Gardeners' Question Time

BBC Radio 4
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  • HOME & GARDEN
  • 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: 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 24 JAN

    Shepton Mallet: Garlic Rust, Mushroom Compost and Plant Renaissance

    Any tips on combating garlic rust? How should I spread mushroom compost in my garden? Which plants do you predict will make a renaissance? Peter Gibbs and a team of experts visit the market town of Shepton Mallet to solve gardening conundrums from an audience of gardeners. In the hot seats this week are house plant guru Anne Swithinbank, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, and garden designer Matthew Wilson. Later in the programme, Matthew Wilson travels to Bath to meet with Britain In Bloom champions Steve Brook and Barry Cruz. He gathers some useful tips and tricks for snagging the title of champion. Producer: Daniel Cocker Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    43 min

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 22/03/2024

    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 disease expert Pippa Greenwood. They visit the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill, where head of horticulture Errol Reuben Fernandes gives the team a tour of their historical and extensive gardens. Later, Peter and the panel discuss whether there are house plants that can produce enough oxygen to purify air or if this is just a myth. Senior Producer: Dan Cocker
 Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    42 min
See All (17)

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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
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Gardeners' Question Time

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