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Peter's Garden: Correspondence Edition

The panel join Peter Gibbs in his garden for a correspondence edition of the show.

The panel joins Peter Gibbs in his garden for a correspondence edition. Christine Walkden, Pippa Greenwood and Matthew Pottage answer questions sent in by listeners via post, email and social media.

As the panellists inspect Peter's garden, they discuss moving Peonies, getting wayward Wisteria to behave and green manure. They also come up with suggestions for butterfly friendly climbers and what to grow on Cotswold stone, and debate the best places in the UK for gardening.

Producer: Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer: Jemima Rathbone

A Somethin' Else production for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4.

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Jan 2020 14:00

Plant List

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

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Q – I have a banana plant with unusual holes in the leaves – could you tell me what creature is making them?

(3 minutes 7 seconds)

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Q – I need to move three peonies; what is the best way and time to do this?

(5 minutes 30 seconds)

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Q – I have recently placed 20 heavy (15-20kg / 33-44lbs) reclaimed Cotswolds stones in the corner of my garden. Could the panel suggest some plants to put between the stones?

(7 minutes 18 seconds)

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Pippa – Creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)

Pulmonaria

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Matthew – Hydrangea seemannii

Blechnum chilense (Chilean hard fern)

Hosta

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Christine – Heuchera

Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine)

Hellebore

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Q – My Gentiana acaulis haven’t flowered in years so last year, I dug up the area to clear it, and replanted 4 of the plants in the rejuvenated soil in a row. They since have flowered one by one in order – what is happening?

(10 minutes 40 seconds)

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Q – Do you have any advice for getting my wayward Wisteria to bloom?

(12 minutes 55 seconds)

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Q – What is green manure?

(16 minutes 4 seconds)

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Q – Could the panel suggest some butterfly friendly climbers we could grow in a seating area of our garden which aren’t too rampant.

(23 minutes 8 seconds)

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Christine – Clematis alpine

Clematis macropetala (Downy clematis)

Cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens)

Chilean glory flower (Eccremocarpus scaber)

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

Ipomoea lobate

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Matthew – Lonicera sempervirens ‘Cedar Lane’

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Pippa – Clematis ‘F°ù±ð»å²¹â€™

Morning glory

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Q – We have a 6m (19.7ft) high Mimosa which has produced thousands of the seed pods now strewn all over our newly planted garden – I spend lots of time collecting them, but do the panel have any suggestions of an alternative method?

(26 minutes 50 seconds)

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Q – What should I do with my Cymbidium orchid now it has finished flowering?

(30 minutes 8 seconds)

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Matthew – Dendrobium

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Q – Five years ago I grew a Sharon fruit (Persimmon) from seed in my allotment and last year it produced five fruit. This year it blossomed but only produced one fruit. How do I ensure that the blossom remains on the tree next year?

(32 minutes 8 seconds)

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Q – I live in one of the coldest climates in the UK. Normally I plant potatoes but am starting to have problems with yield and scab. I’m planning to rest the garden from potatoes and wondered if the panel could suggest what to grow instead, bearing in mind our growing season is very short.

(34 minutes 30 seconds)

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Q – I grew Brussels sprouts but they were infested with white fly, so I threw them into the compost bin. I’ve noticed that the white fly are now breeding in the compost bin. Do the panel have any suggestions for getting rid of them without using chemicals?

(36 minutes 42 seconds)

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Q – We are moving from Singapore to the UK soon with no preferred destination; where would the panel each live to enjoy the best soil and climatic conditions to grow a productive vegetable garden and a good a flower bed?

(38 minutes 49 seconds)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 24 Jan 2020 15:00
  • Sun 26 Jan 2020 14:00

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