0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello, welcome to Gardeners' World.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07And this week I'm back at Longmeadow after a trip to Malvern.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10I brought back with me from Malvern lots of ideas,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12inspiration and plants to put in the garden.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17But, above all, the realisation that what matters most at this time of year
0:00:17 > 0:00:20is to spend as much time out in the garden as possible.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31This week I'll be planting out my tomato plants into the greenhouse
0:00:31 > 0:00:35as well as preparing containers for summer colour and scent.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Carol offers some planting solutions for a proper pergola.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41It's very grand, isn't it?
0:00:41 > 0:00:43It is, really, yes.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46And Joe visits a contemporary garden,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49full of inspiring design ideas.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54There's nothing better than visiting a garden when it's at its peak.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09It's time to plant out my tomatoes but before I can plant them
0:01:09 > 0:01:11I've learnt over the years that
0:01:11 > 0:01:15it is worth making a really good support structure for them.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17I used to just put in canes, like this,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20but however hard you try and get the cane in, it's wobbly.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23If it's wobbly now you can imagine what it's like come September
0:01:23 > 0:01:26when it's loaded with tomatoes and that will be
0:01:26 > 0:01:29falling all over the place and then you patch and repair it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32So, it's much better to invest in a bit of time
0:01:32 > 0:01:35before you plant them to get a really good support system
0:01:35 > 0:01:41and this kind of bamboo scaffolding, I do confess, I quite enjoy doing.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44It has a sort of utilitarian beauty of its own.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49I shall be planting one tomato plant for every cane.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52These are close together because over the years
0:01:52 > 0:01:55I've experimented with the spacing distances and I've found that
0:01:55 > 0:02:00you can grow tomatoes very close together
0:02:00 > 0:02:05as long as the roots have a certain amount of room in every direction.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18OK, that'll do.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22That'll support even the biggest crop of tomatoes I've ever grown
0:02:22 > 0:02:23and there will be a lot of tomatoes.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25There are 62 canes here
0:02:25 > 0:02:29and towards that end I have prepared the soil fairly well.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34We had salad crops in here until a few days ago and dug them out
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and added a lot of compost.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40I've got two main varieties of tomato.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45One is San Marzano, which is the great Neapolitan tomato
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and this other one, Costoluto Fiorentino,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50we use for sauces, we use in salads.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54It's a large tomato, not quite beefsteak, but a good size.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58A really delicious, intense flavour and that's one of our favourites.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01So, a whole wall of those and a whole wall of San Marzano
0:03:01 > 0:03:02and that's out basic stock.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07They're all grown in the same way. Let's start with San Marzano.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10I grew these from seeds. I sowed them in January.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12So, it's reached a decent size.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Now, the crucial thing when you're planting is don't plant back
0:03:16 > 0:03:18to the same level that it's been in the pot.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22And that's if you grow it yourself, or if you buy a tomato plant.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Plant it nice and deep, at least up to the first leaves
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and it wouldn't matter if you went right up that deep.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32What that'll do is encourage it to grow more roots
0:03:32 > 0:03:37and because it's got more roots, it'll feed better, it'll be anchored better
0:03:37 > 0:03:40and therefore you'll get a bigger plant with more fruit.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42So, plant tomatoes deep and that applies
0:03:42 > 0:03:45whether you're planting them in the soil or in the pot.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52And it's worth remembering the history of the plant
0:03:52 > 0:03:54to understand how they like to be grown.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56They're not Mediterranean plants.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Yes, they've become synonymous with the Mediterranean diet,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03but these come from tropical and sub-tropical
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Central and South America and they like damp heat.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11And a plant that I always put with them that comes from the same
0:04:11 > 0:04:15kind of environment, although the other side of the world, is basil.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20And is another tropical plant. I grow... Oh! The smell!
0:04:20 > 0:04:24I tell you, you take the plant out and this rich, oily smell.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27Oh, I love it. I love basil.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32And basil and tomatoes make the perfect combination on the plate.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36They also make the perfect combination when you grow them.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39If you're growing tomatoes right, then basil will like it, too,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41and they'll flourish.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44What I'm going to do is plant a hedge of basil
0:04:44 > 0:04:47either side of the path and it's a pretty good indicator
0:04:47 > 0:04:50if the basil's happy, then the tomato's happy.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Now, this structure does need to be really strong, in fact,
0:05:06 > 0:05:11it's pretty good, because the tomatoes I'm putting in here are extra vigorous.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Now, you can see that this is a very substantial plant.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22This is a variety called Shirley, but this has been grafted
0:05:22 > 0:05:26and what that means is that the Shirley part of the tomato
0:05:26 > 0:05:29has been attached to a root stock that's different.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32And the root stock is giving it extra vigour,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36it's giving it an earlier fruit, it's making it last a little bit longer,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40it's making it bigger and slightly hardier and this is the first year
0:05:40 > 0:05:44these have been available in garden centres to amateur growers.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46And the key thing
0:05:46 > 0:05:50when you're planting grafted tomatoes is not to bury the graft.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53So where I've said bury deeply the seed-sown tomatoes,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56just put them in at the level of the pot.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04I'll have to tie these in as I go.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Hence the importance of the structure and although this structure is handsome in a way,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11and I like it, it's temporary.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16However, Carol has gone to Wiltshire in response to a gardening dilemma
0:06:16 > 0:06:20based upon a permanent structure - a pergola.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23And the question that she's going along to try and solve
0:06:23 > 0:06:27is how can it be planted to give you year-round effect?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Irene and her husband have lived here for four years.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40The garden covers almost an acre but the first thing that greets you
0:06:40 > 0:06:44at the front of the house is a wonderful cottage garden.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54I've had a chat with Irene before coming to visit her
0:06:54 > 0:06:58and I know that although many aspects of the garden are flourishing,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01the planting around the pergola isn't.
0:07:01 > 0:07:07- Very grand, isn't it?- It is, really, yes.- Was it here when you got here?
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Yes, it was, but it had been neglected for several years,
0:07:10 > 0:07:15the house had been empty and it was just a mass of greenery at the top, nothing on the uprights at all.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Erm, so the first thing we did was take it all down and then think,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21"What do we want?"
0:07:21 > 0:07:24We see this very much from the house,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27so we thought it would be nice to have some green on it all year round
0:07:27 > 0:07:29rather than just looking at a bare structure.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34As you can see, the ideas were there but it didn't actually work very well in practice
0:07:34 > 0:07:36and it just looks a bit bitty and needs some new ideas.
0:07:36 > 0:07:42With something like this there are so many different kinds of climbing plants
0:07:42 > 0:07:47and what's important is you have something that's actually going to suit the structure you've got
0:07:47 > 0:07:49and something that's going to enjoy living there.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53I mean, this beautiful Clematis montana is an absolute picture
0:07:53 > 0:07:58but it's not really doing what you want it to do cos it's a scrambler,
0:07:58 > 0:08:02what it wants to do is expand in every direction
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and what you're presenting it with is this column.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08And it just isn't in its nature to do that, really.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09No, I can see that.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Now, this Clematis armandii I chose because it is evergreen
0:08:13 > 0:08:17and I was hoping it would give us some colour all through the winter,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20but obviously it's not quite right, either.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22It's grown round and round in circles, hasn't it?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25And to make it look right you're going to be out here
0:08:25 > 0:08:27every five minutes tying it in
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and getting it to do what you want it to do.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34In terms of design I feel that, you know,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38you're really going to have to do something fairly radical
0:08:38 > 0:08:43and I'm going to suggest that you take everything out and start again.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46I'm not surprised. I mean, it does, it does need a total rethink.
0:08:46 > 0:08:53'If Irene's starting from scratch then ivy is ideal for this pergola.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57'It's hardy, evergreen and it climbs incredibly well.'
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Well, they're quite hefty these, aren't they?
0:09:00 > 0:09:04I mean, it's a wonderfully sort of various group of plants,
0:09:04 > 0:09:05you know, you say ivy
0:09:05 > 0:09:09and immediately what springs to mind is this sort of thing.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14Now, this is ordinary Hedera helix, our native ivy,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18and whilst it's scrambling around on the ground it stays like this
0:09:18 > 0:09:21but as soon as you introduce it to something it can climb up,
0:09:21 > 0:09:26it changes its character and it starts to produce flowers
0:09:26 > 0:09:31and therefore fruit and it's fabulous for wildlife.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33But you can vary it, too, with texture.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Look at that one, that's called Green Ripple.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- It's got very different leaves. - Do you like that?- Yeah.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42Nice texture.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Or you can go for something that's lighter and brighter
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and that's one called Glacier.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52It's just a form of Hedera helix, so eventually it'll flower, too.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54So, what do you think?
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- You persuaded? - I think it could work, yes.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01And if they're in pairs, matching pairs right the way down,
0:10:01 > 0:10:06- it'll be dramatic. Shall we have a go at planting one?- Yeah.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22- This soil's lovely.- Good.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Well, we prepared quite well for the previous plants,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27even if they didn't appreciate it.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37'Irene's ivies will take some time to establish,
0:10:37 > 0:10:42'but planting annuals alongside them will add some vibrant colour
0:10:42 > 0:10:43'throughout the summer.'
0:10:43 > 0:10:47How about this Morning Glory?
0:10:47 > 0:10:51I think this is a brilliant annual
0:10:51 > 0:10:54for just clothing that, covering the whole thing with...
0:10:54 > 0:10:56these rich deep purple flowers.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Oh, they're lovely, yes.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00You could use all sorts of things. You've got sweet peas.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02You could even think about using them.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14I think the important thing is to use the same thing on both sides.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15Are you happy with it?
0:11:15 > 0:11:18I am, yes, I think it'll look good when it's grown a bit more.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Yeah, well, gardening's all about patience,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25but also about giving these a drink, do you think?
0:11:45 > 0:11:47I think in a year or two,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51that pergola will be clothed in green the year round.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54If you've got any garden problems or dilemmas
0:11:54 > 0:11:57that you would like us to come round and try and help you with,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59write to us, email us,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02look on our website and you can find the contact details,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04and we'll be very interested to hear from you.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Now, Carol, there, was looking for a solution to a fixture.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12What I'm doing here now is something that is temporary,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15seasonal, and also fluid, that gets shifted around,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18because I want to plant up some pots
0:12:18 > 0:12:22with wonderful scented Mediterranean plants.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Now, this is a very un-Mediterranean garden.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27It's cold, it's wet, winters can be long,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29and the wind can howl in. That doesn't mean to say that
0:12:29 > 0:12:33I'm limited to certain types of plants if I use pots,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36because I can move them around and protect them over the winter.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40And at Malvern, I bought some pelargoniums.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42And what I particularly want is fragrance.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Now, I saw Lady Plymouth at Malvern.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Not the person, but the plant. I've got her here...
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Here she is. Doesn't look that remarkable,
0:12:51 > 0:12:52but if you could smell...
0:12:53 > 0:12:57you get this rich, slightly citrusey,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59very exotic fragrance.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02And the whole point about scented-leaf pelargoniums
0:13:02 > 0:13:05is the slightest touch releases the oils
0:13:05 > 0:13:10and that releases the scent. And to get the most of the flowers,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12the roots need to be fairly constricted.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16So, I'm going to put two in a pot like this.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19And I've mixed up a potting compost,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22which is a general-purpose, peat-free compost, some grit,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26and about a quarter, or a fifth, of sieved garden compost.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29So, if I take a terracotta pot like that.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Now, I also have some lavender to pot up.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Now, lavender actually is a true Mediterranean plant
0:14:00 > 0:14:03which comes from right round the Mediterranean area.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06I mean, this is Munstead, and this is a particularly nice example.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Now, lavender likes
0:14:10 > 0:14:11really good drainage,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13bright sunshine, soil,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15it'd be as happy as Larry.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Now, I've made a separate potting mix for the lavender,
0:14:20 > 0:14:26because I've added extra grit and no garden compost.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30So, it's much better drainage. And it is important,
0:14:30 > 0:14:34with lavender especially, to use a peat-free compost,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36because they like alkalinity.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46I want to leave some room for water -
0:14:46 > 0:14:50you can actually kill a lavender with drought.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Good drainage but regular watering.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Now, I've got pinnata here.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05And you can see the reason why it's called pinnata
0:15:05 > 0:15:06is because the leaf shape is pinnate.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11This comes from the Canary Islands, Madeira, very beautiful,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14and it's got this slightly grey, milky texture,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17and these long stems.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30All right, that's pinnata. And there's a third lavender,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32and this is stoechas.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Lavandula stoechas,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39and in fact this is a variety called Regal Splendour.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41And the thing about stoechas is that not only does it have
0:15:41 > 0:15:45these rabbit's ears at the top, that stick out,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and they look very distinctive and you get these really rich colours,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51but also, they grow more upright,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54and they will tolerate a little bit of acidity.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57So if you don't garden on chalk or limestone,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00but you do have good drainage, this will grow well outside.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36I don't know if that's in the right positions or not. It feels right.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40I like the idea of the scented pelargoniums running down the steps,
0:16:40 > 0:16:45so as you go up and down you get that scent and that mix of fragrances
0:16:45 > 0:16:49which is so Mediterranean, and so exotic.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Maybe it doesn't quite work, but I can move them.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54That's the whole point of pots. You can move them around.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57But I do like to group pots together
0:16:57 > 0:17:00if for no other reason that it makes them easier to water.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03And if it's easier to water, you're more likely to do it.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08Because particularly lavender, you can lose them if you forget to water them.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10But this is a very, very sunny spot.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13And it will give us our own touch of the Mediterranean.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30I want to show you one of my favourite things
0:17:30 > 0:17:32that's been flowering in the garden for the last week,
0:17:32 > 0:17:33before it goes.
0:17:33 > 0:17:39Rosa moyesii forms a really vigorous thicket,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41these are three plants, grouped together,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43can be about twenty foot tall.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48And it is spangled with these single, bright red flowers.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53And that makes a combination which is dramatic but also elegant,
0:17:53 > 0:17:54almost delicate.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Like a filigree of flower, evenly spaced over it.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01And that's beautiful, and that lasts for about 10 days,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03and then when it is over,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06it forms these incredible hips,
0:18:06 > 0:18:13orange wasted flagons that by late summer look just as good
0:18:13 > 0:18:15as the flowers did in late spring.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19So you get double the value for your money. Fabulous plant.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27This garden is a series of enclosed spaces
0:18:27 > 0:18:29and although we're surrounded by agricultural landscape,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32on the whole we close ourselves off from it,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34and just allow views, as much anything else
0:18:34 > 0:18:38to protect from the wind that sweeps across here.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40But Joe went to East Sussex to visit a garden
0:18:40 > 0:18:43that not only embraces the landscape,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47but draws design inspiration directly from it.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59The Society of Garden Designers is 30 years old this year
0:18:59 > 0:19:02and to celebrate it has teamed up with the RHS
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and launched Open Gardens, where the general public
0:19:05 > 0:19:08get an exclusive view of some wonderful gardens
0:19:08 > 0:19:13created by the country's top designers.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19This house and garden are nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21The garden was completed 18 months ago
0:19:21 > 0:19:23with a contemporary sunken area
0:19:23 > 0:19:26forming the centrepiece of the design.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Flowing limestone paths seamlessly transform into a snake-like deck
0:19:30 > 0:19:34which takes you through to a wildlife pond.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37From here, borrowed views can be seen of the surrounding landscape.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42This garden has certainly got a wow factor
0:19:42 > 0:19:44and it's a highly designed space.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47But it still fits in the landscape so comfortably
0:19:47 > 0:19:50it feels like it's always been here.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52There are no straight lines, it's all built on curves.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56The elements are nice and simple and interlock beautifully together.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59I'm not sure if this is talking to that
0:19:59 > 0:20:02or the landscape is talking to this garden.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07It's blurring the spaces and I think that's why it works so well.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The garden has been created by Ian Kitson,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18a designer renowned for his free-flowing, organic style,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22often inspired by the wider surrounding landscape.
0:20:22 > 0:20:28The trigger of this garden was the extended landscape
0:20:28 > 0:20:31that you would never want to block out, never want to ignore.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36No. Whatever garden design you might come up with here,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39you will never be able to experience that garden without,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42at the same time, always experiencing this larger landscape.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44And of course, people look at landscapes and go,
0:20:44 > 0:20:45"Isn't that beautiful?"
0:20:45 > 0:20:47So, for me, it was thinking,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49"Well, how do I do a garden
0:20:49 > 0:20:51"that kind of shouts back at that landscape, and goes,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54"Actually, look at me, I'm quite beautiful, too!"
0:20:54 > 0:20:56And you know, just stands up to it.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Stands up to that and stands up to that house, as well,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03and sits here with, you know, a good personality.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07- An identity all of its own. - You've got it. Yeah.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17The development of the material vocabulary here
0:21:17 > 0:21:19is very specific to this site,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23if you've travelled around this landscape, it's a chalk landscape,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25you look at the buildings and the village, and the roads,
0:21:25 > 0:21:26and how they're put together,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29and you then look at the house, which is brick and flint.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32A huge effort has been made with the materials,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34to be very sympathetic to the house.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37But, still, try and use the materials that actually say,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40look, you can use these materials differently.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Let's move on to the water.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Because that is such a bold design. Classy, slick pond.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48There you go. I get no texts from newts saying,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51"I'm not happy with the aesthetic language of this pond."
0:21:51 > 0:21:54It works very well, yeah! So...
0:21:54 > 0:21:57It does work very well, yeah. I like that.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59And it's part of the... There is a journey here,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02coming out of the house, into the sunken garden,
0:22:02 > 0:22:07you can sit over there, you can sit here, the wall comes down here.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Obviously it's lower than this wall
0:22:09 > 0:22:12so it's just letting you experience those views more.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18From the outset I did feel that a sunken garden here,
0:22:18 > 0:22:23even though we've had to raise the levels to create the sunken garden, was absolutely the right thing.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27It's really lovely being in this quite intimate space.
0:22:27 > 0:22:33You can look at the minute detailing of the leaves and the flower,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36and then you turn around and you've got a five mile view.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41And I kind of like that tension, yeah, I like that.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Is there anything you would change?
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- Other than me not living here... - That would be good, wouldn't it?
0:22:47 > 0:22:51As a garden designer, if this is it,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53if I have to occupy this garden for the rest of my life,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56you know, really, I'd be happy. I would be happy.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04There's nothing better than visiting a garden when it is at its peak.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Walking round it, letting it draw you through,
0:23:07 > 0:23:08and experiencing it fully.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11But as you can imagine, gardens like this don't come cheap,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15they cost thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of pounds.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19But the great thing about Open Gardens is you can visit places like this,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23you can experience them, and take home all their inspiration.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32This garden will be open for one day only on the 26th of June.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34But if you can't make it to East Sussex,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36there are lots of other private sanctuaries around the country
0:23:36 > 0:23:38that you can visit on the same day.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Including gardens in:
0:23:46 > 0:23:49For more information, go to our website:
0:24:02 > 0:24:06The most noticeable thing about that garden for me was that there wasn't
0:24:06 > 0:24:09a straight line to be seen whereas, of course,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Longmeadow is dominated by straight lines.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Now, the inspiration here is simply to grow
0:24:15 > 0:24:18as many delicious vegetables as possible.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22The potatoes, Charlotte, are growing nicely. We've got radish in-between.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26They're a little bit small yet, but smelling deliciously of radish
0:24:26 > 0:24:29and by thinning them we'll soon be picking those.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34Rocket, which I've put in-between the crop as a catch crop,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37perfectly ready for harvesting. I'll just cut them.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Handful of rocket like that, delicious and fresh.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44There's no point in being precious about these because
0:24:44 > 0:24:46the potatoes will soon shade them out
0:24:46 > 0:24:48so I want to use them up quickly.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52We've got cavolo nero here which just snaps off.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55This is the Tuscan black kale.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59And the beauty of this is it's fresh and will take lots of cooking,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03so it's great to add to a soup or stew or a sauce.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And by taking a few leaves from each plant you're encouraging
0:25:07 > 0:25:11new growth and at this time of year you want it to be small.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Ooh, can you hear the cuckoo?
0:25:13 > 0:25:17CUCKOOING
0:25:17 > 0:25:19How lovely.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22We've got shallots, garlic, onions - they're not ready -
0:25:22 > 0:25:26but the peas are coming on very nicely this is Kelvedon Wonder,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30an early variety but this is very early for us.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32We've still got ten days of May to go
0:25:32 > 0:25:36and the peas are coming through well.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Here's a pod. There aren't many full ones like this.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42You can see baby peas. Ah, that's great.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46These just have a sweetness you cannot buy, literally can't buy.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47They're wonderful.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50But there are enough broad beans to make a meal.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52This is Express Eleonora,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56which is a variety I haven't grown before but it's meant to be particularly early
0:25:56 > 0:26:00and we've got nice young pods in here.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Have a look at this.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05The beans inside, actually, these are very small,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08but completely delicious.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12It doesn't matter if you haven't sown any vegetables at all yet,
0:26:12 > 0:26:13it's not too late!
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Whether it be potatoes, broad beans, peas, onions,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20anything - get them in the ground, particularly salad crops.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22This is a perfect time of year.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27So, get on with it, you'll catch up with the cycle and enjoy the harvest and if you don't grow vegetables,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30there are still lots of things you can be doing this weekend.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36If you grow clematis, particularly the late-flowering kinds,
0:26:36 > 0:26:40they're putting a lot of energy into growth before producing flowers.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44And this growth does need tying in to stop it getting damaged.
0:26:44 > 0:26:50So, carefully untangle the tendrils and tie them in as they grow.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57If your dahlias are about to come into flower it'll mean
0:26:57 > 0:27:00you'll have some large blooms early on in the summer
0:27:00 > 0:27:03but not so many later when perhaps you need them more.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05So, pinch out the growing tips
0:27:05 > 0:27:07and this will encourage vigorous side-shoots
0:27:07 > 0:27:12which will carry a massive flower right into autumn.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Now is the perfect moment to lift and divide
0:27:19 > 0:27:21any clumps of primroses that you have.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26Dig up your thickest clump and break it up into individual plants.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29When you replant them, add a bit of compost to give it a boost
0:27:29 > 0:27:33and give them enough room to grow away with new vigour.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45This weekend I'll be planting out my courgettes and I'll do them
0:27:45 > 0:27:50underneath the wigwams that I'm growing my climbing beans up.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54There's plenty of muck in a pit under the wigwam which is great
0:27:54 > 0:27:55for the climbing beans
0:27:55 > 0:27:58and also great for courgettes and the beans won't shade out
0:27:58 > 0:28:01the courgettes too much and they'll work off each other.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05As long as I keep them well watered, it's a good system,
0:28:05 > 0:28:06saves space, looks good.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14These can go out any time over the next few weeks
0:28:14 > 0:28:17but I would hang on a little bit for pumpkins and squashes
0:28:17 > 0:28:19unless you're in the south of the country.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Because they don't like cold nights, courgettes are a little bit hardier.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28Just pop those in the ground and the important thing for courgettes
0:28:28 > 0:28:31and for beans is to really water them well.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Now, don't forget we shan't be here next week because of Chelsea
0:28:37 > 0:28:41but I'll be back here at Longmeadow in a fortnight's time.
0:28:41 > 0:28:42See you then. Bye-bye.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:53 > 0:28:56E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk