Gardeners' Question Time - Crowthorne: Caterpillars, Rusty Spots and Up-Cycled Objects
Download Crowthorne: Caterpillars, Rusty Spots and Up-Cycled Objects
Why do my ferns have rusty spots? Any tips for stopping caterpillars eating my cabbages? Have you upcycled any objects in the garden?
Peter Gibbs and a panel of plant and gardening experts are in Crowthorne, Berkshire and offer advice to an audience of keen gardeners. Joining Peter are pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, head gardener Matthew Pottage and proud plantswoman Christine Walkden.
Later in the programme, house plant expert James Wong visits the Of The Oak exhibition at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which celebrates the Lucombe oak and oak trees as a vital hub of biodiversity. He's joined by visual artist Ersin Han Ersin and arborist Cecily Withall.
Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile
Plant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
Q – The council have recently cleared a raised flowerbed at the front of the Morgan Centre. It previously had in it a giant prickly pyracantha. What would the panel suggest? (02'02")
Matthew Smith – Callistemon rigidus, stiff bottlebrush Alstroemeria Indian Summer ('Tesronto'PBR) (Summer Paradise - Summer Series), Peruvian lily [Indian summer] Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', Balkan clary 'Caradonna' Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group (Ro), rosemary Prostrata Group
Q - Why have my ferns developed rusty looking spots – is it caused by a disease? (06'31")
Q – Any tips on growing miss Willmott's ghost? (09'08")
Q – I have a bank of mature Heathers. Can I prune them as they're quite tall now or do I need to replace them as they get straggly? (13'13")
Q- How do I stop caterpillars from eating my cabbages? (17’05")
Feature – James Wong visits the 'Of the Oak' at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which celebrates the Lucombe oak. He's joined by Ersin Han Ersin and Cecily Withal (21’28”)
Q - How do we encourage our Camellia to flower? (25'56")
Q – I would like to plant some other more interesting climbing plants in a shady spot – what do the panel recommend? (29'13")
Matthew Pottage – Hydrangea petiolaris, climbing hydrangea Hydrangea petiolaris 'Silver Lining'PBR hydrangea 'Silver Linng' Hedera colchica 'Dentata Variegata' (v), ivy 'Dentata Variegata'
Christine Walkden – Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Virginia creeper Dactylicapnos scandens, yellow bleeding heart vine
Pippa Greenwood – Lonicera, honeysuckle
Q – How often do Clematis Clematis’ flower? (34'02")
Q – Can the panel recommend any other ways to repurpose objects? (36'26")
Q – I’d like you to recommend plants for a red hot, south facing gravel garden? (36'25")
Published on Friday, 6th June 2025.
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