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Postbag Edition: Sefton Park Palm House

How do I maintain a hot compost bin? Do Begonias have a finite life? How do I successfully grow a pineapple? Kathy Clugston and the GQT panel have all the answers.

How do I maintain a hot compost bin? Do Begonias have a finite life? How do I successfully grow a pineapple?

Kathy Clugston and a panel of hearty horticulturalists venture to the Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool, while digging into the GQT postbag, to solve your trickiest gardening conundrums.

Joining Kathy to explore this historic palm house are botanist James Wong, proud plantswoman Bethan Collerton, and 鈥奾ead of RHS Bridge Water, Marcus Chilton Jones. They're also joined by head gardener of Sefton Park, Colin Hughes.

Producer: Rahnee Prescod

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 4 Jan 2026 14:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

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Plant List

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

Q 鈥� What鈥檚 wrong with me Phalaenopsis orchid? (04鈥�46鈥�)

Q 鈥� Is my banana plant dying? (06鈥�44鈥�)

Q 鈥� What would you describe as the growing season for houseplants? (09鈥�52鈥�)

Q 鈥� What鈥檚 happened to my Hibiscus? (14鈥�29鈥�)

Marcus Chilton Jones 鈥�

Hibiscus听syriacus, rose of Sharon

Hibiscus听syriacus听'Oiseau Bleu', rose of Sharon 'Oiseau Bleu'

Q 鈥� How do I successfully grow a pineapple? 听听(16鈥�56鈥�)

Q 鈥� Have you any suggestions of a fruit tree that would do well in poor soil? (19鈥�51鈥�)

Marcus Chilton-Jones

Ficus听carica听(F), fig

James Wong 鈥�

Ugni听molinae, Chilean guava

Colin Hughes 鈥�

Phoenix听canariensis, Canary Island date palm

Q 鈥� Do Begonias have a finite life? (37鈥�42鈥�)

Q 鈥� How do I get the temperature right in a compost bin? (26鈥�20鈥�)

Q 鈥� Can you tell me my Sarcococca has deteriorated? (30鈥�45鈥�)

Q 鈥� What鈥檚 wrong with my jade plant? (33鈥�30鈥�)

Q 鈥� How do I remove Mistletoe from my tree? (37鈥�30鈥�)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 2 Jan 2026 15:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Sun 4 Jan 2026 14:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

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