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Gardener's World 4th September
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Petalina (U13862206) on Friday, 4th September 2009
Almost 3 hours after transmission and no one has posted about tonight's programme?! Not even one of the "hosts". I wonder why?
I didn't think it was too bad, although the bit with Sara Cox was a waste of time in my opinion.Glad they've continued to give suggestions for 30min jobs and ditched the "practicals".
I don't like the 30min programmes - seems too rushed somehow, but better than nothing I guess. -
Message 2
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
I thought the semi-tropical garden in Hampshire was terrific, the high point of the programme. But the dreadful shaky camera work at the end. Why, why, why do these cameramen point at the presenter's face when it's their hands we'd like to see?
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Message 3
Posted by Sparky (U6716422) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
I thought that too, Paul. Especially the bit with Alys this week, very annoying.
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Message 4
Posted by Petalina (U13862206) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
Even my OH ( not a gardener ) asked why they were showing Alys' face and not what she was doing with her hands!! The camera work is regressing!
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Message 5
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
I did not think it could get worse but it does.
As for the 'Auriculas' don't get me started, possibly the worst advice I have ever seen.
Just don't cover a subject if you know **** all about it. -
Message 6
Posted by mysteryletterboxs (U1950653) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
Just don't cover a subject if you know **** all about it.Â
If this was the case the programme could be fitted into, what passes on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã, as a commercial break. -
Message 7
Posted by sthlndngrower (U11104864) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
Just watching last night's GW on I-Player.
I agree with several other message boarders that this series is disappointing.
Just watched Toby and Alys creating a turf and a seed lawn, hardly explaining anything at all about how to go about doing this. Having recently revamped my garden and grown a new lawn from seed, I know there's a lot of preparation, e.g. levelling, firming over, and raking to a fine tilth- although they were doing this- they didn't explain any of it. Thankfully I did some research before beginning work on my lawn, unfortunately GW is no longer the reliable source of information about gardening that it used to be! I used to learn so much from it, but not anymore. -
Message 8
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
What was particularly wrong with the auricula advice, RC? We've just brought ours in from spending the summer in shade outside (as confirmed by an auricula grower at Malvern), and have just re-potted them on, taking off offsets and potting them up as we went along. This worked out fine last year?
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Message 9
Posted by mowalot (U13936479) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
I have only occasionally watched GW since the days of Geoff Hamilton, IMHO there hasn't be a presenter since who has showed he is really passionate about gardening. Most, if not all, since have seemed to be more interested in being "celebrity" gardeners. Why don't the Ö÷²¥´óÐã get RHS gardeners to give advice as they are professionally trained and more knowledgeable.
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Message 10
Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
Hello favunc
Hear, Hear, In fact I cannot see why the RHS boffins haven't seen the opportunity to fill a much needed gap on television. The gardening nation as a whole is crying out for it. -
Message 11
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
Eh? Monty? Not passionate? C'mon.
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Message 12
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
Trillium
Where do we start
First thing is peat free compost, grit was a bit big as well
Two - If you are going to repot now then the plants have to be kept fairly dry over winter or they will rot
Three - repotting in autumn with fresh compost and new food tends to lead to soft growth and rotting off.
Four - Late winter/early spring repotting is usually much more successful
Depends what you are growing if its just scruffy seed auriculas then they tend to take anything. If you are looking at show varieties etc. then they tend to be a bit more fussy.
We used to have over 300 named varieties but have reduced this now to about 10 difficult ones mainly fancies like 'Old England'. -
Message 13
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Saturday, 5th September 2009
I am going to play somewhere else. Don't like GW. Watched it on iplayer didn't think much of it. I will stick with BEECHGROVE GARDEN. Wednesdays at 7.00.
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Message 14
Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
I think the regular viewers just feel insulted now. Either give us a decent programme or forget it. I think by the few posters this week most people have decided they are sick of the programme.
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Message 15
Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
I liked Carol's bit on Crocosmias.
