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Peter Gibbs and the team visit East Sussex. Matthew Pottage, Christine Walkden and Ashley Edwards answer the audience's questions.

Peter Gibbs and the team visit East Sussex. Matthew Pottage, Christine Walkden and Ashley Edwards answer the audience's questions.

This week the panellists suggest some low-growing flowering shrubs for a large pot, as well as plants they would be happy growing in the chalky soil typical of East Sussex. They also diagnose a poorly plum tree, and suggest how to get a naughty Monstera back in line.

Away from the hall, as we are in the midst of wedding season, we asked floral designer Hazel Gardiner to share her top tips for arranging and growing your own wedding flowers.

Producer: Dominic Tyerman
Assistant Producer: Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Aug 2022 14:00

Plant List

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

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Q – Are there any mainstream vegetables that are drought resistant?

(1 minutes 42 seconds)

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AshleyÌý -

Curly kale

Chickpeas

Quinoa

Callaloo

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Q – I bought a Cornus ‘Cherokee Brave’ which I’ve had for less than a year. It blossomed beautifully but then recently all of the leaves have died. How to I return it to its former glory?

(4 minutes 51 seconds)

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Matthew –

Cornus kousa

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Q – My friend lives in a street with elm trees, and one of them has succumbed to Dutch elm disease. She would like to plant a tree in her garden to replace this, what could the panel suggest? She has chalky soil.

(8 minutes 15 seconds)

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Christine –
RobiniaÌýpseudoacacia, False acacia

Gleditsia

Sorbus aria, Common whitebeam

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Matthew –

Pinus nigra, Black pine

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Q – Can you recommend a flowering shrub for a large pot, that can withstand strong winds?

(10 minutes 15 seconds)

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Christine –

Buddleja davidii, Buzz series

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Ashley –

Osmanthus

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Matthew –

Weigela
Weigela middendorffianaÌý'Mango'

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Feature – Floral designer Hazel Gardiner shares her top tips for designing wedding flowers and bouquets.

(12 minutes 54 seconds)

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Pew Ends

Lavender, rosemary, thyme

Variegated Pittosporum

Cotoneaster

Ivy

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Buttonholes

Scabious

Cornflower

Nigella

Astilbe

Verbascum

Echinops

Rose hip

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Bouquet

Sweet peas

Cosmos

Asinia

Rudbeckias

Snapdragon

Achillia

Astrantia

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Q – I have inherited a naughty cheese plant. It’s growing sideways but I want it to climb up a pole I have in the pot. Should I chop the sideways shoots off, or just try affix them to the pole?

(18 minutes 5 seconds)

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Matthew –

Monstera 'Variegata'Ìý

Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’

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Q – I run a charity allotment and I’ve bought some half-hardy perennials. Is there a way we can turn them into hardy-perennials so we don’t have to dig them up and if so, how?

(22 minutes 25 seconds)

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Matthew –
SalviaÌý'Hot Lips'

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Q – We have a River’s Early Prolific plum tree. It’s developed some strange curly bits on the ends of the branches. Is there something we need to do to get rid of this?

(27 minutes 55 seconds)

Q – I live on steep, chalky downlands. I know there are lots of plants I can’t grow there, but are there any unusual plants you might suggest?

(31 minutes 5 seconds)

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Christine –

RhododendronÌý'Cunningham's White'
Viburnum
Desfontainia

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Matthew –
PrunusÌýincisaÌý'Kojo-no-mai'
Saxifraga umbrosa
Parahebe perfoliate
Oregano 'Kent Beauty'

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Ashley –

Orchid

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Q – What by-product of modern-day living would the panel suggest that is good to use in the garden?

(36 minutes)

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Broadcasts

  • Fri 19 Aug 2022 15:00
  • Sun 21 Aug 2022 14:00

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