Gardeners' Question Time

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

What plants would you recommend to entertain five to six year-olds? How do I successfully grow Japanese banana plants? Are rose fertilisers and tomato fertilisers the same thing? Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural champions visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens to solve the gardening gripes of the audience. On the panel this week are proud plantsman Matthew Biggs, ethnobotanist James Wong and garden designer Juliet Sargeant.Later, Matt Biggs educates us on the life and legacy of renowned plant collector Ernest Wilson whose expeditions across Asia led to the introduction of over 2,000 plant species. Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali Executive Producer: Carly MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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 HockenAssistant Producer: Rahnee PrescodExecutive Producer: Hannah NewtonA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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

What’s the best way to protect my terracotta plant pots from frost? What should I do if I spot an Asian hornet in my garden? What tall plants can I grow that are resistant to snails?Kathy Clugston and her team of horticultural experts visit the peaceful, Mottistone Gardens on the Isle of Wight for a postbag edition of the programme, where they answering your questions from the inbox.Kathy's joined by organic gardener Bob Flowerdew, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, and curator of RHS Wisley Matthew Pottage. And taking our panel on a tour around the magical gardens while offering his own advice is Senior Gardener, Ed Hinch.Producer: Dom TyermanAssistant Producer: Rahnee PrescodExecutive Producer: Hannah NewtonA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

What’s the best way to grow swedes? Why doesn’t my hydrangea come to flower? Are artificial plants acceptable or downright outrageous?This week, the GQT panellists are in Earlsdon to answer these questions and more in front of a live audience. Ready to share their insightful advice on all your plant predicaments are plant pathologist Pippa Greenwood, grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew, and conversant horticulturist Anne Swithinbank.Alongside the questions, regular panellist Matthew Wilson visits GQT Producer, Dan Cocker to dig up all there is to know about weeds.A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

What should I plant on the roof of my houseboat? Should I grow lilies in containers or flowerbeds? What is the worst gardening idea you’ve ever had?The GQT panellists are back in North Shropshire to answer these questions and more in front of a live audience. Ready to share their insightful advice on all your plant predicaments are landscape architect Bunny Guinness, horticulturist Christine Walkden, and garden designer Matthew Wilson.Alongside the questions, GQT Assistant Producer Rahnee Prescod chats to London Terrariums founder Emma Sibley about the history and creation of these pocket-sized jar-dens.Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Hannah NewtonA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Peter Gibbs takes a look through the GQT archives for top tips on sustainable gardening.Over the years the GQT panellists have shared plenty of knowledge on how to be a green gardener. They look at everything from how to make your driveway more environmentally friendly, to efficiently collecting rainwater at home.We also hear Hafsah Haferji's "how-to" on companion planting, and head back to RHS Wisley with Matthew Pottage and Environmental Researcher Tijana Blanusa to learn how trees help us with carbon capture.Producer - Hannah Newton Assistant Producer - Bethany HockenA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Peter Gibbs and the team are at Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex. Juliet Sargeant, Matt Biggs and Matthew Pottage are this weeks' panellists, ready to answer your gardening questions.Led by Herstmonceux's head gardener Guy Lucas, the team explores the castle grounds and learns about the sustainable gardening practices adopted in recent years.The panellists also tackle questions from listeners, including suggestions for what to plant around a thatched cottage, and when to prune plants that are still in flower in the winter.Producer - Jemima Rathbone Assistant Producer - Aniya DasA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4