0:00:20 > 0:00:23Well, hello, there and welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26It's a dry day, there's a lot of work to be done on the lawn
0:00:26 > 0:00:30and I've set it out, hopefully, to make it perfectly clear what's happening.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35It's scarifying the grass at this time of the year and there's lots of machines available.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39You can use the old rake if you really feel the waistline needs it.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43But you could use a little power scarifier like that -
0:00:43 > 0:00:45that's a cracker for big lawns.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48I actually use one the same as the wee electric-powered one.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52It really tears the thatch out. Then you've got it to pick up.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55If it's a big lawn, this might be a bit tiresome!
0:00:55 > 0:00:58So that's what I've been doing with the rotary motor.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01It picks it up - makes an absolutely superb job - just look at that!
0:01:01 > 0:01:05And all of that can go in the compost heap.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08But as I keep telling you, not all at one time.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12That will make great compost added in - it's nice and sappy.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13It helps other things to break down.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16So, that's week one, you'll be scarifying.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18You might need to mow in-between times.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22The next job is to put on the autumn fertiliser,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25which is lower in nitrogen than normal,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29because it's not grass growth we're looking for, it's winter hardiness.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31It's got a dollop of phosphate and potash.
0:01:31 > 0:01:37Measure it out and then make sure that you don't get halfway down and finish the whole lot.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41The next process is not one that people get down to very often.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44But you hear about it.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47It's hollow tine spiking.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49You can see these little cores.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53This is the machine we use for it at home - see how they bounce out.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55What you're doing
0:01:55 > 0:02:01is you're digging a hole that depth, right?
0:02:01 > 0:02:03You're relieving the compaction.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06And every now and again you've got to clean these out,
0:02:06 > 0:02:11but they are easy to do if you just happen to have a six inch nail in your pocket, as I always do.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Get that there and just every now and again open it up.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17You see how they slide out - like so.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19That's relieving your compaction.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24If you leave it just like that, not a major problem
0:02:24 > 0:02:27because you'll improve the drainage from the surface.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31But what I like to do, of course, is to get some compost.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33You get some top dressing
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and you spread it on the top like so.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Spread it on the top like so.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42You're putting on two or three kilos to the square metre.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47And when that's done, you then use the back of the rake,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50work it back and forward, and it'll disappear.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52It's going down these holes that you've created.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Holding them open, but they're not compacted, so the water gets away.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00And in the process, you can perhaps leave a little behind in the top.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05You're truing up the surface, so that you get a much cleaner cut next time.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08So, that's your work cut out for the next month.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Meanwhile, in the rest of the programme...
0:03:12 > 0:03:16The summer holidays are over and I am back to school,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19and there's some serious work to be done. Whoo-hoo!
0:03:19 > 0:03:21A-ha, ha!
0:03:21 > 0:03:25And isn't this a fascinating shape or puzzle?
0:03:25 > 0:03:28The significance of which will be revealed later.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Oh, there's one!
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Well, to create a garden that just involves one colour flower if actually quite a challenge.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41It's also very sophisticated.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45And the white garden here behind the conservatory has worked extremely well.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50This white echinacea is looking gorgeous and we've even got white strawberries
0:03:50 > 0:03:51and they taste lovely.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54The phlox here in the corner is shouting out.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58The white flowers have a very crisp, fresh look.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00And, of course, it looks lovely in moonlight.
0:04:00 > 0:04:07What I want to do now is add to the flowers that we have by putting in spring flowering bulbs.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10And I've chosen all white varieties.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15So, first of all, I've got the little Scilla siberica "Alba".
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Now this one actually only gets to six inches.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23I'm going to pop it here where the seeding is because, in spring, when this is flowering,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25the seeding would just be tiny little rosettes in the ground
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and the scilla will be tall enough to be shown.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Then we've got the Crocus "Snowbunting" -
0:04:31 > 0:04:34pure white with the lemon middle.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36And then getting into some tulips.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39This is Tres Chic, it's a lily-flowered one
0:04:39 > 0:04:42which means the petals point outwards.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47And the thing is with bulbs, they are absolutely guaranteeing you success -
0:04:47 > 0:04:52certainly for the first year - cos the flower is already in there waiting to come out.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55In a bag like this, I'm not just going to plant them in rows,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58what I'm going to do to get a nice, natural look
0:04:58 > 0:05:02is just toss them in the area where I want them and then I'm going to plant them where they land.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06And you get a much more natural flow of the flowers.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Next one is Thalia,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12this again is a white narcissus. And the same story -
0:05:12 > 0:05:16I'm going to broadcast this around the stachys and the lily here.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Now, although I've said this is a white garden,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23not everything's white - this here just adds a little bit of a highlight.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25And then, isn't this just gorgeous?
0:05:25 > 0:05:31Little Clematis "Alba Luxurians" on the wall there, silvery blue, very, very pretty.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34And then this sulphury yellow Achillea as well,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38just adds to that nice, soft pastel pallet.
0:05:38 > 0:05:44More white going on here - Muscari "White Magic" - which is a very attractive little one.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Only gets to about six inches. This is unusual.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49This is an autumn flowering bulb.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51This is a colchicum. It's the white one.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57Mount Tacoma is a white tulip which I've used in the cutting garden very successfully - beautiful!
0:05:57 > 0:06:02Double white. And then, the Narcissus "Pheasant's Eye".
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Now the advantage of this one is, it's fragrant,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07so I'm planting it close to the path in the sitting area
0:06:07 > 0:06:12to get that nice fragrance wafting over - if it was warm enough in March and April to be sitting out.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Critical thing with bulbs - how deep do we plant them?
0:06:16 > 0:06:20I've dug a hole here to show you. Here's one of the Pheasant's Eye.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24I want to make sure I have twice the size of that bulb on top of it.
0:06:24 > 0:06:30So, if it's a two inch bulb, I'm planting it at the bottom of a six inch hole. So, it's like that.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33The other thing I'm adding is bonemeal to help the bulbs getting away.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37It's a good fertiliser to use in the autumn.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43And then, finally, another little patch of the Crocus "Snow Bunting" here at the front.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47In amongst this dianthus, it'll look so pretty coming through the blue foliage.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50When I'm planting smaller bulbs, I'm just going to use a trowel
0:06:50 > 0:06:54and make sure I get them nicely liberally sprinkled amongst the dianthus.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Now we've also got a collection of bulb planters.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00They're various shapes and sizes.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Some look like instruments of torture. And the gardeners are going to be trying those out
0:07:04 > 0:07:07over the next couple of weeks and we'll let you know how we get on
0:07:07 > 0:07:09with the bulb planting - not the torturing.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17This week, I'm at Drumblade School, just outside Huntly in Aberdeenshire.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22The school has a very active eco committee - made up of children from primaries one to seven.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25In the six years it's been running, they've earned their green flag.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30But, as with all gardens, there's still more to be done.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Fiona Nicolson, as the head teacher, this is a wonderful setting.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37It is on a glorious day like this.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- And you're really active with gardening?- Yes, we are.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44They're very keen and they say, "Can we go and do this?" And they do it.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45They like being outside...
0:07:45 > 0:07:48They love it! It's outdoor learning, active learning, so...
0:07:48 > 0:07:50- Very much so.- And it's fun for them.
0:07:50 > 0:07:56- That's brilliant. Now, what about the problem corner itself? - A few years ago we did clear it out
0:07:56 > 0:08:00and put in what we thought was plants, but obviously it's not working.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02There's weeds in it. We're not sure.
0:08:02 > 0:08:08We'd like it to be bird friendly, bee friendly, but we're not sure what plants to put in.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- Basically we want plants to encourage the wildlife?- Yes.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- I think we should go and get the children and start.- A good idea.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Let's see what they're doing, then.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27- So, is this the problem corner? - Yes.- What did it used to be?
0:08:27 > 0:08:29It used to be a sandpit.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33And then it got planted. Do you think it's rather overgrown?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- Yeah.- It is a bit, isn't it?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I mean, do you recognise any of these plants?
0:08:38 > 0:08:44- There's rosebay willowherb. - Yeah, rosebay willowherb, which is a real pest, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47We certainly need to get rid of that.
0:08:47 > 0:08:53- Now I understand from Mrs Nicolson, that you do quite a bit of recycling.- Yeah.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57- So, do you want to try and recycle some of these plants?- Yeah.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59And I can point out one or two.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03This one here, I think it's rather pretty. Ajuga here.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06We can lift some of that and some of you can maybe
0:09:06 > 0:09:11do some potting with that one. I think what we need to do is save one or two - like the conifers.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15- Do you know the two ones that are really evergreen?- Yeah.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- Why do you think we want to keep those?- They're too hard to take out!
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Well, they probably are too hard to take out.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- But also you want to encourage the birds, don't you?- Yeah.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28There's going to be somewhere for them to hide and somewhere for them to maybe nest.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30So, what we're going to do is,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33I know you've got lots of forks and trowels and things like that.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38Some of us are going to have to start lifting these and then some of you can do some potting.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Right, come on, then!
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- Which is a trowel, which is a fork? - This one's a trowel.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- OK, there you go!- Agh!
0:09:52 > 0:09:55This can be potted and saved.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00- What just happened there? - Whaa!- Oh, wow, look at that!
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Wahay!
0:10:06 > 0:10:09This is great. We've got a potting bench outside.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- Aren't we lucky with the weather? - Yeah.- Yeah, it's good.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Have any of you done any potting before?- Yeah.- So, Nicola you have.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17- Ashleigh you have.- Sort of.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22Sort of, Joshua. OK, well, that gives me a reason for doing a little bit of a demonstration.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26So, here's the ajuga that you lifted from the bed.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29And I've got to find a pot that's roughly about the right size for that.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33OK? Then what we've got to do, we've got some nice compost here.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Put a bit of compost in the bottom...
0:10:36 > 0:10:37like that.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40And then we can put the plant in.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44And then what you've got to do is put a little bit of compost around the side.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47And then it's important with your fingers and thumbs...
0:10:47 > 0:10:52All right? With your fingers and thumbs, we just press it down.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Give it a tap...and that's it.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02This is one of our beds where we grow vegetables.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05We grow peas and carrots in this one.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- They look really healthy, don't they?- Yeah.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09They look tasty.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12And why do we have the net?
0:11:12 > 0:11:15- To keep cats out.- OK, I think we'd better put it back, hadn't we?
0:11:17 > 0:11:20This is the willow tunnel.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22We had it put up about eight years ago
0:11:22 > 0:11:26- and the pupils designed the shape. - It's a lovely shape,
0:11:26 > 0:11:31- but what happens to the rods when they're trimmed? - They get made into willow baskets
0:11:31 > 0:11:34and are taken to people's homes to make their own willow tunnel.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- And you make money with that? - Yeah.- That's really great.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- Can we go down the tunnel? - Yes, sure.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50We're cleared the bed and we've discovered that the soil is very sandy, free draining.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54So, what we need to do is add some organic matter.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56That's going to help to retain the moisture.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59And at the same time, while we're forking that in,
0:11:59 > 0:12:03we've added some bonemeal to help with the nutrition of the plants.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08So, are you going to help me place these? You want that one?
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Let's put it over there.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14Could this go in the corner?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Yeah.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Yeah, in the corner, there.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23What about the one down at the end and we'll get one at each end?
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Hang on a minute!
0:12:27 > 0:12:29What do you think these are for?
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- For the birds?- For the birds!
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Well, I think this looks really nice.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- Do you think it looks good?- Yeah.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Yeah? We've got such a range of plants.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46And some of them, for example, like see the sedums here, you see
0:12:46 > 0:12:50that green one? It's quite succulent, they're late flowering.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53They're flowering now, they'll flower in the autumn time.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55That's good for the bees and the butterflies.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57And there's a little arabis.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01They're spring flowering and then we're got a potentilla there
0:13:01 > 0:13:04that will flower right through the summer.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06And then I've also thought about the birds, haven't I?
0:13:06 > 0:13:11You know, with the water there and the bird feeder, and we could put a few more things in.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14I'll tell you what you could do in a few weeks' time is,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17you can go to the garden centres and buy some bulbs.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21But what I'd like you to do there is make sure you buy things that don't grow too tall.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- So, have you had a good day? - CHILDREN: Yes!
0:13:25 > 0:13:26Wow, that's brilliant!
