Sully & District: Blooming Cacti, Shallow Depth and Signs of Spring
What climbing plants could I grow in a shallow depth? Any tips for encouraging my Christmas Cacti to bloom? What鈥檚 your favourite first sign of spring? Kathy and panel answer all.
What climbing plants thrive in shallow soil? How can you coax your Christmas cacti into a dazzling display? What鈥檚 your favourite first sign of spring?
Kathy Clugston brings a hand鈥憄icked panel of horticultural experts to Sully, Wales, where they tackle a lively audience鈥檚 gardening questions with insight, warmth and plenty of good humour.
Joining Kathy are garden designer Chris Beardshaw, houseplant specialist Anne Swithinbank, and Bethan Collerton, head gardener at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Together, they share their practical know鈥慼ow, creative ideas, and passion for all things green.
Pippa Greenwood meets Samantha Smith from the Horticultural Trades Association to explore the new Simpler Recycling initiative, and what it means for clearing out old pots, containers, and other garden clutter.
Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Junior Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4
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Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
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Q 鈥 How do I encourage my Christmas Cacti into full bloom? (01鈥40鈥)
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Schlumbergera, christmas cacti
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Q 鈥 Could you recommend an upright conifer that could fit in my garden? (06鈥24鈥)
Chris Beardshaw 鈥
Picea听glauca听var.听albertiana听'Conica', alberta spruce 'Conica'
Pinus Mugo, dwarf mountain pine
Calluna听vulgaris, heather
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Bethan Collerton 鈥
Cupressus听sempervirens, italian cypress
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Taxus听baccata听'Fastigiata' (f), irish yew
Pinus听heldreichii, bosnian pine
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Q 鈥 What climbing plants could I grow in a plot with shallow depth? (12鈥07鈥)
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Bethan Collerton 鈥
Clematis听montana, himilayan clematis
Hedera, ivy
Ficus听carica听(F), fig
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Hedera听helix听'Halebob', ivy 鈥楬alebob鈥
Robinia听hispida, rose acacia
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Chris Beardshaw 鈥
Indigofera听amblyantha, pink-flowered indigo
Wisteria
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Q 鈥 What vegetables could I grow in shady spots underneath a sycamore tree? (17鈥42鈥)
Bethan Collerton 鈥
Chard
Kale
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Jerusalem artichokes
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Chris Beardshaw 鈥
Blackcurrants
Rhubarb
Currents
Peas
Spinach
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Feature 鈥 Pippa Greenwood met Samantha Smith from the Horticultural Trades Association to discuss the 'Simpler Recycling' initiative, and what it means for decluttering old pots and containers. (22'18鈥)
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Q 鈥 What could we plant in a hospice garden that鈥檚 close to the coast and can provide lots of colour? (26鈥42鈥)
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Bethan Collerton 鈥
Nepeta, cat mint
Malva听sylvestris, common mallow
Lavatera, tree mallow
Verbena听bonariensis, purple tops
Dianthus听carthusianorum, german pink
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Cistu, rock rose
Helianthemum听'Pink Angel' (d), rock rose 鈥楶ink Angel鈥
Peonia, peony
Lavendula, lavendar
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Chris Beardshaw 鈥
Steppa gigantia
Lavateria
Urungium iburnium
Perovskias
Aqualegas
Calendulas
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Q 鈥 What could I plant around my pittosporum for a little colour? (33鈥22鈥)
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Geranium听phaeum, dusky cranesbill
Polystichum听setiferum, soft shield fern
Digitalis听lutea, straw foxglove
Lamium听orvala, balm-leaved red deadnettle
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Chris Beardshaw 鈥
Epimedium
Arum听italicum, Italian arum
Arum听maculatum, lords-and-ladies
Cyclamen听hederifolium, ivy-leaved cyclamen
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Q 鈥 What鈥檚 your favourite first sign of spring? (37鈥10鈥)
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Bethan Collerton 鈥
Narcissus, daffodils
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Anne Swithinbank 鈥
Akebia听quinata, chocolate vine
Clivia听miniata, natal lily
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Chris Beardshaw 鈥
Narcissus听obvallaris听(13), tenby daffodil
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Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts