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Q1 – Advice for growing rhubarb

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Pippa – Keep it really moist, and don’t pull up too soon.

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James – Deep, rich and very wet soil.

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Matt – But be careful not to waterlog it.

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Q2 – My Streptocarpus have stopped growing well – what can I do?

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Matt – Keep in a bright spot, away from direct sunlight, water with tepid water, wait until compost surface dried out before watering again.

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Pippa – Water from below.

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Q3 – Suggestions for plants on south-facing hillside, with very sandy soil.

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Pippa – Argoyrocytisus battandieri (also known as pinapple broom) or Ceanothus.

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Matt – Aubrieta, herbs like sage or Euphorbia myrsinites.

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James – Opuntia cactus (also known as the prickly pear) or Aloe polyphylla.

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Q4 – Lemon tree which has only two very small and misshapen fruit – what am I doing wrong?

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Pippa – Use different feeds for winter and summer feeding. Make sure it’s not kept too warm in the winter. It could be magnesium deficient – try Epsom salts with a few drops of washing up liquid per watering can.

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James – Could be Chlorosis or poor pollination as it’s indoors without pollinators –take a paint brush and tickle each flower. If you have space, you could try Japanese Yuzu which grows well in colder temperatures too.

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Feature:

Honeysuckle berry (Haskap).

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Q5 – Quirky suggestions to create/plant a screen with year-round interest and possible nesting site for blackbird visitors

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Pippa – Clematis montana – Freda or Elizabeth.

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James – Clematis armandii. Could try concrete flooring with holes in, and can plant underneath – Pratia, if in a sheltered spot, try ‘Mind-your-own-business’ plant, or in a very sunny spot, creeping thyme or creeping camomile.

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Q6 – Suggestions for year-round border plants

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Pippa – Bulbs, like Narcissus (Dwarf), snowdrops, Chionodoxa, Iris reticulata, Winter aconites. Otherwise, classics like winter-flowering pansy.

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Matt – Thibetanus, Japanese wineberry, Bergenia – Bressingham ruby.

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James – Herbaceous borders using prairie planting.

Q7 – Recommendations for bushes in a north-facing, seaside garden with lots of variety and colour.

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Pippa – Tamarix, Griselinia.

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Matt – Elaegnus – gilt edge, or evergreen Euonymus – silver queen.

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James – Agave Americana.

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Q8 – Advice for an allotment first-timer.

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Pippa – Chat to other allotment residents, ask for spare plants, look for things that can be grown from seed – French beans, Borlotti beans, runner beans, carrots.

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James – Grow what you want, and what you like to eat; especially things that are hard/expensive to buy, but easy to grow, like berries. And don’t give up!

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Matt – Stick to vegetables, and don’t forget to successionally sow – little and often.