0:00:00 > 0:00:03Hello. Welcome to The A to Z of TV Gardening
0:00:03 > 0:00:05where we sift through all your favourite gardening programmes
0:00:05 > 0:00:09and dig up a bumper crop of tips and advice
0:00:09 > 0:00:11from the best experts in the business.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Everything we're looking at today begins with the letter...
0:00:32 > 0:00:36First, let's look at a plant that we all love to hate.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41Especially when the sunshine is out and you've slipped a pair of shorts on!
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Our first N is for nettles.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46If you're one of those gardeners who's scared of them stinging you,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50James Wong is here to show that you can overcome that fear.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55As an ethno-botanist, nettles are fascinating to me
0:00:55 > 0:00:59because they've been used by so many cultures for so many different things.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01From medicines to foods to textiles.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04One thing I've never heard them being used for, however,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07is for entertainment, but that's exactly what happens
0:01:07 > 0:01:09at the World Nettle Eating championships
0:01:09 > 0:01:13where they're eaten raw and stinging. And I'm taking part.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17The championships held for the last 12 years at The Bottle Inn pub in Marshwood, Dorset
0:01:17 > 0:01:20has attracted competitors from around the world.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23However, it started from rather more humble beginnings.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27The legend goes that two local farmers decided to settle a dispute
0:01:27 > 0:01:30over who had the longest nettles on their land
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and the loser would have to eat them.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34From this, the championships were born.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38But if I'm to stand any chance of succeeding, I'll need some help.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43And who better to turn to for advice than one of today's judges and the current world record holder.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47So, Simon, you're a true veteran. What do I need to do to prevent myself getting stung?
0:01:47 > 0:01:49- Commitment.- OK.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's a psychological test for you.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52- OK.- OK. And to focus.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56That's really important. So, pick a leaf and see how you get on.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59- And stick it in my mouth? - Stick it in your mouth.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01OK. Ouch!
0:02:01 > 0:02:04- When you go for that leaf, go with commitment.- OK.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08I'll show you. Pull it off so you've got the complete leaf there.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10- OK.- Give it a go.- That's all kinds of manly.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- OK. No fear.- That's half OK.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Now make a little parcel like that.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Put it between two fingers and put it in your mouth. Don't touch your lips.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Lips are very sensitive.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28That's a lot easier than I was expecting! I didn't sleep last night because I was thinking about...
0:02:28 > 0:02:30What flavours are you getting there?
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Tastes a bit like cabbage. Watercress?
0:02:32 > 0:02:35- Right.- Stings your fingers more than it stings your tongue.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37OK. You've got to hold that thought in your head, OK?
0:02:37 > 0:02:40- OK.- That's the happy thought you have to stick with.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43- OK.- When you get to the bigger leaves, which you'll have to eat
0:02:43 > 0:02:46because there's no choice. You'll be given a two-foot length of nettle
0:02:46 > 0:02:50and you've got to take all the leaves off that stalk
0:02:50 > 0:02:52and put them in your mouth and eat them.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54For my record, I actually ate 76 foot.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Which is 38 stalks.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- What are my chances?- I think you did moderately well, shall we say.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03A first timer, I reckon by the end of the timed hour,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06if you've eaten ten stalks, that's 20 foot,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08I'll be very impressed.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10'So Simon has set me a challenge.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13'Maybe a little ambitious, but I'll do my best.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17'I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll get stung a lot today.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21'But there's a good reason for these weeds being so defensive.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24'Stinging nettles have evolved to protect themselves from being eaten by animals
0:03:24 > 0:03:27'and each leaf contains a layer of hollow hairs
0:03:27 > 0:03:30'which are similar to hypodermic needles.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33'When they penetrate the skin, an acid is injected,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37'causing painful stings lasting for a few minutes to up to 24 hours.'
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for turning up.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Please, competitors, join us up here. Please come on.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50'I'm starting to feel quite nervous.'
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Brace yourselves. Brace yourselves.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Five, four, three, two, one, and go!
