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Q – I am keen on wildlife in my garden – including snails, which get bad press from many gardeners.Ìý There are 118 species of snail in the British fauna, how can I encourage my snail population please?

Bob – It’s slugs that do the damage, compared to snails.

Christine – Organic matter, growing and partly decaying, will encourage more snails.

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Q – I am going to Borneo – can the panel recommend any seeds I might bring back that would do well in my allotment?

James – Really nothing is going to grow here unless you go to a really high altitude.

Christine – Lack of humidity and legislation might also hold you back.

Bob – There’s a whole range of bananas that you wouldn’t come across here. Pineapples too.Ìý You’re in the middle of the Durian season – a big tropical fruit – so you could try those. But you should try there and then find a supplier back here as transporting edibles is forbidden.

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Q – Please can you convince my partner that we need a shredder to speed up our compost and get rid of the green bin?

James – I’ve never needed one – I just chop things roughly.

Christine – I use a shredder quite often.Ìý The other way to do it is get one for the local community and share it.

Bob – I use an old rotary mower and then mow over the materials.

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Q – I would like to plant a medium size apple tree.Ìý Do you have any suggestions? I am close to the sea so have to cope with wind and salt from that.

Bob – If you could shelter it that would help. Put your apples in an old fridge – it keeps the mice away and the temperature constant.Ìý ‘Winston’ is a good variety, ‘Wagner’, ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Golden Delicious’ is good when grown at home compared to the supermarket.Ìý

Christine – I like ‘James Grieves’.Ìý

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Q – I started some Hollyhocks from seed last summer and they developed Hollyhock rust.Ìý I’ve cut them back and they look ok but if it comes back will I have to throw them out and start again?

Christine – The rust is quite common.Ìý It’s suggested to remove the old leaves as they are more susceptible.Ìý Also feed with potash from March ‘til July to harden the foliage. Never wet the foliage.Ìý Fungicides, in my opinion, don’t work.

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Q – My carrots are rubbish and come to very little.Ìý We have heavy London clay soil but I have been improving it.Ìý What can I do to grow some show-stopping carrots?

Christine – Add organic matter to the soil.Ìý Maybe try growing in toilet rolls first to start them off and then plant them out from there.Ìý If you can get 5-8 decent young leaves before planting them out that might do the trick.

Bob – For big carrots go for a variety such as Autumn King or a derivation of it.Ìý Take a crowbar and make a hole in the ground, 1.5ft (0.5m) deep, conical shaped, and then fill with sowing compost.Ìý Don’t use anything rich.Ìý Also, grow varieties such as ‘Nantes’ or ‘Amsterdam Forcing ‘and grow them in tubs – it’s much more convenient to do multiple sowing.Ìý Feed with water and liquid feed when they’re growing.

James – You can use previously used compost – from things such as bedding plants – so it’s nutrient poor which is good for carrots.

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Q – What suggestions do you have for people who live in rented and temporary shared accommodation – to be motivated to garden and for quick-growing flowers/vegetables that you could plant now to be ready for the summer?

Christine – Plant in containers so you can take your garden with you when you go.Ìý Hardy annuals would be good at this time of year.Ìý For vegetables go for radishes and carrots.

James – Go for houseplants.Ìý I grow Kaffir Limes, curry leaves, lemongrass, Yuzu (a Japanese citrus).

Bob – Also, you could think about dwarf stock fruits – they don’t grow too big and you can dig them up and move them.

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Q – Every year my sweet corn grows beautifully but just as it’s ready for picking the local badgers beat me to them!Ìý How can I deter them?

Bob – By law you cannot interfere with Badgers.Ìý You could try taking a sock, dipping it in soapy powder and then putting it over the cobs so it tastes soapy to the badger.Ìý If it stays dry your crop will be fine.

James – ‘Blue Jade’ is a tiny variety that grows earlier and is not as popular with badgers so you could try growing that