Gardeners' Question Time

BBC Radio 4

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

  • 42 minutes 32 seconds
    Postbag Edition: Barbican

    What vegetables could I grown that aren't native to the UK? Are there any punk-ish plants that thrive in a hot and humid room? Which plant would make a great building structure?

    Peter Gibbs and a team of gardening experts explore the various locations of the beautifully brutalist Barbican Centre in London, all while digging into the GQT postbag to answer your gardening conundrums.

    Joining Peter are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Juliet Sargeant and Head Gardener Matthew Pottage. Leading them around various locations is the Barbican Centre's Head Gardener Marta Lowcewicz.

    Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    17 January 2025, 3:44 pm
  • 42 minutes 32 seconds
    Midlothian: Polytunnels, Gardening Regrets and Plants With Purpose

    Is a polytunnel good for keeping weeds out? What type of wall would be more suitable for a lean-to greenhouse? What are the panel's gardening regrets?

    Kathy Clugston and a team of experts return to the windswept region of Midlothian, to solve the gardening questions of a green-fingered audience. Kathy is joined by ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Neil Porteous and Head of Gardens at Balmoral Kirsty Wilson.

    Later in the programme, James Wong learns about Royal Edinburgh Botanical Gardens 'Plants with Purpose' campaign, which uses horticulture to mitigate the effects of climate change on urban locations.

    Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    10 January 2025, 3:42 pm
  • 42 minutes 46 seconds
    Bristol: Stubborn plants, Wellbeing and Acers

    What’s the secret to growing Snowdrops? Which single plant or gardening activity instils a feeling of wellbeing in people? What are the do's and don’ts of planting Acers?

    Kathy Clugston and a team of experts are in Bristol to answer gardening questions from a green fingered audience. Joining Kathy are garden designers Chris Beardshaw and Matthew Wilson, and house plants expert Anne Swithinbank.

    Later in the programme, if you're unsure of what do with your garden during the winter months, Matthew Pottage has an extensive list of jobs and tasks to help you get ahead in the new year.

    Producer: Daniel Cocker Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    3 January 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 42 minutes 55 seconds
    From the Archives: Christmas

    Peter Gibbs digs, rakes and mulches through the GQT archive to uncover some much needed gardening advice, providing you with knowledge to aid you in the new year.

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the perfect period to get ahead with maintaining you garden during the harsh winter months to come.

    GQT’s various horticultural experts from over the years share their tips and knowledge on what to do with wonky veg, what to do with an Amaryllis bulb after it’s finished flowering, and which plants are deer proof.

    Later, we listen back to when Chris Beardshaw visited Tenby Wells to learn all about mistletoe, its origins and the significance it has on the festive period.

    Producer: Dom Tyerman Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    27 December 2024, 3:40 pm
  • 42 minutes 10 seconds
    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

    16 August 2024, 2:45 pm
  • 41 minutes 51 seconds
    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

    31 May 2024, 2:45 pm
  • 41 minutes 47 seconds
    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

    22 March 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 42 minutes 1 second
    From the Archive: Ponds and Bogs

    Kathy Clugston navigates the murky waters of the GQT archives in search of some Pond and Bog related advice throughout the years.

    Water is the giver of plant life and nourisher of wildlife, but how do we ensure that we’re using it correctly? The GQT team have sorted through the archives in search for some questions and answers from the past.

    The programme's horticultural experts share their knowledge on what to do if your pond liner breaks, how to remove bird poo from the surface of your pond, and what sort of plants you could plant in bogs and ponds to increase biodiversity?

    We also listen back to when pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood visited the Exbury Gardens dragonfly pond to learn more about these little creatures.

    Producer: Dan Cocker
 Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
 Executive Producer: Carly Maile

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    2 February 2024, 3:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 45 seconds
    Postbag: Ham House and Garden

    Could the panel share some gardening tips for wheelchair users? How do I start growing mulukhiyah in my garden? Which hedges could I grow that are resistant to ermine moths and offer privacy? Peter Gibbs is joined by his eager team of horticultural experts as they dig through the GQT inbox and answer your gardening queries. On the panel this week are landscape architect Bunny Guinness, head gardener of Horatio’s Garden Ashley Edwards and curator of RHS Wisley Matthew Pottage. This week they visit Ham House and Garden in Richmond where head gardener John Myers gives them a tour of their unique horticultural treasure trove. Later, Peter and the panel discuss the fundamentals of a kitchen garden and give tips on non-typical fruit and vegetables you could grow in your garden.

    Senior Producer: Dominic Tyerman Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    19 January 2024, 5:50 pm
  • 42 minutes 4 seconds
    Wokingham

    Could you suggest some bat friendly plants that will keep them happy? Is it too late to re-pot my five-year-old daffodils? How can I improve the quality of my clay soil and what can I grow on it?

    Peter Gibbs and his team of horticultural experts are in the market town of Wokingham for this week's episode of Gardeners' Question Time.

    Joining Peter to dig into the audience's queries are garden designer Matthew Wilson, proud plantswoman Christine Walkden and passionate plantsman Matthew Biggs.

    Later in the show, Kirsty Wilson gets into the community spirit as she visits Greyfriars Biophilic Garden in Glasgow for a quick tour of their 56 show-stopping plots.

    Producer: Bethany Hocken

    Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

    Executive Producer: Hannah Newton

    A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    27 November 2023, 3:38 pm
  • 42 minutes 7 seconds
    House of Lords

    I’m having no luck growing chillies from seed. What am I doing wrong? Which plants would the panel recommend to bring fragrance and colour? Which way should a fig tree face to produce the most fruit?

    Ready to answer all these questions and more, Kathy Clugston and her team of experts have been invited to the House of Lords for this week’s programme. Joining Kathy to offer their best horticultural tips and tricks are Head of Oxford Botanical Gardens Dr Chris Thorogood, garden designer Matthew Wilson, and plantswoman Christine Walkden.

    Among the questions, Kathy chats to Baroness Fookes about the importance of gardening today.

    Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Senior Producer: Dan Cocker Executive Producer: Hannah Newton A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

    10 November 2023, 3:00 pm
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