From the Archives: Allotments
We dig into the GQT archives for an allotment advice special.
Kathy Clugston looks back over 76 years of allotment advice on this special archive edition of GQT.
There has been a steady increase in the number of allotment owners over the years, as well as more and more questions on where to start, what to plant, and how to maintain them. The GQT team have gone for a no dig approach when pulling out questions and answers from our horticultural experts over various episodes. They share their knowledge on how to save an allotment after a flood, what sort of fruit and veg you should grow, and the properties of a successful compost heap.
And later we listen back to when Matthew Wilson and Christine Walkden paid Bob Flowerdew鈥檚 exotic polytunnel a visit back in 2018.
Producer: Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Hannah Newton
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.
听
Q 鈥� Given my no-dig approach,听Where do I start with an allotment riddled with weeds?
(1 minutes 05 seconds)听
听
Q 鈥� I鈥檝e just got my first allotment - Where do I start?
(4 minutes 08 seconds)听
听
Pippa 鈥�
French beans,
Borlotti beans,
runner beans,
carrots.
James 鈥�
Berries
听
Q 鈥� What would the panel recommend as the vegetable garden or allotment 鈥渂ig five鈥� to grow?
(08 minutes 44 seconds)
听
Christine 鈥�
Sprout
Sweetcorn
Bean (runner)
听
Matthew 鈥�
Asparagus
Sweetcorn
Strawberry
Potato (salad)
Globe artichoke
听
Bunny 鈥�
Lovage
Parsley, 鈥業talian鈥�
Tomato
Bean (runner)
Lettuce, 鈥楥ut and Come Again鈥�
Q 鈥� Which luxury fruit would the panel recommend to grow in a northern allotment?
(10 minutes 08 seconds)
James 鈥�
Rosemary听
Sage
Salad
Raspberries
Blackcurrants
Gooseberries
听
Ashley 鈥撎�
Pineapple sage
Wasabi rocket
听
Christine 鈥撎�
Melon
Q 鈥� Why Isn鈥檛 my parsley growing?
(13 minutes 40 seconds)
听
Q 鈥� How do you successful grow parsley?
(14 minutes 50 seconds)
听
Q 鈥� We鈥檝e decided to start again with our allotment compost heaps, but there鈥檚 so much conflicting advice on what to do. What are your views?
(16 minutes 23 seconds)
听
Feature 鈥� Christine Walkden and Matthew Wilson visit Bob Flowerdew鈥檚 Polytunnel
(23 minutes 19 seconds)
听
Q 鈥� What should we do with excess acorns that drop into our allotment?
(29 minutes 50 seconds)
听
Q 鈥� How can I help my allotment recovering from flooding?
(31 minutes 45 seconds)
听
Q 鈥� What do I do with the excess undeveloped potato鈥檚 鈥� should I leave them to grow or compost them?
(33 minutes 44 seconds)
听
Q -听I have recently retired and will join my wife down at the allotment. What piece of wisdom can you give me that will make me look like a seasoned plantsman?
(37 mins 45 seconds)
听
听
Broadcasts
- Fri 9 Jun 2023 15:00麻豆社 Radio 4
- Sun 11 Jun 2023 14:00麻豆社 Radio 4
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Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts
