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1
00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,000
BIRDSONG
2
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,080
Hello, welcome to Gardeners' World,
3
00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:28,880
and welcome to a rather wet,
soggy Longmeadow.
4
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,480
It rained very hard overnight,
which is great for the garden -
5
00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:35,760
really, it needs it - but the roses
don't like it,
6
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,960
because not only do they droop
and cower under the weight
7
00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,240
of the water, but also it does mean
that the petals get soggy
8
00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,360
and fall off, and makes deadheading
doubly important, not just to keep
9
00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,480
the flowers growing, but also
just to try and add a little bit
10
00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:53,200
of respect back to them.
11
00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,600
And, of course, the reason
you deadhead is to stop them
12
00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,080
setting seed, because any plant,
when it sets seed, is going to
13
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,200
divert its energy from making
new flowers.
14
00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,800
So, the more you deadhead, the more
that new flowers will appear.
15
00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,240
And there's plenty of life
left in these roses yet,
16
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,440
so it's time well spent.
17
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,600
Coming up on today's programme,
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,520
Carol visits Cothay Manor
in Somerset
19
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,040
to get inspiration
from their beautiful borders...
20
00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,480
One of the most fascinating things
about this garden
21
00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,600
is entering these
secret little rooms.
22
00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,640
They're really intimate and lovely,
23
00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,560
and they're packed with
marvellous plants.
24
00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:39,840
..and Arit visit RHS Wisley,
25
00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,640
where she discovers that
the gardener's traditional foe,
26
00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,280
the slug, actually might be
the gardener's friend...
27
00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,480
So, this is the leopard slug.
They're really helpful slugs,
28
00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,640
in that they actually are quite
territorial
29
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:56,960
and aggressive towards
other slug species,
30
00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,520
so they have been known to attack
and kill other slugs, occasionally.
31
00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,000
..and I shall be preparing
my biennials
32
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,320
for a really good display next year.
33
00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,480
There's a real sense in the garden
34
00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,240
at this point of year
35
00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,000
of seasons evolving,
36
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,360
and what we have is one season
ending, with the plants that were
37
00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,480
at their best at the end
of May and throughout June,
38
00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:45,880
and another beginning,
the late-summer flowers,
39
00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,600
and as a gardener,
what you have to do is say,
40
00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,560
OK, we've had one performance,
that's finished.
41
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,720
Time to clear that away and create
room, create opportunities
42
00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,680
for more planting, and also improve
the health of the garden.
43
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:00,560
And, quite frankly, to tidy
it up a bit.
44
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,320
And as far as tidying goes,
the first plant I've got here
45
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:05,760
is an aquilegia.
46
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,640
Now, aquilegias are
completely beautiful,
47
00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:11,680
and they seed themselves
all over the garden,
48
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,840
and I definitely wouldn't
want to be without them.
49
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,600
But once they've finished flowering,
50
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,120
they don't die very gracefully.
51
00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,840
So now's the time to cut them back.
52
00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,240
Get in there and cut right back
to the ground.
53
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,560
So, they can go. And you can see
that hiding underneath there
54
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,600
were some ophiopogon.
55
00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,720
So they'll get a little bit
of light now.
56
00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,920
Essentially, that's a
tidying-up process,
57
00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,840
but there are other good reasons
to cut back plants
58
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,720
at this time of year.
59
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,400
The lupins have been better
this year than I ever remember them,
60
00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,640
they've just been fantastic,
and their flowering season
61
00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,080
is late spring, early summer.
62
00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,880
And, really, by the end of June,
they've done the stuff.
63
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,800
So, these two need cutting right
back down to the base.
64
00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,840
Remove everything above ground.
65
00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,480
This is not going to harm
the plant at all.
66
00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,960
It'll quickly regrow fresh foliage,
67
00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,280
and it means that its energy
68
00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:39,400
is going into the roots
rather than producing seed.
69
00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,520
Now, it's not just lupins that you
can give this treatment to.
70
00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,720
As your delphiniums stop flowering,
71
00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,760
cut them right back
to the ground.
72
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,920
And it's the same with
Oriental poppies.
73
00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:56,720
And the great thing about poppies
and delphiniums
74
00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,800
is they very often
will flower again.
75
00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,960
Sometime from late August
through September,
76
00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,120
you'll get a second showing. It's
never as vigorous as the first one,
77
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,720
but it's certainly worth having.
78
00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,240
That tends not to be
true with lupins, though.
79
00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,160
You're unlikely to get new lupin
flowers, but you will get
80
00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:13,840
attractive foliage.
81
00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,320
Right, before I take this to
the compost heap,
82
00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,040
I've got one more to do.
83
00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:35,720
Hardy geraniums are absolute
standbys in the garden,
84
00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,880
but they don't all
flower simultaneously,
85
00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,000
and they don't all flower
all the time.
86
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,600
The earlier ones,
like Geranium macrorrhizum,
87
00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,040
like Geranium phaeum,
88
00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,120
will have done most of
their flowering
89
00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:48,480
and be developing seeds.
90
00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,080
But if I cut this right back hard,
91
00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,480
that will come back,
92
00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:00,120
and very quickly, it'll produce
fresh foliage with fresh flowers.
93
00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,000
And that will let light and air
and moisture in, and the plant
94
00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,600
will be a lot healthier as a result.
95
00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,600
The final reason why it's important
to keep cutting back plants
96
00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,440
that have finished
their performance,
97
00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,920
and whose foliage is starting
to die back,
98
00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:22,680
is that, in weather like this,
when it's wet and still quite mild,
99
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,560
it's the perfect conditions for
fungal problems to get established,
100
00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,600
and also the perfect hiding place
for slugs and snails.
101
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,920
Cut back the foliage and it gives
you that opportunity to plant
102
00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,600
into the spaces, because nothing
is going to perform
103
00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:38,640
right across the growing season.
104
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,320
So, you need to add to it and adapt
105
00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,360
and follow the flow of plants
as they grow.
106
00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,240
Now, to get inspiration for this,
the best thing you can possibly do
107
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,400
is go and visit a beautiful garden,
which is what Carol has done,
108
00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,960
a Cothay Manor in Somerset.
109
00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:11,400
For us gardeners, it's a real treat
to get out and visit grand gardens
110
00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,840
far and wide.
111
00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,800
Although Cothay Manor is a garden
on a great scale,
112
00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,920
nonetheless, it's divided into all
these smaller sections -
113
00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,120
garden rooms, if you like.
114
00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,720
But even this garden room is bigger
than most people's gardens anyway.
115
00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,040
But within it, if you look
carefully here and there,
116
00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,640
there are all manner of ideas.
117
00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,040
Take this one - just three
plants involved here.
118
00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,120
First of all, there's this
beautiful kniphofia.
119
00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,760
Its stature is magnificent,
these great big heads.
120
00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,200
Beloved by all sorts of
pollinating insects, too.
121
00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,560
And then, bringing up the rear,
is Acanthus mollis.
122
00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,800
It is just so architectural.
123
00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,720
But then, in the background,
you've got this little accent.
124
00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:04,080
It's a miscanthus. It's called
Morgenlicht - Morning Light.
125
00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,760
And it's got really beautiful
foliage that accentuates
126
00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:09,800
these other two plants.
127
00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,280
These are grand plants,
128
00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,360
but they would look absolutely
perfect in a small garden.
129
00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,880
One of the most fascinating things
about this garden
130
00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,800
is entering these secret
little rooms.
131
00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,840
They're really intimate and lovely,
132
00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,240
and they're packed
with marvellous plants.
133
00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,680
But this is what's really
caught my eye,
134
00:08:41,680 --> 00:08:44,120
not because it's bright and vivid,
135
00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,200
but because it's this
most beautiful combination
136
00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:51,680
of two glorious plants,
both Asiatic.
137
00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:55,560
This one is Kirengeshoma palmata.
138
00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:59,120
It's a delight, with these lovely
round buds
139
00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,680
and then these long,
pale-yellow flowers.
140
00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:05,960
And if you look closely into
the centre of it,
141
00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,520
this beautiful little climber,
Dicentra scandens.
142
00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,520
And if you trace it back,
143
00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:17,360
it's climbing way up over
this obelisk and right up
144
00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,840
into the yew, with these glorious
sort of golden droplets
145
00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,960
just dripping from the foliage.
146
00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:26,480
So elegant.
147
00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:40,240
All around Cothay Manor are a series
of beautiful pots.
148
00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,160
This big pot occupies a space
that's the focal point
149
00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,720
for all sorts of different views,
150
00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,240
and it is so simple and yet
so effective.
151
00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,800
It's dramatic, and it just uses
one plant.
152
00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,480
It's an argyranthemum
called Jamaica Primrose.
153
00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,240
Incredibly easy to grow.
154
00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,520
Very, very simple to propagate.
155
00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,280
You can just take little short
cuttings right the way through
156
00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,880
from March through the summer.
157
00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,040
And it's a good idea to do that,
because then you've got
158
00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:16,040
guaranteed plants for the next year,
because this is a tender plant.
159
00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,120
But whilst it's flowering,
there's nothing like it.
160
00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:22,880
It will keep on producing flower
after flower after flower,
161
00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,840
providing that you make sure
to deadhead.
162
00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,520
When you do, take the spent
flowers down
163
00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,320
to where you can see the next
embryonic buds developing.
164
00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,200
That way, you'll ensure a wonderful
show of flowers
165
00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,040
right the way through.
166
00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:53,360
In this little garden room,
the predominant colour is green.
167
00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,280
There are splashes of vivid colour
here and there,
168
00:10:56,280 --> 00:11:00,040
and of course there are hundreds
of different hues of green,
169
00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,560
but it's green nonetheless.
170
00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:06,440
So, how do you achieve that kind of
interest and the sort of excitement
171
00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,160
that they've got here in
this planting?
172
00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:13,000
Well, by thinking about things
like form and texture,
173
00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,000
by thinking about scale, too.
174
00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,240
And leaf shape - really,
really important consideration.
175
00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:22,800
So, here you've got a gorgeous,
176
00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,960
great big Salvia involucrata.
177
00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:30,080
And then next to it is
Sinacalia tangutica,
178
00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,920
here in bud, with very
divided leaves.
179
00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,800
And when these flowers are finished,
it leaves behind these feathery
180
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,480
little seed heads at the top.
181
00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,920
And then there are bits
of ferns creeping through here -
182
00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,680
the royal fern. But below,
on the floor,
183
00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:50,360
is this dainty little
maidenhair fern.
184
00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,960
It's almost like a frippery,
a little edge,
185
00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,680
and it's on an entirely
different scale
186
00:11:56,680 --> 00:11:59,200
to all these giants
towering above it.
187
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,320
And it's that that makes this
a really exciting corner,
188
00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:08,120
and one that anybody could try and
transfer to their own garden.
189
00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,400
On a corner is this
delightful planting.
190
00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,040
It's formed, really,
by three plants.
191
00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:28,080
First of all, you've got this lovely
clematis. It's herbaceous,
192
00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,480
so it will die right back
to the ground each winter.
193
00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,520
Now, earlier on, it would
have been smothered
194
00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:39,240
with these little bright-blue
flowers, Turk's-cap shaped.
195
00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,480
But they've given way now
to these silvery seed heads,
196
00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,240
and what seed heads they are, too.
They're exquisite.
197
00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:51,240
And then here we've got this lovely
miscanthus - Morning Light,
198
00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,320
soft and silvery, and the perfect
backdrop for this.
199
00:12:55,320 --> 00:13:00,240
And then how about this
for a statuesque plant?
200
00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,720
This is Echinops ritro,
the globe thistle.
201
00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,360
First of all, these globes
of flower are silver,
202
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,360
eventually they become blue.
203
00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,360
And there's a reason for that.
204
00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:15,960
Bees and other pollinating insects
can perceive blue very easily,
205
00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,640
so when these flowers are ready
to be pollinated,
206
00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:23,480
they become blue. And then,
eventually, those flowers fade.
207
00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:27,400
And what you can do if you've got
the time and inclination
208
00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,160
is just to take each one
209
00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:34,440
and just rub off the old flowers,
210
00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:38,360
like that, making it quite
pristine again,
211
00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,000
and not damaging that seedhead
at all.
212
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,520
The birds will still be able
to enjoy it all through the winter.
213
00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,080
Well, how romantic is this?
214
00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,920
This great long alley.
215
00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,920
One plant used all the way through,
216
00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,200
billowing catmint.
217
00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:11,120
And then, at its centre,
a focal point -
218
00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,920
a unicorn.
219
00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,920
Well, we can't all have this in
our gardens, of course,
220
00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,360
not on this scale, but it can
inspire us
221
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,200
to use that whole idea of symmetry
222
00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,280
that brings this feeling of peace.
223
00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,520
It may be an extremely tranquil,
peaceful garden,
224
00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:35,280
but when you leave here, your mind's
going to be buzzing with new ideas.
225
00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,520
I really like the combination
we've got here
226
00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,840
of the geranium - Ann Folkard -
227
00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,440
with its vivid magenta, and this
rose, with these small
228
00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,720
but very intense red flowers.
229
00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,960
And playing with colours is the most
creative aspect of gardening,
230
00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,360
and I absolutely love it.
231
00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,080
But sometimes you just have to be
humble and accept
232
00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,400
that nature does it better than ever
you possibly could,
233
00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,920
and that has happened here in
the Jewel Garden this year,
234
00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:28,600
because, remember we took out
the box hedges that lined the paths,
235
00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:33,520
and what has happened as a result
is we have a rash of lovely poppies
236
00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,120
that have grown exactly
where the box hedges were.
237
00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,040
And the reason for that is that
poppy seeds germinate
238
00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:40,760
in response to light.
239
00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:45,720
And when we first made
the Jewel Garden back in 1997,
240
00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,840
we scattered poppy seeds to
fill it up,
241
00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,760
and they in turn dropped
their seeds,
242
00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,600
and when we planted the box hedges
the following year,
243
00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,920
the seeds would have been buried
under the roots of the box.
244
00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:02,240
So they've stayed buried
for the last 24 years.
245
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,720
And the colours are glorious.
246
00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,280
They fit in, they add energy
and dynamism,
247
00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,280
and they're a complete joy.
So I'm very happy.
248
00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,280
That is a lovely accident.
249
00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,920
Now, we've been sent a film
from a young couple
250
00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,800
who started a garden from scratch,
251
00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,080
and they've recorded the first
few years,
252
00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,280
which they're sharing with us.
253
00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,680
Hello, we're Hattie and Matt,
254
00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,240
and welcome to our garden
in Cambridgeshire.
255
00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,960
It's an new-build plot, and we've
been here about two years now.
256
00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,880
When we first moved in,
the garden was just turf,
257
00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,040
so we quickly set about digging
some beds
258
00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,080
and put up a wooden trellis so that
we could add more height
259
00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,280
to the garden for our hanging
baskets and our climbing plants.
260
00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,440
So, this is our Mediterranean bed.
261
00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:04,560
We've got lots of Mediterranean
herbs in here, too.
262
00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,000
We've got rosemary, thyme, sage.
263
00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,200
We've got lavender as well.
And it's the hottest bed,
264
00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,520
so this gets really dry in summer,
but it does quite well.
265
00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:18,440
The garden attracts lots
of wildlife,
266
00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:20,400
and we see many beetles and bees,
267
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,160
just like this one enjoying
the flowering sage.
268
00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,520
We've also seen an increase
in visiting birds,
269
00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,720
and we think this has helped by
our new small water feature.
270
00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,800
It's a washing-up bowl sunken
into the ground
271
00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:32,640
with a solar-panel water fountain.
272
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,680
We grow edible plants, such
as hops for brewing beer.
273
00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,000
And here they are climbing
up the trellis,
274
00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,120
entangled with the clematis,
enjoying the evening sunshine.
275
00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:46,160
We also have some vines
that we can grow for wine grapes.
276
00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,720
We've actually made wine
out of these.
277
00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,200
Here it is.
278
00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,040
This is about two years old now.
279
00:17:58,080 --> 00:17:59,400
It's awful.
280
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,680
Thank you for visiting our garden.
281
00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:22,640
I'm grinning because I love Matt's
honesty about his home-made wine.
282
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,360
Now, I've got a tray
of sweetcorn,
283
00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:26,120
and I'm going to plant these
out now.
284
00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:29,920
In fact, the key thing is
that they must be planted in a grid.
285
00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,960
Now, there is a reason for that.
286
00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:38,160
It's because sweetcorn
is wind pollinated,
287
00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,920
and what that means is, if you plant
them in a row,
288
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:47,000
the wind can go across the row
and blow all the pollen away
289
00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,920
from the neighbours, so you
end up with no cobs at all.
290
00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,880
But if you put them in a grid,
whichever way the wind blows,
291
00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,840
it's going to spread the pollen
to other plants,
292
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:01,600
ready to be pollinated.
293
00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,720
I reckon I can get three
across this raised bed.
294
00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:12,600
In principle, the wider apart
they are,
295
00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,200
the more cobs that you'll get
off each plant.
296
00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,440
So, these are about 18 inches,
297
00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:22,720
which should give me a couple
of decent cobs per plant,
298
00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,960
and maybe even a third smaller one.
299
00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:31,160
And bury them slightly deeper than
they've been growing in the pot.
300
00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,080
That will not just anchor
them better,
301
00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:34,840
but also increase the root growth.
302
00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,720
This is a variety called Swift,
303
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,520
which is noted for being
exceptionally sweet,
304
00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:56,400
and because these grow fairly tall
and fairly thin,
305
00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,080
sweetcorn lend themselves to
intercropping.
306
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:07,240
Traditionally, squashes were grown
with sweetcorn and beans,
307
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,760
but I'm actually going to add
some lettuce in here.
308
00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,040
I've got a red cos lettuce
309
00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,720
that I'm going to plant
in amongst them.
310
00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,440
And the whole point is,
I want these to be quick.
311
00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,600
I want to harvest these
before they get shaded out.
312
00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,520
And that means that I could plant
them quite close together,
313
00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,160
because I will harvest them
fairly small.
314
00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,040
Now, one of the floral crops
315
00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,640
that span 1,000 allotments
across the country
316
00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,320
are sweet peas.
317
00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,320
It's amazing how often you see them
growing amongst vegetables.
318
00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,320
But for all of us who grow
sweet peas, if we're honest,
319
00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,520
there is a slight element
of luck about their success.
320
00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,160
Some years are good, some years are
bad, and we're not quite sure
321
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,120
what we did to make that happen.
322
00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:07,160
So, we thought it was time
that we went and got the advice
323
00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,240
of a professional sweet pea grower,
to find out how to grow
324
00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,080
great sweet peas every single time.
325
00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,840
You can just forget the world
when you're in the sweet peas,
326
00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,840
just tying them up and
looking after them.
327
00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,040
It's...it's lovely.
328
00:21:29,120 --> 00:21:34,000
It's everything about them - the way
they grow, the way they perform,
329
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,360
the heartaches they give you.
330
00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,120
I'm Derek and we're in
Stowe-by-Chartley at my nursery.
331
00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:43,760
I'm well and truly hooked.
332
00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,000
I have now got what's commonly
known as sweet-pea-itis.
333
00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,080
Living and breathing in sweet peas
all of the time.
334
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,760
I collect anything on sweet peas -
335
00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,880
pottery, books, postcards.
336
00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,160
You name it, I collect it.
337
00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,160
It gets into your blood.
338
00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,720
My grandad was a gardener,
a full-time gardener.
339
00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,520
My dad was a full-time gardener
at one stage,
340
00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,120
gardening at the big house.
341
00:22:12,120 --> 00:22:16,400
And I'm a full-time gardener now
and have been for many a year.
342
00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,560
And my son now, who's in the
business, is the fourth generation.
343
00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,920
You can't beat having the family
around you.
344
00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:27,320
First time I saw plants
was with my dad.
345
00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,160
He always grew one row
of sweet peas.
346
00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,880
He used to say, "Let's see
who can get the one
347
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:36,120
"with the most flowers on."
348
00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:38,000
Of course, that gives you
the incentive,
349
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,240
and it's from that that I've loved
sweet peas and I've grown
350
00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,080
sweet peas all my life.
351
00:22:44,360 --> 00:22:48,000
Well, there's about 50 types of
sweet peas that are available.
352
00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,480
The one that we concentrate on more
than anything is the Spencer.
353
00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,120
We've got about 2,500 of those
on the go at the moment.
354
00:22:55,120 --> 00:22:59,920
The Spencer varieties developed
from a pale pink,
355
00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:03,080
wonderful frilly flower,
and it's from that flower
356
00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,200
that all these Spencers
have originated from.
357
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,640
If anybody is starting to grow sweet
peas who hasn't grown them before,
358
00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,120
Gwendoline is an excellent
first choice. It is brilliant.
359
00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:21,960
This is a lovely pink,
and a long stem,
360
00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,400
with four well-placed florets on it.
361
00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,480
As you can see, all the florets
there. It's lovely.
362
00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:31,240
It is exceptionally
good for cutting.
363
00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:36,600
One of the things that happens
with sweet peas is that they shed
364
00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,520
the buds when the conditions
aren't correct for them.
365
00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,680
Now, this could be cold weather,
it could be hot weather,
366
00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,600
it could be just a thunderstorm
which causes it,
367
00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,520
and they'll drop the buds.
368
00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,640
But one thing you must never do
with sweet peas, especially
369
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,640
in the hot weather, is water
them from the tap.
370
00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,720
So, with a hose pipe or something
like that. The water is too cold.
371
00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,360
They shed the buds
to protect themselves.
372
00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,080
This is excellent for bud drop.
373
00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,160
It doesn't hardly ever drop
its buds.
374
00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,400
That's why it's top of the classes.
375
00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,080
Sweet peas come in all sorts
of colours and shades.
376
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,280
Kiera Madeline really has got
a good perfume.
377
00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:27,080
It's absolutely magnificent,
that is, yeah.
378
00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,400
That's called Lisa Marie.
379
00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:32,600
That's been bred by ourselves
380
00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,360
and it's been named after
my daughter.
381
00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:38,200
I haven't called a sweet pea
"Derek" yet.
382
00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,600
There hasn't been one good enough,
has there?
383
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:42,160
HE CHUCKLES
384
00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,200
This is Allan Hodgson.
385
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,720
It is an absolutely cracking
sweet pea.
386
00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,880
An excellent pea for people
for starting off with.
387
00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,640
It comes on long stems,
well-placed florets,
388
00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,360
and the colour is ideal for mixing
with other colours.
389
00:24:56,360 --> 00:25:00,040
Now, the good thing about this is,
if you want to grow sweet peas,
390
00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:03,360
this is one you can grow outside
very, very well.
391
00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:06,960
It's weatherproof, shower proof
and it doesn't mottle up.
392
00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,760
This cream sweet pea is lovely,
it's almost yellow.
393
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,920
Just a good cut flower, that is -
Doreen.
394
00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,320
Now, yellow is the Holy Grail
of sweet peas,
395
00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,800
and we haven't got a yellow
and we...
396
00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,080
It isn't in the genes
of the sweet pea,
397
00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:25,000
the Spencer sweet pea,
398
00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:29,200
but if anybody can breed one
and get one out, give us a call.
399
00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,480
But if we get a yellow one,
it'll make me very happy
400
00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,080
that I have a nice yellow sweet pea
with my name on it.
401
00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:48,600
Anybody can grow sweet peas and
anybody can hybridise sweet peas.
402
00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:50,680
It's dead easy
and it's a lot of fun.
403
00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:55,440
You need two parents -
say a pink or a purple -
404
00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,080
you put them together, and that's
how you get your new variety.
405
00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,920
You go into the bud stage
on something like this,
406
00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:07,160
open it up and you'll pull
all those little yellow bits off.
407
00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,200
Like that.
408
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:11,720
Let's cross it with a mauve one.
409
00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,760
We'll take a mauve flower
that's fully out,
410
00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,480
because the pollen is now soft
like talcum powder.
411
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,480
And we're going to put the pollen
on to the stamen there.
412
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,680
And that's now fertilised.
It'll set seed.
413
00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:28,560
You take the seeds out, you put
those in the ground individually.
414
00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,160
When they come to flower,
415
00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,920
you're going to choose
whichever colour you want.
416
00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,640
You keep taking the seeds
from that variety
417
00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,120
that you've got growing there,
you grow it on for the four years.
418
00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,520
That's the new variety
you've created.
419
00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:42,800
That's the job done.
420
00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,880
Growing sweet peas
can be done two ways.
421
00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,840
One is like this,
which we call cordon method.
422
00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,800
Let everything grow
so it sort of bushes out,
423
00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,880
till it gets to about this height
and then you'll strip it back down
424
00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,040
so that it's got one runner on.
425
00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,520
You have to take
all the side shoots out
426
00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,320
and as long as you've got two side
shoots coming,
427
00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:14,640
you leave those in -
428
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,560
that way you'll get
an excellent cut flower every time
429
00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,760
with a long, straight stem.
430
00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:22,760
Now, if you don't want to go
to that trouble,
431
00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:24,640
you can grow them bush fashion,
432
00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,880
which is where you leave
all the side shoots
433
00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,560
and the tendrils on,
and it just bushes out.
434
00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:31,960
You'll get decent flowers on
to start with,
435
00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,600
but cordon method,
you get a stronger, longer bloom.
436
00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:36,960
It's brilliant.
437
00:27:38,360 --> 00:27:41,400
The tendrils have to be removed
also, as the sides shoots.
438
00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,840
The tendrils are these
curly...curly bits on the end there.
439
00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:46,920
You just take them off
at the end of the leaf,
440
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,720
and that's it, because
all the goodness that's going in
441
00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:53,360
to produce these tendrils is going
into the production of the flowers.
442
00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:56,920
So you can imagine every leaf on
here has got a big fat tendril on,
443
00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,040
cos they do grow like that
if you let them.
444
00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,240
If you're doing them bush fashion,
you don't have to take them off,
445
00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,120
but it does help the flowers
if you do.
446
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:19,760
A tip for watering is to keep
the ground moist at all times.
447
00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:21,760
One of the best tips I can give you
448
00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:24,600
is that when
you're feeding sweet peas,
449
00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:28,480
you don't feed them until
they start to show flower buds.
450
00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,640
And once they start
showing flower buds,
451
00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,520
you feed them
with a high-potash feed.
452
00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:36,800
So hopefully those tips
will give you a good chance
453
00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,960
to have some wonderful sweet peas,
then, during the summer.
454
00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,360
I think I knew,
but I never really took in,
455
00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,600
that there were
no yellow sweet peas.
456
00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,200
Of course there aren't.
457
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,280
But what we do have yellow
is yellow rattle
458
00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,680
because, a couple of years ago,
I decided to turn
459
00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:21,560
this little two-foot-wide strip
along the base of the hedge
460
00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,760
into a mini wild flower meadow.
461
00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:28,000
But the one thing that you
absolutely need is yellow rattle.
462
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,360
And it's this plant here, and it's
got these lovely seed heads.
463
00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:33,240
And the reason why
it's called yellow rattle
464
00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,920
is because, as they dry,
they rattle as they move around.
465
00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,080
The whole point of it
is that it's parasitic on grass.
466
00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:41,880
So where you have
lots of yellow rattle,
467
00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:43,800
you don't have lots of grass,
468
00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:46,680
and that lets in
all the wild flowers.
469
00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:47,840
Now, it is happening.
470
00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,120
This was a couple of years ago,
so this is year two.
471
00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:51,760
We've got lots of yellow rattle.
472
00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,720
Things like the wild carrot
are beginning to appear,
473
00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,600
and the flowers will soon be out.
474
00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,600
There's red clover,
which is also setting seed heads -
475
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,520
very different to the yellow rattle,
much more fuzzy.
476
00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,320
We've got sorrel.
We've allowed that to flower.
477
00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,320
Sorrel is a very close cousin
of dock,
478
00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,480
and I've cut
the seedhead of that off,
479
00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,960
cos we don't want
those seeds to fall.
480
00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,600
And the whole point of it, of
course, is you have fabulous plants
481
00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,720
for bees and other
pollinating insects.
482
00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:22,440
You have cover
for small mammals and reptiles.
483
00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,120
And even if you do it just one
square metre in your garden,
484
00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,800
there is a huge benefit to wildlife
and quite frankly, to you,
485
00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:31,240
because it's lovely.
486
00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:35,240
Still to come...
487
00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,320
Arit visits RHS Wisley
to discover more about
488
00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,720
some of our most vilified wildlife.
489
00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:46,360
So tell me about this guy,
the black slug.
490
00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,040
So they will damage
some of our tender plants,
491
00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,000
but they will also feed
on a lot of rotting material,
492
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,760
so they can be good, but they can
also be a little bit bad.
493
00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:00,840
And I will be sowing some biennials
for next summer's display.
494
00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:06,360
But, first, we're going to
a viewer's garden in Bingley,
495
00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,720
where things have gone truly wild.
496
00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:20,400
Hello, I'm Johnny, and I'd like
to show you round the garden
497
00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,200
that we've just let go wild
this year.
498
00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:37,520
So this was a lovely tailored lawn,
which this year we've just let grow.
499
00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:43,360
Cut a path through,
we've got the apples, a plum tree.
500
00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,640
And just by letting that grass grow,
501
00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:55,240
we've got some absolutely gorgeous
vetch that's come out in swathes.
502
00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:57,680
Just beautiful.
503
00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:04,880
We've just let plants
plant themselves.
504
00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:06,760
And this one in particular we love.
505
00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:12,360
Just a wild rose
that's popped itself in the wall.
506
00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:15,280
Absolutely lovely,
and it smells gorgeous.
507
00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:22,520
Just let the plants decide
what they want to do.
508
00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:23,640
It's almost like...
509
00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:28,520
..curation, I suppose,
for want of a better phrase.
510
00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:31,960
Just seeing what comes through
and deciding what we want to keep,
511
00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:37,560
rather than really thinking about
what we put in in the first place.
512
00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:47,920
So hopefully you can see
that you can let your garden
513
00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,960
just do itself,
and we're really enjoying it -
514
00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:54,480
both the fact that you get
so much wildlife coming in,
515
00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:58,440
but also the fact that
it's actually really low effort.
516
00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,720
I have a feeling that Johnny
is being unduly modest
517
00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:20,680
because it actually takes
quite a lot of gardening skill
518
00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:22,160
to create a garden like that.
519
00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,280
He says he curates it.
Well, he does it very well.
520
00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:30,960
And this new approach to gardening,
of balancing what is truly wild
521
00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:34,840
and what is carefully controlled,
I think is very exciting.
522
00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:36,160
And a good tip,
523
00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:40,040
if you want to make your garden
look a little bit looser and wilder,
524
00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,160
is to grow some rambling roses
as opposed to climbers.
525
00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:49,960
Now, behind me is the rambling rose
Rosa multiflora Carnea.
526
00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:54,000
And, about five years ago, I decided
to put about a dozen ramblers
527
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,240
up the apple trees
here in the orchard,
528
00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,560
and very quickly
they got established.
529
00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:05,720
And rambling roses always add
a sense of exuberant wilderness
530
00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,440
to any garden, because
they're pretty uncontrollable.
531
00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:11,760
You can train them,
but they don't want to be trained.
532
00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,200
They just spread and arch and loop,
533
00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:16,640
and then, for about three
or four weeks in summer,
534
00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:19,840
are a mass of these small blooms
535
00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:23,080
that froth and spill
all over the tree.
536
00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:28,000
Now, they flower
on last year's wood,
537
00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:31,880
unlike climbing roses,
which flower on new growth.
538
00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,720
So the time to prune them
is immediately after flowering,
539
00:34:34,720 --> 00:34:37,160
which for most of them
is July or August.
540
00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:39,560
Also, a lot of climbers
flower a second time,
541
00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:43,080
whereas ramblers tend not to.
This is their one performance -
542
00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:47,120
it's fabulous, it's loose,
it's wild and then it's over.
543
00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:53,760
RAIN PATTERS SOFTLY
544
00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:07,280
The new greenhouse has really
come into its own this summer.
545
00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,840
Now, in pots, I've got chillies.
546
00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,520
And one of the keys to
their success, I've learned,
547
00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:18,560
is to focus on the plant
rather than the fruit.
548
00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:23,160
Get a nice, big, healthy plant and
you get lots and lots of chillies.
549
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,960
Now, if you're short of space,
and some do grow tall,
550
00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,400
you can tip them back.
This is De Cayenne,
551
00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:34,120
which is one of the ones that
we sowed together earlier in spring.
552
00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:35,680
And what you need to do
553
00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:41,280
is just take it back by no more than
about a quarter, above a side shoot,
554
00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:42,560
and just cut it off.
555
00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:46,320
Now, that will encourage the side
shoots to grow much more strongly
556
00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,800
and they will bear the fruit.
557
00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,320
So you get a nice strong,
bushy plant covered in fruit
558
00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:55,840
that you can fit in
to whatever space you've got.
559
00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,880
Now, Padron, which I hope
some of you sowed too,
560
00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:00,760
you can see is a big plant
561
00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:05,000
and is already developing plenty
of green fruits.
562
00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,120
And the whole thing about
Padron chillies is,
563
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,640
by and large,
they're not hot at all.
564
00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:14,000
Just occasionally, you come across
one with a little bit of poke,
565
00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,040
but that will spice up your life.
566
00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:20,680
But they tend to be green,
although they will turn red if left,
567
00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:22,400
and they are absolutely delicious.
568
00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:24,560
So I'll harvest some of those.
569
00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:36,600
I do feed these every week
and I use a liquid seaweed,
570
00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:39,520
but a basic tomato feed
will do the job perfectly well,
571
00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:42,800
and that will encourage
the formation of lots of flowers,
572
00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,240
and therefore lots of fruit.
573
00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:45,480
And a combination -
574
00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:47,720
if you've got a greenhouse
or a nice sunny windowsill -
575
00:36:47,720 --> 00:36:52,000
of sun, heat, water and good food,
you'll get a healthy plant
576
00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:53,720
and masses of chillies.
577
00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:00,200
The other thing that is absolutely
ready for harvest is the basil,
578
00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:03,040
and wherever you find tomatoes
being successful,
579
00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:04,960
basil will grow well too.
580
00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,200
And it's a really good plant
for tomatoes,
581
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,000
cos it does ward off whitefly.
582
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,720
They grow very well together
as complementary plants.
583
00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:14,920
And, of course, they taste
fantastic together on the plate.
584
00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:18,120
You can see these
are really big individual plants.
585
00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:22,760
And what we'll do is take off
at least half, if not two-thirds,
586
00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:27,440
of each plant and then
strip off the leaves to make pesto.
587
00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:30,280
And if you haven't grown
any basil yet, it's not too late.
588
00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:32,840
Sow some seed now,
prick them out, grow them on.
589
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,880
Aim at getting nice,
strong individual plants
590
00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,920
and you can have your pesto harvest
round about the end of August
591
00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:41,520
and into September.
592
00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:03,800
I've been growing cucumbers
in this section of this greenhouse
593
00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:05,520
for the last few years,
594
00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:08,800
and this section is where
the mist propagator is.
595
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:12,240
There's a heated bench,
so it means the temperature in here
596
00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:17,800
is always warm, it's always humid,
and that's what cucumbers like best.
597
00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:23,600
I've got three fruits on here,
ready to harvest.
598
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:26,000
This is a variety called Merlin,
599
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,320
which is better grown indoors
than outside.
600
00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:34,960
And if you're not sure
whether a cucumber is ripe or not,
601
00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:36,520
the end is a pretty good guide,
602
00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:39,160
because the more round it is,
the more ripe it is.
603
00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:43,080
If it's still pointed,
then it won't be ripe and ready.
604
00:38:43,080 --> 00:38:44,960
Do keep harvesting cucumbers.
605
00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:46,760
Don't try and get them
as big as possible.
606
00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:48,520
As soon as they're ready,
harvest them,
607
00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,360
and then new fruit will be formed.
608
00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:53,160
And I would expect
that this container,
609
00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,280
which has got three plants in it,
610
00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:58,040
will be productive
for another four weeks at least.
611
00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:03,120
Now, I think that
all of us who garden
612
00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:06,440
will find that it's a great source
of mental wellbeing
613
00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:08,800
and, at times, of solace.
614
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:10,960
But, just occasionally,
615
00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:16,600
the garden becomes a place of much
more profound healing than that.
616
00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:25,720
Hello, my name is Lucy
and I live in Buckinghamshire
617
00:39:25,720 --> 00:39:28,480
with my husband and my two children,
618
00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,680
and I wanted to tell you
a little bit about our wild garden.
619
00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:38,560
In 2019, we lost
one of our daughters to cancer.
620
00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:42,640
And, ever since then,
gardening has been huge for me
621
00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:45,160
and so important
for my mental health.
622
00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:46,840
And we're really lucky
to have a big plot.
623
00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:49,000
Whenever things are getting
a bit too much,
624
00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,120
it's always the wild garden
I come back to.
625
00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:58,200
Our bluebells still look incredible,
626
00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:04,280
and now are being accompanied
with this amazing cow parsley,
627
00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:07,280
and forget-me-nots and primulas.
628
00:40:07,280 --> 00:40:10,040
And we've also started
a wild area of poppies
629
00:40:10,040 --> 00:40:13,160
which I've been growing from seed,
lots of different varieties,
630
00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:14,880
as that was our daughter's name.
631
00:40:19,720 --> 00:40:22,520
When we moved in, we found this
had been a bit of a dumping zone
632
00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,760
for old boxes and metal containers
and all sorts,
633
00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,000
so I've actually repurposed
a lot into growing vegetables.
634
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,440
And, funnily enough, one of the best
things I've found that's worked
635
00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:35,440
is old council recycling paper tubs.
636
00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:40,520
In the autumn, we cut all this down
637
00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:43,040
and removed it all
and gave it a good raking
638
00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:45,960
and put wild flower meadow seeds
down for shady areas.
639
00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:48,920
So I have everything crossed
for this summer
640
00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:51,160
that this is going to be filled
with wild flowers.
641
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,680
It is my happy place,
642
00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:57,600
and I'm so lucky to have it.
643
00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,880
Thank you for sharing your garden,
Lucy. It's lovely.
644
00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:28,880
Now, my broad beans
are getting covered -
645
00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:31,520
or at least the tips of them are -
with blackfly,
646
00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:33,120
and I guess yours are, too,
647
00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:37,040
because there is scarce
a broad bean in the land
648
00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:40,040
that doesn't get blackfly on them,
649
00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:44,520
round about some time
from mid-June to mid-July.
650
00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:47,440
And that's because
the aphid has a life cycle
651
00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:50,960
that coincides with the broad beans
putting on a spurt
652
00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:55,200
of soft, sappy growth,
and it's the sap that they're after.
653
00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:57,040
Now, the conventional way
to deal with this
654
00:41:57,040 --> 00:41:58,320
is simply pinch out the tips.
655
00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:01,440
If you remove the tips
of the broad bean,
656
00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:03,640
that doesn't give them
the food that they want
657
00:42:03,640 --> 00:42:05,400
and they will go elsewhere.
658
00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:08,240
But, actually,
there is another way to look at it,
659
00:42:08,240 --> 00:42:10,800
which is to work with the aphid.
660
00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:12,640
Now, when it comes down
to broad beans,
661
00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:15,920
there are techniques
for reducing the problem,
662
00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:17,560
even though you won't eliminate it.
663
00:42:17,560 --> 00:42:20,200
The first is to sow beans
in autumn if you can.
664
00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:23,000
These were sown in October,
overwintered in pots,
665
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:26,760
and planted out in March, and we've
had a big harvest off them already.
666
00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:30,080
So in no way is this reducing
our bean harvest.
667
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:34,480
You could also sow round about
the middle of May, early May,
668
00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:36,880
and that means that there
won't be enough soft growth
669
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:41,920
for them to feed on when
they come out, and just accept that,
670
00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:45,880
even though they might be reducing
the size of your broad beans,
671
00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:48,160
they're not affecting
the beans themselves.
672
00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:50,440
And they are a part
of the life cycle -
673
00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:53,120
there are other creatures,
like ladybirds and some birds,
674
00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:54,800
that feed off them.
675
00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:57,360
So you're never going to get
rid of them - they're not a pest,
676
00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,600
they're just life in your garden.
677
00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:04,240
And learning to live with so-called
pests is clever gardening,
678
00:43:04,240 --> 00:43:05,840
it's the intelligent way to go.
679
00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:11,240
And this applies, believe it or not,
to slugs and snails as well.
680
00:43:11,240 --> 00:43:16,880
And Arit went to RHS Wisley
to see how they are learning to live
681
00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:20,440
with slugs as a companion
in the garden,
682
00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:22,120
rather than as a disaster.
683
00:43:30,240 --> 00:43:33,160
If I told you there were some
creatures in our gardens
684
00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:36,880
that could help improve our soil,
eat all of our rotting plants
685
00:43:36,880 --> 00:43:41,800
and be a food source for our
wildlife, do you know what they are?
686
00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:43,160
Gastropods.
687
00:43:43,160 --> 00:43:45,360
Also known as slugs and snails.
688
00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:50,880
Who of us can put
our hand on our heart
689
00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:53,960
and say we haven't cursed them,
hunted them at dusk,
690
00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:56,960
and disposed of them
in ways we wouldn't want to share?
691
00:43:58,680 --> 00:44:02,120
It's not surprising we dread slugs
when we consider the figures.
692
00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:06,440
With 40 species of slugs in the UK,
the average garden
693
00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:11,280
might have around 200 slugs in
a square metre of soil at one time.
694
00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:14,440
That's a lot of picking slugs
off your plants at midnight.
695
00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:19,640
So I've decided to take a different
approach, I'm much more relaxed,
696
00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:23,640
and realise that they are part
of the ecosystem of the garden.
697
00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:25,920
It's time to
set the record straight.
698
00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:31,520
Imogen Cavadino,
an entomologist at the RHS,
699
00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:33,800
has been researching
the habits of slugs
700
00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,880
and their plant-chomping abilities.
701
00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,120
I'm very impressed
by your selection of slugs here.
702
00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:43,200
I thought we'd be rummaging around
in the...in the background here.
703
00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:45,840
Yeah, if we did that, we would
probably be there for quite a while,
704
00:44:45,840 --> 00:44:47,640
trying to find the slugs
at the moment,
705
00:44:47,640 --> 00:44:49,040
because it has been so dry.
706
00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:53,360
Can you tell me
about the biology of these slugs?
707
00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:55,480
Slugs are pretty fascinating.
708
00:44:55,480 --> 00:44:58,880
They're not symmetrical like humans,
they're actually asymmetrical.
709
00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:00,920
So, for example,
if you look at this one here,
710
00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:03,200
you can just about see
this hole opening
711
00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:05,160
on the right-hand side,
at the front here.
712
00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:06,720
That's actually the breathing pore,
713
00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:09,040
so this is where
they'll breathe from.
714
00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:13,040
And also right next to it
will be the genital opening,
715
00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:15,520
where their genitalia will come out
when they're mating,
716
00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:18,760
but also where they poop
from as well is in that area.
717
00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:21,960
Is that where
the mucus comes out from as well?
718
00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:24,160
So the mucus comes out
all over the body.
719
00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:27,560
It's really important for any slug
or snail to be nice and sticky,
720
00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:30,720
to stay nice and wet,
and it's also how they move.
721
00:45:30,720 --> 00:45:34,080
So they'll produce this sheet
of mucus and glide over it.
722
00:45:36,480 --> 00:45:38,960
Is that where the eating occurs,
though, Imogen?
723
00:45:38,960 --> 00:45:40,280
That's the really key bit.
724
00:45:40,280 --> 00:45:43,280
Yeah, so the mouth is
at the front of the slug's head.
725
00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:45,800
And within that mouth,
there's a tongue-like process
726
00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:47,040
known as the radula,
727
00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:49,760
which is covered
in thousands of tiny, tiny teeth.
728
00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:51,680
And it uses this a bit like
a cheese grater,
729
00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:53,680
in that they'll stick it
out of its mouth,
730
00:45:53,680 --> 00:45:55,160
scrape it along the surface
731
00:45:55,160 --> 00:45:58,400
and scrape the material into its
mouth, of whatever it's feeding on.
732
00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:00,440
So they'll do things like taste
733
00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:03,280
through the sole of the foot
and the mouth.
734
00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:05,960
But also they do seem to have
some kind of sense of smell,
735
00:46:05,960 --> 00:46:08,320
but it mainly seems
to be through taste itself.
736
00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:13,320
Of all the species of slugs
in the UK,
737
00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:18,440
almost 30% eat plants and animals,
over 10% are solely meat eaters,
738
00:46:18,440 --> 00:46:21,280
and many of the rest
eat plants and fungus.
739
00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:26,640
So tell me about this guy,
the black slug.
740
00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:30,160
I mean, that's the one that's
really synonymous in the garden.
741
00:46:30,160 --> 00:46:33,000
So there's actually about four
or five different species of these.
742
00:46:33,000 --> 00:46:35,120
Most of those species
are omnivorous,
743
00:46:35,120 --> 00:46:37,160
meaning that they'll eat
absolutely anything.
744
00:46:37,160 --> 00:46:39,200
So they will damage
some of our tender plants,
745
00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:41,520
particularly seedlings,
things like that.
746
00:46:41,520 --> 00:46:43,560
They seem to be
quite attracted to those,
747
00:46:43,560 --> 00:46:45,960
but they also feed
on a lot of rotting material.
748
00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:49,200
So they'll feed on dog poo, is a
classic one to find them on as well.
749
00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:52,280
So they can be good, but they can
also be a little bit bad for us
750
00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:54,280
as well, as gardeners.
751
00:46:54,280 --> 00:46:57,120
Probably the worst offender
is the netted field slug,
752
00:46:57,120 --> 00:46:59,600
and they contract
to a little white blob,
753
00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:01,480
so they're quite easy to overlook.
754
00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:05,000
But they probably do the most damage
to plants in the garden.
755
00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:06,200
What about this one?
756
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:08,840
So that one there is one of
the gardeners' friends, actually.
757
00:47:08,840 --> 00:47:11,400
So this is the leopard slug,
it's probably well known
758
00:47:11,400 --> 00:47:14,360
by some gardeners already
because they do have this reputation
759
00:47:14,360 --> 00:47:17,440
for being quite aggressive
and territorial towards other slugs.
760
00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:20,080
So they have been known to attack
and kill other slug species
761
00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:22,320
within the garden occasionally.
