Pennod 7 Garddio a Mwy

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-Welcome back to Pont y Twr.

-June is drawing to a close.

-The incredible growth

-that came with the wet weather...

-..and strong sunshine

-has kept us both on our toes.

-The potatoes have flowered.

-I'll harvest them later...

-..and will use some

-in a lettuce and nettle soup.

-While Iwan does that,

-I'll be creative...

-..with that wonderful flower,

-the Streptocarpus.

-And Meinir shows us

-how to create a terrarium.

-All this and more on Garddio A Mwy.

-One of the highlights of the growing

-season is harvesting early potatoes.

-I'm glad to say that the big day

-has arrived here at Pont y Twr.

-I planted these on the weekend

-that the clocks went forward.

-They have flowered

-and, as such, are ready to harvest.

-I'm not harvesting them all today.

-Early potatoes taste better

-straight from soil to plate.

-But I will harvest some

-to make room for a new crop.

-I have leeks

-that are ready to plant on.

-First, let's see

-how many potatoes I get.

-Here we are.

-This is why people garden.

-It's like striking gold.

-These are the ideal size

-to go into the saucepan.

-You never get as many early potatoes

-as you do with maincrop potatoes.

-But what you lose in numbers,

-you make up for with taste.

-A bowlful of early potatoes

-that are sure to taste lovely...

-..with some mint from the garden.

-Now that I have free space,

-I'm ready to move the leeks.

-These leeks

-were planted in February.

-The aim was, as many gardeners do,

-to start them in one area...

-..then move them

-once space became available.

-Because I grew them from seed,

-some plants are very close together.

-I'll raise them, divide them

-and replant them...

-..in the nutrient-rich soil

-where the potatoes once were.

-As you can see,

-I have to be very careful.

-Because space is at a premium,

-I've planted the corn here too.

-The corn will stay here,

-and will enjoy the extra space.

-There we are, that's enough for now.

-I'll move the others

-as I harvest more potatoes.

-In they go!

-Planting leeks after early potatoes

-is a natural progression.

-It's something many gardeners do

-as part of their crop rotation.

-Early potatoes need nutrients,

-and I added manure here last autumn.

-It'll be an ideal spot for leeks.

-One thing I will add

-is a little bit of lime.

-This is a good habit to take up

-because lime is good for the soil...

-..and especially good for leeks and

-brassicas that follow the potatoes.

-That lime will break down slowly

-as the season goes on.

-I'm ready to plant the leeks.

-It's a simple task.

-They need to be

-about eight inches deep...

-..and about six inches apart.

-Fill the holes with water...

-..then simply insert the leeks.

-There's no need

-to cover them with soil.

-And there we are,

-it's as simple as that.

-The leeks are in place.

-I've got a few other jobs to do.

-Before I do that, let's visit

-Bethan's allotment in Aberystwyth.

-She agrees with me.

-Gardening is good for the soul.

-I've had the allotment

-for eight years.

-It's in Penparcau, near Aberystwyth.

-I've always

-had an interest in gardening.

-I'm from a gardening family

-and I love the allotment.

-I work in a shop by day...

-..but I love being outside

-in the fresh air.

-Coming down here to garden

-and to grow fresh food...

-..is so relaxing.

-Nothing beats the evenings here,

-listening to the birds sing.

-Sitting down after some hard work,

-and thinking, this is a good life.

-I like being able to lose myself.

-Time flies when I'm down here.

-There's nothing better than seeing

-a plant growing from seed.

-You plant a seed,

-and in a few days, new life sprouts.

-That's amazing.

-It gives me a thrill

-every time I see it.

-Today, I'm planting peas.

-I start them off in the guttering.

-When I planted them in the soil,

-the mice got them all.

-Once I plant them here,

-they won't be able to get at them.

-The aim now is to transplant them.

-They're a bit wet after the rain...

-..so I have to plant them gradually.

-I transplant them like this.

-I planted these in the greenhouse

-about two weeks ago.

-They've been outside for two days

-to get them ready to be planted.

-They're Shiraz.

-Shiraz.

-Mangetout.

-These are new to me.

-I hope they'll be very tasty.

-I don't have time

-to come down every day.

-Two or three times a week,

-maybe more, maybe less.

