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Chelsea Flower Show Potting Shed - Part 1

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Peter Gibbs presents highlights from the Potting Shed sessions at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Answering the questions are Anne Swithinbank, Matthew Pottage, Bunny Guinness and James Wong.

The panel answers questions on everything from low maintenance vegetables to grow, to how best to look after an Agapanthus.

Away from the Potting Shed, Peter continues exploring the Chelsea grounds where he speaks to John Warland about his artisan garden, The Plantsman’s Ice Garden. Peter also bumps into long-time friend of the show, garden designer Jamie Butterworth, who has designed a sanctuary garden for children's mental health charity Place2Be.

Later, we send Ashley Edwards to speak with Tayshan Hayden-Smith, founder of Grow2Know. Tayshan tells us the story behind his Hands Off Mangrove garden, designed by himself and Danny Clarke.

Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer: Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 5 Jun 2022 14:00

Plant List

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

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Q – I’m taking part in Tickenham open gardens in July. Can you suggest plants for instant height and colour, that I can plant to fill in gaps here and there?

(1 minute 50 seconds)

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Anne Ìý-

Silver birch
Prunus serrula
Triteleia

French lavender

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Q – I’ve been building leaf mould bins which are made from 2 year’s worth of leaves. I turned one of the bins and it’s full of what looks like a white netting. Am I doing something wrong?
(5 minutes 27 seconds)

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Q – I love to grow vegetables but not all the hard work that goes with it. I’ve heard of perennial vegetables, which might you recommend?

(6 minutes 42 seconds)

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Matthew -

Cut and come again salad

Watercress

Jerusalem artichoke

Rhubarb

Globe artichoke

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Q – I’ve heard of the Chelsea Chop: at this time of year you chop plants like Geraniums or Nepeta, then will they come back for a second flowering?

(9 minutes 20 seconds)

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Peter explores the Chelsea showgrounds and speaks with John Warland, designer of the ‘The Plantsman’s Ice Garden’

(11 minutes 30 seconds)

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Q – I live in Chichester Harbour and the sea sometimes comes into my garden. It has killed some plants such as my lavender. I’m looking for perennial shrubs that are happy with salt water.

(14 minutes 30 seconds)

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Q – I’m very fond of Agapanthus, but I’m confused about the advice. The traditional advice has been to keep them in a pot. A grower told me to feed them a lot and they’ll come on very well. What should I do?

(18 minutes 15 seconds)

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Q – I have some indoor terraria. What dwarf species of orchid would work in them?

(21 minutes 3 seconds)

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James –

Taiwanese Bee Orchid

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Peter heads to the Sanctuary gardens and speaks with the designer of the Place2Be garden, Jamie Butterworth.

(24 minutes 28 seconds)

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Jamie –

Cenolophium

Melica

Luzula
BaptisiaÌý'Cherries Jubilee'

Poppy

Verbascum

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Q – Last year I bought a large galvanised container which I wanted to create a water feature with. Where do I start?

(28 minutes)

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Matthew –

Dwarf water lily

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Q – We have 2-3 acres of heavy clay soil. The ground is difficult to dig and manage. Do you have any advice on how to manage this?

(31 minutes 15 seconds)

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Ashley Edwards admires the ‘Hands Off Mangrove’ garden by Grow2Know, and speaks with one of its designers Tayshan Hayden-Smith

(35 minutes 25 seconds)

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Q – I’ve moved into a flat with two balconies, an east and a south facing one. What can I grown on them?

(39 minutes 13 seconds)

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Bunny –

Grape vines

Olives

Grapefruit

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