TV and Radio permalink
The Edible Garden (Ö÷²¥´óÐã2) Reviews
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.Â
Posted by Sean James Cameron (U14413630) on Wednesday, 7th April 2010
THE EDIBLE GARDEN is a new Ö÷²¥´óÐã 2 series that sees Alys Fowler living off her home-grown fruit, herbs and vegetables in her London garden.
Fowler first appeared on our TV screen through occasional films on Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Gardeners' World until she was promoted to a regular co-presenter. She works well within the structure of Gardeners' World but does she have what it takes to front her own 30 minute programme? Sadly she doesn't and comes across more annoying than entertaining. Throughout the programme it was rare for her to look directly at the camera and therefore the connection with the viewer wasn't established which undermined any knowledge she had.
The series was billed as being home-grown produce in a typical city garden but within ten minutes we are taken on a trip to visit a countryside garden and at this point the show loses its credibility. There is an over-long section which concentrates on Fowler and her friend building a bean frame out of branches from a nearby park rather than showing the viewer how to prepare the ground for the vegetable plants.
Old cine-film effects are overused throughout the thirty minutes and within fifteen they were enough to bring on a headache.
Each week Fowler will focus on certain types of vegetables and this week peas and beans took centre stage. There was no explanation of any garden basics such as sow a seed twice the depth of its size or how often and when to water the growing seedling. Next week Fowler will look at salad vegetables but sadly this programme is so formatted that it will be more of the same and not as organic as the garden itself.
Overall, the programme just touched lightly on topics rather than being an informative guide to growing your own food. Sadly this programme doesn't fill the gap on television at the moment for the home-grown gardener. I was hoping to see the garden version of 'Grow Your Own Drugs' (Ö÷²¥´óÐã 2, Tuesdays) but sadly it will be one of those series that will be forgotten due to its substance being loose and the style over-used.
The Edible Garden - sorry, The Forgettable Garden. -
Message 2
Posted by singinginthegarden (U14413665) on Wednesday, 7th April 2010
Well, I enjoyed it - as I've only been veg gardening a few years and love to cook my produce, I think I'll get a lot from the series - esp as I'm awaiting my chooks arrival! If, as a woman in my early 30s, I'm the target market, I think job pretty well done. Nothing is perfect, but it was a good start and refreshing change to the over-complicated faff of GW planting (I'm glad I don't follow all their "rules" - would take all the fun out of growing my veg, and I got plenty to eat by growing with a smile on my face). Thanks, Alys - one for those of us who just want to enjoy our gardening and don't want programmes so up their own backsides they suck the soul out ...
-
Message 3
Posted by Miss-polly (U14402803) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
Alys gardens is in Birmingham -not London
-
Message 4
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
singinginthegarden
Rules are made to be broken and in gardening there are many ways of doing things, if it works for you, well that is the way to do it and yes it should have some fun and recreation time in it.
I am afraid I switched Alys off just on half way, the voice is annoying and the wander in the park for pea sticks left me cold.
When I cut down my Dogwood (cornus) I save the cuttings and just shove them in the ground cutting them off at the height I need, a few more bits intertwined does the trick.
A throw away remark she made had me laughing, with a wave of her hand over an unkempt bit of ground and "I will sow lettuce and come again stuff there you never have too much of it" oh yes you do. Sow it in batches and thin it out, even my lot cannot eat that much lettuce.
Not for me I am sorry to say as I like gardening programmes, at least GW has improved which is the only way it could go after last years fiasco.
Frank. -
Message 5
Posted by SparklyTwirler (U14115376) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
As I feared - as amateurish as Alys herself. She may (?) be able to garden, but she is a rubbish presenter and the programme was very superficial."Gardening Lite"
-
Message 6
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
It was entertaining enough but not at all instructive apart from how and when to clip a hen's flight feathers.
I've been growing veggies for years now, just bumbling modestly along with a few great successes and also some huge failures depending on seasonal or unseasonal weather really. This programme gave me no hints as to how, when and where to sow and plant apart from a throwaway remark about planting out broad beans that she's sown in February. Very useful for a programe going out in April.
I fail to see how beginners are to learn anything very constructive from this. I suggest a re-run of GH's ornamental Kitchen Garden is called for. -
Message 7
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
Having now seen other threads, it seems the chicken info was all wrong too.
Big OOOPS!! for the Beeb. -
Message 8
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
Wrong? Well another way to doing something, I think. Other than clipping the bird's wings, I couldn't see much wrong at all with those two hens. If they were unhappy, why did they lay such lovely eggs?
As for Mr Cameron and his 'Fowler this' and 'Fowler that', I think that is pretty rude to address a young lady like that. This is a gardening forum not a public school. -
Message 9
Posted by hypercharleyfarley (U7444019) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
Hi Paul - although I didn't watch the programme I've been (perhaps more?) entertained by reading all the comments. Have to say, though, that hens don't exactly need to be happy to lay eggs -just think of all those in battery cages! As far as laying goes, they just do it regardless. Us females know that unless you're seriously ill and/or seriously underweight, ovulation happens....... Cheers! Ma.
-
Message 10
Posted by Princessdoll (U14278332) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
Well, as a 20-something city dweller who has a passion for growing veg - I am very much TEAM ALYS! I much prefer the haphazard, trial and error, method of growing. I do not need to be spoon-fed information like ' sow this seed at this depth' 'water at such and such an interval' etc.... If I need more comprehensive instruction then I will get off my behind and research it (or just look on the back of the seed packet!) It is refreshing to watch a programme that doesn't assume that the presenter has absolutly all the answers and gives the viewer the confidence to try things out for themselves without the fear of failure.... as it's OK to do things wrong else how else do you learn! Go Alys!!! I'm glued.
-
Message 11
Posted by physalis (U14221327) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
so nice to see someone enjoy their garden,there was plenty to see and some good tips! I shall be watching next week.nothing wrong with those chickens, just like gardening they need someone who cares.
-
Message 12
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
I enjoyed it to
-but more an Alys and absent screen partner lifestyle programme rather than a proper gardening programme I thought. Could not glean a lot of real world gardening tips from the first episode except for the dried peas for pea shoot crop-nice one.
Could do without the "special effects" of white screen, slow motion and old cine sound effects, are the production team on the wrong "weed"
certainly does not help the programme content or information transfer-please don't do it.
Certainly going to give episode 2 a try it may be a settling in thing like GW which is now a lot better and more mature. -
Message 13
Posted by karen (U14277142) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
I have just watched the program on iplayer and really enjoyed it. I have grown fruit and veg now for over 40 years. Yes this program has a light hearted feel/view with general information, tips and ideas which is what i think Alys is trying to convey rather than drum this down our throats. For me i am very much looking forward to the next program. Alys well done and you have my support
-
Message 14
Posted by 1stClassAlan (U2459016) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
I think most folk should lighten up! For those that don't know - I am a professional gardener ( and I don't just sit on a ride-on mower all day either!) I been both a professional and amateur grower and showman of vegetables to National standard - grown 400lbs of spuds from six seed sets, 5lbs onions, 10lbs lettuce etc., etc. ooh and medal winning exhibition sweet peas - and I would be the first to say that if anyone was to film me doing most of the cultivation of that lot - there'd be a spate of wrist slashings all over the country!
Most people do not want to spend a week double digging their potato patch or wheeling in 5 tons of old horse dung - they just want to eat some fresh veggies from their own garden the easiest way possible and the message I get from Alys's programme is - if I can do this - so can you.
I well know Percy Thrower is humming underground somewhere but that's too bad. -
Message 15
Posted by judimac (U2467704) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
I'm not normally a fan of Alys but I enjoyed this program. No it wasn't ground breaking, but after a hard day it's nice to sit back and watch something lighthearted. I shall pick up a packet of dried peas from the supermarket for my peashoots. Thanks Alys! Wonderful hair!
-
Message 16
Posted by daydaisy (U14260695) on Thursday, 8th April 2010
I agree with you Karen. I have just watched Alys's programme, which I recorded, and I too have thoroughly enjoyed it. It was light- hearted and pleasant to watch. I agree that all the critical grumpy people should lighten up! I'll definitely watch it again. Good for you Alys.
-
Message 17
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Friday, 9th April 2010
I agree. I rather enjoyed the programme.
Not every gardening programme has to be technical. There's other things to growing veg than specific seed sowing depths or soil preparation. It can be relaxed and enjoyable as well. GW is there for that facts and this programme is there for the relaxation and enjoyment. Well done Alys. And I imagine this show will help encourage young adults to get into growing their own veg. You start with a seed packet and some hopes and you'll soon get into it enough to increase viewing figures for GW. -
Message 18
Posted by PollyV (U14416476) on Friday, 9th April 2010
Yes, it was frustratingly short on usable information, tediously long on camera tricks. But her New-York-community-garden-style planting is enchanting. Can anyone help me identify the tall plants in the border on the right(of the screen)?
-
Message 19
Posted by tina48 (U1814313) on Saturday, 10th April 2010
I thought it was great, much better than I expected and now unmissable tele for me! I loved her garden which I thought was a true reflection of her character and style. I thought the program was full of great ideas which I'm likely to try at home. Go Alice! x
-
Message 20
Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Saturday, 10th April 2010
Although we have an allotment it would be lovely to have a garden like Alys's. The is getting smaller & smaller.
-
Message 21
Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Saturday, 10th April 2010
I looked at this thread earlier & it appears to have shrunk. People who knew Alys had posted & now their posts have gone. Very strange. I wonder how that could have happened. They could have answered a question I had.
-
Message 22
Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Saturday, 10th April 2010
It's me. It was on another thread. I have now put the question.
-
Message 23
Posted by David Leonard (U14307953) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
I've belatedly caught up with this programme, and if the first episode is typical I think I'll be giving the rest of the series a miss.
It's supposed to be about growing peas and beans, but provides almost no hard information. Instead, a lot of silly wittering and daft camera effects - black and white, polarised, slow motion, etc. Why do they do this? Do they think we are all so stupid that we shall switch off if we're not being constantly stimulated by all these effects? -
Message 24
Posted by rovingricey (U14470107) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
I am also a woman in her thirties, trying to grow food for the first time this year, in a suburban garden so I think I'm pretty much in the target audience for this programme.
I agree that some of the camera effects are a bit over the top and overused to the point of being irritating. I love the concept of the programme (that even a small plot can be used to grow food and still look attractive) but I would have liked much more 'how to' instructions and a bit less 'shots of eating and drinking with friends'.
I know how to invite my friends round for a pot-luck dinner. I don't know how to successfully protect beans and peas from moths or how to mix sowing salad in with sowing flowers...more of the latter and less of the former would have made this programme more relevant to me.
I accept that this was supposed to be different to GW in tone and style but some more gardening information would have been very welcome. (The music used in EG was brilliant though!)
About this Board
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Search this Board
Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD
Ö÷²¥´óÐã navigation
Ö÷²¥´óÐã links
Ö÷²¥´óÐã © 2014 The Ö÷²¥´óÐã is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.