number of worms have crawled out and climbed up on to the rim of the bin. Are trying to escape?

(24 minutes 30 seconds)

Q – I make my own potting compost with soil, leaf mould and garden compost. Do I need to add anything else make a sowing and planting compost?
(25 minutes 40 seconds)

Feature – Matthew Pottage is at RHS Wisley chatting to Environmental Scientist Tijana Blanusa about how trees capture carbon.
(28 minutes 15 seconds)

Q –
As the weather patterns change and we seem to be getting longer drier spells, what plants would the panel recommend which will cope best with these changes in a seaside environment?
(34 minutes 5 seconds)

Bunny Guinness –

Perennials


Matthew Pottage –Ìý
Melianthus major
Grevillea rosmarinifolia
Crinum
Sea hollies, Eryngium

Q –Ìý I’m a toothbrush maker in Sherwood Forest. Our soil is great for growing trees. Could the panel suggest some trees I could grow to make some toothbrushes?
(37 minutes 5 seconds)


James Wong –

Holly


Bob Flowerdew –
Poplar
Elder

Christine –
Dogwood
Willow
Ginkgo
Paulownia
Catalpa

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