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Phyllis Court: White Fly, River Thames and Favourite Gardens

How does the River Thames impact my garden? Why has there been so much whitefly this year? What's the panel's favourite garden? Peter Gibbs and a panel answer these and more.

Might our otherwise polluted River Thames have a positive impact on my garden? Why has there been so much whitefly this year? Do the panel have a favourite garden they鈥檝e visited?

Peter Gibbs and a panel of green-fingered gurus head to the Phyllis Court Club in Henley-on-Thames, 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, Johnny 鈥楬ot Stuff鈥� Mayard discusses how he grows chillies in his polytunnel that are used for his hot sauce.

Senior Producer: Dan Cocker
Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton
Assistant Producer: Suki Glockling

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 2 Nov 2025 14:00

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Plant List

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

Q 鈥� Might our otherwise polluted river have some positive impact somehow in my garden? (01鈥�42鈥�)

Q 鈥� Why has there been so much whitefly this year? And are they damaging to the plants (05鈥�27鈥�)

Q 鈥撯�奧hich shrubs, perennials and bulbs do you suggest I plant to provide really good spring to autumn interest? (07鈥�41鈥�)

Matthew Pottage 鈥�

Fritillaria, fritillary

Fritillaria听imperialis, crown imperial

Narcissus, daffodil

Narcissus听'Thalia' (5), daffodil 鈥楾halia鈥�

Rosa听xanthina听'Canary Bird' (S), rose 鈥楥anary Bird鈥�

Rosa听Morning Mist听('Ausfire') (S), rose [Morning Mist]

Symphyotrichum听lateriflorum听'Lady in Black', calico aster 鈥楲ady in Black鈥�

Galtonia听candicans, summer hyacinth

Hibiscus听moscheutos, common rose mallow

Christine Walkden 鈥�

Hesperantha听coccinea, crimson flag lily

Autumn cyclamen

Anemone

Chionodoxa, caper hyacinth

Puschkinia

Pippa Greenwood 鈥�

Galanthus, snowdrops

Eranthis听hyemalis, winter aconite

Iris听reticulata, early bulbous iris

Epimedium

Herbaceous geraniums

Crocus

Colchicum听autumnale, meadow saffron

Crocus听nudiflorus, autumn crocus

Crocus听vernus, spring crocus

Q 鈥� How do I remove Staghorn sumac from my garden? (14鈥�45鈥�)

Feature 鈥� Johnny 鈥楬oT Stuff鈥� Mayard discusses how he grows chillies in his polytunnel that are used for his hot sauce (18鈥�14鈥�)

Q 鈥� How do I stop pigeons and squirrels for getting into my bird feeder? (23鈥�10鈥�)

Q 鈥� What plants could I have in pots that could fit on my south facing balcony? (26鈥�05鈥�)

Matthew Pottage 鈥�

Salvia听mexicana, mexican sage

Salvia听'Hot Lips', sage 'Hot Lips'

Osteospermum, African Daisy

Callistemon听citrinus, crimson bottlebrush

Callistemon听citrinus听'Splendens', crimson bottlebrush 'Splendens'

Callistemon听Hot Pink听('Kkho1'PBR), bottlebrush [Hot Pink]

Callistemon听salignus听Honey Pot听('Hutneezz'), bottlebrush [Honey Pot]

Pippa Greenwood 鈥�

Agapanthus, african lily

Miniature daffodils

Crocus

Christine Walkden 鈥�

Lathyrus odoratus, sweet peas

Ipomoea听lobata, spanish flags

Eccremocarpus听scaber, chilean glory flower

Q 鈥� How do I go about growing King Edward potatoes? (31鈥�12鈥�)

Q 鈥� Do the panel have a favourite garden they鈥檝e visited or is there a real/fictional garden they鈥檇 love to visit? (35鈥�22鈥�)

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