Gardeners' Corner

BBC Radio Ulster
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  • HOME & GARDEN
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
Gardeners' Corner Podcast

The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    The best bedding to plant now, irresistible irises and finding Fungi

    When the right Autumn conditions arrive, Fungi pop up as if by magic and this week on Gardeners’ Corner, David Maxwell explores this fascinating world with Northern Ireland Fungus Group member Debbie Nelson. At Ballyrobert Cottage Garden, Maurice Parkinson is planting miniature Irises for a splash of colour in February next year. He’s also dividing autumn flowering cyclamen which he says are the ultimate no fuss plants for this time of year. Colin Agnew is in studio with some alternative choices for spring bedding which can be planted right now and he’ll be taking questions from listeners on prepping a new polytunnel and overwintering Dahlias. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min

  2. 21 SEPT

    How to preserve your summer veg, an exotic oasis in Howth and perennial of the month

    This week David Maxwell finds out how to preserve some of this year’s harvest with HE teacher come obsessive gardener Kerry Connolly. She’s an expert at turning a glut of marrows and tomatoes into sauces and chutneys for the colder months. He also returns to Howth near Dublin to visit another exceptional garden on this Irish Sea peninsula. This time he meets mountain climber Karl Flynn who has created an exceptional exotic garden through a lifetime of weekend gardening. Oliver Shurmann reveals his favourite perennial for September and Anna Hudson joins David in studio to answer questions and provide seasonal inspiration. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    55 min

  3. 14 SEPT

    Growing and using blackberries, a backyard botanics and broadcasting about gardening over the last 100 years

    With autumn in the air, Gardeners’ Corner with David Maxwell is celebrating blackberries both wild and cultivated varieties. Mary Doris joins David in studio and shows him some of the ways she puts nature’s bounty to good use. In Ballymena, Colin Agnew has created his own botanic gardens out the back of his suburban semi. It includes a Victorian style fernery and a very personal collection of trees. On Black Mountain above Belfast, sound and gardening are combined at the Black Mountain Shared Space and with BBC Northern Ireland celebrating 100 years of broadcasting, David dips into the archive to hear the first gardening presenter, Professor A E Muskett. He also chats to Prof Muskett’s daughter, Doreen, about her memories of the BBC in a bygone age. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min

  4. 7 SEPT

    Perfect plants for pots, the Quiet Garden and a remarkable life with trees

    David Maxwell heads to a 250 year old Rectory garden which has been opened to the community in Ballymoney as a place of quiet reflection. With generous cottage borders, fruit trees and plenty of places to sit, it has become a special place to many including volunteer Daphne, who opens the gates at dawn and dusk. Dr Mark Johnston on his remarkable life with trees captured in a new free e-book. Wildlife expert Katie Bell joins David in studio to highlight what we can look out for in our gardens this Autumn and Rosie Maye brings inspiration and helps David tackle some gardening conundrums. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.o.uk

    56 min

  5. 31 AUG

    Gardening with dogs, Ardán garden in Howth and spotty apple harvests

    With a new pup at home, David finds out about gardening with dogs in mind. He speaks to designer and dog owner Brian Burke about a canine friendly garden he created for Bloom in 2017. Between the hedges in Howth; a visit to Ardán garden where Nuala Doherty and Conall O’Caoimh have created a first class immersive garden over the last two decades. Largely self taught, they have divided the half acre site into many unique spaces and included tropical planting, a conservation habitat for rare newts, a miniature woodland space and slug free veg beds. Also on the programme, creating a gardening group at work and Claire McNally will join David in studio with inspiration for early autumn and to answer listener questions. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min

  6. 10 AUG

    Rabbit Proof Plants, June Blake on using red in the garden and National Allotment Week

    This week Gardeners’ Corner is seeing red at June Blake’s garden in County Wicklow. She’s filled a border with Monarda, Crocosmia and Alstroemeria in this most alarming hue. June tells David Maxwell about her preference for planting large numbers of the same varieties and why Verbascum’s are her top choice when it comes to rabbit and slug proof plants. At Hillsborough Castle Gardens, Claire Woods is gearing up for their summer fair after a tricky season and Amy Kelly is escaping to her allotment at the beginning of National Allotment Week. Oliver Schurmann choses his perennial of the month and Ann Fitzsimmons joins David in studio to answers questions. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min

  7. 3 AUG

    How to have the perfect lawn, using farm troughs in the garden and Jimi Blake’s summer borders

    You don’t have to call yourself a gardener to want to have a perfect lawn and this week, David Maxwell has been finding out how to achieve the perfect sward from the experts at the Greenmount campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise. In county Wicklow, a visit to Jimi Blake at his Hunting Brook Gardens provides inspiration for creative containers more usually found on a farm. Jimi also reveals some of his favourite Dahlias for 2024 and the value of lilies in the summer garden. In studio David will be joined by Brendan Little who will answer questions and reveal his garden highlights for the first week of August. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    54 min

  8. 27 JUL

    Where are the bees this summer? Must have, no fuss, long flowering performers and making gardening child’s play

    With many people reporting low bee numbers in gardens this summer, presenter David Maxwell chats to wildlife expert Katie Bell about possible reasons. At Kilcoan Gardens in Islandmagee Cherry Townsend reveals her favourite no fuss, long flowering perennials. How a community in Dromore, County Down is determined to change the market town for the better with plants and Dawn Isaac on ways to get the kids into the garden during the holidays. David is joined in studio by expert, Anna Hudson to answer questions live and she’ll also have some jobs you can do this week no matter the weather! Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min
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About

The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio Ulster
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2024
  • Episodes
    615
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    Gardeners' Corner

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