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Kathy Clugston and the GQT team are in Tyne Valley, Newcastle, tackling questions on troubled Aspidistra, yellowing Choisya and planting for winter colour.

Kathy Clugston and the GQT team are in Tyne Valley, Newcastle.

Kathy's joined by Dr Chris Thorogood, Bethan Collerton and Matthew Wilson, who tackle a variety of questions from troubled Aspidistra, yellowing Choisya and planting for winter colour. The team also discusses beech hedges, how to tackle the issue of invasive Japanese knotweed and unlikely exotics thriving in northern gardens.

Later in the show, Bunny Guinness enlightens us on the benefits and use cases of grow lights within greenhouses.

Producer: Dan Cocker

Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

To view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time and open this week's episode page.

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 15 Feb 2026 14:00

Featured

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Plant List

Q1 - Why is my Aspidistra (cast鈥慽ron plant) developing brown leaf tips, and how can I improve its condition? (1鈥40鈥)

Dr Chris Thorogood

-听听听听听听 Aspidistra elatior, cast鈥慽ron plant

Q2 - Why has my Choisya turned from dark green to yellow? (6鈥25鈥)

Bethan Collerton

- Choisya ternata, Mexican orange blossom

- Ilex, holly

Q3 - What hardy plants will give colour in winter in a cold, exposed, north鈥慺acing Northumberland garden? (10鈥00鈥)

Matthew Wilson

- Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire', dogwood 'Midwinter Fire'

- Cornus alba 'Kesselringii', dogwood 'Kesselringii'

- Miscanthus spp., miscanthus grasses

- Salix

- Sorbus听ulleungensis听'Dodong', Japanese rowan 'Dodong'

- Acer griseum, paperbark maple

- Betula nigra, river birch

- Helleborus, hellebore

Dr Chris Thorogood

- Hydrangea aspera, rough鈥憀eaf hydrangea

- Viburnum 脳 bodnantense, Bodnant viburnum

- Ruscus aculeatus, butcher鈥檚 broom

- Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum', Italian arum

Bethan Collerton

- Erica carnea, 'Winter Beauty', winter heath

- Bergenia听'Bressingham Ruby', elephant's ears 'Bressingham Ruby'

- Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow', bugleweed

- Cornus spp., dogwoods

Q4 - What edible or useful 鈥渨eeds鈥 can I grow on my allotment without it becoming overgrown? (16鈥18鈥)

Matthew Wilson

- Rubus fruticosus agg., bramble

- Urtica dioica, stinging nettle

- Phaceliatanacetifolia, fiddleneck

- Stellaria media, chickweed

Dr Chris Thorogood

- Rubusidaeus, common raspberry

- Taraxacum officinale, dandelion

- Scorzonera hispanica, scorzonera

- Foeniculum vulgare, fennel

FEATURE - Bunny Guinness enlightens us on the benefits of using grow lights in a greenhouse. (19鈥50鈥)

Q5 - What is the best approach to eradicating Japanese knotweed, and can it be dealt with safely? (26鈥06鈥)

Q6 鈥 How long will it take until it to become safe to eat produce from an allotment where former tenants used herbicides like paraquat? (29鈥21鈥)

Q7 - 鈥奧hat's the best way to look after a Beech hedge that's looking a bit thin in places? (33:06)

Q8 - What plants have the panel successfully grown that 鈥渟houldn鈥檛鈥 thrive in the climates they grow them in? (35鈥21鈥)

Dr Chris Thorogood

- Solidago 'Goldenmosa'., goldenrod

- Eryngium, Sea Holly

Bethan Collerton

- Pelargonium

Matthew Wilson

- Beschorneriayuccoides, yucca-leaved beschorneria

- Dasylirion wheeleri, spoon flower

- Paulownia tomentosa, foxglove tree

- Tetrapanax papyrifer, rice鈥憄aper plant

- Yucca filamentosa, needle palm/ Adam鈥檚 needle

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