Gardeners' Question Time - podcast cover

Gardeners' Question Time

BBC Radio 4www.bbc.co.uk

A panel of horticultural experts answer gardening questions from a live audience. Recorded in a different location each week

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Episodes

Postbag Edition: Belvoir Castle

What is stunting the growth of my Japanese maple tree? My red tip Photinia keep falling and dying, what’s causing this? What's the best way to get rid of moss from a pond? Peter Gibbs and the GQT panel take root in the historic grounds of Belvoir Castle, a site steeped in history since the Norman Conquest of 1066. Joining Peter are garden designer Bunny Guinness, horticulturist Matthew Wilson, and Belvoir Castle’s Head Gardener, Andy Tudbury. Together, they tackle a thorny selection of questions...

Jun 27, 202542 min

West Horsley

What causes onions to bolt? What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? How should I go about pruning my lilac tree? Kathy Clugston and a panel of esteemed gardening experts visit West Horsley, Surrey, to tackle common horticultural challenges and share practical solutions. Joining her are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, botanist James Wong, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant. Later in the programme, Bob Flowerdew wraps up our Edible Essentials ser...

Jun 20, 202543 min

Perton Staffs: Used Compost, Angry Peonies and Ant-tics

What's the best way to revive a dying bonsai tree? Do Peonies hate being moved? I am inundated with ants – how do I get rid of them? Kathy Clugston hosts BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time, joined by a panel of esteemed plant and gardening experts in Perton, Staffordshire. Sharing their horticultural wisdom are the passionate plantsman Matthew Biggs, head gardener Marcus Chilton-Jones, and renowned plantswoman Christine Walkden. Later in the programme, Matthew Biggs has a chat with David Aus...

Jun 13, 202543 min

Crowthorne: Caterpillars, Rusty Spots and Up-Cycled Objects

Why do my ferns have rusty spots? Any tips for stopping caterpillars eating my cabbages? Have you upcycled any objects in the garden? Peter Gibbs and a panel of plant and gardening experts are in Crowthorne, Berkshire and offer advice to an audience of keen gardeners. Joining Peter are pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, head gardener Matthew Pottage and proud plantswoman Christine Walkden. Later in the programme, house plant expert James Wong visits the Of The Oak exhibition at The Royal B...

Jun 06, 202543 min

RHS Chelsea Bandstand Show

How do I take care of a kokedama? How do you take care of a sedum living roof? Why won't my trollius flower? For the first time ever, GQT sets up shop at the heart of the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show, broadcasting from the charming bandstand. Kathy Clugston is joined by a panel of horticultural heavyweights, including Bunny Guinness, Matthew Wilson, and James Wong. Keep your ears pricked up for some familiar voices - among the questioners are none other than Scott Mills, David Tennant and Zoe ...

May 30, 202543 min

Postbag Edition: RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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 ...

May 23, 202542 min

From the Archives: Foliage Frenzy

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 w...

May 16, 202543 min

Bangor: Second Chance, Shopping Lists and Hedgehog Gardens

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 Flow...

May 09, 202543 min

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

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 me...

May 02, 202543 min

Braintree: Indoor Gardening, Rich Compost and Propagating

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. Continu...

Apr 25, 202543 min

Postbag Edition: Belfast Botanic Garden

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...

Apr 20, 202543 min

West Yorkshire: Unorthodox Advice, Edible Essentials and Sodden Patches

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 s...

Apr 11, 202543 min

Twyford: Blueberry Dieback, Anosmia and Itchy Fingers

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 w...

Apr 04, 202543 min

Ridgewell

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 prod...

Mar 28, 202542 min

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

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 volunte...

Mar 21, 202543 min

Clandeboye Estate

What’s soil type works best in terrariums? Want plants could I use to absorb the damp patches in my garden? Which unloved flower has a place in your garden? Kathy Clugston and her team of gardening experts visit the Clandeboye estate in Bangor, where they tackle some head scratching gardening dilemmas. Joining her are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Neil Porteous, and Head of Gardens at Balmoral Kirsty Wilson. Later in the programme, Neil Porteous takes us on a fascinating journey thro...

Mar 14, 202542 min

Walsall Arboretum: Bonsai Trees, Shrub Roses & Favourite Plants

How do you keep a bonsai tree thriving? Should you risk moving a well-established shrub rose? And what’s the one plant you simply couldn’t live without? Kathy Clugston and the GQT team are back in Walsall, ready to tackle your most pressing horticultural dilemmas. Joining her are garden designers Bunny Guinness, Matthew Wilson and Marcus Chilton-Jones. Later in the programme, Marcus Chilton-Jones visits Walsall Arboretum's oldest and most remarkable hawthorn tree. Joined by Claire Turner and Jos...

Mar 07, 202543 min

Vale of White Horse: Heuchera, Waterlogged Gardens and Hardwood Cuttings

What’s the best way to propagate Heuchera? How do i minimise the growth of my Wisteria and maximise flowers? Are there any low skilled gardening jobs that I could do? Kathy and a team of experts return to The Hanneys where they solve more gardening problems. Joining Kathy to answer the questions are fanatical plantswoman Christine Walkden, dedicated botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and passionate plant expert Matthew Biggs. Later in the programme, Matt Biggs Hardwood cuttings, an easy and reliable m...

Feb 28, 202543 min

Walsall: Rainwater v Tap Water, Caffeinated Ants and Daffodil Diaries

How do we get rid of red ants? Rainwater or tap water? How can I stay motivated in the garden when it's wet and windy? Kathy Clugston and her team of gardening gurus visit Walsall to solve some horticultural problems. Joining Kathy to answer the questions are garden designers Bunny Guinness, Marcus Chilton Jones and Matthew Wilson. Later in the programme, Peter Gibbs visits RHS Wisley where principal scientist Kálmán Könyves educates him on their Daffodil Diaries initiative. A strategy which log...

Feb 21, 202542 min

Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival: Anaerobic Digestion, Apple Maggots and  Pyramid Orchids

Snowdrops - do you mulch, feed, or leave them alone? What's the difference between anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion? How do I get rid of apple maggots? Peter Gibbs and the GQT team of experts return to Shepton Mallet to solve various gardening conundrums. On the panel this week are house plant guru Anne Swithinbank, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, and garden designer Matthew Wilson. Later in the programme, Anne Swithinbank and Dominic Weston discuss all things snowdrops ahead o...

Feb 14, 202542 min

From the Archives: Planting for Wildlife

Peter Gibbs guides us through the GQT archive, which includes some much needed advice on how to make your garden more wildlife friendly. The GQT team have pruned through 77 years of questions and answers to reveal useful advice provided by our various horticultural experts. This includes tips on how to attract bats to the garden, advice on rabbit proof plants and the benefits of snakes in the garden Later, we listen back to when Kirsty Wilson visited Glenarm Castle and discussed how we make our ...

Feb 07, 202542 min

East and West Hanney

Is gardening a solitary or a social activity? What could I grow up a garage wall? What do the panel expect to see in open gardens? Kathy and a team of experts visit The Hanneys to solve gardeners' problems. Joining Kathy to answer the questions are fanatical plantswoman Christine Walkden, dedicated botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and passionate plant expert Matthew Biggs. Later in the programme, Matthew Pottage and GQT producer Dominic Tyerman visit the Sydney Botanic Gardens in Australia to unders...

Jan 31, 202543 min

Postbag: University of Exeter

How do I get red cedar root balls to spread? What gardening task do the panel find daunting? What are the panel’s thoughts about composting organic materials? Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural experts travel to the University of Exeter for a postbag edition of GQT. While Curator of Horticulture Anthony Cockell leads Kathy and the panel around the grounds, they also dig through the GQT inbox to answer your gardening queries. On the panel this week are garden designer Chris Beardshaw, g...

Aug 16, 202442 min

Cheshire West

My Fatsia plants had their stems nibbled by deer – will they recover, or should I buy new ones? Any tips on how I can get my eucalyptus plants to produce juvenile flowers? If you were building a scarecrow in your garden, what would you suggest dressing it in? Kathy Clugston and a panel of experts are in Cheshire West to answer queries from an audience of keen gardeners. On the panel are garden designer Bunny Guinness, houseplant expert Anne Swithinbank, and curator of RHS Bridgewater Marcus Chil...

May 31, 202442 min

Postbag: Horniman Museum and Gardens

Will my blind daffodils ever flower again, or should I just discard them? Can I use old yule logs to line my plant beds or will the harvested fruit and veg become poisonous? How can I repel spiders from my garden without using chemicals? Peter Gibbs is joined by his enthusiastic team of horticultural experts as they dig through the GQT inbox and answer your gardening conundrums. On the panel this week are landscape architect Bunny Guinness, self proclaimed botanical geek James Wong and pest and ...

Mar 22, 202442 min

From the Archive: Ponds and Bogs

Kathy Clugston navigates the murky waters of the GQT archives in search of some Pond and Bog related advice throughout the years. Water is the giver of plant life and nourisher of wildlife, but how do we ensure that we’re using it correctly? The GQT team have sorted through the archives in search for some questions and answers from the past. The programme's horticultural experts share their knowledge on what to do if your pond liner breaks, how to remove bird poo from the surface of your pond, a...

Feb 02, 202442 min

Postbag: Ham House and Garden

Could the panel share some gardening tips for wheelchair users? How do I start growing mulukhiyah in my garden? Which hedges could I grow that are resistant to ermine moths and offer privacy? Peter Gibbs is joined by his eager team of horticultural experts as they dig through the GQT inbox and answer your gardening queries. On the panel this week are landscape architect Bunny Guinness, head gardener of Horatio’s Garden Ashley Edwards and curator of RHS Wisley Matthew Pottage. This week they visi...

Jan 19, 202442 min

Wokingham

Could you suggest some bat friendly plants that will keep them happy? Is it too late to re-pot my five-year-old daffodils? How can I improve the quality of my clay soil and what can I grow on it? Peter Gibbs and his team of horticultural experts are in the market town of Wokingham for this week's episode of Gardeners' Question Time. Joining Peter to dig into the audience's queries are garden designer Matthew Wilson, proud plantswoman Christine Walkden and passionate plantsman Matthew Biggs. Late...

Nov 27, 202342 min

House of Lords

I’m having no luck growing chillies from seed. What am I doing wrong? Which plants would the panel recommend to bring fragrance and colour? Which way should a fig tree face to produce the most fruit? Ready to answer all these questions and more, Kathy Clugston and her team of experts have been invited to the House of Lords for this week’s programme. Joining Kathy to offer their best horticultural tips and tricks are Head of Oxford Botanical Gardens Dr Chris Thorogood, garden designer Matthew Wil...

Nov 10, 202342 min

Mottistone Gardens, Isle of Wight

What’s the best way to protect my terracotta plant pots from frost? What should I do if I spot an Asian hornet in my garden? What tall plants can I grow that are resistant to snails? Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural experts visit the peaceful, Mottistone Gardens on the Isle of Wight for a postbag edition of the programme, where they answering your questions from the inbox. Kathy's joined by organic gardener Bob Flowerdew, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, and curator of RHS Wi...

Oct 27, 202342 min
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