0:04:04 > 0:04:07'The aim is to eat as many nettles as you can in one hour.'
0:04:08 > 0:04:11It's basically like a salad eating competition.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Except the salad bites back!
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The more you eat, the more the dye from the nettles turns your tongue black.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23I'm way behind. I've got a new technique, though. Check it out.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27If you do that, they all come off pretty quickly.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31So they're neater then.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34So you can get clean stems, but you've also got to eat the damn things.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I'm going to do ten, cos that's the challenge Simon set for me.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50- Five, four, three, two, one! - That's it!
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Hooray!
0:04:52 > 0:04:53'Thank goodness that's over.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56'I think it did pretty well. Hope the judge agrees!'
0:04:58 > 0:05:02- You've got four.- I should be proclaimed the winner!
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- Six disqualified.- Excellent.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09So I think I've eaten about ten stems. Not bad going.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11About 20 foot of them.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Except the judges don't consider any of these are good enough.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Because there are little bits of leaf left on them.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19So I've only done four stems,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22but that's eight foot high, taller than I am.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25That's not bad. First timer. Never know, next time I may beat them.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Haven't even got a black tongue yet!
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Today's joint winners, Mike Hobbs and Mel Lang
0:05:32 > 0:05:34ate 46 feet of nettles each!
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Astonishing!
0:05:35 > 0:05:38I had a brilliant time today.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Even though I'm disappointed I had six stems disqualified.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Now coming up is an exotic plant
0:05:46 > 0:05:50but it's one that can be seen growing in the wild in this country.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52N is for Nymphaeaceae.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Water lilies, to you and me!
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Monty Don will plant a few later on,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00but first, here's Carol Klein with all you need to know.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05They take their name from the Greek word for Nymphaea,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08a water nymph, mythological creature,
0:06:08 > 0:06:12who lived in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15It's these beautiful flowers
0:06:15 > 0:06:20which inspired some of the most celebrated paintings in the world.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Claude Monet's Les Nympheas.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25The Water Lilies.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30Of course, his water lilies were in his pools and ponds at Giverny.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32They were cultivated varieties.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36But those lilies, and all our water lilies,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39have their roots firmly in the wild.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49You'd hardly believe that this exotic looking plant
0:06:49 > 0:06:53is indigenous to the British Isles.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It's one of only a couple of species
0:06:56 > 0:06:58that we have as wild flowers.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00It's an extremely vigorous plant.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03When it's left to its own devices,
0:07:03 > 0:07:08it will just take over any stretch of water it can find
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and cover it with these great green pads
0:07:11 > 0:07:13and these exotic white flowers.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Think of water lilies and you imagine a whole array of colours
0:07:23 > 0:07:26that goes far beyond yellow and white.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29This is down to the life's work
0:07:29 > 0:07:31of one passionate Frenchman.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Joseph Marliac devoted his life to the water lily.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Using wild species as his starting point,
0:07:39 > 0:07:44he developed and hybridised over 110 new cultivars
0:07:44 > 0:07:46in a kaleidoscopic range of colour.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Here at Bennett's Water Garden,
0:07:49 > 0:07:55Jonathan Bennett knows all about how this incredible colour range was developed.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58What did he start off with, then?
0:07:58 > 0:08:02I believe he started off with the wild white alba lily.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07- Yeah.- And he also imported the Mexicana Yellow from South America.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I think that was the magic ingredient.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14The plants that he got together there were capable of producing seed
0:08:14 > 0:08:17in the climate he brought them together in.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It was in the south of France, a lovely warm climate.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Look at this! Isn't this beautiful!
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Yeah.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31You must love them, too, Jonathan.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Yes, I've been working with them for so many years now.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38If you have to throw the plant away because it's in the wrong place, it's a weed,
0:08:38 > 0:08:43you have to save the flower and pop it in water, cos it'll carry on opening for a few more days.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45It's such a beautiful thing. There you go.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- It's a beautiful colour, isn't it? - Such perfection.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59What are their roots like?
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Apart from being ugly?
0:09:01 > 0:09:03The chunks of rhizome down there
0:09:03 > 0:09:05and fine roots that spread right out through the mud.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08In this situation, they're spreading miles away.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Bring in the food, extracting nutrients from the base.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15And the leaves, they make a contribution, too.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17They're the food factory of the plant.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22The unique thing with aquatics is they're taking air down to the roots.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23There's not much air down in the mud.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- And the stems have got these little...- Tubes.- That's it.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30So it's not just photosynthesis.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32It's dragging air in, as well.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Which one is this?
0:09:34 > 0:09:35This is a Marliac one, too?
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Yes. This one's called Hermine.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It's almost brilliant white
0:09:40 > 0:09:44and it's grown for the unique thing about the star shape of the flower.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46And lovely apple-green leaves.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Something tells me this is a special favourite of yours.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51I've got this in my garden pond at home.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53- That's a really good recommendation. - Yes.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58- And you've got the pick of how many? - About 180 varieties! Yes.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- This is Escarboucle. - Escarboucle. What a lovely name.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12It's difficult to say. It's a slow grower
0:10:12 > 0:10:15and it doesn't produce many side-shoots.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18So therefore, it won't fill a pond up so quickly.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Joseph Marliac's breeding programme continued apace.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34But he needed somewhere, a broader platform to exhibit what he'd achieved so far.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38The opportunity arose when, towards the end of the century,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40in 1889,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43the World Fair was held in Paris.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48He took his water lilies there and showed them off to huge public acclaim.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50One of the people who saw them there
0:10:50 > 0:10:52was the painter Claude Monet.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55He fell in love with them.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58He wanted to grow them, but more than that,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00he wanted to paint them.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04But just imagine what those paintings of Giverny would have been like
0:11:04 > 0:11:08if it hadn't been for the work of Joseph Marliac
0:11:08 > 0:11:13in creating this wonderful range of beautiful colours and forms.
0:11:13 > 0:11:20In fact, they might have contained only white and yellow water lilies.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34Thanks, Carol.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Now let's join Monty Don who's pulled on his waders
0:11:38 > 0:11:41to tell us more about these wonderful aquatic flowers.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44When I planted these water lilies...
0:11:46 > 0:11:49..I set them up on layers of bricks
0:11:49 > 0:11:54because the idea is to have the water lily foliage
0:11:54 > 0:11:55just sitting on the surface.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57If you've got deep water and a short plant,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01it's obviously not going to happen. They'd be completely submerged.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05So by jacking it up, that gives it a chance to get the maximum light
0:12:05 > 0:12:09and then as they grow, you can lower them down.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12If I lift this one up here,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14you can see it's well clear of the water.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16I could drop that by about six inches.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21As long as one or two of the leaves are floating on the surface,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23the others can be below the water level.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30Now, the base of the pond is sloping and it's quite slippery.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33So I don't want to go falling over,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35which I'm sure would provide good entertainment.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37But not the desired effect.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Leave that to one side.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42I'll set it down there.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45And then grovel around under the water
0:12:45 > 0:12:47for bricks.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50I put the bricks inside a plastic container
0:12:50 > 0:12:53so they wouldn't fall over and damage the liner.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55There are two.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01Two more.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Right.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22See, that leaf is floating on the surface
0:13:22 > 0:13:25as is that one and just about that one.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28So that's perfect.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Still one brick to take out
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and then it'll be sitting on the bottom.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35I don't have to do that this year. It can stay all winter, if need be.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37If they don't grow any more.
0:13:37 > 0:13:43But that now will encourage it go grow more and get more established and spread out.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45And we've reached our final N today.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Would you Adam and Eve it?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50That's a little cue to the subject matter!
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Our final N is for Naked Gardening.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Here's Dominic Littlewood to reveal all!
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Today is a day with a difference.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Because here in the heart of rural Wiltshire,
0:14:00 > 0:14:02lies Abbey House Gardens.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And they're stunningly picturesque!
