0:00:12 > 0:00:15Well, hello and welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Now, we've been complaining a lot about the weather.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21I think some of the vegetables could complain as well.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25But, on the other hand, some have responded very positively, given the right treatment.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27So, we're going for a wee tour.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Fennel, looking well.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Started to bulk up now.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35And these were covered, of course, early on, as you can see from the hoops that we've got.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Similarly, with the celery and the celeriac.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40We've had this tunnel over the top.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43This, you can get in various types of cover.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45This one stands up to the wind and everything else,
0:00:45 > 0:00:49just to bring these things on because they were a wee bit late in getting planted.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54The crop, I suppose, that's the most remarkable at this time are the carrots.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Now, you were here when we sowed these carrots at the beginning of April.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01They were covered with fleece until the beginning of June.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04So they got away to an absolutely superb start.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09And they're looking well. We're due to get a second visit from the carrot fly,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12the second generation eggs are laid at the beginning of August.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15So, in another couple of weeks, we will be putting the fleece
0:01:15 > 0:01:18back over these carrots so that the fly doesn't get in to lay its eggs.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23Because the maggots can then, if they're allowed, tunnel into the maturing roots.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29So, that will get covered. So too will the young carrots here be covered at the same time.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33In between we've got some beetroot that are really suffering from weather. That's all it is.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37They're really tattered but they will give us a crop without a doubt.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40But they have suffered from the cold and the wet.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Potatoes, well, we reported earlier that we've got a bit of blackleg in some of the varieties.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46But they're doing quite nicely.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Variations in height are probably due mainly to the fact we've got half rows.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53We got about eight varieties here.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59Not, I don't think, attributed to the use of Nutrimate, a new fertiliser recommended for potatoes.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02We put the Nutrimate on this half of the plot
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and compensated the other half with ordinary general fertiliser.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08I don't think it's made any difference at all.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12A nice bit of lettuce, red deer's tongue. Isn't that stunning?
0:02:12 > 0:02:14It's worth a place in the flower border.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Then we come to the brassicas.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Now, jumbo brassicas, you might call them.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22They are doing really well.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27The back half of this plot was treated with Perlka, much
0:02:27 > 0:02:33recommended by Medwyn Williams, the so-called world champion vegetable grower - whatever that means.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35It's a high nitrogen fertiliser.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38It's got about 20%, 18%.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Somebody said the first time I mentioned it I said 80%.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Well, it looks as if it's 80% nitrogen.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46The front half is just grown over.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48The fact is these crops are looking well because
0:02:48 > 0:02:51the ground is well looked after and rotated.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54So they get the best out of the crops whatever.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57And I think some of these new materials if they're applied to
0:02:57 > 0:03:01ground and that may be not such good heart, will make a big difference.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The bonus with Perlka is, of course, that it also inhibits clubroot.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Well, we don't have clubroot in the garden - thank goodness, touch wood - at the moment.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11So, that is not one that would persuade us to use it.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14But just look at the size of these cabbages.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16They are stonking. They're really superb.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19That would keep a family going for a week, that one.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23And the calabrese, it's just ready for picking. Absolutely stunning.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27And, as you well know, it snaps off just like that.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30And that part is part of the vegetable.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32It's as tasty as the flower.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35I tell you, it's as sweet as a nut.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Cauliflower, let's have a look at these. Stunning cauliflower.
0:03:39 > 0:03:45Covered over with a leaf or two, just to be able to keep the sun off it so that they don't lose colour.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And then we've got kale, two types of kale.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51And the Brussels sprouts coming on very nicely at the end.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53So, the Perlka experiment,
0:03:53 > 0:03:55I don't think we need it, to be honest with you.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57We'll stick to our normal practice.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Now, in the rest of the programme...
0:03:59 > 0:04:01How do you transform a slag heap
0:04:01 > 0:04:07from an open cast mine into a beautiful and entertaining garden?
0:04:07 > 0:04:09And, this week, I've got a problem with wind.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13It's coming from up there, right down through this site
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and disappearing round the back of the house.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24I'm in the cutting garden and things are starting to really take on a very colourful look.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28The outside beds are all planted with perennials that flower in the summer.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30And I've picked a selection of them.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32The astrantias are looking beautiful at the moment.
0:04:32 > 0:04:38This one is Roma. I've teamed that up with this very, very blue delphinium.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41It's standing at about six foot tall.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I've just picked some of the smaller flower spikes. This is called Langdon's Orpheus.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48And it's a stunning, stunning blue.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50This is sea holly. Ouch.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Eryngium, which is quite spiky.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55This dries well, as well as being a cut flower in water.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59The other plant that we've got next to it, this is a new achillea.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02This is taygetea. What I've done, I've got this in water, I'm going
0:05:02 > 0:05:06to let the water evaporate and it will just dry naturally.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09And it will keep that colour throughout the winter.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Both the eryngium and the achillea make really good cut flowers and dried flowers.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18So we've actually planted up a selection of them in one of the beds here.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20This is terracotta, with this rich orange.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23And I've teamed that up with salmon beauty.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I'm going to let those dry naturally.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28And this vibrant red is called the beacon.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Again, it's going to dry off.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33It's good if you've got your flowers in glass like this.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36You can actually see when the water level does go down.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40In a jug or something, you've got to just check they're not running out of water.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43We've also got a beautiful rose called eglantine.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47If you don't want to pick a lot of the flower, the way you can just
0:05:47 > 0:05:51expose one like that is just have it floating in a lovely glass bowl.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54The next bed is all the half-hardy annuals.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59These were started off in the greenhouse and planted out once there was no risk of frost. And I've picked
0:05:59 > 0:06:02a little selection of them.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04They're in shades of blue and pink.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08This is orlaya, or the lace flower. I've never grown that before.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13It's exquisite. The good thing about picking the flowers like this, this is really live heading.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16The more I pick, the more flowers I'm going to get.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Teamed that up with a cosmos gazebo, a little fragrant stock.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26And then I think probably the star of the show is cerinthe, with these electric blue bracts.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29It's so attractive and very unusual.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33The last bed were hardy annuals. They were sown directly into the ground.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36If you don't have a greenhouse, you can still have flowers to cut.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41They've grown up beautifully, but not flowering yet so I'll have to show you those next time.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Two or three weeks ago I visited a garden down in the Scottish borders
0:06:49 > 0:06:53near Kelso, where the main problem was one of wind.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Wind was damaging the trees and plants, buffeting the leaves, breaking the branches.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Today I've come to another garden which has a problem with wind.
0:07:02 > 0:07:03But this is a blank canvas.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08We've got in here right at the beginning, so we can actually do something which will perhaps
0:07:08 > 0:07:12help the owner to get over the problems that the wind might cause.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16The wind comes whistling over the top of the hill, right down into the garden, here.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22Also, the cold air comes down this slope and rolls into the garden and causes frost damage.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24We've got two problems.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31So, Martin Walker, tell me what this site was like
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- when you arrived. - George, it was completely overgrown.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38The plants in the garden were as high as you and I when we first came here.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42We had a look to see if we could salvage anything, but it had all gone to height.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Previously it had been a lovely garden.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46But it was just not salvageable.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50So what we did was strip everything out and we're now left with the blank canvas here.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- Did you use weedkiller? - We used weedkiller
0:07:52 > 0:07:55and also my mother has been out on her hands and knees.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57I think, frankly, she's fed up doing that.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00We need to do something that's going to solve that problem.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02- Fresh start?- Absolutely. - Clean space.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04- Now's the time to change.- Indeed.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19You might think it's rather strange that we're cutting back some
0:08:19 > 0:08:21of this vegetation which is acting as a windbreak.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24But the reason for doing that is that I want to establish a line
0:08:24 > 0:08:29along the fence so I can pin the artificial windbreak material to the fence.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- George!- I am so far away from that, it can't possibly be me.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40I just can't leave that.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Rubbish.- Nonsense.- Hold it properly.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Oh, I see.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50He'll never notice. No, I couldn't do that to you.
0:08:54 > 0:09:01So, what we've done here is we've put on this membrane along the back, here. This is a windbreak membrane.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03This is not solid material.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06It actually is semi-permeable. It's got lots of spaces in it.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09What's that does is it allows the wind to come through it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12If this had been solid, the wind would have come sweeping
0:09:12 > 0:09:15over the top, we would have had all sorts of damage.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19So it doesn't do damage because it's filtered as it comes through, slowed down.
0:09:19 > 0:09:25It will also stop the frost. The frost rolling down the hill will get trapped against the outside of that.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- OK. And should I plant anything in front of it? - I don't think you need to.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33I think this rough grass that's here will grow up over the base and will obscure it sufficiently and
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- make it pleasant to the eye, when you look out the house.- Excellent.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44So, we've nailed the fabric to the post.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49What we've got now is a protected area here, the worst of the wind is going to be kept out the garden.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52What we're going to do now is to prepare this site.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56And Martin's got all the neighbours mobilised so they'll be able to help us.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So, Martin, what I've done is I've laid out the plants.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20I've selected a range of things which I hope will give you interest right through the year.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24So, from spring, things like the bergenia at the front, that one
0:10:24 > 0:10:29with the great big elephant ears, that one will flower in the winter.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Next to that is
0:10:30 > 0:10:33sedum spectabile.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35That one will flower in the autumn.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37So we've got colour and interest right throughout the year.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39And do these spread out at all?
0:10:39 > 0:10:42These will spread and will fill the spaces.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46All we need to do is to get mother to come out and do some weeding, if you can manage that.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48She'll be delighted to hear that.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Now, the grasses, miscanthus.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54And they have a wonderful movement in the wind.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56- Right. That's what we want here. - That's right.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59In between that I've put some shrubs. We've got
0:10:59 > 0:11:03viburnum opulus. This is diablo, this dark, dark one here.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04And does that flower?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07A little flower on it. There's a little pinkish flower.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Then the one behind it, however, is much better.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12That's Viburnum bodnantense dawn.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16That flowers in the middle of winter with no leaves on it.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18And then sometimes again in July.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Sounds great.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Now, you're looking at it rather strangely, I fear.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26There's some fairly large gaps, I've noticed.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30That's right. Well, I could have come and taken your garden from
0:11:30 > 0:11:34you and imposed my will on it, as it were, by selecting plants.
0:11:34 > 0:11:41But I've not. What I've done is, I've given you an idea of what you can plant in specific areas.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44So, that miscanthus could come right down through the middle.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49- OK.- That will give us, with the wind, great movement.- That sounds great.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Then, at the far side, we've got things which are tactile.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57Plants which we can see much more closely and enjoy seeing closely.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Things like the dianthus, and there's catmint over there.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04That tall, stately one, that's morina longifolia.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08That is a plant worth seeing in detail close-up.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Again, try to keep in mind that we want interest right through the year.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Right, that's the planting pretty much finished.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30We've left some spaces for you to fill out with the plants if you want to flesh it out a bit more.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33We've cut the hedge back as well, we saw that earlier.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38That really thickens the hedge up and it will give a better shelter to the garden.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Your plans for this area?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44I'd been thinking about grass for this area, just from a maintenance point of view.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Sowing it or turfing?
0:12:47 > 0:12:52I haven't really thought, to be honest with you. I don't know if one method is better than the other.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I think for you, I would just turf it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57It's going to be more expensive but I would turf it.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59There are so many sparrows around here that
0:12:59 > 0:13:02if you sow with this with grass seed, they'll just eat it all.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- And it's more instant? - Much more instant.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08But make sure it doesn't have a lot of rye grass in it.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13Rye grass grows very quickly. And it takes a lot of maintenance.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14You're looking for a low-maintenance lawn.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- So, enjoy your garden. - Excellent. Thank you very much.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Well, we've got a problem here to solve of our own.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28We're in the herbaceous bed.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32On 23rd May, Scotland had this huge gale.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36We escaped reasonably lightly. One tree came down.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38This poplar came down.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43We were also lucky in the fact that it went over into the border and didn't do any damage there at all.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46No, it did break the crambe cordifolia's flowers and everything.
0:13:46 > 0:13:52I think we've got to appreciate the fact now that this whole area has got so much more light.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54It's maybe a good thing that it's come down.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56In some ways. It's always an opportunity.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58I haven't been here for a couple of weeks.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01So I thought we'll plant and we'll just disguise the stump.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03So I brought up some really nice prostrate shrubs.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08This is a lonicera lemon beauty, which is a shrubby honeysuckle.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Yes. And that spreads a metre or two, doesn't it?
0:14:10 > 0:14:14So if you want to disguise a drain cover these would work really well.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- Juniperus squamata, that's blue spider.- I've not heard of that one.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21That's a nice spready one. Or the cotoneaster gnome.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24You haven't been out for a couple of weeks and look, it's sprouting.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Having got here. I was so pleased my viburnum recovered from its roots.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32And, of course, this is now starting to do this. Whoops, I snapped one.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34So, what do you do with a stump like this?
0:14:34 > 0:14:38You could get in one of these stump grinders.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43That's quite expensive and sometimes it's a bit difficult with access to get something in.
0:14:43 > 0:14:49I'm quite keen not to do too much physical digging and damage here for two reasons.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51First of all, there were clematis up here.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55And the clematis are all recovering here.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59The other thing is, we're very close to the waterfall. The liner is just here.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04I don't want to do too much physical pulling so I just really want to try and kill it.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06There's three chemicals here available on the market.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10When you read them, a couple of them are really quite good for the old wood.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15And straightaway we've drilled holes in because it's important that you are treating fresh wood.
0:15:15 > 0:15:22All we need to do basically, you can paint it on or you can just pour that into the hole.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24We've got that in a cafetiere.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27I should point out we have marked it weed killer.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31And because we are just pouring and painting, we're wearing gloves.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34If you were going to spray this we'd have to put eye protection on.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36You know what I would do as well?
0:15:36 > 0:15:41I would cover this with polythene afterwards, especially if you've got pets and things around the garden.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46It's actually quite alarming how much this has gone through the bed, we've uncovered a root here
0:15:46 > 0:15:48which I think we'll probably saw some of these off.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I would do that right the way round.
0:15:51 > 0:15:57Uncover some of these, chop them back and try and keep it within this area.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02- It's even sprouting up through here which is really quite a nuisance. - Incredibly invasive.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04We are also going to do a little bit of planting.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07What we've been doing is picking up the plants we have here
0:16:07 > 0:16:10in the herbaceous bed and reflecting them over in the calendar border.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14I've brought up some herbaceous geraniums because I just love them.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18The one next to you, geranium Azure Rush, is really pretty.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20It's a relation of Rozanne, and that means it's really nice
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- and spready and will climb and scramble, so it will come through these shrubs.- It's stunning.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28I don't want to touch it because I've been touching the weed killer.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I've got another one, geranium pratense, which is a white one.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Because this is the cool end of the herbaceous border.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38And under the tree on the other side where it's shady,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42another white geranium, that's macrorrhizum White Ness.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44That's one of the best, isn't it, for shade?
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- And white as well as beautiful.- Yeah.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48But first of all, let's get killing.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50More painting and more pouring.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06I'm with Malvina Dwyer in her lovely front garden.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09We are at Avon Bridge, just outside Falkirk.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13You have altered this garden quite dramatically in the last couple of years?
0:17:13 > 0:17:18I certainly have. It just had a lawn, borders and the hostas at the centre of it.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21My son called it my pensioner's garden so I thought
0:17:21 > 0:17:26I would lose it, have a change and I didn't want to cut the grass either.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- You are 77, if you don't mind me saying that.- Only just!
0:17:31 > 0:17:34I love the greeting at the front door with the two baskets,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38the double storey. I had it at Beechgrove like this but mine snapped.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41It's the first time I've tried it, so I hope mine doesn't snap!
0:17:41 > 0:17:43You got rid of the lawn which would make it easier.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Looking at this, you might imagine that you can just have a nice,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50low-maintenance garden that you don't do very much.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54It's lovely because I can get round it fairly quickly and then it's finished.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58And this is your front garden. The back garden tells a very different story.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Having got rid of the grass in the front garden,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13you've got a lot of grass here and it's on quite a slope.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Yes, I'm afraid it is. It's about 45 degrees,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18but I manage.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Quite difficult to cut.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21It's extremely difficult.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23You've got lots of lovely trees.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25The prunus serrula when you first come into the garden.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- That's my favourite. - The bark just peeling.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- It's gorgeous.- Really attractive.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34And you've been quite funny with your trees. You've given them faces.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38I like humour around the garden, I can't see any point in having everything all serious.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42- It caters for every taste. - So you've got Naughty Nancy.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Yes, she's pulling faces.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48I've got Sally Smiley, Tired Tim,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- Grumpy Gordon, but he's lost half his face. - Maybe that's why he's a bit grumpy!
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Then I've got a tree spirit. - That's beautiful.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02- That's a natural looking thing. - The carving is gorgeous.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06- There's another one up the garden. - I also like if you ever have to have a tree taken out, instead
0:19:06 > 0:19:12of going right down and taking the stump out, you leave it and then it's a platform for a sculpture.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14One of them is holding a pot.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18That's right, or using it to haul on when I can't get up the bank.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22That's really imaginative. And there's a lion under this tree, what is he called?
