0:00:10 > 0:00:12Hello, welcome to Gardeners' World.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14We haven't been here for a few weeks and in that time,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17the garden has changed a lot.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19We've also had filthy weather.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It rained and rained, it's been really cold
0:00:22 > 0:00:25and that's been miserable for gardeners, but good for the garden.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29It's given it lots of water, the whole place has become
0:00:29 > 0:00:33extraordinarily vibrant and lush, and because it's been cold,
0:00:33 > 0:00:34some things have been held back
0:00:34 > 0:00:37and other things have lasted much longer so, for example,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41the tulips and the alliums are both coming together
0:00:41 > 0:00:45and we have a richness that I don't remember for quite a few years.
0:00:47 > 0:00:52In tonight's programme, I shall be planting water lilies in the pond
0:00:52 > 0:00:54and I'll also be putting in the ground
0:00:54 > 0:00:56those plants I bought at Malvern.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Carol visits an amazing fernery in Monmouthshire.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04It's magical! It's fairyland, isn't it?
0:01:04 > 0:01:06And Rachel's group of army gardeners
0:01:06 > 0:01:10get their inspiration from a trip to a commercial cutting garden.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13It's just lovely to see how much you can achieve
0:01:13 > 0:01:16from just planting some seeds in the ground.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32You don't HAVE to wear waders to wheel a wheelbarrow,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35but it does help when you're planting water lilies, as you will see.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37I've chosen three for the pond
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and that's about as many as it will take.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43The first is called 'Sunrise'
0:01:43 > 0:01:48and its proper name is Nymphaea 'Odorata Sulphurea Grandiflora'.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51And the "Odorata" is a clue
0:01:51 > 0:01:52because it's got a good fragrance
0:01:52 > 0:01:55and all three are yellow because that will match in
0:01:55 > 0:01:57with the yellow colours going on on the bank.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59I've got a Nuphar.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02This is not so much a water lily as a pond lily. It's native.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05It's fairly robust, but will attract wildlife
0:02:05 > 0:02:07and easy to grow, very hardy.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10So if you're new to growing water lilies this is a good one
0:02:10 > 0:02:13to get you going. And then finally,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15I've got Chromatella.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Really good bright yellow flowers.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Now, I could just take these baskets
0:02:20 > 0:02:23that they're planted in and plonk them in the water...
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and they will grow.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28The problem is they'd quickly outgrow these
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and I'd have to lift them and repot them next year or the year after,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34so I'm going to repot them now before I put them in.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37They need a fairly large planting basket
0:02:37 > 0:02:40and just line the pot with hessian.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Most aquatic plants need minimal nutrition,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47but water lilies do need a little bit more oomph and in the past,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51it would be made up from Lomond's sand but you can buy
0:02:51 > 0:02:54water lily or deepwater compost and that's what's in here.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56They need to be anchored.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59So this, which is already only half full, quite heavy,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03will not float about or move in anyway.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Now, the next step...
0:03:06 > 0:03:10is to plant this,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13and then fill more soil around it.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17I need to leave a little bit of room on the top
0:03:17 > 0:03:19because I want to cover that with grit.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And the grit will hold the soil in place,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30so it doesn't just mix with the water and float away.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35What I will do is fold the hessian in but not covering the plant,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and then cover that with grit so it looks nice.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Right. The next phase is to put it in the water.
0:03:54 > 0:04:00I want the lilies to flower in this area here. It's in full sunshine.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Now, lilies must have sunshine to flower.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The idea is to get the balance between folia cover
0:04:05 > 0:04:07and clear water right.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12Ideally you want a third of the water covered by foliage
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and two thirds clear.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16If you have too much clear water, it heats up,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18the sunlight gets through and you get more algal bloom.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21If you have too little, you don't get enough light going through.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24This is the perfect place to plant them,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27but it's a little deep so I need to get something to prop them up on.
