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GQT at Home: Sustainable Plots and Salad Pots

Kathy Clugston hosts this week's gardening Q&A.

Kathy Clugston hosts the gardening Q&A, with Anne Swithinbank, Matt Biggs and Chris Beardshaw answering questions sent in by listeners.

This week, the panellists share some insect friendly planting ideas and explain how to keep the squirrels away from newly planted spring bulbs. And as we all strive towards a greener planet, they discuss the best carbon-capturing tree planting practices.

Meanwhile, with COP26 well underway, Peter Gibbs investigates sustainable gardening around the UK. He speaks with director of The Tangled Bank project in Fife, Harry Watkins, about how the St Andrews Botanic Garden is putting sustainability above all else. Peter also meets with sustainable gardener Sally Nex to discuss what we can all do to make a positive impact from our gardens.

Producer - Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer - Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4

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42 minutes

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

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Q – During my weekly park run in Hertford, I’ve noticed lots of sweet chestnuts but have not seen any acorns. I’m aware of mast years; does that explain the imbalance of fruit from these trees?

(0 minutes 55 seconds)

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Q – My daughter planted an acorn in a raised bed when she was a toddler. She’s now almost 13 and the oak is around 6-8 feet (1.8 - 2.4m) tall. We’ve moved house and would like to transplant the tree, do you think we will be able to do it successfully? The leaves seems to be speckled with a white powdery mildew. Is this normal or is there an issue?

(3 minutes 10 seconds)

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Q – I recently planted around 80 daffodils with my grandchildren. How can I stop squirrels digging them up? I’ve dotted holly around the borders but is this enough to protect them?

(7 minutes 33 seconds)

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Q – I was thinking of buying tulips for the garden, but lots of tulips seem to have been bred to have dense petals. Is this to the detriment of insects? I would like a green, colourful and insect friendly garden. What would the panel recommend?

(10 minutes 30 seconds)

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Matt –

Crocus

Muscari ‘Ivor’s Pink’

Muscari ‘Grape Ice’

Tulipa humilis ‘Persian Pearl’

Tulipa sprengeri

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Feature – Peter Gibbs speaks with Harry Watkins, director of The Tangled Bank project in Fife, about rethinking botanic gardens for a more sustainable future

(12 minutes 50 seconds)

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Q – I have a 2.5m tall cactus taking over my flat. Can I prune it back and if so, how and when? It leaks white milk when cut. Do the offcuts grow?

(19 minutes)

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Q – I have two Fatsia japonicas and the two plants are planted in exactly the same environments. They are in their own containers in a courtyard, they receive identical levels of light and water and are both in the same type of soil. One is doing really well and the other is yellowing and only half the size. What is going on?

(22 minutes 38 seconds)

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Q – For growing salad over winter, do you start them in pots or grow in borders? I sowed 10 different salads, herbs and carrots directly into a border. I saturated the soil before sowing and kept damp newspaper over the bed for a week. They seem to have been fried in the sun, I don’t think it was slugs. Any help or advice?

(25 minutes 35 seconds)

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Feature – Peter Gibbs speaks to sustainable gardener Sally Nex about what we can do to make a positive impact from our very own gardens.

(30 minutes)

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Q – Which trees are better for carbon dioxide capture?

(36 minutes 22 seconds)

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Q – I’ve recently found great satisfaction pulling up some ground elder plants with long roots. What gardening jobs do the panel find most satisfying?

Ìý(38 minutes 42 seconds)

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