762
00:47:22,320 --> 00:47:25,120
But they also feed
just on rotting plant material,
763
00:47:25,120 --> 00:47:27,080
so they're a handy slug
to have around,
764
00:47:27,080 --> 00:47:29,880
cos they shouldn't be
attacking your plants.
765
00:47:29,880 --> 00:47:32,400
But you've also got
a close relative of theirs,
766
00:47:32,400 --> 00:47:34,480
which is the green cellar slug.
767
00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:37,760
It's quite commonly found
around compost heaps,
768
00:47:37,760 --> 00:47:40,240
and they just feed
on rotting plant material
769
00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:43,920
and also fungi, algae and lichen,
so they can be really helpful
770
00:47:43,920 --> 00:47:46,320
and an important part
of the garden ecosystem.
771
00:47:49,800 --> 00:47:52,720
It's natural we want to protect
our precious plants
772
00:47:52,720 --> 00:47:54,640
from the real slug culprits,
773
00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:57,200
and we gardeners
have certainly tried.
774
00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:00,840
But how many of these methods
have actually worked?
775
00:48:00,840 --> 00:48:03,840
Now, the RHS has been doing
some research to see
776
00:48:03,840 --> 00:48:09,200
if the barriers we use against
slugs and snails have been working.
777
00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:14,840
Horticultural grit, bark mulch and
eggshells - the ones that we love.
778
00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:19,600
But the research so far has shown
they don't really have any effect.
779
00:48:20,680 --> 00:48:24,040
Now, there's a little bit more work
being done on wool pellets,
780
00:48:24,040 --> 00:48:26,400
so the jury's out on that one.
781
00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:28,640
And the copper rings -
782
00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:31,320
in the laboratory,
they did seem to work,
783
00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:33,600
and we're not sure
if the reasons for that
784
00:48:33,600 --> 00:48:35,680
are because there's
a chemical reaction
785
00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:37,480
or whether it is conductivity.
786
00:48:37,480 --> 00:48:39,360
But in a garden setting...
787
00:48:39,360 --> 00:48:41,680
Those little slugs and snails,
they are not stupid -
788
00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:43,560
they know how to get under the ring.
789
00:48:43,560 --> 00:48:45,560
So if you were going to use those,
790
00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:49,040
you'd have to have quite a deep ring
go into the garden.
791
00:48:50,080 --> 00:48:53,360
There are other controls
out there, like slug pellets,
792
00:48:53,360 --> 00:48:55,640
and those that have got
metaldehyde in them
793
00:48:55,640 --> 00:48:57,200
have been withdrawn from sale -
794
00:48:57,200 --> 00:49:00,320
they are toxic
and are damaging to wildlife.
795
00:49:00,320 --> 00:49:02,360
So even if you've got them
in your cupboard,
796
00:49:02,360 --> 00:49:04,680
I would not advise
that you use them.
797
00:49:04,680 --> 00:49:08,840
On those prized areas of the
gardens, like the vegetable plot,
798
00:49:08,840 --> 00:49:12,600
you could use nematodes,
and they're like a microscopic worm.
799
00:49:12,600 --> 00:49:17,000
It gets put in water, into the soil
and they will kill some slugs,
800
00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:20,720
especially that one, that tiny one
that does the most damage.
801
00:49:20,720 --> 00:49:23,560
But they're not very effective
against snails.
802
00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:27,640
There are other ways
we can prevent a slug attack,
803
00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:30,640
like choosing plants
for our garden with more care.
804
00:49:32,520 --> 00:49:36,480
Take this euphorbia, for example -
its really poisonous sap
805
00:49:36,480 --> 00:49:39,520
is something
that they avoid completely.
806
00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:42,920
But you could also look out for
plants that have a more hairy leaf.
807
00:49:42,920 --> 00:49:45,680
The tellima is a great example
of that.
808
00:49:47,440 --> 00:49:51,600
And those plants that have a more
oily base in their leaf,
809
00:49:51,600 --> 00:49:53,000
like geraniums.
810
00:49:54,080 --> 00:49:56,840
Now, make sure that any plants
you're putting out in your garden
811
00:49:56,840 --> 00:50:00,040
are not too young,
because it's that tender stem
812
00:50:00,040 --> 00:50:02,440
that slugs and snails
can really chomp off
813
00:50:02,440 --> 00:50:05,120
and razor down overnight.
814
00:50:05,120 --> 00:50:08,600
My top tip is to choose
a sacrificial plant, something
815
00:50:08,600 --> 00:50:12,440
like a nasturtium, plant that out,
and let the slugs and snails
816
00:50:12,440 --> 00:50:17,200
really enjoy those
whilst you can enjoy your plants.
817
00:50:19,720 --> 00:50:22,240
All kinds of animals
act as slug bouncers,
818
00:50:22,240 --> 00:50:27,000
whether it's birds or hedgehogs,
who can eat 40 in one sitting.
819
00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:31,200
Toads and frogs see them as
a tasty feast.
820
00:50:31,200 --> 00:50:33,320
Ducks also love a slug.
821
00:50:34,640 --> 00:50:38,560
And remember, not all the species
are doing harm to our plants.
822
00:50:38,560 --> 00:50:42,360
In fact, many of them are helping
with the composting in our garden.
823
00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:47,480
A healthy, sustainable garden
has to have a balance of both
824
00:50:47,480 --> 00:50:49,600
prey and predators.
825
00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:54,360
And it is for that reason that
I say that everybody is welcome
826
00:50:54,360 --> 00:50:55,640
into my borders.
827
00:51:10,480 --> 00:51:14,760
I've been doing this job in some
form or other for nearly 35 years,
828
00:51:14,760 --> 00:51:19,560
and over that time always one
question has been much more common
829
00:51:19,560 --> 00:51:22,040
than all the others, quite often
all the others put together,
830
00:51:22,040 --> 00:51:26,040
which is, how do I stop slugs
and snails eating my hostas?
831
00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:30,680
And I've long come to the conclusion
that that's the wrong question and
832
00:51:30,680 --> 00:51:35,480
I'm so glad that Arit and the RHS
are pointing this out clearly now.
833
00:51:35,480 --> 00:51:38,720
The right question is,
how do I live and garden
834
00:51:38,720 --> 00:51:40,440
with slugs and snails?
835
00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:44,000
And we're not going to
get rid of them,
836
00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:47,720
so we might as well learn to live
with them and perhaps, who knows,
837
00:51:47,720 --> 00:51:48,840
even love them.
838
00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:54,000
Now, I'm out here sowing biennials
because the potting shed
839
00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:57,160
has temporarily been occupied
by a family of swallows.
840
00:51:57,160 --> 00:52:01,680
They've been nesting in a tool shed
and now the young have just fledged,
841
00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:05,320
just yesterday afternoon,
and they're going from nest
842
00:52:05,320 --> 00:52:09,120
through the door outside,
coming back in, crying to be fed.
843
00:52:09,120 --> 00:52:15,600
The whole thing is a whirling mass
of birds learning how to cope
844
00:52:15,600 --> 00:52:17,520
with the big outside world.
845
00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:22,240
So rather than add to their anxiety
and get in their way, I'm shifting
846
00:52:22,240 --> 00:52:24,200
out their way for a bit.
847
00:52:24,200 --> 00:52:25,800
I'm sowing biennials.
848
00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:29,520
Now, biennials are those plants
849
00:52:29,520 --> 00:52:35,200
which drop their seed round about
May, June, sometimes July,
850
00:52:35,200 --> 00:52:40,560
they germinate quickly, develop
into young plants, which then go
851
00:52:40,560 --> 00:52:43,840
into winter with a decent root
system and a foliage system,
852
00:52:43,840 --> 00:52:45,720
but no flowers.
853
00:52:45,720 --> 00:52:48,920
They either stop growing completely
over winter or grow very slowly.
854
00:52:48,920 --> 00:52:51,520
But as soon as spring comes,
they're in a good position
855
00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:53,000
to grow strongly.
