Gardeners' Question Time

BBC Radio 4

4.4 (797)
HOME & GARDEN
UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

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

3 DAYS AGO

Postbag Edition: Regent's Park, London

When should we prune roses? What plants grow well in rubble and grass? What's infecting my Prunus avium? Peter Gibbs and a team of horticultural experts are led on a guided tour of Regent's Park in London, while dipping into the GQT postbag to answer your gardening conundrums. Leading the tour is head gardener and fellow GQT panellist Matthew Pottage, who's also joined by pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood and head gardener Ashley Edwards. Later in the programme, head gardeners Anna Rafal and Anne Tuomisto offer advice on pruning roses and designing a Mediterranean garden, as well as winter tidying with hibernating animals in mind. Producer: Dominic Tyerman Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

42 min
15 NOV

Birmingham: Emotional Plants, Green Manure and Scents

Do plants have feelings? When should I plant green manure? Why do leaves drop more in autumn than any other time of the year? Kathy Clugston and a team of gardening experts visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens to solve the gardening issues of the audience. On the panel this week are ethnobotanist James Wong, proud plantsman Matthew Biggs and garden designer Juliet Sargeant. Later, James Wong and Birmingham Botanical Gardens' Senior Nursery Horticulturist Bethan Collerton discuss some useful tips and tricks on how to protect your tender or less hardy plants during the winter months. Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

43 min
8 NOV

The National Memorial Arboretum

Do the panel have any idea of who or what has stolen our apples? When is the best time to plant my Prunus Incisa? How do I successfully grow fennel? Peter Gibbs and his team of gardening experts visit The National Memorial Arboretum, to solve the gardening queries of the audience. On the panel this week are grow-your-own legend Bob Flowerdew, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood and garden designer Bunny Guinness. Later in the programme, Bunny discusses planting for remembrance with the National Memorial Arboretum's head of estates Andy Ansell, as they explore 150 acres of reflective spaces. Producer: Dan Cocker Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

43 min
1 NOV

Hillingdon: Seeds, Eucomis and Pineapple Lillies

What plant have you killed the most? How do I encourage my pineapple lily to flower? What plant would you take with you to your island paradise? Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural champions are in Hillingdon, to solve the gardening grievances of the audience. On the panel this week are proud plantsman Matthew Biggs, house plants expert Anne Swithinbank, and ethnobotanist James Wong. Later in the programme, Dr Chris Thorogood is on hand to sew the seeds of knowledge as he educates us on all things seedlings, tackling topics such as what they are, how they grow and how to encourage them to grow healthily. Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Assistant Producer: Daniel Pearce Executive Producer: Carly Maile A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

42 min
16 AUG

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
31 MAY

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
22 MAR

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
2 FEB

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

42 min

See All (16)

4.4

out of 5

797 Ratings

Still my favourite

11/09/2022

very tolerant person normally

I’ve been listening to GQT since 1970 when was 8 years old and was given a transistor radio for Christmas. Later I was given a tiny plastic greenhouse and grew tomatoes and lettuce and a gourd that was much too big for the space. I’d be in my greenhouse, tickling tomato flowers with a feather and learning about plants from GQT that, at the time, were only words to look up in gardening books and catalogues. The simple combination of a transistor radio, a small greenhouse and access to gardening expertise formed the basis of a lifelong love of plants and growing. Thank you GQT for being an important constant in my life.
It’s the only gardening program I listen to but….

22/02/2023

wwedrty

I have been listening for many years and seen the changes to the presenters and topics. I am not opposed to change but there are times when I think some the content strays too far from the practicalities of gardening. Garden poetry is my least favorite along side flower arranging and hugging trees. The show can be a little too English centric despite having a Northern Irish presenter. I really like the chats around how gardening was done more sustainably in the past despite the use of peat based composts (try not to keep saying peat free- we all know and it’s weary), Also try not to baby us with health and safety advice it’s especially irritating when the dreaded balcony with a pot is mentioned. You please me 80% of the time so we’ll done everyone. All the stars despite what you might think.
All about honeybees

04/10/2021

the big fly in

Hello I would love to be on your podcast. Something a little different. I have developed a rather unique beehive nest box beehive. And system of beekeeping. Developed primarily for my own investigation of honeybees I have evolved a system like no other. Resulting in bees that are less stressed. Thus happier and healthier. Hope to hear from you soon. Kevin. the GARDENERSBEEHIVE guy Gardenersbeehive.com
Good advice but too Toff-centric

16/08/2022

nevereatscandy

Brilliant advice but perhaps more diversity all round would improve it and make it more 21st century.