Gardeners' Question Time

What can I plant in September for an autumn winter harvest? Do you have any horticultural heroes that inspired your career in horticulture? What easy flowers could be grown in pots and easily picked by children?

Kathy Clugston and a distinguished panel of horticultural experts head to the iconic Eden Project in Bodelva, Cornwall, where they field questions from an enthusiastic live audience. Tackling everything from persistent pests to planting dilemmas, the panel includes houseplant specialist Anne Swithinbank, award-winning garden designer Chris Beardshaw, and allotment aficionado Frances Tophill.

Later in the programme, Kathy visits the National Wildlife Centre to speak with Dan James, Director of Development, about their vital work in conserving the UK’s native flora and fostering biodiversity.

Senior Producer: Dominic Tyerman

A Somethin' Else Production for BBC Radio 4.

How do I get rid of fungus gnats? Is it bad to fertilise plants when water is scarce? What direction is best for gardens?

Kathy Clugston chairs this week’s edition of Gardeners’ Question Time from Claygate in Surrey, where she’s joined by a panel of horticultural heavyweights including Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood and Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, Christine Walkden delivers a no-nonsense guide to watering, sharing practical tips to help your plants flourish whatever the weather.

Producer: Matthew Smith

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Our pear tree, which was once thriving has died, what should I do with it? Are weeds plants with attitude or is it the other way round? What are your thoughts on using a wound sealer after pruning?

Join Gardeners’ Question Time for a floral-filled adventure at the Rutland Flower Show. This week, Peter Gibbs and a panel of passionate horticulturalists soak up the sights, scents and seasonal inspiration while digging into the famous GQT postbag, to solve your trickiest gardening conundrums.

Joining Peter under the big top are proud plantswoman Christine Walkden, and top garden designers Matthew Wilson and Adam Frost - ready with expert advice, clever solutions, and a few laughs along the way.

Senior Producer: Dan Cocker

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

What can gardening clubs do to entice new members? How do the panel handle their plant addiction? If you were to have a plant superpower, which would it be and why?

It’s party time in the garden once again! Gardeners’ Question Time returns with the much-anticipated GQT Summer Garden Party, recorded at the breathtaking RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex.

This week, Peter Gibbs leads the horticultural festivities as a vibrant panel of plant pros take on questions from a crowd of passionate and curious gardeners. On the panel - proud plantswoman Christine Walkden, pest and disease detective Pippa Greenwood, and botanical explorers James Wong and Dr Chris Thorogood.

Expect expert insights, surprising solutions, and a whole lot of garden inspiration in this special summer celebration of all things green and growing.

Producer: Matthew Smith

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Kathy Clugston and a crack team of top horticultural experts celebrate the return of the GQT Summer Garden Party in style — this year set against the stunning backdrop of RHS Garden Hyde Hall in the heart of Essex.

Kathy is joined by an all-star panel, including visionary garden designers Matthew Wilson and Bunny Guinness, RHS head gardener Matthew Pottage, and the king of all things edible, Bob Flowerdew. Together, they tackle a lively mix of questions from an enthusiastic audience of budding green thumbs, sharing expert tips, clever tricks, and plenty of inspiration to get your garden growing.

Senior Producer: Dan Cocker

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? What plants are resistant to shot hole disease?

This week, Peter Gibbs and a panel of gardening experts visit the beautifully restored Finsbury Circus Gardens – a green oasis in the heart of London, with roots stretching back to Roman times and now reopened to the public.

Joining Peter are garden designer Bunny Guinness, botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew. They're also joined by members of the City Gardens Management Team – Jake Tibbetts, Jessica Beatty, and Ed Freeman – to explore the newly renovated grounds and celebrate the space’s rich horticultural history.

The panel tackles a thorny crop of questions from the GQT postbag, offering expert tips on topics including how to prevent shot hole disease, successful techniques for growing Pak Choi, and the fascinating science behind a fern’s life cycle.

Senior Producer: Matthew Smith

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Plant List

Q – What plants are resistant to shot hole disease? (04’09”)

Jake Tibbetts –

Chris Thorogood –

Q –    Can you recommend plants to go under and around the tree which has very dry soil? (07’25”)

Ed Freeman –

Bunny Guinness –

Q – Could the panel recommend fruit trees that are resilient and adaptable to the changing climate? (12’54”)

Bob Flowerdew –

Bunny Guinness –

Jake Tibbetts –

Q – How do you encourage ferns to germinate? (17’55”)

Q – How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? (20’52”)

Dr Chris Thorogood –

Bunny Guinness –

Q – Could you advise on how to fill a big dip in our lawn and some ideas on something more interesting? (23’13”)

Q – Why have the 50 bulbs I’ve planted failed to sprout any buds? (27’53”)

Dr Chris Thorogood –

Jessica Beatty –

Bunny Guiness –

Q – How do I stop Pak Choi going to seed before they have hearted up? (33’06”)

Q – Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? (34’58”)

Bunny Guinness –

Bob Flowerdew –

Dr Chris Thorogood –

Q – Why haven’t my healthy 4-year-old bird of paradise hasn't flowered yet? (37’49”)

If you could have a garden gnome what would it be doing? What tools should I have on my first allotment? Any tips on growing carrots on a sandy soil?

Peter Gibbs and a panel of green-fingered gurus head to the lush landscapes of Bracknell Forest, where a lively audience of passionate gardeners awaits answers to their most pressing plant problems.

Joining Peter are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, head gardener Matthew Pottage, and the ever-enthusiastic plantswoman Christine Walkden.

Later in the show, Pippa Greenwood takes us behind the scenes at Heathrow Airport, where she meets Kelvin Hughes from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Together, they uncover the fascinating work being done to safeguard the UK’s biodiversity from invasive pests and diseases hidden in overseas plants and produce.

Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Plant List

Q – If you were forced to have one garden gnome, what would that garden gnome be doing? (01’38”)

Q – Do the panel have any advice on growing carrots in sandy soil? (05’47”)

Q – Are the panel opposed to the use of decorative wood chips in borders? (07’56”)

Q – Can they explain how buddleia can grow in church roofs and railway sidings and not come to much in my garden? (11’36”)

Matthew Pottage –

Feature – Pippa Greenwood meets with Kelvin Hughes with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to discover how Heathrow Airport protect the UK's biodiversity from overseas produce and plants. (18’31”)

Q – What could we grow in our south-west facing garden that will provide vibrant colours during the summer? (24’06”)

Matthew Pottage –

Christine Walkden –

Q – I’ve just taken on an allotment in the last year, and I'd like to know what are the top five low-cost items you'd recommend? (28’20”)

Q – Is there an aesthetically please alternative to steaks and pea netting that I could use whilst my plants establish? (31’14”)

Q – What plant would you like to be remembered by? (36’03”)

Christine Walkden –

Matthew Pottage –

Pippa Greenwood –

Why have my magnolia leaves turned brown? How do I care for a tamarisk?  Why is growing poppies so difficult?

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

How important is health and safety in the garden? What disease has been growing on my tomatoes? What would the panel say was their most overrated plant?

Kathy Clugston hosts Gardeners' Question Time, recorded live at the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival.

Joining her on the expert panel are botanist and broadcaster James Wong, award-winning garden designer Matthew Wilson, and alpine plant specialist Bethan Collerton. Together, they tackle a lively array of gardening questions from an enthusiastic audience.

Later in the programme, James Wong takes a trip to Sheffield’s Winter Garden, where he shares his top picks for easy-to-grow plants - perfect for beginners looking to cultivate greenery both indoors and out.

Producer: Dom Tyerman

Plant List

Q – How important is health and safety in the garden? (01’27”)

Q – What are the ideal conditions for growing wildflowers from seeds? (04’10”)

Q – What’s the best method for watering a very parched, dried out cacti? (07’57”)

Q – Why have my wisteria stopped flowering? (11’31”)

Feature – James Wong provides an essential list of plants you can grow indoors and outdoors. He’s visiting the Sheffield Winter Gardens (16’11”)

James Wong –

Q – How do I stop slugs from eating my hostas? (24’05”)

Q – What would be your recommendations for plants that can survive harsh weather in coastal regions? (24’44”)

Bethan Collerton –

Matthew Wilson –

James Wong

Q – What disease has been growing on my tomatoes? (29’17”)

Q – I’d like to grow my Jasmine against a fence, do I hack it right back, start again or plant is as is? (32’44”)

Q – What would the panel say was their most overrated plant? (36’37”)

James Wong –

Matthew Wilson –

Can I grow fruits or vegetables in a flat with no balcony? Could garlic help stop slugs from eating my Hostas? Why did you become gardeners?

Kathy Clugston is joined by a panel of much-loved gardening experts in the picturesque village of East Horsley, Surrey, to answer listeners’ horticultural dilemmas and offer practical, down-to-earth advice. On the panel this week are botanist and broadcaster James Wong, plant health specialist Pippa Greenwood, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, Pippa Greenwood explores the growing threat of Colorado beetles to UK biosecurity in conversation with Tracy Wilson, Import Specialist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Producer: Matthew Smith

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Plant List

Q – Can you suggest a suitable hedge that can be kept slim but tall to go between a six-foot fence and a path? (01’31”)

James Wong –

Juliet Sargeant –

Q – How do I encourage my 100-year-old rhododendrons to flower? (05’35”)

Q – Is there a way for me to grow fruits or vegetables in a flat with no balcony? And if yes, what would you recommend with limited space? (08’54”)

Juliet Sargeant –

James Wong –

Pippa Greenwood –

Feature – Pippa Greenwood discusses the threat Colorado Beetles have on our crops with Tracy Wilson (15’02”)

Q –  We have raised vegetable beds. I put a layer of mulch on them every autumn. Would it be a good idea to let a bed lie fallow occasionally? (19’49”)

Q – What’s causing my Hydrangea petiolaris to die off? (24’05”)

Q – What could I grow in a large rockery in our garden, that’s also difficult to kill? (28’31”)

Q – Would wild garlic help stop slugs from eating my Hostas? (31’31”)

Q – What possessed you to become the garden experts you are? And as a result. What advice would you give to up-and-coming young gardeners to continue? (36’00”)