-I don't come here

-when it's raining.

-It's pointless

-doing anything when it's wet.

-The watering takes care of itself.

-I'm very much

-a fine weather gardener.

-Terrariums are popular these days...

-..and you don't need a garden

-to create one.

-Terrariums are splashed all over

-the pages of the glossies nowadays.

-But they aren't a modern idea.

-The Victorians

-were very fond of them...

-..and owning one,

-along with its exotic plants...

-..was a way of showing off

-an individual's status.

-All you need

-to create a terrarium of your own...

-..are a glass case of some sort.

-I've chosen a square one,

-which looks a bit more contemporary.

-After choosing one,

-you'll need coir tablets.

-Coconut fibre.

-They take the place of compost

-once you pour water onto them.

-You'll also need plants.

-Succulents always go

-into these terrariums.

-The first step is to pour water

-onto the coir to make them expand.

-As you can see, they expand to

-four times their size immediately.

-We need to take

-three or four of them...

-..or however many we can fit in.

-This isn't a clean job.

-Carefully put them

-into the glass case.

-You can get these tablets

-at any garden centre.

-I think that's enough

-for the moment.

-I'll put this to one side.

-It's that easy, and now,

-it's time to add the plants.

-The first one is Crassula perforata,

-which will add height at the rear.

-Next to it

-goes Echeveria Green Velvet.

-This plant at the front is Lithops.

-In order to avoid being eaten,

-it has evolved to resemble a stone.

-Behind it is Echeveria purpureum

-and a small variety of cactus.

-It's time to add water now.

-Don't pour it, add it with a spoon.

-If you poured it,

-the soil would go everywhere.

-You don't want to saturate it.

-Make sure that each plant gets some.

-There we are.

-Right, tidying up.

-The best tool for the job

-is a paintbrush.

-Brush any soil from the sides.

-You don't want the glass

-to look dirty.

-The plants

-are the stars of this show.

-Finish it off

-with grit or small pebbles.

-Again, do this carefully,

-because the plants are so small.

-Use the paintbrush again

-to remove any grit from the plants.

-Oh, that'll look great there.

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-The Streptocarpus is one

-of our most popular houseplants.

-Among the reasons are that it's

-comparatively easy to care for...

-..and it also flowers

-for a very long time.

-If you aren't familiar with it,

-today, I'm going to introduce you...

-..to the wonderfully colourful world

-of the Streptocarpus.

-Where better to do that

-than at Dibleys Nurseries in Ruthin?

-They're experts in the field.

-One of its most wonderful aspects

-is the way in which it propagates.

-Unlike most flowers, new plants

-aren't created from stem cuttings...

-..but rather from leaf cuttings.

-Lynne Dibley will show me.

-I cut leaves down the centre...

-..and put them into compost

-with vermiculite.

-Small leaves will appear

-in eight to ten weeks.

-We then put the small plants

-into compost.

-So, there are roots

-hanging from every one of those?

-How interesting.

-That then goes into another pot.

-How long will it take

-before it looks like that?

-Eight to ten weeks.

-That's not too long.

-That's not too long.

-

-No, it isn't.

-Dibleys, founded 30 years ago...

-..is now one of the world's leading

-Streptocarpus growers and sellers.

-Every year, their catalogue

-contains over 100 varieties.

-This year, they won their 28th gold

-medal at the Chelsea Flower Show...

-..taking their total of RHS golds

-to almost 200.

-Hiya, Gwen.

-You look happy

-among the Streptocarpus.

-I'm in heaven.

-How many are there here?

-There are 75,000 plants here.

-They go to the leading shows.

-Chatsworth, Chelsea, Hampton Court.

-They go out

-to over 300 garden centres.

-As small plants, plugs,

-they go out to Europe as well.

-Is there one

-that's more popular than the rest?

-This one is very popular,

-a new variety last year.

-Coconut Purple.

-It's so pretty.

-It's so pretty.

-

-Everyone has fallen for it.

-The petals look like velvet.

-The petals look like velvet.

-

-Yes, they do.

-If anyone at home has one, what tips

-would you give to look after them?

-Keep them dry, and don't let them

-stand in water for over a minute.

-Always remove any dead flowers...

-..then cut the stem at the base

-and keep out of hot sun.

-I'm creating

-a theatre for them later.

-I want ones that go well together,

-but I must take Sioned with me.

-Because it's your name,

-you must take this one.

-It's so pretty.

-Yes, it's lovely.

-I'll have a look around

-to see what goes with it.

-Thanks for your time, Gwen.

-Thanks for your time, Gwen.

-

-Thank you.

-It's been heavenly to look around

-at all these flowers.

-I've chosen a few,

-but I need more before I go home.

-I'll see you later.

-Tips From The Nursery

-Croen Mochyn, the Pig Skin apple,

-is a native Welsh apple tree.

-Around these parts,

-as the rhododendrons prove...

-..it's mainly acid soil around here.

-But you can get around that...

-..because these will grow

-in a large pot...

-..if you give them

-a suitable compost...

-..wool and fern compost.

-It's not as soft

-as the usual compost.

-It holds together better.

-The plant's roots can take hold...

-..that much easier.

-Another of its advantages...

-..is that you don't have

-to water the plants as often.

-It retains moisture better,

-but it's peat-free.

-I firmly believe in not letting

-anything in the garden go to waste.

-Take these lettuce.

-Yes, once again,

-I've planted too many of them.

-There are a lot more here

-than I can eat in a salad.

-So. I'll make soup with them.

-The advantage

-of making soup with lettuce...

-..is that you can use the old,

-bitter leaves on the outside.

-Instead of throwing them onto

-the compost heap, I can eat them.

-For this particular recipe,

-I'm adding another ingredient...

-..that is abundant

-here in the garden, nettles.

-Remember, if you do pick nettles...

-..don't pick them

-where dogs tend to go walking.

-Do I have to explain why?

-After you pick the nettles,

-soak them in a bucket of water...

-..to get rid of any insects

-that live on them.

-I haven't made this soup before,

-and I found the recipe on the Web.

-I must admit that it's my decision

-to add the nettles at the end.

-We'll see if that works.

-First, wash and cut the lettuce.

-Melt two tablespoonfuls of butter.

-Brown two shallots and two

-garlic cloves, all finely chopped...

-..then add the lettuce.

-Strip the nettle leaves

-from the stems.

-They don't sting

-after being soaked in water.

-Chop them roughly

-and add to the saucepan...

-..with 250g of cubed potatoes,

-fresh from the garden.

-Next, add 800ml

-of good chicken stock...

-..and salt and pepper,

-and there you have it.

-While this cooks for ten minutes,

-let's see what Sioned's doing.

-These are the plants I chose.

-I'm using this curtain rail

-to hold my hanging baskets.

-These hooks go on the rail.

-I've used these old bathtubs

-on numerous occasions.

-They do look rather old by now...

-..so I thought they'd make

-a perfect Streptocarpus theatre.

-Some old pieces of timber

-will make a shelf.

-I'm putting all the plants...

-..into terracotta pots

-to add some weight.

-This variety is Targa.

-I chose this one

-for its perfect purple colour.

-They really do look like velvet.

-I couldn't leave Sioned, could I?

-Now to choose which one goes where.

-This one can go here.

-This small one can go in the middle.

-Sioned and Nia are left over,

-and they can go here.

-These are usually viewed as plants

-for the house or conservatory.

-But they'll do fine outdoors

-at this time of year.

-They'll get plenty of light here,

-and it's fairly sheltered.

-But they don't like much rain.

-The bathtubs

-offer some shelter from the rain...

-..and the edges will also

-protect them from the wind.

-You could also use old boxes.

-Old wooden boxes

-would make nice frames.

-I did say that this was a doddle.

-Right, the soup is ready.

-I must say, it smells very nice.

-Now we need some magic

-to combine all the ingredients.

-To do that,

-I need a bit of technology.

-Right, let's see

-what this tastes like.

-Mmm!

-I must say, that's...

-..nicer than I expected.

-It tastes slightly bitter.

-Maybe the nettles were a bit old.

-But I can certainly taste

-the lettuce.

-A bit more salt,

-a touch more lemon, maybe...

-..and it would be fine.

-Getting the children to try it

-will be a whole different challenge!

-That's my next job!

-Until the next time,

-enjoy the gardening.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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