Well, here I sit in the backstage area of the main theatre at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, taking a tiny break between shows. There’s a real buzz in the air. Earlier we recorded the first of several mini Gardeners’ Question Time programmes. It’s always great coming to a show like this, but when I have the chance to record a GQT programme, that makes it even more special.
We had a classic set of questions, all of the ‘favourites’ problems: aphids, curly leaves, virus… As usual we didn’t see the questions in advance. The questions are collected and sorted by our producer, and often our chairmain too, and the panel never knows what coming. This time we had a problem, because the audience only had a few minutes to submit their questions, so it was all hands to the pump, with everyone handing out question sheets!
But once we were lined up in front of the audience, Eric, Matt, Anne and I all set to and started answering the questions. We managed to cram a good few in. Eric advocated the harsh treatment of an elderly pear tree, whilst Matt and I pleaded for mercy on its behalf.
After a session on the Grow Your Own Garden stand (which looked just stunning), we’re all about to meet up again to record a second session. Who knows what we’ll get. I expect there will be a wide range of questions – hopefully plenty about those things I adore like sap-suckers, leaf-cutters, and mildewed spots…
So, remember: if you’re coming to the NEC you need to bring your grotty plant samples with you!
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Comments
My neighbour puts his grass cuttings between his potato plants to keep down weeds. Can someone tell me if this is a good idea as I am a bit cautious as I don’t want to introduce any nasties to my veg patch even though my grass clippings are generally ok. Thanks
RED ROBIN>
Have just come back from holiday to find my Photina Red Robin is severely wilted (looked perfectly healthy before going away – although had dropped a lot of leaves). Any suggestions what it could be and if I can do anything to help it recover?
I have grown Sweede’s on my allotment for several years without problem but this year plants have all run to seed will they still form or should I pull them up?
I have a palm tree that has died on the top , there is nothing left, however, down one side of the trunk there are a lot of little shoots coming out does this mean the tree is going to survive or is that wishful thinking thankyou
can you tell me why my callicarpa does not have berries. It is 2years old and has had very small flower but they die off and we get no berries.Hope you can help.Thankyou Barbara Wiseman
What can I plant in front of a north facing wall, under trees in dry solid clay soil in the shade?
Please can you tell me why my sweatpeas have only one flower on each stem this year I have fed them and have done no different from last year
Thank you for any advice you may have.
I have a mature Fig tree in my greenhouse, and this year, all the fruits have dropped. This has never happened before. The tree looks healthy. Does anyone know what has happened?
My redcurrant leaves have been decimated. Found one or two caterpillars but no sign of an infestation. What has done it? Currants seem ok
we have a cameillia that has what looks like white powdery thin lines about 1cm long on the under side of the leaf.
can you help there is no insects on or around the plant that i can see
please help
I have a bougonville (i think thats how you spell it) it has grown to 10′ tall but it wont flower, It has been planted for around 3 years. Any reason why?
we live in the north east of england
I planted Pentalnd Javelin potatoes in March but how can I tell when they are ready to harvest?
I have am growing courgettes in my greenhouse. They look really healthy with lots of flowers and fruit forming but the leaves are turing yellow…what’s happening?
hello all.
some advice please.as a new gardener can
anyone advise me why my onions do not seem
to be getting very fat.
hi again problem with my onions.grown on slight slope fair soil but it drains quite
well. 6inch by 13inch rows watered at night no weeds.but they do not seem to be
getting very big.is it to early yet ?
thanks for any advice..
please can anyone tell me why my red robin is not red. i have feed and waterd well, its growing well, just not red. thanks sally
hi could someone tell me why my carnation flowers keep falling to the grown,when they were in bud they were nice and upright as soon as floweres open they tip over, there are loads of buds/flowers in full sun not over watered,and look in good health….[generally].[they are white].also it looks like on some flowers that someone is having a munch…[although it maybe a squirrel].not sure..
HELP.
Can azalea’s be watered with cold tea (no milk),I seen someone do it don’t know where
I have Basil that is looking a bit droopy, unfortunately the slugs had got at it so I’ve moved it twice now andhave put cooper tape around the pot, will it survive if I leave it now???
I have a Yucca plant 8yrs old now grown from a normal houseplant. I have replanted a few times and now is outside permanently planted in a ‘dustbin’. It is approximately 4ft high with a trunk circumference of 12 inches. It is flowering this year for the first time, is this unusual? Will it die after flowering?
any ideas how to stop cats from using mylawn and flower beds as a toilet
help
can someone please tell me what and why is my pyracanthus infested with a type of caterpillar that hangs by a thread from the foliage? Is it damaging the plant and also could it be the caterpillar of a garden butterfly? I don’t want to kill anything that might be beneficial to the garden
why not take a few branches and put them in a large jar together with catepillars and see what happens. Did this in NZ once and watched the whole cycle. The kids were gobsmacked!
I am new to the site. Can read the blogs but not the feedback. HELP
Hi
Hvae alerted the blog-site boffins about your problem, hopefully a response will appear soon!
my potatoes have what look like seeds on the tops of the plants.what should i do about them.
I have a problem of insect(?) attacking a flowering bushes / shrub and ,lately, my daliahs. I see no lavia or worms yet the leaves are brown and eaten away, some with brown curly bubbles. Is this leaf minor and what intecticide spray will I use?
I have just bought a weeping crab apple
Royar Beauty.I would like it to be a little taller would it be ok if I tied the leader stem to a cane before allowing it to weep would this increase extra sideshoots or should I cut the leader at required hight
can anyone help, i have a cordyline about five years old and in good condition but have noticed several shoots coming up from the base, these look like baby ones, what do i do with them??? dig them up or leave them were they are