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What can I plant now for a winter harvest? Who inspired you to study horticulture? What easy flowers could be grown in pots and picked by children? The GQT panel answer all.

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鈥檚 native flora and fostering biodiversity.

Senior Producer: Dominic Tyerman
Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod

A Somethin' Else Production for 麻豆社 Radio 4.

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 Sep 2025 14:00

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Plant List

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

Q 鈥� What are these black worms that I keep finding in my garden? Are they dangerous? (02鈥�27鈥�)

Q 鈥� What can I plant in September for an autumn winter harvest? (05鈥�24鈥�)

Frances Tophill 鈥�

Foeniculum听vulgare, common fennel

Brassica听oleracea听Acephala Group, kale

Cichorium听intybus, chicory

Coriandrum听sativum, coriander

Raphanus听sativus, common radish

Anne Swithinbank 鈥�

Vicia听faba, broad beans

Peas

Chris Beardshaw 鈥�

Ribes听nigrum听(B), blackcurrant

Red currents

Cherries

Root stock apples

Q 鈥� My Cordyline听australis is starting to lose its leaves, is it dying? (09鈥�31鈥�)

Q 鈥� What can I do to encourage my white pumpkins to flower more consistently? (14鈥�22鈥�)

Feature - Christine Walkden鈥檚 no-nonsense guide to watering, to help your plants flourish whatever the weather (17鈥�00鈥�)

Q 鈥� Is there a certain compost or a compost mix that鈥檚 needed to improve my soil so I can grow healthy plants & perennials? (21鈥�18鈥�)

Q 鈥� I鈥檝e got a very shady woodland garden, could the panel suggest some vibrant flowers that could add some colour? (26鈥�52鈥�)

Frances Tophill 鈥�

Spring bulbs

anemone

Lamprocapnos spectabilis, bleeding heart (syn. Dicentra spectabilis)

Anne Swithinbank 鈥�

Mentha听spicata, spearmint

Hydrangea听quercifolia, oak-leaved hydrangea

Chris Beardshaw 鈥�

Digitalis听lutea, straw foxglove

Podophyllum听peltatum, may apple

Trachystemon听orientalis, early-flowering borage

Omphalodes听cappadocic, Cappadocian navelwort

Peony

Paeonia听emodi, Himalayan peony

Epimedium

Begonias

Olearia, daisy bush

Hydrangea听aspera听subsp.听Sargentiana, Sargent hydrangea

Q 鈥� What easy flowers could my grandmother grow in pots that could be easily picked by children? (33鈥�08鈥�)

Frances Tophill

Helianthus听annuus, common sunflower

Cosmos听atrosanguineus, chocolate cosmos

Anne Swithinbank 鈥�

Lathyrus听odoratus, sweet pea

Chris Beardshaw 鈥�

Fuchsia

Tropaeolum听majus, garden nasturtium

Viola听odorata听(Vt), sweet violet

Chrysanthemum, mums

Q 鈥� Do you have any horticultural heroes that have either inspired you or guided you into your career in horticulture? (36鈥�54鈥�)

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