Gardeners' Question Time

BBC Radio 4
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  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
Gardeners' Question Time

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

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    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 Josh Madders, he uncovers the fascinating history of this ancient survivor and the secrets behind its resilience. Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    43 min

  2. 28 FEB

    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 method of propagating plants. Producer: Dominic Tyerman Producer: Matthew Smith Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    43 min

  3. 21 FEB

    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 logs where, what and when rare and endangered narcissi bloom. Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    42 min

  4. 14 FEB

    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 of Shepton Mallet's upcoming snowdrop festival. Producer: Daniel Cocker Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    42 min

  5. 7 FEB

    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 gardens to safe for hedgehogs. Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    42 min

  6. 31 JAN

    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 understand the wide appeal of living wall gardens, as well as provide tips for making your own. Producer: Dominic Tyerman Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    43 min

  7. 16/08/2024

    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, grow your own guru Bob Flowerdew, and proud plantswoman Christine Walkden. Later in the programme, the panellists discuss the University of Exeter's national collection of Azaras, share tips on how they can add structure to the garden and provide a sensory experience. Senior Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    42 min

  8. 31/05/2024

    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 Chilton-Jones. Later, James Wong and head gardener of the Castlefield Viaduct Nancy Scheerhout discuss how the 'garden in the sky' was created, as well as how it's maintained. Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    42 min
See All (18)

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    About

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

    Information

    • Creator
      BBC Radio 4
    • Years Active
      2009 - 2025
    • Episodes
      18
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © (C) BBC 2025
    • Show Website
      Gardeners' Question Time

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