I also thought the lawn advice was extremely patchy (excuse the pun). Luckily I have the RHS's "Encyclopedia Of Garden Techniques" which goes more in depth than they did to fall back on.
Didn't watch the Sara Cox bit as I fast forwarded through it thanks to the miracles of Sky+. -
Message 16
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
GW isn't part of my schedule nowadays.
The Ö÷²¥´óÐã have mucked it up with their casual "is it on or is it off this week..." policies and none of the presenters have the charisma to make me want to find out one way or the other.
How to take down a flagship 40-year-old programme in just 12 months. Well done. -
Message 17
Posted by safetyboots (U13352674) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
I agree, Beechgrove is the Gardeners World that used to be. informative & no silly music, & giggling, just goood down to earth gardening information. Gardeners World team sit down 7 watch what you should be showing us PLEASE
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Message 18
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
RC - your auricula experience is clearly much greater than mine.
We grow any old variety, and some from seed which are then sold purely by flower appearance, so they are probably less fussy than your high-born specials. I bring them in to a cold greenhouse now to get them out of the rain, so potting them on now isn't a problem as they are kept much drier. With two warmish months to go there's plenty of time for them to root well. And I use peat-free compost and alpine grit - more grit than Alys as it happens - and they do just fine.
Overall I don't feel that the advice was wrong at all. But I did feel strongly that most of the footage was of Alys's head rather than her hands which was annoying. -
Message 19
Posted by hypercharleyfarley (U7444019) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
Hello. I've been wondering why and how the producer/editor/director of GW has made what we all seem to think is a mess of a once watchable programme. Have come to the conclusion that they are obsessed with the "quick-fix/instant gratification" approach which seems to apply to lots of TV programmes these days - and this, to me (at least) goes against the grain of what gardeners are all about. I believe you have to have patience to be a gardener. I get very annoyed with the (apparent) idea that we have the attention span of the proverbial gnat - and even more annoyed when they attempt to show a technique but film the presenter's face rather than what they are actually doing. Is it something to do with creating "personalities" who can then go on to further their own ends via books/personal appearances etc? Have any of you done a "media studies" degree? Would what you studied have any direct bearing on what we now get on a Friday night - or is it, as I suspect, a bit of a poisoned chalice when aspiring TV production people get assigned to GW? It's interesting that some statistics indicate that many more people go fishing or are gardeners in the UK than those who go to football matches. Gardening & fishing require a degree of patience, and neither group seems to be served by the Beeb at the moment. Cheers! Ma.
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Message 20
Posted by michelle78 (U7007319) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
Have had enough of the rubbish that I have seen via the TB series of GW. Writing to POV pov@bbc.co.uk
My goodness. I am 31 years old and feel so outraged at the short-change I have been given this series I am writing to points of view. -
Message 21
Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
Hello michelle78
You go girl and put the boot in for me as well, do it now before you sober up or you might chicken out. At least you will have an excuse if you do it now
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Message 22
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
Trilliun
It is whatever works for you.
I just thought the advice was a little bit poor.
But my normal mix for auricula's is
2 part good quality JI2
1 part peat
1 part mole hill off sheep grazed land
1 part dried and shredded cow straw and muck
1 part chicken grit mixed (limestone/grit/Oyster shell)
1 part perlite
The parts are varied for different plants
I tend to grow P.Allionii now which are a little less fussy -
Message 23
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
Very impressive RC. I feel a complete heathen by comparison with my basic two-ingredient mix.
We've got the moles - clearly we now need to get some sheep ... -
Message 24
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
Trillium
I collect old gardening books and in particular auricula books. Every one has a different mix in them and it is quite fun experimenting. It also depends on if you grow in plastic or clay as well. If I am using plastic then the mix tends to be a bit more free draining. In clay you need a bit more water retention, old clays tend to dry out faster than new clays for some reason as well. -
Message 25
Posted by daffworld (U14018684) on Sunday, 6th September 2009
yes i thought that too. daffworld,they should show there hands,when the presenter says something like now we tie it here,and the camera shows their face,and not their hands.
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Message 26
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Monday, 7th September 2009
I've been supporting this new series where possible and giving it the benefit of the doubt but frankly I'm getting to the stage where enough is enough. What is going on? Do Toby, Alys and the production team truly, hand on heart, believe that a novice gardener is going to successfully create a new lawn from the meagre advice they showed us on Friday? (I wanted to use another word to describe it but I'm constrained by the message board rules). We should have been told and shown piecemeal how to establish new lawns but we got scant advice, poor camera work and another bodged effort. It was a completely wasted opportunity.
We were also shown how to propagate auriculas, except that we couldn't see what the heck Alys was doing because the camera was pointing at her head!
Producer: just what on earth is going on in your head? Surely this is basic stuff. Do you look at the footage before transmission?
I would have hoped that, with all the thousands of students now passing 'meedya' qualifications, we would be seeing improved programme making by now. It's more evidence to me that a media qualification is simply colouring in.
Basically GW, you must do better and please check your work before handing it in! -
Message 27
Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Monday, 7th September 2009
I have to agree with you regarding the camera work but as someone else on here said earlier about not seeing any more propagation, I do not want to see any more lawn laying. It has been done to death by every GW programme since the beginning.
Yes lets have about root stocks and grafting and mineral requirements and close ups of pests and so on and so on. Simple'how to' books show lawn laying.
Sue -
Message 28
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Monday, 7th September 2009
It's the perfect time of year to lay a new lawn, so it's completely reasonable to cover it now, and it's a common enough gardening activity to warrant it. I agree it was covered badly - it matters less whether turf is better than seed or v.v - both can be fine. What matters is to do either way properly and both were skimmed in favour of presenting it as a competition.
Maybe grafting might get a mention once every year or so, but I only know one amateur gardener who has attempted it, and that with help from college supplies of rootstocks and tape which are not readily available. -
Message 29
Posted by michelle78 (U7007319) on Monday, 7th September 2009
Hi Lion redwood,
I did it! Dutch courage seems to have done it!
Got an out of office.
Note to self - complain again in the autumn when POV returns.
I agree completely with Trillium about the lack of need to show how to graft, but it is interesting, in the same way as seeing those automated systems that put plug plants into trays is to your average gardener. Understanding how things are done can be the first step to understanding what's going on with your own garden plant.
Mich
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Message 30
Posted by Allionii (U13954582) on Monday, 7th September 2009
As I have said, ad infinitum, on this thread and others, the blame for ruining what used to be a very useful programme, has to lay at the door of the current Production Company.
They really have no idea; no knowledge; no research, and I have to come to think no intention of creating an interesting, responsible and knowledgeable programme. Personally, I wouldn't even trust this lot with Cbeebies, La La and the others.
By the way I see that both Alys and TB have books out!! -
Message 31
Posted by mysteryletterboxs (U1950653) on Monday, 7th September 2009
By the way I see that both Alys and TB have books out!!Â
Now there's a surprise! Bet Joe and Carole release one before Xmas as well. -
Message 32
Posted by Yakram (U2443370) on Monday, 7th September 2009
Showing what hands are doing is a basic requirement; however, I would ask Alys nicely to try not to mime vigorously shaking an imaginary cocktail shaker to emphasize every word. I am interested in what is being said, but distracted by the frantic aerial hand-waving. Perhaps holding something would concentrate both our minds on the matter in hand?
I have found good practical in depth and seasonal information is available for all home, kitchen gardeners and allotment folk from a monthly kitchen gardening magazine, which can be dipped into at leisure and referred to when needed.
The last few GW programmes have been butterfly-minded, too short and unmemorable but fairly enjoyable magazine style light entertainment - ideal after a hard day's graft, with a good glass of wine.
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Message 33
Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Monday, 7th September 2009
Hello Yakram
A bucket of single malt couldn't make that guff of a program "enjoyable" -
Message 34
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
We were at a plant sale at Lullingstone Castle at the weekend and I got talking to a number of stallholders specialising in chillies, bulbs, etc, and every one agreed that GW has taken a nose dive.
But what do they know? -
Message 35
Posted by carfra (U14110417) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
I am wondering if the Ö÷²¥´óÐã wants GW to fail - if they have low ratings they have an excuse to take it off - because lets face it they aren't at all interested in gardening. Then they can put on some other tripe that gets larger ratings. The producer or whoever seems to know what annoys people and puts more of it on.
The only gardening presenter that I've liked and thought was any good since Geoff Hamilton was Monty Don - I wish he could come back. -
Message 36
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
The ratings have been pretty static at around 2 million since 2002. They were 4 million in 1998, but dropped in between 1999 and 2002 - as it happens Alan Titchmarsh was at the helm then.
Last week's was a lower blip because it went out on a Sunday. To see for yourself, see , click on top 30 and select Ö÷²¥´óÐã2 -
Message 37
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
Totally agree carfra. It's so obvious and has been ever since they screened the apalling 'Christine' series. Gardening is 'boring' in their eyes and has to be jazzed up with celebrities and gimmicks so the proles will take notice.
Btw, Monty has a book coming out called 'Ivington Diaries' not sure when... I'll sincerely hope it outsells TB's, Alys', Carol and Joe's and also a filmed series on Channel 4 coming up. Phew! Back to sanity. -
Message 38
Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
Hello michelle78
I wanted to know about rootstocks and what plants are used for them.Grafting is quite an easy job in gardening and after doing it about half a dozen times than most anyone can do it.If you could grow your own rootstocks so that a tree, shrub, or a specific flower could grow in your garden at the right size or height and have a large show of flower or fruit all over the plant don't you think that might be of genuine interest to some gardeners? Also maybe resistance to common diseases might be a benefit to the plant, just like the French vines that were decimated with non resistance to the bug that destroyed the industry.I only offered an opinion at what I'd like to see on GW and seeing that the guff that is being shown now, I thought it might be a good idea to let other gardeners think outside the box. I hate that saying.The benefits of having the right rootstock in place allowing plants to flower years earlier are a good way forward and I for one would be stuck to the screen watching it. -
Message 39
Posted by 1stClassAlan (U2459016) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
Reading RW's ingredients for the special Auricula compost reminds me of an old Gardener's Question time programme when Bill Sowerbutts and Fred Loads represented the old worm disturbers "all muck and magic" element while Prof. Alan Gimmell and his razor sharp Scots accent - modern science.
A questioner asked the panel why his Sweet Williams never grew more than 9" - both Bill & Fred went into extremes of manures of every kind aswell as double digging until you'd reach Australia. Then there was a studied silence suddenly broken by the Prof's worthy voice - do you save your own seed? He asked. "Yes" said the questioner.
You have the DWARF VARIETY !!!
Oh what fun !
I grew up at my Grannies house - the front garden was a pitiful patch of alternating baked or flooded earth of unknown constitution frequently visited by every neighbourhood cat - yet there were several varieties of Auricula thriving in it utterly untended! As a child I used to like to stroke the down off the fleshy leaves and collect the thick pollen off the flowers. -
Message 40
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
1stClassAlan
You really need to see all the other stuff we use.
Superthrive - Vit B1 as a feed and repotting helper
GA3 - For very difficult to germinate seed
Basically if there is anything that I can get or use then we give it a go. I tend to test anything new against two control groups and see how we go.
This is why I would like to see any new chemicals or growing techniques on GW.
I also like garden toys as well -
Message 41
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
Garden toys, RC? Do elaborate - my feverish imagination has gone into overdrive....
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Message 42
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Tuesday, 8th September 2009
Trillium
I love stainless steel tools, sieves, compost scoups, seed repotting widgets.
I will try anything, most disappointing thing I bought this year was a 'firemans' hose end. £16 and it is useless. The £3 hose guns from Wilco's sale last year are superb.
I have a bit of a thing for watering/misting gadgets and timers as well, as they save me loads of time.
We also have his and hers tools as well, OH likes old tools, particularly hand tools such as trowels.
I also do a lot of wall building and the rock hammers seem to have got a bit out of hand. There are about 15 of them now and they have their own bucket. You can never have enough tools.
Only thing we tend to hire in is mini diggers as I just cannot justify the expense of having one hanging about. -
Message 43
Posted by michelle78 (U7007319) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009
Hi LionRedwood,
I agree completely its an interesting topic, but its not going to appeal aside from general interest to most gardeners. I don't have the space to be propagating onto pre-grown roots stocks in my modest suburban garden. Please don't think I was putting your view down, I just think it would be an odd topic for GW in its present guise to cover. This is the production team's problem not your ideas and interests. As things go at the moment it would be more applicable to Nursery Mans', Its Not For You Idiot Gardener's World.
Back in the old days, I would see it covered as part of a series of topics to uncover tricks of the trade that could be applied in a garden setting.
Mich
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Message 44
Posted by suffolksamphire (U14130009) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009
Mmm, Gardener's World used to be a 'must watch' for me too, but this series has been a disappointment - it seems to focus more on 'makeover' styling of outdoor spaces rather than 'growing skills' and I find I can take it or leave it. That being said I have enjoyed listening to Carol enthuse about some plants - reminds me a bit of dear Geoffrey Smith. Now there was a gardener! His enthusiasm was catching and he shared his knowledge so gently! One of my best memories is listening to him on GQT enthuse about the possibilities of a shady garden ... magic!
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Message 45
Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009
Have had enough of the rubbish that I have seen via the TB series of GW. Writing to POV pov@bbc.co.ukÂ
I may do this also to point out that the camera work is very very shoddy. I do prefer the overall programme to what it once was. I mean I wouldn't call myself a novice or a pro but found it entertaining enough to watch. Just wish the camera work was better, the instructions were more in depth and there was a cull on Sara Cox's breed on this programme. It just doesn't work -
Message 46
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009
jungle_jane don't quite understand what this means.
"there was a cull on Sara Cox's breed on this programme. It just doesn't work"
Is it not good that young people who are popular are taught how to garden? -
Message 47
Posted by garrigillgirl (U14111305) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009
Amazing - I wasn't impressed by the Sara Cox thread - I really didn't even feel that she was that enthusiastic about it - or perhaps that was the editing...................
There are loads of enthusiastic young gardeners out there amongst TV personalities but Sara Cox ain't one of them. -
Message 48
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009
She seemed to be more enthusiastic when she did the planting. Don't remember who was with her. Maybe she expected more on her plot. Carol should maybe have been her mentor.
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Message 49
Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Thursday, 10th September 2009
Is it not good that young people who are popular are taught how to garden?Â
Well as a 21 year old, most of the TV I watch has some sort of celebrity in it (not out of choice I must add) and to be honest I'm quite sick of it. Gardeners World was one of the few programmes that was a refuge from this, but not anymore.
As you can see I don't like celebrities
and I have nothing against more people my age taking it up and being passionate about it. But I feel celebs lack the passion for it and just consider it more exposure on TV.
Why on earth would seeing a celeb planting a few vegetables make them want to drop their playstation 3 controllers and go outside? More work is needed to get young people interested I think.
I for one would rather see a young person my age on TV who was extremmely passionate about it and inspiring the rest of us that any age can do it. -
Message 50
Posted by garrigillgirl (U14111305) on Thursday, 10th September 2009
I seem to remember watching an allotment programme recently where a young lad with piercings and spikey hair had formed a close friendship with with an elderly allotment holder and between them they had a lively banter and wealth of experience - also some brilliant veggies - perhaps someone can tell me what programme it was - the young lad was a perfect role model for prospective young gardeners..........gosh, I sound ancient - don't mean too - I too, have piercings - hehe!!!
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