0:14:16 > 0:14:19This was a Benedictine monastery 1,300 years ago.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23So it's fair to say it's a historical and holy place.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25But nowadays, once a month,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27people come here to enjoy the scenery,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30the gardens, have a picnic.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Throw their clothes off!
0:14:34 > 0:14:37And not get told off for it!
0:14:37 > 0:14:38It's a first for me!
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Like me, you're probably asking yourself
0:14:50 > 0:14:52why naked in the garden?
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Let me tell you. It all started when naturists Ian and Barbara Pollard
0:14:56 > 0:14:57bought Abbey House.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Being keen historians and gardeners,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02they set about recreating this estate
0:15:02 > 0:15:04to reflect the history of the site.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Tell me about the gardens.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09We bought the place back in '94.
0:15:09 > 0:15:1213 years. When we came there was nothing here.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16The only bit of yew was that funny face. Not a bad resemblance!
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Thanks a lot! OK. I can see where this is going!
0:15:20 > 0:15:22I wanted to get the history of the place into the garden.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26So we're walking along the side of my Celtic cross knot garden.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34This is an open day with a difference, isn't it?
0:15:34 > 0:15:36We've become known as the Naked Gardeners.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41We found that naturists were emailing us saying, "If you garden naked,
0:15:41 > 0:15:46"can we visit naked?" And we decided to offer one day a month
0:15:46 > 0:15:48to allow people that opportunity.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51What's the difference between a normal naturists' day and an open day?
0:15:51 > 0:15:54A normal naturist event elsewhere
0:15:54 > 0:15:57would be where everyone has to take their clothes off.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Here, it's entirely optional.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04What could you do that would make me feel like getting my clothes off now?
0:16:04 > 0:16:08We're not here to persuade you to take your clothes off at all.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11What we are doing is giving you the opportunity.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- So I'm the odd one out with my clothes on!- Afraid so!
0:16:13 > 0:16:16You don't have to stay clothed.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21I can't help feeling a bit awkward about letting people see me in my birthday suit.
0:16:24 > 0:16:25Especially as it needs an iron!
0:16:35 > 0:16:37You know what they say?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43That's what I did. I got butt-naked and mingled with the naturists.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Oi, do you mind?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47I've got to be honest. I didn't enjoy it at all.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49I felt very conscious of the fact
0:16:49 > 0:16:52that I was looking at people, they were looking at me,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54and I felt like covering myself up.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57I can understand why Ian and Barbara do it,
0:16:57 > 0:17:01but what I can't understand is why so many other people
0:17:01 > 0:17:04travel so far to come and do it here.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11- Where are you from?- Coventry.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves, except me!
0:17:14 > 0:17:16I never know quite where to look!
0:17:16 > 0:17:19You find that people don't look anywhere apart from eye contact.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Most of the time. It's the feeling of freedom
0:17:22 > 0:17:24that you can enjoy nature as nature intended.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28I hope you don't mind me saying your hair looks like it's lost!
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- Does it?- It's all over your chest with none up there!
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Why are you carrying towels with you?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35At all naturist events, we carry towels.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37We carry something to sit on.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Do you tell people at work about this?
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- They'll all know now!- They'll definitely know now, yes!
0:17:43 > 0:17:46It's been a liberating experience, but I must be honest.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49I'm not so sure I'll be rushing back to do it again soon.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50One thing I have learnt, though.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52This is not a place for voyeurs.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56In fact, voyeurs are actively discouraged.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59So if you don't have any hang-ups and want to get back to nature,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01this could be for you.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Can I just interrupt. You haven't seen a pile of clothes anywhere?
0:18:05 > 0:18:06No, sorry.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10- Can I borrow one of your towels? - No, bring your own!
0:18:10 > 0:18:11Thanks a lot(!)
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Well, he's shown everything he's got there!
0:18:16 > 0:18:18And so have we, for today.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Do join us next time for more top tips on The A to Z of TV Gardening.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24Goodbye!
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd