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Hidcote: Postbag Edition

Kathy Clugston and the team are at Hidcote Manor Gardens.

Kathy Clugston and the team are at Hidcote Manor Gardens answering questions sent in by post or online.

Matt Biggs, Anne Swithinbank and Bunny Guinness join Kathy for a tour around the beautiful gardens by head gardener, Lottie Allen. As they go, they dig into the GQT postbag and answer questions - including how to save an indoor Gingko tree, planting suggestions for a small patio garden and why a Cherry blossom is flowering early.

Producer: Hannah Newton
Assistant Producer: Rosie Merotra

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Feb 2020 14:00

Plant List

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

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Q – I successfully grow watercress on my allotment, but when I harvest it, it lacks taste – what am I doing wrong?

(2 minutes 45 seconds)

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Q – We have a Cherry tree that blossoms in January, and again in spring; why is this?

(5 minutes 4 seconds)

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Anne – Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ (Winter flowering cherry tree)

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Q – I have a south-facing garden with a high screen of ivy on each side. The space is all concrete so could the panel recommend some plants I could try? I love ferns and would like to use planters.

(8 minutes)

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Bunny – Cosmos

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Matt – Aucuba japonica ‘C°ù´Ç³Ù´Ç²Ô¾±´Ú´Ç±ô¾±²¹â€™

Dryopteris erythrosora

Hart’s-tongue fern

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Q – My father has a Begonia rex which is a beautiful red colour. Is there a way to grow another from a cutting from this plant?

(11 minutes 19 seconds)

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Q – I’ve recently purchased some yellow and red stemmed Cornus shrubs, which I have planted. Is it a good idea to prune them in the spring or should I leave them well alone this year?

(16 minutes 52 seconds)

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Matt – Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’

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Anne – Cornus alba ‘E±ô±ð²µ²¹²Ô³Ù¾±²õ²õ¾±³¾²¹â€™

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Q – Each year my Christmas cactus produces lots of buds but when half of these have started to flower, the rest fall off. What is happening?

(19 minutes 30 seconds)

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Q – I’m looking for hedge ideas for a 20m (65ft) boundary. I’d like it to be wildlife friendly, fast growing and evergreen.

(23 minutes 17 seconds)

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Matt – Hawthorn hedge (Crataegus monogyna)

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Bunny – Holly

Yew hedge

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Q – We’ve recently cut down a large Juniper tree leaving the roots and three large stumps (about 4ft/1.2m high). We’d like to keep the stumps as a feature so could the panel tell me, will they sprout back, and have they seen this done successfully?

(26 minutes 16 seconds)

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Q – I have a small-north facing patio garden in London and two young children, so would like to grow plants along the walls and fences. I’d like to focus on edible plants but am open to suggestions. Could the panel help?

(28 minutes 34 seconds)

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Bunny – Espalier pears

Figs

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Anne – Kiwi fruits

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Matt – Cut and come again salad

Beetroot

Runner beans

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Plant shelter

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Lottie – Echium candicans

Abutilon

Begonia fuchsioides

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Q – I have an indoor Ginkgo, 41cm (16inches) tall. It didn’t drop leaves in the autumn, and only recently started turning yellow. Do you have any ideas of how to save this tree?

(33 minutes 15 seconds)

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Q – After my bay tree dying each winter, I brought one inside, and I’m pleased to see, after losing its leaves there is some new growth. I want to know will the leaves harden and produce the usual bay leaf flavour? Should I be feeding it? And can I put it outside in the spring?

(36 minutes 18 seconds)

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Q – I have a 6ft (1.8m) octagonal greenhouse. I’m a complete novice – what should I grow to avoid disappointment?

(38 minutes)

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Anne – Tibouchina

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