蜜芽传媒

Peter Gibbs hosts the programme from Kent. Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and Matthew Wilson take questions from local gardeners.

Produced by Darby Dorras.
Assistant Producer: Hannah Newton.

A Somethin' Else production for 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4.

This week's questions and answers:
Q. What is a good plant to climb up a north-facing wall?

A. Ivy would be good for a fence, Akebia quinata would work as a climber and Camellias would work brilliantly grown in front of the wall. Espalier Pear trees or Morello Chrerries would also work well.

Q. What kind of tulips should I plant in a pot for a colourful display? What other plants could I plant with them?

A. Apricot-beauty, Fontainbleau, Triumphator, Queen of Night, Apple Dawn and Angelique are lovely varieties of tulips. Forget-Me-Nots look great planted under tulips. Plant the bulbs deep in the pot. Get some well-draining compost in the base, perhaps some John Innes mixed with something else over some crocks. Then add more compost and put the Mysotis plants (Forget-Me-Nots) on top of those and the Tulips will push their way through. You could also underplant with Scilla, White Jonquil Narcissus or Narcissus Thalia. Alternatively you could overplant them with Lilies. Plant the tulips at the end of October or early November.

Q. How should I prepare my shady east-facing vegetable plots?

A. Use raise beds to maximize the light getting to the plants. Paint any surrounding walls white. If there is turf there now, you don't need to prepare the soil too much. Plant Garlic, Broad Beans, Shallots, Onions now but wait for spring to plant other things.

Q. What is this invasive plant and how can I deal with it? It's a perennial plant which is 30cm tall with average leaves and reddish stems. It has bunches of pink scented flowers. It's in the same plant family as Carnations (Caryophyllus) so it has a similar look.

A. It's Saponaria (Soapwort) and you just need to keep digging it up.

Q. Is it recommended to leave the roots of Runner Beans in the ground with a chance of them shooting up the following year?

A. Yes, if you have a mild winter there is a chance this would work. You could use mulch to insulate them over the colder months. Be careful, the roots are poisonous.

Q. My beautiful ornamental Cherry tree took three years to die and now my other fruit trees are looking poorly. What should I do?

A. It looks like sclerosis due to mineral deficiency. You could try using some seaweed solution or manure to help give them the nutrition they need to survive.

Q. Will Eremurus (Foxtailed Lilies) do better in raised beds in full sunshine?

A. Yes, these plants like full, hot sunshine. Try the Pinocchio, Isabelina and Cleopatra varieties.

Q. My white climbing Hydrangeas are turning pink, what is happening?

A. Heat and light and water types can change the colour of the plants. The flower colour also depends on the acidity of the soil.

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