856
00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:56,520
They will then start flowering
with the first flowering some time
857
00:52:56,520 --> 00:53:01,200
in April and go on into June,
and then set seed, which drops,
858
00:53:01,200 --> 00:53:05,280
the parent plant dies, but the seed
starts that cycle all over again.
859
00:53:05,280 --> 00:53:08,160
And because they cover two years,
that's two seasons,
860
00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:10,480
they're biennial.
861
00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:13,560
Now, I've got a few here which
are amongst my favourites.
862
00:53:13,560 --> 00:53:17,160
We've got Honesty,
we've got Wallflower,
863
00:53:17,160 --> 00:53:20,240
I've got Primrose Bedder,
which is a lovely colour,
864
00:53:20,240 --> 00:53:21,800
great for the cottage garden.
865
00:53:21,800 --> 00:53:26,960
I've got a deep red Fire King
which goes brilliantly with strong
866
00:53:26,960 --> 00:53:29,360
tulips for the Jewel Garden.
867
00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:31,840
I've got Sweet Rocket, the Hesperis.
868
00:53:31,840 --> 00:53:34,120
I've got some white ones
here for the Writing Garden
869
00:53:34,120 --> 00:53:36,200
and I'll also be sowing Foxgloves,
870
00:53:36,200 --> 00:53:38,760
which are probably my favourite
biennial of all.
871
00:53:38,760 --> 00:53:40,800
All of them need to be treated
in the same way.
872
00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:44,360
So just get normal peat-free
potting compost,
873
00:53:44,360 --> 00:53:46,680
and I've got some Honesty here
which I'm going to sow.
874
00:53:46,680 --> 00:53:52,760
And whatever you're sowing,
always try and sow it thinly.
875
00:53:56,280 --> 00:53:58,760
Press it very lightly down,
so there's good contact
876
00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:01,000
between the seed and the compost,
877
00:54:01,000 --> 00:54:03,720
and then cover them,
again very lightly.
878
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:09,400
Now, I will water that well and keep
it moist, but it doesn't need
879
00:54:09,400 --> 00:54:10,680
any extra heat.
880
00:54:10,680 --> 00:54:13,640
You certainly don't need
a greenhouse for this.
881
00:54:13,640 --> 00:54:18,360
If you don't have the space or the
set-up to grow anything
882
00:54:18,360 --> 00:54:20,200
in seed trays or pots,
883
00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:23,480
actually, biennials are really
good if grown in a seed bed.
884
00:54:23,480 --> 00:54:26,960
If you've just got a patch of ground
the size of this tray,
885
00:54:26,960 --> 00:54:30,000
you can make little rows,
sow the seed in there
886
00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:33,040
and then when the seedlings appear
you can thin them, or grow them on
887
00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:36,400
in the soil and then plant them
into their final position
888
00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:41,240
in September or October when you
have nice, strong little plants.
889
00:54:41,240 --> 00:54:43,840
OK, well, if you haven't got
the message now,
890
00:54:43,840 --> 00:54:48,080
I strongly advise you to go out and
buy some biennial seed this weekend
891
00:54:48,080 --> 00:54:50,240
and sow them,
so that's a job for you.
892
00:54:50,240 --> 00:54:51,440
And here are some more.
893
00:55:02,280 --> 00:55:06,720
If you're planting out brassicas
such as these cabbages for winter
894
00:55:06,720 --> 00:55:11,200
harvest, they will need protecting
over the coming summer months.
895
00:55:11,200 --> 00:55:14,640
But pigeons and cabbage white
butterflies find them irresistible
896
00:55:14,640 --> 00:55:17,040
and netting is the best answer.
897
00:55:17,040 --> 00:55:21,840
I use canes topped by small
flowerpots, which make it easier
898
00:55:21,840 --> 00:55:24,400
to stretch netting over the top.
899
00:55:24,400 --> 00:55:28,440
Make sure it's taught so small birds
can't get tangled and leave enough
900
00:55:28,440 --> 00:55:30,360
room for the plants to grow.
901
00:55:30,360 --> 00:55:33,000
This will keep pigeons away,
but you will have to check
902
00:55:33,000 --> 00:55:34,800
daily for caterpillars.
903
00:55:42,920 --> 00:55:45,960
Whatever the weather,
even if it's been wet, every
904
00:55:45,960 --> 00:55:49,760
container should be watered
weekly at this time of year.
905
00:55:49,760 --> 00:55:51,240
They also need a regular feed
906
00:55:51,240 --> 00:55:55,080
and I combine this operation
by using a liquid seaweed
907
00:55:55,080 --> 00:55:58,440
or tomato feed, which will encourage
good flowering.
908
00:55:58,440 --> 00:56:02,680
Give each container a good soak and
that will keep them looking good
909
00:56:02,680 --> 00:56:03,880
all summer long.
910
00:56:11,800 --> 00:56:16,480
Tomatoes are now beginning to set
fruit, and to speed up and aid
911
00:56:16,480 --> 00:56:21,360
ripening, remove the lowest leaves
so that the green fruit are fully
912
00:56:21,360 --> 00:56:23,640
exposed to maximum sun.
913
00:56:23,640 --> 00:56:26,960
And you can continue this process
working up the plant
914
00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:29,200
as the fruit develop.
915
00:56:29,200 --> 00:56:33,960
And as well as helping ripening,
it also aids ventilation,
916
00:56:33,960 --> 00:56:37,360
ensuring that you have
maximum health right through
917
00:56:37,360 --> 00:56:39,320
the growing season.
918
00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:41,200
Out you come. Go on. There you go.
919
00:56:42,520 --> 00:56:43,680
Come on, then.
920
00:56:55,000 --> 00:56:58,320
I love the grass borders
at this time of year.
921
00:56:58,320 --> 00:57:03,160
One thinks of grasses as being at
their peak in autumn,
922
00:57:03,160 --> 00:57:06,720
when you have all those tawny
colours, golds and silvers,
923
00:57:06,720 --> 00:57:10,720
and the flower heads are falling and
you get that lovely sibilant
924
00:57:10,720 --> 00:57:14,000
sound as the wind
rifles through them.
925
00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:18,760
But I love them most right now,
at this point in the season,
926
00:57:18,760 --> 00:57:22,920
when they're growing really strongly
but are lush and green
927
00:57:22,920 --> 00:57:24,880
and they're full of energy.
928
00:57:25,880 --> 00:57:27,640
And whereas in the Jewel Garden
929
00:57:27,640 --> 00:57:31,840
the challenge over the coming months
is to harmonise and knit together
930
00:57:31,840 --> 00:57:35,840
all these intense colours,
in the grass borders,
931
00:57:35,840 --> 00:57:39,160
green is the dominant colour
and all the other colours,
932
00:57:39,160 --> 00:57:42,840
like the Knautia macedonica,
for example, float through them
933
00:57:42,840 --> 00:57:46,160
and pop up and drift and disappear.
934
00:57:46,160 --> 00:57:48,480
But the green is constant.
935
00:57:48,480 --> 00:57:51,000
And it's not just the grasses
that give it that energy.
936
00:57:51,000 --> 00:57:54,280
You've got all these vertical
lines from the fennel
937
00:57:54,280 --> 00:57:58,440
and the thalictrums
and the cardoons.
938
00:57:58,440 --> 00:58:02,880
These are all growing tall and
reaching with that rocket energy.
939
00:58:04,360 --> 00:58:09,560
And yet at the same time, despite
all that vigour, they manage
940
00:58:09,560 --> 00:58:12,040
to be calm and even elegant.
941
00:58:14,160 --> 00:58:16,360
But I'm afraid that's it for this
942
00:58:16,360 --> 00:58:18,600
week and we're off air next week,
943
00:58:18,600 --> 00:58:21,400
but I'll be here in a fortnight's
944
00:58:21,400 --> 00:58:23,000
time at eight o'clock,
945
00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:24,920
so I'll see you then. Bye-bye.
124778
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