0:19:22 > 0:19:24He's called Yard.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- My son christened him. - What's the reason for that?
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Well, he's only got three feet.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33It took me about ten seconds to get that.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49We found another place to sit, and what I do like about this garden
0:19:49 > 0:19:51- the fact you have lots of seats all over.- That's right.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54There's a bit of history attached to this, isn't there?
0:19:54 > 0:19:59That's right, it was actually a wash house when we first came here.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02We didn't want it so we just pulled the whole thing down.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05But you've adapted the walls to be seats, which is fabulous.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09We are in an area where I can hear water from one water feature and there's the other pond.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12This is important, isn't it, for encouraging wildlife?
0:20:12 > 0:20:20Very much so. I have a badger that comes in, I have foxes that come in, I've got moles, which I like.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Not so sure about them.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Lots of bird feeders around as well which are lovely.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I just like wildlife coming in.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33I just feel they have every right to be here, they are welcome to
0:20:33 > 0:20:37come here and I consider it an honour that they wish to live in my garden.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40And you are quite relaxed about how things might self sow, the
0:20:40 > 0:20:44digitalis or the foxglove there has popped up, which is good for bees.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- And they are dotted all over the garden.- That's right.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52If something wishes to grow in a place then I think that's where it will grow well.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54So I just leave them where they are.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- You don't try and control.- No. No.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Wow, this is fantastic!
0:21:10 > 0:21:15You come out from a woodland walk into this gorgeous open space.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16It's lovely.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19And you started to get a real idea of the scale of the garden.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22That's right, it's three-quarters of an acre altogether.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Beautiful views down there.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27This grass is looking gorgeous.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31- I know, I love it.- It's so airy, just blowing in the wind.
0:21:31 > 0:21:36Blue oat grass, with a very complicated name which I can't pronounce.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38I'm not going to try and say that either.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43And then when you come here, this is just gorgeous.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Looking down into the garden.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48You can actually see the depth of the garden.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Tell me something about the history.
0:21:51 > 0:21:57Here was a very large heap of subsoil that the local open cast had put into an old quarry.
0:21:57 > 0:22:03Right down at the bottom was a large hole just filled with washing machines, etc.
0:22:03 > 0:22:09So I had a machine brought in to take the top off the hill and place it down the hole and fill it all up.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Then I presumed just to make it all into garden.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17It's quite remarkable, but the soil was really very poor, it was rubbish.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Very much. It was heavy clay, rubble.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23A lot of rubbish.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27What is also very remarkable is the fact that you haven't always kept that well.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31You've had your hips replaced and then that's been revised.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36You've got a new knee, you're going to have some more surgery. That doesn't slow you down.
0:22:36 > 0:22:42You've moved stones, because we have walls that have been created here and you've lugged the stones over.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48And that is now that's helping to terrace and retrain it. You are a real inspiration not to give up.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53- Thank you.- And the other bit of good news is the fact your garden is open on August 7th, so people can come,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57they can wander round, admire it for themselves and meet you.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00That would be lovely, thank you very much.
0:23:00 > 0:23:021 o'clock till 5 o'clock.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04THEY LAUGH
0:23:14 > 0:23:16Here we are back at the decking.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19We were looking at the geraniums two or three weeks ago and they
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- are still looking rather sad, aren't they?- I know.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25They really like a hot... Sunshine to make them flower.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28We've had so much rain, there's lots of rotten blooms.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30It's constant dead-heading.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Let's have a look at some of the veg as well.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35It's amazing what you can grow in a small space.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Lots of results here. Everything is in containers.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40It's been really productive already.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42We are going to have a look at the carrots.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I'm going to pull one or two and you can explain what we are doing here.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Lower down here the carrot root flies are supposed to fly in...
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- How big is yours?- These are... Oh!
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Maybe you can get some slightly bigger ones?
0:23:56 > 0:23:57She's supposed to fly in at 21 inches.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00There's another one for you.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02They are not very big, are they? Yours are much bigger.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05But they are not damaged either.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09You could use these in salads. I think I would leave them for a little bit longer.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12That's the middle, that's the top. That's quite interesting.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13Isn't it? Small, medium and large.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Now, tatties for Christmas.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20What I do is normally keep some of my own potatoes that I chitted.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25Instead of planting them in April, I've kept them in the greenhouse.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28They look awful. This is Charlotte.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30And I'd like to plant them at the beginning of July.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34We are just in time now so they have the 10 to 12 weeks growing period.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37If it's too late it's almost like a waste of time.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40It is. I've rehydrated these, they still look awful.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42As I say, it is Charlotte.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47We are going to put it into this potato bag which has got compost in and drainage holes.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51- It's the same principle as what we've done earlier.- Exactly.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54It's warm enough at the moment, these can stay outside.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57But what you've got to do is keep them growing, so as it gets colder
0:24:57 > 0:25:01- you'll probably have to move it into the greenhouse. - By the end of September?
0:25:01 > 0:25:03You have to protect them. Maybe fleece them as well?
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Yeah. They are commercially available so it's just in time.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10These don't have to be chitted, you just plant these again.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13But do it now, otherwise forget it.
0:25:13 > 0:25:14And don't rely on it for Christmas Day.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Check underneath that you have actually got some.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21We are quite excited that we've got tatties here that might be ready.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Look at the foliage on this, looking rather sad.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Jim had a look at this for us and he reckons this is just weather. It's not blight.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Some people might think it's blight.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Because the foliage is bad, I think what we should do is empty this one out of the pot.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37This is a French variety. Are you going to speak to it in French?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- I was hopeless at French at school. - I'm just going to wait and see
0:25:40 > 0:25:44because I've got exactly the same variety here in the stacking system.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- I'd like to see what you've got crop wise.- If anything.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It's a variety called anoe.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53It's meant to be yellow potatoes.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Isn't it exciting!
0:25:55 > 0:25:56That's rather good.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Does that mean you are going to knock your one out as well?
0:25:59 > 0:26:05I've never done one of these before. The thing is, you are supposed to be able to grow the stacks up.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I guess I just take them off like this.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Is it going to collapse all over?
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- Here goes my competitive nature now. - You get yours out of my way.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16- These are mine.- I know, we'll get them muddled.
0:26:16 > 0:26:24This is an interesting thing because I guess you could just do this in stages and have some...
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I know.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28We're going to count them all, aren't we?
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Well, we can look at the end of the programme as to how much we've got out of this.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33No cheating.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38There's that well-known phrase, seed time and harvest.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42We've come to harvest because as the weeks go past more things become available.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45How about the strawberries? Have you had a taste?
0:26:45 > 0:26:50I think we all agree that symphony has got really good flavour and it produced the most as well.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Yes, these are the first of the outdoors, following on from that indoor lot.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59That was the highest weight. These are our first potatoes from our containers. We've weighed them.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Yes, and I think we've both done quite well.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05You had two and three-quarter pounds and I'm on to three-and a-half pounds.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- I think we've both done quite well. - You won.
0:27:07 > 0:27:08We should be metric, shouldn't we?
0:27:08 > 0:27:12You should be. They are French, aren't they?
0:27:12 > 0:27:15It's all about flavour, it's not necessarily just about the yield.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- I think that's Glasgow. - How would you say it?
0:27:18 > 0:27:19Anno.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22But the veggies are coming along as well.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Some good carrots already, great calabrese and cauliflower.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28- Absolutely super.- This is delicious.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30A real salad potato.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Waxy and gorgeous.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36- What about the blackcurrants? - Yes, what about the blackcurrants?
0:27:36 > 0:27:37We've gone too automatic harvesting.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41- Mechanical harvesting. - That looks like a dustpan.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42It does, doesn't it?
0:27:44 > 0:27:49What you do is you just run this gently up the stem.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- That's very nifty. - It works really well.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54There's a wee compartment at the back to hold them.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59I quite like George's idea last year when he was saying you can prune off some of the branches.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03You can't do that with the redcurrants but with blackcurrants is fine. That's good.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06That's so he can take them into the potting shed.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08We are all speaking with our mouths full.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11If you'd like any more information about this week's programme,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14about the berry harvester or any of the varieties,
0:28:14 > 0:28:15then it's all in the fact sheet.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18The easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22And I'm excited because George is going to let me see his show veg.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24We will see how they are progressing.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28He's going to be a busy boy because he's going to be back in here with me as well,
0:28:28 > 0:28:31because we have a pruning things to do and a few decisions to make.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36- It's a busy programme again next week. Till then, goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:49 > 0:28:52E-mail subtitlting@bbc.co.uk