0:04:46 > 0:04:47Just before I get in
0:04:47 > 0:04:51you'll see that this will sit on that like that,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53so it should be steady enough
0:04:53 > 0:04:57and then raised up close enough to the surface so it can grow.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02The reason that I need support is that water lilies
0:05:02 > 0:05:05grow on the bottom of ponds.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Most of them need at least two to three foot of water
0:05:09 > 0:05:12between the bottom and the surface,
0:05:12 > 0:05:17but a young plant has to be gradually introduced to the water.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22It can cope with about 1.5-2 feet and then it must be supported
0:05:22 > 0:05:24until the leaves grow up and there's a bit of slack,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28and then you can lower it down until it reaches the bottom.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Right. All that just for one plant,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35but it probably won't flower this first year,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39but I can wait because when we get a really good spread
0:05:39 > 0:05:43of the yellow water lilies, different shades, that's fantastic.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Water lilies are one of the most spectacular of all plants.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I once visited Giverny in August when they were looking
0:05:50 > 0:05:54really at their best and you can see why people
0:05:54 > 0:05:57flock all the way round the world just to see them.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03You don't need to have a big pond to grow water lilies.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06There are a huge amount to choose from and some are tiny,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10little jewel-like flowers that grow perfectly happy in a container.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14But they need to be set against a great mass of greenery,
0:06:14 > 0:06:21and ponds and damp gardens really are based around lush, green growth.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25I suppose ferns epitomise that as much as anything else.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29We've got the shuttlecock fern growing all round the edge of the pond here,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32but there are many, many more to choose from and Carol has been
0:06:32 > 0:06:37to visit a fernery in South Wales, which has been brilliantly restored.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Ferns are amongst the most ancient plants on the planet.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51They've been knocking around for almost 400,000,000 years
0:06:51 > 0:06:54and it's still going strong.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59They evolved long before flowering plants
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and they have an entirely different method of reproduction.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05They don't set any seeds.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Instead of that, on the back of their fronds
0:07:07 > 0:07:12they produce multiple spores, very, very fine spores
0:07:12 > 0:07:15which are carried in the breeze hither and dither.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Despite the fact that some are evergreen and some herbaceous,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22they all share one common feature
0:07:22 > 0:07:25and that is each year on this marvellous cycle,
0:07:25 > 0:07:31they renew themselves by producing these brand-new crosiers.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36First of all, they're tightly furled almost like fists and then gradually
0:07:36 > 0:07:42they lengthen and extend until they become completely new fronds.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47You might say that they're all green but those greens are so subtle
0:07:47 > 0:07:52and so various, and the forms of the fronds are so diverse,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55you really don't need anything else.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58You could make a garden out of ferns
0:07:58 > 0:08:04and over 100 years ago, that's just what people did in a big way.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Fern fever had gripped the country
0:08:06 > 0:08:13and elaborate glass refineries were built at grand Victorian residences.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15The one at Dewstow House in Monmouthshire
0:08:15 > 0:08:19fell into disrepair after the Second World War,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and was buried under rubble for nearly 60 years
0:08:22 > 0:08:25before its current owners decided to excavate
0:08:25 > 0:08:29and restore this lost fern wonderland.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Keeping a watchful eye on this treasure trove
0:08:31 > 0:08:34is head gardener Peter Lane.
0:08:36 > 0:08:42- It's magical! It's fairyland, isn't it?- Beautiful, isn't it?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45It really is. It is a grotto, isn't it?
0:08:45 > 0:08:49You just feel as though you're in this secret place
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and you've just discovered it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Basically we knew that there was something here,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58so we started digging, found a pond,
0:08:58 > 0:09:03found a path, kept going and one of the grottos was this,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05the Tufa Grotto.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08So is this what it would have looked like originally?
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Up to the roof level you see now, it is original
0:09:11 > 0:09:14but with a few modifications to allow for new planting.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17So it wouldn't have a corrugated iron roof, would it?
0:09:17 > 0:09:19No, there certainly wasn't.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24They were beams covering this grotto with stalactites, all man-made,
0:09:24 > 0:09:29and a rather grand Victorian domed glass roof over the top.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33It must have been really, really impressive in its day.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The vast labyrinth of underground grottos here at Dewstow
0:09:37 > 0:09:44was started in 1895 and took over 15 years to carve out,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48creating the perfect environment for moisture-loving ferns.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58There are some ferns that are unforgettable, that stay with you.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Athyrium niponicum pictum has an almost haunting presence.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06"Pictum" means painted
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and this is the Japanese painted fern.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15Just one plant of this makes a complete cameo all on its own.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16It is a beautiful fern.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24These damp caverns perfectly recreate the moist woodland
0:10:24 > 0:10:28that ferns like this Woodwardia thrive in,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32and Peter has his own tried and tested method of propagating it.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35You can see the bulbil forming at the bottom there
0:10:35 > 0:10:37and you can cut that off.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39What, just sever it across the stem?
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Yes, sever it and then pot it up and you would be OK, I would've thought,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45but this is my favourite way of doing it.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47And very complex equipment(!)
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Plastic bag with a load of compost in it.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52- Yes, and a piece of string. - Don't forget the piece of string!
0:10:52 > 0:10:56- Don't forget the string. Most important.- Shove it in there then.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01And you just want it to be in contact with that compost, yes?
0:11:01 > 0:11:06- That's it, yes.- Will you do the string bit?- There we go.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10- Were you ever a Boy Scout?- I only know one knot, it was my granny's.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13CAROL LAUGHS
0:11:13 > 0:11:15So how long will you leave that in there?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17I'll leave it there for a minimum of six weeks.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Hopefully you'll see one of the new fronds start to unfurl
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and you'll know then that it's ready to cut off and pot up for next year.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26OK.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44I suppose it's easy to assume that all ferns are pretty similar,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47but when you start looking at them,
0:11:47 > 0:11:52you realise just how vastly diverse they are.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58Very often you think of ferns as being these great big, bold plants
0:11:58 > 0:12:01with large fronds, much divided.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06But in contrast, some of them can be delicate and feminine.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11Look at the filigree of this beautiful little maidenhair fern.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14I think the point is that you don't need a grotto.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18You can grow ferns just about anywhere
0:12:18 > 0:12:20because they're so accommodating.
0:12:20 > 0:12:26Even that grotty corner between the dustbin and the garage
0:12:26 > 0:12:29is a perfect place to decorate with ferns
0:12:29 > 0:12:32and what wonderful ornamental plants they are.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49There is a kind of Gothic relish that you get from ferns,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51especially in a fernery,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54but you don't really need to have a wonderful Victorian fernery
0:12:54 > 0:12:56to get the essence of them.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59I bought some ferns at Malvern.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03I was looking specifically for those that would flourish in dry shade
0:13:03 > 0:13:06and I've got two different types of dry shade in the garden.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08The first is woodland.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12This is the copse and it's very dry because the roots of the hedges
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and the trees sucking up all the moisture.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16I've got a couple I want to plant.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21The first is the soft shield fern and that's Polystichum setiferum.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26Very adaptable, likes good drainage but makes a handsome plant
0:13:26 > 0:13:30with wonderful crosiers, which will grow about two or three foot tall.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33The second is Dryopteris 'Cristata the King'
0:13:33 > 0:13:37and it does make a really majestic plant.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39They look fairly similar at this stage,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42but as they grow they develop distinct characteristics.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Those don't look like much now,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06but they will establish and grow fairly quickly.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09And, of course, they'll spread, which is fantastic.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14But the remainder of these are for a completely different spot.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Now this is the dry garden,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and it really is dry too.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32There's hardly any soil in here at all.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34It couldn't be more different from the copse.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38And yet, pretty much the same ferns will cope with this.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41You can see I've already got some ferns in here.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Up here on the wall is a hart's tongue fern,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48which has sown itself, perfectly happy, right in the wall.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Not a hint of soil whatsoever.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53And although I'm catching the sun now,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57this is only in late afternoon. Until about mid-afternoon,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00there is no sun here at all and none in the winter.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04And a Dryopteris 'Cristata',
0:15:04 > 0:15:08which actually does really well on that spot.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13So ferns are happy, but the soil is practically non-existent.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Now, I've got another two types to add,
0:15:17 > 0:15:18if I can find space.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22The first is a Polypodium, which is a native,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25and this is one of those ferns, like the hart's tongue,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27that will pop up all over the place.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30In walls, on top of walls, in cracks in paving.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33And that's a good sign that it's adaptable
0:15:33 > 0:15:36and will grow in this very, very poor soil.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Right, that goes in there.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45This is a hart's tongue. Asplenium marginatum.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49You can see it's got these wavy edges to the fronds.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53That, by the way, is a little bit of wind and sun damage.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It really doesn't like being too exposed.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58It likes to be protected,
0:15:58 > 0:16:02sheltered from wind and quite happy in pretty much full shade.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04If I take that out,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07I think I can force it into the base of the wall.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Now, there are not many plants that you could do that to,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15but I think that will survive and, we hope, even thrive.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Now these ferns are drought tolerant,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38which doesn't mean to say that they don't need any water at all.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Obviously rain will do most of the work for you,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45but they should be watered in after planting and then,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47if there's no water at all,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51given a really good soak once a month for the rest of this year.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01However, most of the soil at Long Meadow
0:17:01 > 0:17:06is fabulously rich and fertile and everything tends to grow with exceptional vigour.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09This is especially true in the ornamental vegetable garden.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12This year, I'm doing an experiment in here with sweet peas,
0:17:12 > 0:17:16which are one of my favourite summer annuals,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18which I set up at the beginning of the year
0:17:18 > 0:17:20to see if there's any real difference
0:17:20 > 0:17:23between autumn-sown sweet peas,
0:17:23 > 0:17:27sweet peas sown in the New Year, and those sown direct by seed.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28So I've got three wigwams,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31or there will be when I put this one in,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33of identical sweet peas
0:17:33 > 0:17:37which I'll plant today at the same time,
0:17:37 > 0:17:41in the same soil and then we can see which do better.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44And by doing better, I mean which lasts longer with the most flowers.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48That's the real key thing. It doesn't matter how tall they grow,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51it's just flowers we want. As much of them for as long as possible.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00Now I'm putting plenty of compost in, because sweet peas
0:18:00 > 0:18:03really respond well to feed
0:18:03 > 0:18:05and, above all, moisture.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10This will hold the water and give them lots of grub.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14So that's a good source of nourishment underground.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Pull the soil back over.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Just to remind you,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25these were sown last October.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28'Monty Don' sweet pea.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31These, exactly the same seeds,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34planted on the 30th March.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36And there's a packet of seed.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Now if you sow sweet peas this weekend,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54they will grow in summer
0:18:54 > 0:18:58and also give a really good display
0:18:58 > 0:19:02right on into September and even October if it's a cool summer.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05And if sweet peas aren't your thing or you've already done them,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08here are some other things that you can be doing this weekend.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11In spring, it's easiest to raise salad plants in plugs
0:19:11 > 0:19:14and then put them out into the ground.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19However, at this time of year, they can be sown direct
0:19:19 > 0:19:23and as you plant one lot, or harvest them, sow another batch.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27That way, you keep a succession of plants,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30providing you with a delicious salad right through the summer.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31As the weather warms up,
0:19:31 > 0:19:35all plants in containers will start to grow vigorously.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37This is where a little bit of extra feed
0:19:37 > 0:19:41will make a real difference.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Don't feed them too much and avoid all nitrogenous feeds,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48which will just create leafy growth and put extra strain on the roots.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Liquid seaweed, either applied
0:19:51 > 0:19:54as a folia spray or a drench from a watering can, is ideal.
0:19:54 > 0:20:00That will boost the roots and provide long-lasting nourishment.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Although in most parts of the country, the risk of frost
0:20:04 > 0:20:08is over, it's still a good idea to earth up potatoes.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12This will not only protect them from frost, but also make sure
0:20:12 > 0:20:16the emerging tubers have a layer of soil to keep the light off them.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Now, just as they're looking at their best in the garden,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33it's time to be thinking about next year's wallflowers
0:20:33 > 0:20:35if I'm going to grow them from seed.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39It is worth planning ahead, because they're biennials,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43so you sow them now, and they do their growing until autumn.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Then they hold a bit, but they've got good roots
0:20:46 > 0:20:51and a good system, ready to burst into flower next spring.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55The great advantage of growing anything from seed is the volume.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58You just get so much more for your money.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01You could fill a whole garden from seed for a fraction
0:21:01 > 0:21:05of the cost of just buying, I don't know, a dozen plants.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Rachel has been gearing a group of army families
0:21:08 > 0:21:11into making a garden from seed this year.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15They're based at Didcot and this week, they've gone down the road
0:21:15 > 0:21:18to visit a local cut flower grower to get some inspiration.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24The 11 EOD Regiment, the Army's bomb disposal squad,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27have embarked on a new mission.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34Over the past few weeks at their base at Didcot in Oxfordshire,
0:21:34 > 0:21:39the whole community on camp has pulled together to create a garden.
0:21:39 > 0:21:40'They built raised beds...'
0:21:40 > 0:21:42We're going to do little steps.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Go all the way round, don't forget the corners.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47'..and I gave them a helping hand to start sowing seeds.'
0:21:50 > 0:21:51'They've had their ups...'
0:21:51 > 0:21:54That's amazing after five days.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57'..and their downs.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01'And for the last five weeks, they've been entirely on their own.'
0:22:03 > 0:22:06OK, so this is how far we've got.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09As you can see, we've got some lovely plants growing.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13We were a bit worried about the younger sweet peas that we've got,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15but they seem to be holding on at the moment.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20We've got a board just outlining a few little things that we've
0:22:20 > 0:22:24got going on, so we've got the garden plan here and then we've got
0:22:24 > 0:22:26a rota here for everyone to come up and help out watering.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29We've got these out of the greenhouse to harden up.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31A lot of them have taken really well,
0:22:31 > 0:22:35however, we've had a few that haven't done so well
0:22:35 > 0:22:38and some that have actually just not done well at all.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42We were a bit concerned whether these were weeds or not.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Rachel showed us how to plant them.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47You can now tell the difference between the weeds
0:22:47 > 0:22:49and what is growing.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I came up to water and there were just these lovely lines
0:22:53 > 0:22:57where we'd obviously put all our seeds and it was working.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Some thing that, two months ago,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03we wouldn't have a clue how to do.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05So we're picking up lots of new techniques.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13Rusky has been using his carpentry skills, creating bird boxes...
0:23:15 > 0:23:18..and an impressive entrance for the garden.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I was told we'd got some spare timber,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23so I thought it'd just set the entrance off a little bit.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29As they grow ever more confident with the garden,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33I decided to send them something new to plant - dahlias.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36They're very ugly and I just can't imagine that they turn out
0:23:36 > 0:23:39into actual beautiful pink flowers.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Yes, they don't look too good now,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44but I'm sure they'll look lovely once they're done.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Our novice gardeners have been working really hard.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54So as a treat, I organise for them to visit cut flower grower
0:23:54 > 0:23:59Rachel Siegfried, to give them a taste of what's to come.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Ooh, there's a lot of you! And a little one.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08So we have a rather large polytunnel,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11which does give us a little bit of a head start.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15These lovely flowers are called ranunculus.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It's just a little bulb. It goes in about October time,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and you can literally pick about ten stems per bulb.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28With the anemones, you'd be planting those about September, October time.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Good to grow outside,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33they just need that little bit of extra protection with some mulch.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Once your annuals are growing up a little bit,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42I know they're a bit small at the moment, but as soon as we get
0:24:42 > 0:24:45some sunshine, they're really going to get away very rapidly.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47You want to think about staking those,
0:24:47 > 0:24:51so that you get nice long straight stems.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53You see this netting?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56It's pea and bean netting. You can get it from the garden centre.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58It's stretched nice and taut
0:24:58 > 0:25:02so that it forms a very good, strong support
0:25:02 > 0:25:06for the cornflowers - these are all cornflowers - to grow through.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08It sort of creates this hedge.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13After a demonstration on the art of hoeing, our gardeners were keen
0:25:13 > 0:25:17to know the best way to look after all those sweet peas they've sown.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Sweet peas are all about the picking.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Once they start to flower, you've got to keep up with the picking,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27otherwise they will go over,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30go to seed and the crop will finish early for you.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34So even if you don't want them, you still have to pick them.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It is just literally...
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Right down to the base of the pant.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44And straight into the water.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Get rid of some of these tendrils.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51They tend to get wrapped round flower stems and kink stems,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55and they take energy away from your flowers as well.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00The first thing that hit me is, "Wow!"
0:26:00 > 0:26:04I want to get back in that garden, as do the other girls.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06I want to get my fingers dirty.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10It's just lovely to see how much you can achieve
0:26:10 > 0:26:13from just planting some seeds in the ground.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17It's just so inspiring.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19It'd be good to show it all comes together, the whole team
0:26:19 > 0:26:24comes together, and we can achieve something really positive.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38That's one seed tray sown.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43When you're sowing any seed,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45you want to think through the process.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48So how's the seed going to end up?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Most seed, if it's small, is best started off in a tray
0:26:51 > 0:26:54and then pricked out. Think where you're going to prick them out
0:26:54 > 0:26:56to and how you're going to do it.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00If they're larger seed, it's sometimes easier to sow into a plug
0:27:00 > 0:27:03so they don't need any pricking out at all.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04But these are small seeds to handle
0:27:04 > 0:27:08and also the whole process is quite long,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11so you might as well start a seed tray,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13which is a lot easier initially.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18This is Primrose Bedder, but the same would apply for foxgloves,
0:27:18 > 0:27:22forget-me-nots, any of those spring biennials,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25which just make the garden sing at this time of year.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32A seed like that and sprinkle them fairly thinly.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35That's enough.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40Now I'll just cover that with a sieved layer of compost.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Very light.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50'Now if you've been sowing seeds over the last few weeks and months,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54'the chances are you've got a plant or two going spare.'
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Well, I've got the perfect home for them.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Gardeners' World Live is taking place at the NEC in Birmingham
0:27:59 > 0:28:03in mid-June. We're building a living wall there,
0:28:03 > 0:28:08and we would love you to bring along a plant to add to it.
0:28:10 > 0:28:16Now just pop these in a tray of water to soak up moisture,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and then they don't have to go into the greenhouse,
0:28:19 > 0:28:20just somewhere protected.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24Cold frame is ideal, but just in a protected place outside
0:28:24 > 0:28:27and they will germinate and be ready for pricking out
0:28:27 > 0:28:29in about four or five week's time.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31That's it for this week.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34We shan't be here next week because it's Chelsea Flower Show,
0:28:34 > 0:28:36but I'll be back here in a fortnight's time.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39I'll see you then. Bye-bye.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media ltd