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1
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,600
Hello, welcome to Gardeners' World.
2
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,920
I'm popping some zinnias here
3
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:24,720
into the Jewel Harden.
4
00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:26,520
This one is Purple Prince.
5
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,520
These are a bit late and we've grown
them from seed but didn't sow
6
00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,200
the seed when we normally would do,
which would be the beginning
7
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:33,800
of April.
8
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,960
However, it's not too late to add
colour to the border,
9
00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,480
because there's no doubt about it,
10
00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:42,720
that we go into a slightly
different season.
11
00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:48,240
All that freshness of summer that
lasts well into July is now over
12
00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,720
and that won't come
back till next spring.
13
00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,840
But summer itself in the garden
14
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,960
has still got masses to offer, and
not just till the end of this month,
15
00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,080
but really right into October
nowadays.
16
00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,680
So it's important to nurture what
you have and also to keep adding.
17
00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,960
It's absolutely not too late
to have new plants coming through,
18
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:10,960
adding another floral dimension.
19
00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:15,200
These should flower
in about two to three weeks' time
20
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,000
and then go on until
the first frosts.
21
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,240
And if you haven't sown them from
seed yourself, garden centres
22
00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,920
and nurseries will have a good
choice of tender annuals.
23
00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,360
And remember,
they don't respond to light,
24
00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,600
so the fact the days are getting
shorter won't inhibit them at all.
25
00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,320
As long as it remains warm
enough, they will flower.
26
00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,120
Coming up on today's programme -
27
00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:43,000
Adam visits Sissinghurst to see
the dramatic restoration
28
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,960
of an original
part of that glorious garden.
29
00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,360
How does it all hold together?
30
00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,960
You look at little groups like the
achillea there, they sit
31
00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,440
as a big group, then
they just drift off slightly
32
00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:55,800
and then they drop down,
33
00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,120
so they lead the eye
and they draw you around.
34
00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,840
Whilst most gardens can look
good in high summer, we visit
35
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,880
a garden that is designed
to look great
36
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,480
all the year round.
37
00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,480
Winter is an incredibly important
season to have something
38
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:13,760
good to look out on.
39
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,520
In England, it lasts a flipping
long time,
40
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,080
so I would look for a few key plants
that would look good in each
41
00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,600
of the seasons.
42
00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:27,400
And I shall be pruning my shrub
roses unseasonably early.
43
00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,280
Last week, I began to plant
up the west side
44
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,000
of this new summerhouse.
45
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,080
Well, today it's East Side Story.
46
00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:58,800
An east-facing aspect -
47
00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,040
and it could be a wall,
48
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,200
it could be part of your house,
or even just the whole garden -
49
00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,960
gets the morning sun
but gets no evening sun at all.
50
00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,280
It might get a little bit
from the south.
51
00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,120
So the light that it gets,
and even the heat that it gets,
52
00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,760
is much cooler
than on the west side.
53
00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,600
But, and this is really important,
54
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,720
it's not a separate piece
of the garden.
55
00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,480
You know, either side,
I want the same themes going.
56
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,840
I want it to tie in with the rest
of the mound and the colour scheme,
57
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,200
which is pale yellows, light blues.
58
00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,280
I want the whole thing to cohere
and feel one garden.
59
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,880
Now, I'm starting off with a rose.
60
00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,000
This is Vanessa Bell.
I love this rose.
61
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,080
And I've put it here because
we've got it on the lower terraces
62
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,360
of the mound.
63
00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,320
Last year, this was flowering
on Christmas Day,
64
00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,240
and there's no reason to suppose
why it may not do that.
65
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,640
So, Vanessa Bell, which also
has good fragrance,
66
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,920
I've placed underneath the window,
so I can open the window and there
67
00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,040
will be these beautiful flowers
and that lovely fragrance.
68
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,000
Now, beyond it, I'm going to put
a honeysuckle.
69
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,640
This is a variety with a lovely
70
00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,360
yellow flower, wonderful fragrance,
71
00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,920
really good colour,
72
00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,160
and honeysuckles are great
for a shady aspect,
73
00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,400
because these are woodland plants.
74
00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,160
Their feet like to be cool and then
they climb up towards the light.
75
00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,680
So I'm going to put
this at the far end.
76
00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,440
That will take quite a lot of shade.
77
00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,240
Look how brilliant these plants are.
78
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:37,120
This is a yellow foxglove, called
Lemoncello,
79
00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,480
exactly the colour that I want,
80
00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,920
and the plants are stonking,
really lovely.
81
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,760
And I want these to rise up through.
Now, I'm not planting in clumps.
82
00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,200
I'm threading plants
through the space.
83
00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,040
So I'll pop those like that.
84
00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,040
I said it last week when I was
planting up the other side,
85
00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:56,680
but it's worth repeating.
86
00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:01,720
Place all your plants in an area
before you plant any of them.
87
00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,360
Play with their arrangement, think
it through, go and have a cup
88
00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,760
of coffee and come back
and have another think,
89
00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,920
and then, when you feel happy,
plant the whole lot.
90
00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,920
Chances are you'll move
some of them anyway,
91
00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,160
but it's much easier to move plants
around when they're in their pots
92
00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,200
than once they're in the ground.
93
00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,520
Now, to inject a little bit
more blue height,
94
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,000
I've got some campanulas.
95
00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,400
This is Campanula persicifolia.
96
00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,320
And like the foxgloves,
97
00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,160
these will rise up and give
98
00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,720
that blue height, and of course,
these wonderful bells.
99
00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,240
I'm going to pop these individually.
100
00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,560
That's going to fill that gap there.
101
00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,280
Yeah, it's beginning to assemble.
102
00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:45,800
When I'm placing plants like this,
103
00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,560
I certainly don't have
a planting plan.
104
00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,160
Now, that does mean that you're
going to get it wrong sometimes
105
00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,000
and you are going to have
to move plants,
106
00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,960
but with a bit of experience,
actually, you get used to the idea
107
00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,600
of moving pots around
until it feels right.
108
00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,800
Now, Adam has paid a visit to
Sissinghurst Castle in Kent -
109
00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,920
one of the most famous gardens
in Britain, if not the world,
110
00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,920
and yet they have only now completed
111
00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,000
a project and made it arrive
112
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:19,200
where it was intended to be
back in the 1930s
113
00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,120
when the garden was begun.
114
00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:30,680
Sissinghurst is, to many,
115
00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,280
the essence of
an English country garden,
116
00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:37,680
with flower-filled rooms created
by the famous Vita Sackville-West
117
00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:42,040
and her husband, Harold
Nicolson, back in the 1930s.
118
00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,920
This is the Cottage Garden.
119
00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,040
It looks absolutely glorious.
120
00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:50,280
Think about it.
121
00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:54,120
You know, Vita was an author,
and Harold was a diplomat.
122
00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:58,600
They were totally self-taught, which
makes this even more impressive.
123
00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,760
But, like most of us,
not everything they tried
124
00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,520
worked first time round.
125
00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,200
As keen travellers,
Vita and Harold spent a lot
126
00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,680
of time in Greece, and there's
echoes of it all around the garden.
127
00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,680
But the island of Delos, a religious
site in classical times,
128
00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,120
was a favourite.
129
00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:32,640
They loved the ancient ruins and
the feel of the landscape so much
130
00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:37,160
that they decided to create
a Delos Garden right here in Kent.
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00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,440
On this shady, heavy ground,
their efforts failed,
132
00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,520
and the garden soon reverted...
133
00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,880
..but more than 85 years on,
Sissinghurst decided
134
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to honour the dream.
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So they reimagined
and built the Delos Garden,
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00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,800
and this is what they've created.
137
00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,560
Delos is a dry garden full
of Greek artefacts, arid plants
138
00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,120
and stone terracing.
139
00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,800
It looks effortless,
but it was anything but.
140
00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,640
Troy Scott Smith is the head
gardener who prompted the project
141
00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,560
back in 2013.
142
00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,840
Troy, it feels incredible,
but how did it all begin?
143
00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,800
I wrote... Perhaps you'd call
it, like, a manifesto,
144
00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:42,240
and the idea with that was two
things, really - bringing beauty
145
00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,160
and romance back.
Yeah. Just a point.
146
00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,360
I've had a walk around today.
You've nailed that. Good!
147
00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:48,880
Yeah, it was really important.
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00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,440
I mean, of all the gardens that
I know, I think Sissinghurst
149
00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,520
should be about those qualities.
150
00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,120
And the second part of that
manifesto was really to bring about
151
00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:01,720
a garden that felt much more in tune
and authentic to Vita and Harold.
152
00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,080
And the way Delos had evolved over
the decades,
153
00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,200
it was very far
from their original vision.
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00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,240
But in such an iconic garden,
it's taken years of research,
155
00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,720
a big team and the help
of a garden friend.
156
00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,880
So, when it came to sort of
designing and creating it,
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00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,960
you got Dan Pearson involved.
158
00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:28,280
I invited Dan to be what we call
the garden godparent role.
159
00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:33,080
I love that. Yeah, gardens adviser,
if you like. Yeah. But with Delos,
160
00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,000
you know, the scope of the work
that we were going to undertake,
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00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,120
it became obvious that we needed
Dan and his studio
162
00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:40,800
to get their expertise, really.
163
00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,440
Let's look at the
practicalities of it all.
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00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,400
What was the soil like?
What direction does it face?
165
00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,280
It's completely the wrong
place to do it.
166
00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,640
It's north-facing, you know,
it feels hot today,
167
00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,600
but north-facing, clay soil,
168
00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,680
angled away from the sun,
169
00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:00,360
fierce winds that bite
in the winter.
170
00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:01,920
How did you go about it?
171
00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,480
So, initially, we had to put
a drainage system in.
172
00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,840
So we dug down into the clay,
173
00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,440
laid perforated pipe
that was surrounded
174
00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:14,760
with geotech style and shingle,
and then really bringing
175
00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:16,960
in a really free-draining soil.
176
00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:21,360
So we've used, again, the same
Kentish ragstone for all of these
177
00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,040
elements, so these big boulders,
178
00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,600
the stones we're standing on,
the aggregate here, and also
179
00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,800
the material in the soil make-up.
180
00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,280
So it's about 50% crushed ragstone,
181
00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,640
25% brick, and then also
free-draining soil, 25%.
182
00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,200
That same soil mix and stone also
solved the bigger problem
183
00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,320
of the garden sloping north.
184
00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,000
So, how did you get...
185
00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,120
..expose,
I suppose, the area to more light?
186
00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,360
Yeah, well, hopefully you can see
here, Adam,
187
00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:57,720
there's raised terraces -
188
00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,000
brings the plants
out of the wet clay,
189
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,920
and then by battering the soil,
190
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,440
facing the sun in the south,
191
00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,320
all of that slope now is getting
maximum light,
192
00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:08,720
or as much as possible,
193
00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,880
just like you would with a deckchair
on the beach,
194
00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:12,240
you face it into the sun,
195
00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,400
rather than facing this way,
where it would get natural shade.
196
00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,960
It's a clever solution, allowing
them to test more gardening
197
00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,600
boundaries and showcase
more arid planting.
198
00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,160
And I do love the fact
that actually, you know,
199
00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,640
you've created a beautiful garden,
200
00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,720
but actually, in reality,
you've also put together
201
00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,440
a living experiment. I hope so.
202
00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,000
I hope that's what it is.
203
00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,000
I mean, looking forward,
we'll certainly be, you know, trying
204
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,760
to learn from this kind of planting.
205
00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,680
And I hope, you know, other
people will do so as well.
206
00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:54,440
Sissinghurst is full of English red
brick and traditional oast houses.
207
00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,600
How do you create a garden
208
00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,280
that's alien to all the other spaces
around it?
209
00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,800
Carefully, he says. Look
at the stonework at the back end of
210
00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:06,640
the garden, the pillars,
211
00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,200
look at how they connect
to the vertical outside,
212
00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:14,240
not just in vocality,
but also the stone colour.
213
00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,000
And then if you imagine,
they took out all the height,
214
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,600
which left them with a big sky,
215
00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,280
and on a day like today,
it's fantastic.
216
00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,680
But then they had to put height back
to provide dappled shade.
217
00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:27,920
But not just that - they then had
to connect to the landscape.
218
00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,600
So you look at the trees
and they connect.
219
00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,800
The poplar behind me
is brought in by the oaks.
220
00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:38,200
And that sets this lovely sort
of structural canopy for the rest
221
00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:39,320
to be created from.
222
00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,400
The design echoes an old ruined
street of Delos,
223
00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,160
with rough goat-track paths
between the tiers.
224
00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,120
There's a lot of stonework.
225
00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,640
You know, I've got different types
of walling behind me -
226
00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,320
rubble walling, here we have coarse,
227
00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,440
we've got natural boulders,
we've got things
228
00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,400
with flame finishes on it.
We've got sawn finishes.
229
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,360
We've got cropped finishes.
230
00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,240
When you're just sat here, it gives
your eyes loads to feast on,
231
00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,400
and that's before you add
the plants.
232
00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,640
That said, if they were different
materials, it would start to look
233
00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,600
uncomfortable, too busy, and it
wouldn't give you this lovely
234
00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,840
sort of platform to then plant.
235
00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,000
The planting looks simple,
with swaying grasses
236
00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,960
doing their business
and repeating colour.
237
00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:35,040
They turn the landscape of Delos
into an amazing garden.
238
00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:43,080
A lot of these I grow at home
in the Gravel Garden, but how does
239
00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,600
it all hold together?
240
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,840
You look at little groups like the
achillea there, they sit as a big
241
00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,200
group, then they just drift off
slightly and then they drop down,
242
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,520
so they lead the eye
and they draw you around.
243
00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,600
And then to mingle with that
are the lavenders,
244
00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,920
and then they repeat again
and then that blue gets picked up.
245
00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,480
So you've got this constant
sort of feast for the eyes,
246
00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,400
and you're just naturally drawn
around this garden.
247
00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,680
And then, look, you get these focal
points that, bang, stop you.
248
00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:13,440
The pomegranate over there, that
won't be everybody's cup of tea,
249
00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,200
but it's history, you know,
it adds atmosphere.
250
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,840
And I think it's things like that
that help make places
251
00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,000
like this special.
252
00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,800
And I think, as time goes
on, it's going to become
253
00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,120
even more special.
254
00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:35,000
If Vita and Harold are looking down
on their old Delos dreams, I reckon
255
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,200
they'd be pretty pleased
with the results.
256
00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,240
I remember visiting Sissinghurst
257
00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:03,560
40 years ago, and Delos then
was clearly
258
00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:08,160
sort of out of place, it wasn't
really visited or talked about,
259
00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,520
but on the other hand was respected,
because that was what Vita
260
00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:16,400
and Harold wanted, so it's very
exciting to see that realised fully.
261
00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,320
How it integrates
with the rest of the garden,
262
00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,080
I'm not sure I can imagine,
but certainly I am sure I'd love
263
00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,080
to go and see it.
264
00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:30,560
Now, I always prune my blackcurrants
immediately after harvesting
265
00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:35,680
the fruit, and this gives light
and air, so that the new growth
266
00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,160
will ripen and that should bear
some fruit next year,
267
00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:42,080
cos blackcurrants, unlike
redcurrants, white currants
268
00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:46,720
or gooseberries, produce
their best fruit on young growth.
269
00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,160
So, on first year of growth, the
very best is usually on second year
270
00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,360
of growth, then it starts
to tail off,
271
00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,080
and by the fourth or fifth
year, it's producing hardly
272
00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:56,360
any fruit at all.
273
00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:05,600
So the pruning pattern is to take
out a third of the bush, removing
274
00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:10,320
the oldest third of the growth every
year, so you renew it every three
275
00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,600
or four years, and that way
you get maximum crop from it.
276
00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,440
And unlike redcurrants,
gooseberries or white currants,
277
00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,440
you don't just prune
back to a sideshoot.
278
00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:26,400
You go right down to the base
and cut off the oldest third
279
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,400
and remove it completely.
280
00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:36,840
But you can see that the older
growth is harder, it's dark brown,
281
00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,520
and then you've got the next stage
of growth and then on, and this will
282
00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,520
keep a better shape. You don't want
it to sprawl too much.
283
00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,800
So you can do this in winter
if you want,
284
00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,200
but I've found it's more effective
if you do it now.
285
00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,440
And one of the things I love about
this job is that even the wood,
286
00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,600
when you cut it, smells pungently
287
00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,280
of lovely blackcurrants.
288
00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,160
Gardening like this here
at Longmeadow is pretty easy.
289
00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,240
The soil is rich,
the plants are happy,
290
00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,520
the weather is never too harsh.
291
00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:14,000
However, there are places where
gardening can be quite robust.
292
00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:20,160
Anna Leersen has sent us this
film from her garden in Oban,
293
00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,320
on the west coast of Scotland.
294
00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:35,600
Hello! Hello! Welcome to our garden!
Welcome to our garden!
295
00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,120
We moved into our rental house
here in January of this year,
296
00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:41,920
and were very keen to start
gardening.
297
00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,480
We bought a pretty cheap
greenhouse online,
298
00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,440
but it kept blowing away in...
299
00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,440
WIND RUMBLES
300
00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,080
..as you can hear,
pretty strong wind.
301
00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,880
This is actually quite a calm
day today.
302
00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,880
We got so fed up with having
to rebuild it every time
303
00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,840
that my partner decided
to build us this.
304
00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:07,600
We salvaged the panels,
305
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,400
and we've actually used some
306
00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,000
of the struts as supports
for our plants,
307
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,120
but, as you can see, things
308
00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:18,360
have really taken off since then.
309
00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,440
We've got tomatoes, lettuce, dill.
310
00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,200
And what's this one, Saoirse?
311
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:26,520
I don't know.
312
00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,520
Cabbage. Cabbage. Cabbage!
313
00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,680
As you can see, we've also got
a bunch of shelves.
314
00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,840
Yes, we have. We had so many,
315
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,880
in fact, that we decided
to make a shop.
316
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,520
Do you want to show them the shop?
317
00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:45,000
It's out the front.
318
00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,680
So we made a little free shop
with all our spare plants.
319
00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:55,000
We advertised what we had on offer
and how to look after them, and put
320
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,080
them all in pots
outside the front gate.
321
00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,520
They all found happy homes
within a few days.
322
00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,720
So today we're adding our last
couple outside
323
00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:04,720
with some extra paintings.
324
00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,480
Thanks for all the tips,
Gardeners' World.
325
00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:09,680
Bye!
326
00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:12,840
Bye. Bye.
327
00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:14,640
ANNA LAUGHS
328
00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,160
I love Anna's spirit.
329
00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,320
I know the west coast of Scotland
quite well, and it's one of the most
330
00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:38,440
beautiful places on this Earth,
but it can be awfully harsh
331
00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:43,320
and you certainly need to be
an optimist to try and garden there,
332
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,040
but she seems to be succeeding.
333
00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,880
Now, for me,
it's time to prune my roses.
334
00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:55,400
And for a lot of people,
this is quite an unlikely statement,
335
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,400
because we've got used to this idea
that rose pruning is something
336
00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:04,880
you do in late winter or even early
spring, but that was based largely
337
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,040
on growing Hybrid Teas,
which dominated roses throughout
338
00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:09,320
the 20th century.
339
00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:15,400
But if you're growing Gallicas,
Damasks, Albas, Bourbons,
340
00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,160
all the wonderful old roses that
fill the Cottage Garden here
341
00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:23,400
and have become increasingly
popular over the last 20, 30 years,
342
00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,680
the best time to prune them
is immediately after flowering.
343
00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,640
And in fact, there's a pretty
good rule of thumb.
344
00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:34,760
If it is single-flowering, prune
when that flowering is over.
345
00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,240
If it is repeat-flowering,
prune when it's dormant.
346
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,640
Now, this rose
here is a good example.
347
00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,480
This is a Damask.
348
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:45,960
It's called Kazanlik,
349
00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,160
and it's one of the oldest cultivars
known to man.
350
00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,840
I've got just one
little flower in there.
351
00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,360
You can see it's a soft, beautiful
352
00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:58,080
pink, multi-petalled, very fragrant.
353
00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:02,280
But the problem I've had with
this, for this year and last year,
354
00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:07,120
is that the flowers were almost
totally hidden by the new growth,
355
00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:10,040
because instead of pruning
immediately after flowering,
356
00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,440
I, as I've sort of done
for so many years,
357
00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,280
have been pruning in winter.
358
00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:19,080
And that has meant we get
very vigorous new growth,
359
00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,400
but it's not ripe enough or ready
enough to carry flowers.
360
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,360
And they've literally hidden
the flowers
361
00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:27,000
that were growing underneath.
362
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,040
So I am going to go back to basics
363
00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,480
and prune
all my once-flowering roses,
364
00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,720
which are most of these here
in the Cottage Garden now.
365
00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:39,640
So that's what I'm going to do now.
366
00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,520
I've just got a pair of shears.
This will do the job perfectly well.
367
00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,680
I don't need to agonise
any details about cutting,
368
00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,400
just give it a snip.
369
00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,000
And don't prune too hard,
just prune it back lightly.
370
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,600
No more than a third of the plant.
371
00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:02,840
And if you do prune too hard,
372
00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,360
you will get less good flowering
next year,
373
00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:07,360
because you'll weaken the plant.
374
00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:11,320
There will be fewer
leaves, less photosynthesis,
375
00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,120
and that means the plant will become
less nourished
376
00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:16,600
to produce buds next year.
377
00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,200
And just remember that roses
are tough.
378
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,600
There's no great mystery
about pruning them.
379
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,120
If you just apply this principle -
380
00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:28,880
if they flower once, prune them
after flowering, now, in August,
381
00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,200
and if they're repeat-flowering,
keep deadheading them
382
00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,160
for as long as possible
and then do their pruning
383
00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:36,520
when they're dormant,
384
00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,040
January, February usually
being the best time.
385
00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:44,200
Now, of course, these roses
have their moment of glory in June
386
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,320
and early July, and then it's over,
and it's well worth looking
387
00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,040
after them for those few
glorious weeks.
388
00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,960
But the real skill of a good
gardener is to keep the garden
389
00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,840
looking good all the year round.
390
00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:02,280
And for a lesson on how you might do
this, we went to visit
391
00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,200
St Timothee, a garden
in Maidenhead in Berkshire,
392
00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,760
owned by Sarah Pajwani.
393
00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,800
We moved here 14 years ago,
394
00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,200
and, no, I wasn't really
a gardener.
395
00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:30,080
I had had two houses with
very small sort of square gardens
396
00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,160
with a little border round the edge,
397
00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,760
and I'd basically just tried
to maintain them.
398
00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,800
And then we came here and it was...
399
00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:41,040
..it was really exciting.
400
00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,080
So, slowly, slowly, we worked our
way round,
401
00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,000
planting those borders up.
402
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,600
It has been a labour of love.
403
00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,920
It's been very slow.
404
00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,840
And that's what we've been doing
for the last eight years.
405
00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:57,080
So, I love grasses.
406
00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,280
They're wonderful at capturing
the light, they bring a movement
407
00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,200
and softness into the garden.
408
00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,520
But I also love so many
of the classic English plants,
409
00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,880
you know, like the foxgloves,
the roses.
410
00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:09,080
I adore roses.
411
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,040
And I think they can combine
beautifully.
412
00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:21,360
I came to realise, looking
out on the garden, that winter
413
00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:24,760
is an incredibly important season
to have something good
414
00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:26,760
to look out on, cos it lasts...
415
00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,640
In England, it lasts a flipping
long time.
416
00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:33,360
So I would look for a few key plants
that would look good in each
417
00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:34,880
of the seasons,
418
00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,840
and I usually started with winter.
419
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:42,640
Having put lots of grasses into the
first border we dug out,
420
00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,520
the second borders we dug out,
421
00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:48,400
I decided we'd put a long kind
of curvy backdrop
422
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,640
of a shrub called
Cornus Midwinter Fire.
423
00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,800
For much of the year,
it's looking pretty nondescript.
424
00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,640
It's a sort of green backdrop.
425
00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,520
It's not the star - the colourful
plants are the star - but from...
426
00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,760
Well, probably from October on,
when its leaves turn
427
00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,080
a buttery yellow, and then
particularly in November, December,
428
00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:11,760
January, February, the leaves fall
off and you're left with these stems
429
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,920
that go from yellow at the bottom,
430
00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,360
through orange, through bright red.
431
00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:19,480
I'd say it's the star of
the entire garden.
432
00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,800
Then, in the spring, we've got
the bulbs.
433
00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,560
There's crocuses,
daffodils, tulips and alliums,
434
00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,960
and that kind of, like, goes from
February, March, April, May.
435
00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,720
So things tend to build through the
year, and June, you kind
436
00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,400
of reach this wonderful peak
with the roses, the geraniums.
437
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,600
Everything's out, everything's
looking full, packed, exciting.
438
00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:45,120
and then we come to July,
439
00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:47,880
and that's what I think
of as the tricky bit,
440
00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:52,040
because lots of the flowers that
have looked so fabulous in June
441
00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,040
are starting to really fade.
442
00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:56,480
So that's when I have turned
443
00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,680
to Dieramas, which they're only out
444
00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,360
for three weeks, but they are
absolutely spectacular
445
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:05,200
when they're out, deep pink.
446
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:08,760
Heleniums, orange kind of colours,
they'll be out,
447
00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:11,520
achillea and echinacea.
448
00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,120
So they're my sort of go-to plants
for kind of making things
449
00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:16,720
just about OK in July.
450
00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,480
One of the things I look
for in terms of sustaining
451
00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,720
the interest throughout the months
are flowers that just keep
452
00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:33,760
on going, and penstemon
are definitely one of them.
453
00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:35,200
This is Penstemon Raven.
454
00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:39,160
Lovely deep wine colours, comes out
in June, and for as long as I keep
455
00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:43,560
deadheading it, will carry on until
at least the end of November.
456
00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,000
Even easier, and just as long,
457
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,480
are some of these little
erigeron daisies.
458
00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:53,440
They start flowering in June, they
carry on till the end of November,
459
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,560
and no need to deadhead those.
Lovely little colour.
460
00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:58,960
Gaura going along the sweep there.
461
00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,440
Gaura lindheimeri, again, starts in
June and goes right through till
462
00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:04,920
the end of November.
463
00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:12,880
The late summer stars here,
so August onwards,
464
00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:16,000
but through September, through
October, tend to be things
465
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,120
like the asters.
466
00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:20,200
And the Japanese anemones.
467
00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,960
The sedums, they'll be out
in October.
468
00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,040
And the tender salvias.
469
00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,480
It's not that the garden is always
looking absolutely perfect every day
470
00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,720
of the year, but for me, what's
important is that there is enough
471
00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,040
interest at all times.
472
00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:39,960
I think learning about the plants
has been as much a joy for me
473
00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:43,480
as actually seeing some
of the end results.
474
00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:48,040
So, actually, creating this garden
has probably taught me
475
00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:49,600
how to be a gardener.
476
00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:53,720
I've got the luxury now
of tinkering.
477
00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:54,960
It's what I love.
478
00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,240
That tinkering phase of a garden
479
00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,200
is always very satisfying, although,
480
00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,240
in fact, in my experience,
you pass through that,
481
00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,360
after a certain amount of years,
482
00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:28,280
when you suddenly realise
that you want to make big changes,
483
00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,200
or the garden NEEDS big changes,
484
00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,720
and then that's another
whole process.
485
00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,040
So that pleasure is yet to come.
486
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,880
Now, I've got a problem
here in the Cottage Garden
487
00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,360
that I've never had to deal
with before,
488
00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:44,960
and you can see where it is.
489
00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:46,360
It's the clematis.
490
00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:48,680
And it's not just this clematis.
491
00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:53,120
There are four along the back,
this north-facing border,
492
00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,200
that have suddenly
and dramatically wilted.
493
00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,760
There is a fungal disease
called clematis wilt,
494
00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,680
and that can be equally dramatic.
495
00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,880
You can just see vague signs
in the morning, and by the next day
496
00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:13,040
the whole plant will be reduced
to darkened shreds and tatters.
497
00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:20,000
But clematis wilt tends to affect
the large-flowered varieties,
498
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,440
most of those that we lump
together in Group 2, which tend
499
00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,840
to flower from
late May to early July.
500
00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,200
And also it is most likely
501
00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,080
to hit fairly early on
in the growing pattern,
502
00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:37,960
sort of early June is a classic time
for clematis wilt to affect.
503
00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:42,040
Now, if you do get that, it's
serious, but it's not disastrous,
504
00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:43,960
cos you can cut them off
at ground level,
505
00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:49,920
burn the affected plant material and
it will regrow from below the soil,
506
00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,520
which is why you always plant
clematis deep.
507
00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:57,240
However, I don't think
this is clematis wilt.
508
00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,040
These are all Group 3 clematis.
509
00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:02,360
And look, this one here
hasn't been affected at all.
510
00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:06,480
What I think we have here
is a perfect storm.
511
00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,600
We had a very dry April,
512
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:13,640
we've then had a reasonably wet May
and June, but not exceptionally so.
513
00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,880
And these plants, Group 3,
were cut right back,
514
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:21,560
put on a surge of growth and were
just about to flower
515
00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,000
when they flopped dramatically.
516
00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,440
And that is because they simply
haven't been able to
517
00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:27,720
take up enough moisture.
518
00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:31,440
And particularly if there's a bit
of slug damage to the stems
519
00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,080
or the stems are very thin.
520
00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,560
They've got to supply moisture
to a big plant,
521
00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:37,600
particularly when flowers
are coming out,
522
00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,520
and that's when there's
really demand.
523
00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,840
And I've always taken it for granted
524
00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,200
that our soil has plenty of
moisture,
525
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:45,680
but it was just too dry,
526
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,440
whereas this one has got
stronger stems
527
00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,520
and obviously just better water,
it's not so dry.
528
00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,600
And that quirkiness is not
at all unusual.
529
00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,240
Two plants side by side can
behave differently.
530
00:30:58,240 --> 00:30:59,880
OK, time to cut back.
531
00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:01,920
Right down to the ground.
532
00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:03,480
There we go, poor thing.
533
00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:08,960
Right.
534
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:10,960
Still to come on
today's programme...
535
00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:17,640
..we visit a cut flower grower, who
specialises in perfect dahlias...
536
00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:23,520
To get a spectacular bloom
like this on a nice, long stem,
537
00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:28,360
what we do is disbud, which means
taking out the side shoots
538
00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:30,480
as we go down each leaf node.
539
00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:35,840
..and I'll be reviewing
my summer containers.
540
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,960
But first, we join Alexandra Andrews
in her garden in Nottingham.
541
00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,680
Hi, I'm Alexandra,
I'm from Nottingham,
542
00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:52,640
and welcome to my urban oasis.
543
00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,640
I'm wearing oxygen,
544
00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:57,920
that's because I have
cystic fibrosis,
545
00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,920
which is the genetic condition
I was diagnosed at birth with.
546
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,760
Unfortunately, I get tangled
up in the plants a lot.
547
00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,160
I've beheaded a lot of flowers.
548
00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,200
But I think that they forgive me.
549
00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:15,000
I'm proud of the fact that I do
do everything myself.
550
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,920
I might struggle,
but I do eventually do it.
551
00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,120
I've done what everyone says
they shouldn't do
552
00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:21,560
and buy one of everything.
553
00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:23,920
I just love different textures,
different colours.
554
00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,840
And it excites me every day
that things change.
555
00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:30,880
It keeps me going,
knowing that I have to be well,
556
00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,360
because I need to see this flower.
557
00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:43,920
This is my mimosa tree,
which they said wouldn't survive.
558
00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,200
When it does bloom, it's beautiful
little yellow flowers
559
00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,200
and it survived and I love it.
560
00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,440
This is my favourite, here.
561
00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:55,160
This bottlebrush, the bright pink,
562
00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:58,320
which, I'm sure you will agree,
is beautiful.
563
00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,160
And then, when I'm not feeling well,
564
00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,840
I'll come down to the bottom
of my garden.
565
00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:08,880
It's very private
and it's like little oasis, really.
566
00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:13,160
And I kind of rejuvenate
and it feels like it's healing me.
567
00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:22,400
I hope I've inspired you
all to have fun in your gardens,
568
00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:24,400
whatever your limitations.
569
00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:28,640
I'm going to continue to feel
the mini miracles that occur for me
570
00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,120
in this green space.
571
00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:47,560
Well, I think your garden looks
lovely, Alexandra, and I'm so glad
572
00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:48,960
it gives you such pleasure.
573
00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:55,840
This is a hydrangea called
Runaway Bride,
574
00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:59,160
and it was plant of the year.
575
00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:01,760
And there are lots of really good
things about it,
576
00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:06,320
it flowers and flowers
and it's easy to grow -
577
00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:11,240
I've got a couple here growing
in pots, but there is a problem.
578
00:34:11,240 --> 00:34:14,400
The new growth,
which is very healthy,
579
00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,480
is growing up above the flowers
and hiding them,
580
00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:19,520
which rather makes a nonsense of
the plant,
581
00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:21,320
because if you can't
see the flowers,
582
00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:23,040
then there's no point to it.
583
00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,600
So, I'm cutting them back.
And this is all part of a trial,
584
00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:28,040
really, because I've only just
started to grow this.
585
00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:33,560
So, if I cut back the new growth
so I can see the flowers,
586
00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:36,960
that shouldn't damage it in any way
587
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:40,360
and should still provide material
588
00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:42,240
for next year's flowering.
589
00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:47,040
And if it doesn't, then
that is a flaw with the plant.
590
00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:51,520
So, let's hope that this slight
remedial treatment
591
00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:53,000
will get the best out of it.
592
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:57,160
Let's cut that back a little bit
more. And there.
593
00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:00,960
Right. Now, I can have a good look
and enjoy the flowering.
594
00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:02,920
And of course, these very white
flowers here
595
00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,360
in the Writing Garden are perfect.
596
00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:08,080
These are just a bunch of petunias
and helichrysum
597
00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:11,240
which I had left over and I put in
a pot and they're doing fine.
598
00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:15,520
But the real stars, that you can't
miss, are the lilies.
599
00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:18,080
This is Casa Blanca.
600
00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:21,200
It's about the biggest white lily
you can grow.
601
00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:24,800
And, trust me, the fragrance
602
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:26,360
is heavenly.
603
00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:29,200
It's just filling the air.
604
00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,080
But it isn't very subtle.
605
00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:33,560
It's very white, it's very big,
606
00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:35,240
the fragrance is very loud.
607
00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:37,440
It's brash.
608
00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:40,800
And I considered putting it in the
Paradise Garden, but actually,
609
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:44,000
it would be the wrong choice,
it's too overwhelming for there.
610
00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:45,560
But here, it works well.
611
00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:48,400
And a tip is, if you've got a very
white plant,
612
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,840
or any plant that's very
monochromatic,
613
00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:55,080
put it against a dark background
and that will work much better
614
00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:56,560
than if you try and blend it in,
615
00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:58,520
because they're really
hard to blend.
616
00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:01,200
These Casa Blanca lilies are
definitely the most
617
00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:05,080
starkly dramatic pots that we've got
in the garden at the moment.
618
00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:08,640
But we use containers
as a very important part
619
00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,600
of the garden at Longmeadow
throughout each season,
620
00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:14,680
but never more so
than at this time of year.
621
00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:31,120
Here in the Herb Garden, I've got
some new containers this year,
622
00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:33,200
and one of the ones that's
been really successful,
623
00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,880
in quite a modest way, is this pot,
624
00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:39,200
which is filled
with Mediterranean herbs.
625
00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,080
It may look as though it's stashed
away a bit in a corner,
626
00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:43,480
but that actually isn't the case.
627
00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:48,400
That is the sunniest, most protected
site in the whole garden.
628
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:50,760
And that's what you have to do
with Mediterranean herbs -
629
00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:53,600
give them sunshine and poor soil.
630
00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:55,880
The second is just as important
as the sunshine,
631
00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:57,320
otherwise, they grow too lush.
632
00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:02,040
Now, I moved the troughs
into the herb garden
633
00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:05,120
earlier this year and I've planted
this up with thyme.
634
00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:11,080
But the thing about thyme
is that it really, really does need
635
00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:14,280
perfect drainage, poor soil
and full sunshine.
636
00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:17,920
And the minute it's finished
flowering, just cut it back
637
00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,280
by about half, like that.
638
00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,520
And that will encourage
a nice, compact plant.
639
00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:29,400
Although I'm cutting the thyme back,
640
00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,400
I'm leaving the marjoram.
641
00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:32,760
Bees love it.
642
00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:37,080
It's positively buzzing and humming
from morning till night.
643
00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:40,520
So, of course, I'm not going to cut
it back until the flowers are over.
644
00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:44,360
Then, when the flowers are finished
and it's no longer
645
00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:47,440
any use to the bees, then I will cut
it back really hard -
646
00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:50,120
actually, rather harder than I'm
cutting the thyme -
647
00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:53,800
because marjoram is much better
adapted to this climate
648
00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:56,800
and will recover and grow back
successfully.
649
00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,320
This agapanthus is performing
superbly,
650
00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:07,200
in quite a small pot, really.
651
00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,080
It's called Bridal Bouquet.
652
00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:10,560
They do need watering,
653
00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:12,120
so I water this every week
654
00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,040
and when the flowering is over,
655
00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:15,560
cut off the seedheads
656
00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:18,840
and then feed it once a week
with liquid seaweed.
657
00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:21,160
And go on doing that until autumn,
658
00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:24,560
and that will ensure that next
year's display is equally as good.
659
00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:31,560
We have a number of really big pots
here in the Jewel Garden
660
00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:32,920
and they have to earn their keep.
661
00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:35,640
In spring, we fill them with tulips
and wallflowers
662
00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:37,040
and that intense colour.
663
00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:41,440
In summer, we really go for scale
as well as colour.
664
00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:45,040
And obviously, you get this if
you use plants like cannas
665
00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:48,440
or gingers or even a really
vigorous dahlia.
666
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:52,880
But to get a canna to grow
really happily in a container,
667
00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:56,160
you need to have
a truly rich compost.
668
00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:58,640
If I was only growing a canna
in this pot,
669
00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:00,280
it'd be no trouble at all.
670
00:39:00,280 --> 00:39:03,520
But to complete that external floral
arrangement,
671
00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,080
I've got other plants.
672
00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:07,520
And cosmos -
this is Cosmos Dazzler -
673
00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:10,720
grows really well in a pot,
looks fantastic
674
00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:14,160
and complements the canna
really well.
675
00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:18,040
However, cosmos,
which come from Mexico,
676
00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:19,960
don't need a rich soil.
677
00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:23,320
So, when their roots reach
this nectar,
678
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:24,800
this intense richness,
679
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,400
they respond by growing much
bigger than normal.
680
00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:31,920
However, you can control
that simply by pruning them.
681
00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:37,360
Now, that will encourage sideshoots
to grow from the cut point
682
00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:40,480
and the sideshoots
will have more flowers.
683
00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:44,880
So, with a little bit of management
and attention to detail,
684
00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:47,520
we can keep these pots looking
really good,
685
00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:49,280
right through into autumn.
686
00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,880
In these pots, dahlias
are providing most of the colour,
687
00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:01,880
although the ginger behind will
flower in a few weeks' time
688
00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:03,280
really dramatically.
689
00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,320
But to keep these dahlias going,
690
00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:07,680
it is so important to deadhead.
691
00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:11,440
And if you're uncertain when
a dahlia is in bud
692
00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:15,320
or is finishing flower, there is one
thing you want to look for.
693
00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:18,920
When it has finished flowering,
and this is very obvious,
694
00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:23,400
the shape becomes elongated,
even conical.
695
00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:24,720
We can take that back.
696
00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:26,840
I'm going to go right down,
697
00:40:26,840 --> 00:40:28,400
down, down, down
698
00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:29,720
and cut.
699
00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:35,480
Whereas here, you can see that is
a bud that hasn't yet opened.
700
00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:40,160
So, if it's round or button shaped,
then that is a bud.
701
00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:42,800
If it's elongated,
and often pointed,
702
00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:44,760
then that is a spent flower.
703
00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:47,800
And of course, as soon as that
happens, it's developing seeds,
704
00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:49,840
so it's taking energy
away from new flowers.
705
00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:53,120
So, keep deadheading dahlias right
into autumn.
706
00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:57,920
Now, I love dahlias and we do grow
quite a lot in the garden here,
707
00:40:57,920 --> 00:40:59,480
but we're after the mass effect,
708
00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:03,440
we're not really focusing our
attention on any one plant,
709
00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:05,720
let alone any individual bloom.
710
00:41:05,720 --> 00:41:11,280
But it's worth now repaying
a visit to the cut flower farm
711
00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:14,840
of Richard Ramsey, in Crawley,
in Sussex, because although he does
712
00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:20,600
grow thousands of dahlias, he puts
full attention on trying to make
713
00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:23,160
each bloom as perfect as possible.
714
00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:38,400
Today, I'm cutting some
Cafe Au Lait for a florist.
715
00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:43,760
We will probably harvest this year
something around
716
00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:46,600
30,000 high-quality stems.
717
00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:50,160
Our market is the top-end
event florists.
718
00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:54,720
Our customers expect perfection,
719
00:41:54,720 --> 00:41:56,920
which is what we try to give them.
720
00:41:56,920 --> 00:41:59,560
Mostly, they're looking for big
blooms because a lot of
721
00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:05,000
the work event florists do
is in big, spectacular locations.
722
00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:11,720
Cafe Au Lait was publicised
in a Californian bridal magazine,
723
00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:13,680
I guess around ten years or so ago,
724
00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:17,040
as the bridal dahlia,
because of the colour.
725
00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:32,080
I think they're just such a variety
of shapes, sizes and colours,
726
00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:35,480
you can have half a dozen
red dahlias next to each other,
727
00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:37,960
actually, they're all different
kinds of reds.
728
00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:41,280
So, it's the subtleties in
the plain-colour dahlias
729
00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:43,080
that make them very special.
730
00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:44,920
And then, when you get something
like the one
731
00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:47,160
we're sitting amongst now,
it's called Aljo,
732
00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:50,640
you get the different nuances of
colour in the same flower.
733
00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:56,800
But they range from the pompons
that are about 20cm in diameter,
734
00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:00,120
up to the giant decoratives,
735
00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:03,040
which will be 30cm plus.
736
00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:04,520
So, very big flowers.
737
00:43:08,840 --> 00:43:12,320
They're incredibly versatile
plants for the garden.
738
00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:19,640
We produce around 6,000 to 7,000
rooted cuttings each year,
739
00:43:19,640 --> 00:43:23,040
because growing from tubers,
you don't get that same colour,
740
00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:24,640
intensity or vibrancy.
741
00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:31,560
So, this is a dahlia called
Gay Princess,
742
00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,360
which is the same as the pink one
across there, in the garden beds,
743
00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:37,920
but this is grown from
a rooted cutting.
744
00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:42,120
And this is one of the flowers
we've cut from there to show you
745
00:43:42,120 --> 00:43:44,280
the difference between
growing from a tuber
746
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:45,960
and from a rooted cutting.
747
00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:49,720
So, the farmed flower has greater
748
00:43:49,720 --> 00:43:51,080
intensity of colour.
749
00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:53,040
The glow from the centre is more
750
00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:54,720
intense than it is on this one.
751
00:43:54,720 --> 00:43:57,200
This is just
largely pink and a bit of white.
752
00:43:57,200 --> 00:44:01,000
This has this creamy glow coming
from the centre as well.
753
00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:04,240
So, the whole flower is showing
more vibrancy.
754
00:44:06,400 --> 00:44:10,400
Englehardt's Matador, that that is
grown from the roosted cutting
755
00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:13,760
has this much richer,
more intense colour.
756
00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:17,720
And, in fact, the flower that comes
from the tuber, some people
757
00:44:17,720 --> 00:44:21,640
would have difficulty believing
it's even the same variety,
758
00:44:21,640 --> 00:44:23,920
it's such a paler imitation.
759
00:44:27,280 --> 00:44:30,000
So, if you're thinking about
entering your local show
760
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:31,960
later this year,
the dahlia section,
761
00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:35,640
make sure you're growing
your dahlias from rooted cuttings.
762
00:44:38,320 --> 00:44:42,400
To get a spectacular bloom
like this, on a nice, long stem,
763
00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:47,240
what we do is disbud, which means
taking out the sideshoots
764
00:44:47,240 --> 00:44:49,520
as we go down each leaf node.
765
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:52,120
I just push them downwards
so that we don't break the skin
766
00:44:52,120 --> 00:44:53,960
on the stem that's coming up there.
767
00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:56,680
It just becomes
an automated process.
768
00:44:56,680 --> 00:44:59,760
You walk along the bed and, doesn't
matter what you're doing,
769
00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:01,720
sideshoots, out they come.
770
00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:07,080
Well, call it the dahlia eye.
771
00:45:07,080 --> 00:45:10,640
And I don't think I can explain
exactly what it is,
772
00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:15,080
it is just knowing what is right
and what isn't quite right.
773
00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:20,440
So, when I cut ten stems to go off
to market,
774
00:45:20,440 --> 00:45:22,960
they have passed
the dahlia eye test.
775
00:45:25,360 --> 00:45:28,400
I can do it and my granddaughter
Jemima can do it...
776
00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:31,400
Yeah, they're good.
777
00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:32,800
..but nobody else can.
778
00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:36,080
This is a good example of a dahlia
because the petals are evenly spaced
779
00:45:36,080 --> 00:45:38,840
and they're equally sized
and the petals in the middle
780
00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:40,320
are nicely grouped.
781
00:45:40,320 --> 00:45:42,520
You kind of have to think about what
it looks like,
782
00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:44,720
the patterns
of the petals and things.
783
00:45:44,720 --> 00:45:45,920
But also it's kind of like,
784
00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:47,760
"Oh, this one's good,
this one's less so,"
785
00:45:47,760 --> 00:45:50,240
then kind of just going with your
gut as well.
786
00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:56,920
We see them every day
and even I think,
787
00:45:56,920 --> 00:45:59,480
"Wow, that looks spectacular,"
788
00:45:59,480 --> 00:46:02,160
after donkey's years of
growing them.
789
00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:06,400
So, when other people come
here and can enjoy them as well,
790
00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:09,280
that's good. That's good.
791
00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:13,960
And, hopefully, we encourage more
people to grow dahlias.
792
00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:31,760
It's interesting about
the difference between the flowers
793
00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:36,640
of rooted cuttings and tubers
but, to be honest, that difference
794
00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:40,400
in the context of a garden probably
is not terribly significant.
795
00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:43,960
But, if you're selling individual
blooms and they've got
796
00:46:43,960 --> 00:46:47,880
to look at their very best, 10%
is going to be really significant.
797
00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:50,960
Now, from dahlias
to Cucurbit Corner.
798
00:46:50,960 --> 00:46:53,400
This is the site
of our old compost heaps and,
799
00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:55,800
this year, I've grown courgettes,
800
00:46:55,800 --> 00:46:57,520
squashes and pumpkins
801
00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:00,800
and cucumbers,
all members of the cucurbit family.
802
00:47:00,800 --> 00:47:03,680
Last year, our courgettes
were a disaster, we had hardly any.
803
00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:07,000
So, this year, I grew extra plants,
and I planted eight plants.
804
00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:08,520
And this is a stonking year.
805
00:47:08,520 --> 00:47:11,640
I've got one here,
this is the ideal size.
806
00:47:11,640 --> 00:47:13,680
There you are, the size of
a large sausage,
807
00:47:13,680 --> 00:47:15,320
the flower still on the end,
808
00:47:15,320 --> 00:47:17,200
that will be really tasty.
809
00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:23,760
That's about as big as you'd want
it to be.
810
00:47:23,760 --> 00:47:26,520
Any bigger than that
and it gets more watery
811
00:47:26,520 --> 00:47:28,640
and you lose some of the flavour.
812
00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:33,960
I've got one here which is
distinctly outsized.
813
00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:37,360
Now, I harvested these just
a couple of days ago,
814
00:47:37,360 --> 00:47:39,040
these haven't been left for weeks.
815
00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:42,640
Now, that isn't even all the
courgettes from one plant,
816
00:47:42,640 --> 00:47:44,040
and I have eight.
817
00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:47,880
So, you can multiply that by about
ten, which is what we're getting
818
00:47:47,880 --> 00:47:50,040
at least every week.
819
00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:51,440
What do you do with them?
820
00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:53,280
Give them away, of course.
821
00:47:53,280 --> 00:47:54,840
You eat them, you make soup.
822
00:47:54,840 --> 00:47:57,720
You fry them, you spiralise them,
823
00:47:57,720 --> 00:47:59,120
they make very good pasta -
824
00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:01,520
there are lots of ways of
eating a courgette.
825
00:48:01,520 --> 00:48:05,040
But, in the end, if there's
a glut, don't feel ashamed
826
00:48:05,040 --> 00:48:08,960
if you end up doing as I do and
putting some on the compost heap.
827
00:48:08,960 --> 00:48:10,960
It all goes through the system.
828
00:48:10,960 --> 00:48:13,280
It will all create goodness
that comes back through
829
00:48:13,280 --> 00:48:17,000
and - who knows? - next year,
we may have a more tricky harvest.
830
00:48:18,800 --> 00:48:22,800
Now, the squashes are growing up
these supports.
831
00:48:22,800 --> 00:48:26,320
If you haven't grown
squashes or pumpkins before,
832
00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:29,360
it's tempting to get very excited
by the amount of growth,
833
00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:32,680
and they really can cover
a lot of ground.
834
00:48:32,680 --> 00:48:38,320
However, a successful plant will
only provide you with
835
00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:41,880
three to four good squashes
or pumpkins.
836
00:48:41,880 --> 00:48:45,560
Five is the maximum,
in my experience, and three is good.
837
00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:49,880
So, this is a Blue Hubbard, a lovely
squash with this
838
00:48:49,880 --> 00:48:54,120
sort grey-blue skin,
really good taste, stores well.
839
00:48:54,120 --> 00:48:57,960
Now, at this stage, I probably
don't want to leave more
840
00:48:57,960 --> 00:49:00,920
than half a dozen fruits
on the plant.
841
00:49:00,920 --> 00:49:03,520
And the best way to control
that is, don't pick off the fruits,
842
00:49:03,520 --> 00:49:05,120
but actually just cut
the plant back.
843
00:49:05,120 --> 00:49:08,400
So, this has reached the top,
I can just go like that.
844
00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:10,720
Don't want go mad about it,
but we don't need...
845
00:49:10,720 --> 00:49:12,320
I can prune that back.
846
00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:16,160
I don't want that to go in there,
so I'm going to prune that.
847
00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:20,600
Don't panic. At this stage, there's
an awful lot of growing to go on.
848
00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:23,920
And, August and September,
the plants will grow,
849
00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:27,000
the fruits will get bigger
and none will be ready to harvest
850
00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:30,880
until the end of September,
so you've got plenty of time.
851
00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:33,600
But we're already
harvesting cucumbers.
852
00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:37,440
Outdoor cucumbers have thicker
skins than indoor types.
853
00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:40,120
I've got some growing indoors
with a thin skin,
854
00:49:40,120 --> 00:49:42,360
but these have done well.
They are doing well.
855
00:49:42,360 --> 00:49:45,200
I could harvest this perfectly.
856
00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,560
This is a variety called Swing,
and you can see it's got this
857
00:49:48,560 --> 00:49:52,520
rather knobbly skin,
so you have to eat it peeled,
858
00:49:52,520 --> 00:49:55,760
but the flesh is sweet and good.
859
00:49:56,960 --> 00:50:00,240
Now, next week is National
Allotment Week and we thought
860
00:50:00,240 --> 00:50:03,920
we would celebrate by putting
together a montage
861
00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:07,640
from clips of your allotments
that you've sent to us.
862
00:50:12,320 --> 00:50:14,760
Hello. I thought you might be
interested
863
00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:16,200
in seeing my allotment today.
864
00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:18,600
It's a bit wild, a little bit
unkempt -
865
00:50:18,600 --> 00:50:22,040
probably a bit like me, really -
but I like it.
866
00:50:24,320 --> 00:50:26,280
Throughout April, we've been
super-busy,
867
00:50:26,280 --> 00:50:28,880
ticking lots of jobs off
of the list.
868
00:50:28,880 --> 00:50:31,000
I've put in some onions
and shallots.
869
00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:33,040
These sweet peas went out.
870
00:50:33,040 --> 00:50:34,800
And then, what do we do?
871
00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:36,640
Let's cover it up.
872
00:50:36,640 --> 00:50:38,840
This is my piece of heaven.
873
00:50:38,840 --> 00:50:41,080
This is the first year we've grown
baby sweetcorn,
874
00:50:41,080 --> 00:50:42,960
so I'm actually really pleased
with them.
875
00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:46,720
We're growing some cucumbers, some
courgettes and one big marrow
876
00:50:46,720 --> 00:50:49,120
that I have named Marilyn.
877
00:50:53,840 --> 00:50:55,400
Connie, my six-year-old,
878
00:50:55,400 --> 00:50:56,640
really wanted to grow
879
00:50:56,640 --> 00:50:57,720
some sunflowers.
880
00:50:57,720 --> 00:51:00,960
And look, they're nine foot tall!
881
00:51:00,960 --> 00:51:03,000
These are our blackberries.
882
00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:04,760
I'm going to eat one now.
883
00:51:04,760 --> 00:51:05,800
They're yummy.
884
00:51:07,080 --> 00:51:08,520
And this is a watermelon.
885
00:51:08,520 --> 00:51:10,440
Lovely cherry blossom.
886
00:51:10,440 --> 00:51:12,760
And I found a big pickle.
887
00:51:14,120 --> 00:51:20,120
I'd like to share with you my two
passions - gardening and painting.
888
00:51:20,120 --> 00:51:24,000
I work with textiles and natural
dyes, and I love extracting colour
889
00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:25,480
from plants and roots.
890
00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:28,640
Like lots of people in cities,
I don't have a garden,
891
00:51:28,640 --> 00:51:32,280
so this has been rally valuable
for me to come outside.
892
00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:35,920
Yeah, allotments during
this lockdown
893
00:51:35,920 --> 00:51:39,080
are an incredible source of relief.
894
00:51:39,080 --> 00:51:41,440
One of the amazing things
about having an allotment
895
00:51:41,440 --> 00:51:43,440
is the sense of community that
we have here.
896
00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:47,200
This allotment has been my
saviour, really.
897
00:51:47,200 --> 00:51:49,800
It's a bit bonkers, a bit wild.
898
00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:51,080
Best thing in the world.
899
00:51:51,080 --> 00:51:52,120
Bye!
900
00:52:12,840 --> 00:52:17,360
I have never visited an allotment
that didn't have both
901
00:52:17,360 --> 00:52:19,920
that sense of communal spirit
902
00:52:19,920 --> 00:52:23,880
as well as the deep personal,
private satisfaction
903
00:52:23,880 --> 00:52:25,960
of each allotment holder.
904
00:52:25,960 --> 00:52:29,200
They are wonderful places
and we should treasure
905
00:52:29,200 --> 00:52:31,280
every one of them,
and make more, too.
906
00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:35,760
Now, I think the Dry Garden is
looking pretty good at the moment,
907
00:52:35,760 --> 00:52:39,400
and that is because it's so limited.
908
00:52:39,400 --> 00:52:42,200
If you have perfect soil,
909
00:52:42,200 --> 00:52:44,120
best possible aspect,
910
00:52:44,120 --> 00:52:46,080
limitless choice of plants,
911
00:52:46,080 --> 00:52:49,040
you'll probably
make a pretty good garden.
912
00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:53,080
But the chances are,
it won't really be ideal
913
00:52:53,080 --> 00:52:55,720
because gardens tend to work best
914
00:52:55,720 --> 00:52:58,480
when they have to cope
with limitations.
915
00:52:58,480 --> 00:53:02,280
It could be the wrong aspect,
or the soil is a particular type,
916
00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:05,600
or the shade, or it's too dry,
too wet, whatever.
917
00:53:05,600 --> 00:53:07,960
And the Dry Garden,
where we have the worst soil
918
00:53:07,960 --> 00:53:11,520
of the whole of Longmeadow - it's
very, very thin, it's very shallow
919
00:53:11,520 --> 00:53:15,920
and then stony - means that only
certain plants will grow here.
920
00:53:15,920 --> 00:53:19,360
But those that will are really
well-adapted to these conditions,
921
00:53:19,360 --> 00:53:20,880
so they thrive.
922
00:53:20,880 --> 00:53:22,840
So, take the fennel, for example -
923
00:53:22,840 --> 00:53:25,760
this lovely zigzag lines
with its stems -
924
00:53:25,760 --> 00:53:28,840
they're much smaller out
here than they are in the back.
925
00:53:28,840 --> 00:53:30,880
In the Herb Garden,
where we've got fennel,
926
00:53:30,880 --> 00:53:32,320
some of them are ten foot tall.
927
00:53:32,320 --> 00:53:34,640
These are a third of the size,
928
00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:38,800
but they're growing strong
and upright and are really happy.
929
00:53:38,800 --> 00:53:41,680
And the tansy with the lavender.
930
00:53:41,680 --> 00:53:43,920
When I planted the lavender
on The Mound,
931
00:53:43,920 --> 00:53:46,680
I put in a huge amount of grit
and I sort of hoped
932
00:53:46,680 --> 00:53:48,760
it would come through
cos it was so wet.
933
00:53:48,760 --> 00:53:52,920
Here, bunged a lavender bush in,
it's been there for about ten years,
934
00:53:52,920 --> 00:53:56,080
I hardly ever touch it
and look, it's completely happy.
935
00:53:56,080 --> 00:53:58,960
And the combination of the tansy
and the lavender
936
00:53:58,960 --> 00:54:02,040
is as good as anything I could have
come up with.
937
00:54:02,040 --> 00:54:04,720
So, if you accept the limitations,
work with them.
938
00:54:04,720 --> 00:54:07,040
It's the same old story,
right plant, right place.
939
00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:10,160
Don't try and force anything
onto a situation
940
00:54:10,160 --> 00:54:12,320
where it's not going to be happy.
941
00:54:12,320 --> 00:54:16,240
The chances are, the garden
will be a lot better as a result.
942
00:54:16,240 --> 00:54:19,040
Now, I don't know,
you may have the perfect garden,
943
00:54:19,040 --> 00:54:21,240
but you're still going to
have jobs to do,
944
00:54:21,240 --> 00:54:23,720
and here are some for the weekend.
945
00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:42,920
Now and in the coming weeks
is a good time to take
946
00:54:42,920 --> 00:54:48,040
semi-ripe cuttings from plants like
rosemary or lavender.
947
00:54:48,040 --> 00:54:53,680
Choose nice, straight, fresh growth,
cutting just below the new wood.
948
00:54:53,680 --> 00:54:55,800
Strip off most of the leaves,
949
00:54:55,800 --> 00:54:57,840
make a clean cut below a node,
950
00:54:57,840 --> 00:55:00,040
and bury it in gritty compost.
951
00:55:01,240 --> 00:55:03,920
Water it well and put it
somewhere warm.
952
00:55:03,920 --> 00:55:05,680
It'll root in a few months
953
00:55:05,680 --> 00:55:08,120
and then must be stored over winter
954
00:55:08,120 --> 00:55:10,440
before planting out next spring.
955
00:55:17,360 --> 00:55:21,800
To ensure a supply of salad leaves
in autumn, it's important to sow
956
00:55:21,800 --> 00:55:24,680
the seeds now because,
as the days get shorter,
957
00:55:24,680 --> 00:55:27,320
the seedlings take longer
to develop.
958
00:55:27,320 --> 00:55:31,120
Sprinkle the seeds of plants like
rocket, mizuna
959
00:55:31,120 --> 00:55:33,840
or lettuce like Rouge d'Hiver
960
00:55:33,840 --> 00:55:36,000
onto peat-free compost,
961
00:55:36,000 --> 00:55:37,400
cover, water,
962
00:55:37,400 --> 00:55:40,560
and then, when they germinate,
prick the seedlings out,
963
00:55:40,560 --> 00:55:44,640
ready to plant into place
in about a month or so's time.
964
00:55:52,280 --> 00:55:55,880
Plants like foxgloves and poppies
that have finished flowering
965
00:55:55,880 --> 00:55:57,520
are busy forming seeds.
966
00:55:57,520 --> 00:56:02,120
And before they drop, it's a good
idea to collect your favourites.
967
00:56:02,120 --> 00:56:05,480
Use a paper envelope, not plastic,
968
00:56:05,480 --> 00:56:09,040
label them clearly and simply
shake some seeds into them.
969
00:56:09,040 --> 00:56:12,160
Seal it and put it somewhere
cool and dry
970
00:56:12,160 --> 00:56:13,720
until you're ready to sow.
971
00:56:27,680 --> 00:56:31,920
Made quite a few changes to the
Paradise Garden over the last year.
972
00:56:31,920 --> 00:56:34,440
I added in this scabious.
973
00:56:34,440 --> 00:56:36,480
It's Black Knight.
974
00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:39,320
It was sown last September.
975
00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:42,200
I planted it out
fully two months ago,
976
00:56:42,200 --> 00:56:44,760
so it's been a long, slow process,
977
00:56:44,760 --> 00:56:46,600
but well worth the wait.
978
00:56:46,600 --> 00:56:51,560
That richness and
these domes of flower are perfect.
979
00:56:51,560 --> 00:56:55,680
And I also took out the grasses
that had been here originally,
980
00:56:55,680 --> 00:56:57,400
that Stipa tenuissima,
981
00:56:57,400 --> 00:57:00,320
and I've replaced them with
a pheasant grass.
982
00:57:00,320 --> 00:57:03,080
Now, all these were seedlings I took
from around the garden,
983
00:57:03,080 --> 00:57:04,400
they're doing very nicely.
984
00:57:04,400 --> 00:57:08,720
Because they make a fountain shape
and they hold their shape,
985
00:57:08,720 --> 00:57:11,200
and that's perfect
as a counterbalance
986
00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:12,840
to everything else
that's going on -
987
00:57:12,840 --> 00:57:16,160
the verbena, we've got gaura,
we've had roses.
988
00:57:16,160 --> 00:57:18,560
And the lilies were spectacular,
989
00:57:18,560 --> 00:57:20,600
but they've done their stuff.
990
00:57:20,600 --> 00:57:22,480
And the thing to do with lilies is,
991
00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:25,880
now that the petals have fallen
and the seedheads are there,
992
00:57:25,880 --> 00:57:28,760
is to take off the flowering heads.
993
00:57:28,760 --> 00:57:31,320
Just prune them, like that,
994
00:57:31,320 --> 00:57:35,760
so that none of the energy is
going into making seeds.
995
00:57:37,960 --> 00:57:42,000
I will now move these, put them
somewhere where they can quietly
996
00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:45,800
absorb some sunshine, put
all that goodness into the bulb
997
00:57:45,800 --> 00:57:47,160
for next year's display.
998
00:57:47,160 --> 00:57:50,160
Now, I have to replace it with
something - don't quite know what -
999
00:57:50,160 --> 00:57:52,000
but whatever it is,
it won't be today,
1000
00:57:52,000 --> 00:57:53,520
because we've run out of time.
1001
00:57:53,520 --> 00:57:57,440
And I shan't be here next week
because I'm taking a week's holiday,
1002
00:57:57,440 --> 00:57:59,280
which I haven't done for ages.
1003
00:57:59,280 --> 00:58:00,760
And I know I'm going to spend it
1004
00:58:00,760 --> 00:58:04,080
pottering around here
in the garden - heaven.
1005
00:58:04,080 --> 00:58:08,520
And, of course, there will be
a programme which will be hosted
1006
00:58:08,520 --> 00:58:12,240
by Carol and Nick, who'll be
looking at how to make
1007
00:58:12,240 --> 00:58:13,760
every space count.
1008
00:58:13,760 --> 00:58:16,840
And that will be on
at eight o'clock next Friday,
1009
00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:21,640
and I will be back here with you
at Longmeadow in a fortnight's time.
1010
00:58:21,640 --> 00:58:23,280
So, until then, bye-bye.
128622
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