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Well, we're on one of my favourite topics -
0:13:39 > 0:13:42propagation of plants - and it's going to cost you nothing
0:13:42 > 0:13:45because this is the time of year you can collect seeds around the garden.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49And we've got five different types of seeds you can collect,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53starting off with the grasses or the grass ears.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Then you move on to this one here, the astrantia - that's the naked seeds.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00In other words, they're not protected at all.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04This one is the pods or capsules, that's an aquilegia.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07And then this last one here is the winged seeds - pulsatilla.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11That's four there, but there's another group and that's the fleshy berries.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13This is a beautiful plant, isn't it?
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Sorbus reducta.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18A dwarf rowan with pink berries.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22And the three of us are going to look at different types of propagation,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24and I've chosen the fleshy seeds.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27I've done a bit of collection around my own garden
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and I've got Viburnum opulus with the yellow-red berries.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34And then Rosa moyesii. Look at the hips on those,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36absolutely beautiful!
0:14:36 > 0:14:42And another rowan - this one is cashmiriana - white berries.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47The great thing about the white berries is the birds don't seem to hone into these. Quite a fiddly job.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49If you've got a lot of fleshy berries,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52I suggest you get yourself a garden sieve and you can mash them up in that.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57What I prefer to do is, when I'm only collecting just a few,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01just squash them between your fingers and thumb
0:15:01 > 0:15:04and then we start to expose the seeds themselves.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And once I've done that, what we need to do then,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11is wash them - use the sieve again - and it starts to expose them.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14I would then leave them in the water for 24 hours
0:15:14 > 0:15:21because then they start to soak up the moisture and the ones that sink to the bottom are the viable ones.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25And then what you do is, you get some compost in a pot, sow them,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29put a little bit of gravel on top, and either into a cold frame
0:15:29 > 0:15:31or simply plunge them into beds outside.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34That's exactly what I did at home with this rowan here.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37That's two years on so you need a little bit of patience.
0:15:37 > 0:15:43But there, I've ended up with eight seedlings - that's going to be eight trees for nothing.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47All the chat at the moment is about seed saving,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51and I'm busy collecting some tomato seeds.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Let's go back to basics a bit.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Most things in the garden producing seeds, if you save the seeds,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01it will come true next year when you sow it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Um...
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Species things,
0:16:06 > 0:16:11you would expect the seeds of that species to come out the same.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13You get a bit of variation now and again.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16That's what makes the world go round.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Now, what about these tomatoes I've got?
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Well, this is the variety Shirley.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25And Shirley is referred to as an F1 hybrid,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27which is the first filial generation
0:16:27 > 0:16:32from crossing two of these straight-breeding lines.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37And that cross has to be made every time to create Shirley,
0:16:37 > 0:16:42because if you save the seed from Shirley and sow it again,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45you are into the second filial generation.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49And you can get all sorts, because the genes start to sort themselves out,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52so you finish up and it's got granny's colour of eyes
0:16:52 > 0:16:55and father's kind of nose, and so on and so forth.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57This is how we do the tomatoes.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00We have some water added and we just leave that in a room,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04give it a shake every now and again and after two or three days,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08it will start to ferment so you can pour off the gunge stuff,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10add a little more water and keep on doing that,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13and eventually, the good seeds will drop to the bottom
0:17:13 > 0:17:15and that dud seats will float to the top
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and then you can take the good seeds out, through a strainer,
0:17:18 > 0:17:21put them on paper, get them dried, onto a saucer
0:17:21 > 0:17:24or something like that to dry out, and give them a stir now and again
0:17:24 > 0:17:29so they don't stick together and then you have got something different for next time.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Well, the garden is full of seeds at the moment and capsules,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35but what is it worth collecting?
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Well, first, something that will come true from seed,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39that is a plant which is a species,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42so I have picked the Primula florindae.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45You could sow that now, but I would prefer to wait
0:17:45 > 0:17:50until next spring, so I shall be popping this in marked envelopes and sowing it in the spring.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Other things that come true from seed are some annuals. This is the wild flower cornflower.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58The seeds are already dropping out like little white shaving brushes,
0:17:58 > 0:18:02but I would pop that into a packet and save it until the spring.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Limnanthes, or Poached Egg Plant, very good for hoverflies.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07It is already starting to pop the little capsules
0:18:07 > 0:18:11and it's very difficult to eradicate once you've got it.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15There's also heritage varieties of peas, purple podded peas,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18and it will come true from the seed I'm saving.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Then you can have a bit of fun,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22there are lots of hybrids that if you sow the seeds
0:18:22 > 0:18:25you don't know what you'll get, but it might not matter.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30For instance, the sunflower, covered in these beautiful black seeds.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31This is Little Dorrit.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34If I sow these I'm not going to get a dwarf sunflower.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39I don't know what I'm getting next year. I might leave those for the birds. Poppies, I always save.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Already they're starting to drop out the little bits of black seed,
0:18:42 > 0:18:47and again, pop these into a seed packet, sow them in the spring.
0:18:47 > 0:18:48And finally, lupins.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53These are pods, just like the peas, seeds inside, and again,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56put those in a packet and I'll see what I get next spring.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58I've got a big space to fill in the garden,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01it's a really good way of getting a lot of plants.
0:19:02 > 0:19:08I'm taking the opportunity to review our two small 8x6 green houses,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11and it's a really good success story in both of them.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13I'm delighted about that.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Starting off with this one, we have a selection of baby peppers
0:19:17 > 0:19:21and the chillies. And here, a chilli we have called Prairie Fire,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25a rather unusual colour, and a really superb plant.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Moving on, we have Pyramid and they do look like little pyramids,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and this one Razzamatazz, really unusual because we've got yellows,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37reds, purples and greens, so a really colourful plant there.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Over this side, we have a couple of the peppers.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44This one's called Mini Mix, and then this one is Orange Baby.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And while they look very similar,
0:19:47 > 0:19:51maybe the flavour's slightly different, I don't know. But looking at the Orange Baby
0:19:51 > 0:19:55we've got a slight problem with red spider mite.
0:19:55 > 0:20:01It does thrive in a dry environment, so we have to keep spraying the plants,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05because a high humidity deters the red spider mite.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09The last one I want to look at is this one call Super Chilli.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12This is maybe what we are more familiar with -
0:20:12 > 0:20:14green, then going on to read.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Lots of chillies there, and you maybe can't use them all at once,
0:20:17 > 0:20:21so what I recommend is that you pick them, put them into a polythene bag
0:20:21 > 0:20:23and stick them in the freezer
0:20:23 > 0:20:25and then you can use them when you want to.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29The second green house - wow, look at this for colour!
0:20:29 > 0:20:33Five packets of seeds, costing under £10,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37and it really has created a superb display.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41Starting off with schizanthus or Poor Man's Orchid.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45This one is a dwarf variety called Star Parade.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48We have a taller one at the back, and that one is Angel Wings,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52and I think that could do with a little bit of staking.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Celosias, gorgeous leaves,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and the little flowery plumes are just starting.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00That variety is called Chinatown.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04My favourite has to be the browallia, called Blue Lady,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07an electric blue with a little white centre.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10And then the last one is cineraria
0:21:10 > 0:21:14and this is going to give us colour in the wintertime,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16but at the moment it needs potting on.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23With all Beechgrove community gardens
0:21:23 > 0:21:26I'm always impressed with how much hard work
0:21:26 > 0:21:30volunteers put in to creating a garden for all the community.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34What's really, really impressive about this Kinross Potager Garden
0:21:34 > 0:21:37is it was started 15 years ago and it's going on,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40developing and getting better all the time.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Amanda James, you're the convenor of the garden.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Have a lot of people been involved over the last 15 years?
0:21:50 > 0:21:53I think I may be the third convenor,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56this is my third summer that I've been here.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58And who does the work here? Who looks after it?
0:21:58 > 0:22:02We're a small group of volunteers, dedicated volunteers.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04We're really lucky,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07I think the reason the garden has continued for so long
0:22:07 > 0:22:10is that we have had volunteers willing to be involved
0:22:10 > 0:22:13and committed to carrying on.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17It's so lovely to see you back at the garden again. Welcome.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I hope you've had a lovely holiday.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25And it will be really good for you to see exactly what's happened
0:22:25 > 0:22:27since you were here last time.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28Close your eyes for a moment.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32And think about how the garden looked
0:22:32 > 0:22:34when you came here the first time, back in April.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39Open your eyes. We're going to go and see the garden in a moment.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51'In 1996, this site was nothing but weeds.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54'A local group of gardeners had a vision for it to be a lot more.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58'And entered a Beechgrove garden competition which was being run at the time.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02'They won not only £1,000 for plants and equipment,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05'but also a visit from the Beechgrove hit squad.'
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Absolutely.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10As far as the top bit's concerned, that was a jungle of weeds.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12All the dockings, there was brambles.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16I never thought for one minute that it would be transformed like that.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It is just wonderful, you've got that geometric pattern
0:23:19 > 0:23:22that's so necessary for the potager garden.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- Come round here.- Wow!
0:23:28 > 0:23:31That's what we grew.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35And just look at the peas in the middle. Can you remember?
0:23:35 > 0:23:36You planted those peas
0:23:36 > 0:23:39and they were just tiny little plants with the beans.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41It's so beautiful.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45You could put them on a salad or something, and it looks very pretty.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Feel that one? That one's not ready.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54'You are involved with the teaching of the children here. What are they learning?'
0:23:54 > 0:23:59They have the unique opportunity here to learn, at first hand,
0:23:59 > 0:24:04how to plant and nurture seeds, how to transplant them
0:24:04 > 0:24:08and then harvest them and then we support all of that practical learning
0:24:08 > 0:24:11with work in the classroom, which will include things like...
0:24:11 > 0:24:14germination, pollination, photosynthesis,
0:24:14 > 0:24:18how plants have that amazing ability to make food for themselves
0:24:18 > 0:24:19and for us.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23And it's very, very, um, enriching for the children
0:24:23 > 0:24:26and for everyone in the garden.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29It's really good, because you take it right through from seed,
0:24:29 > 0:24:30right through to the end product,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32and then they get the harvest.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- They've been getting potatoes today. - Absolutely.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39And just that moment when they dig something up
0:24:39 > 0:24:43and see those jewels coming out of the ground, it seems so simple,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46but they learn that what you grow, you can eat.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50- Potato! Potato! - Wait, there's a potato.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52There's a new one!
0:24:52 > 0:24:57- Oh, look there's a potato! - I got a big potato.- Awesome.- Great.
0:24:59 > 0:25:00Well done.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Look, this one's ready in here.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Down right there at the bottom you get the best ones.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13They actually have the opportunity to sell
0:25:13 > 0:25:17some of the produce as well, sell some of the plants.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21It does, doesn't it?
0:25:21 > 0:25:25'The final thing we do, of course, is the tasting.'
0:25:25 > 0:25:28So that is something they really look forward to,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and today we have got some soup and things for them to taste,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34so they understand plants that they have grown
0:25:34 > 0:25:37are made into these different recipes.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Peas, straight from the pods!
0:25:41 > 0:25:46It has got a really nice sort of texture to it.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51- I can see the peas!- I think the leaves are a bit of a struggle.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54'Amanda, what else goes on here besides the teaching?'
0:25:54 > 0:25:58We have three beds around the side which are community beds,
0:25:58 > 0:26:03run by local people, like allotment beds, and they contribute
0:26:03 > 0:26:07in kind to the work of the garden and generally help us out.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13Um, we have run courses in conjunction with Perth College, and a lecturer
0:26:13 > 0:26:17from there has done evening classes for adults, and that's often led
0:26:17 > 0:26:21- to people wanting to become volunteers in the garden, which is great.- Good news.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Yes, people who know something about things as well.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29And the garden is open every day during the summer to the public,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31and people come in with children and have a look.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33It's interesting and very powerful
0:26:33 > 0:26:37how a garden can really pull a community together.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Yes, and it's very well accepted by the local community.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42We don't have any problems with vandalism.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46Most of the youngsters have grown up with the garden, so they are used to it.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50- It's well overlooked by neighbours anyway.- That's excellent.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Have you had a good time? - CHILDREN:- Yes!
0:26:53 > 0:26:56- Thank you, Margaret.- You are welcome, dear. Thank you, David.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03You know, I can't believe it was just a year ago
0:27:03 > 0:27:06that we were trying this out, layering these bulbs.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Some advice we got from Bob Billson in Fife.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12It's a really good way of packing in a load of spring colour.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I've got these photographs from Carole Armstrong in Linlithgow,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and she followed our recipe last year, and it worked so well
0:27:19 > 0:27:22with the Angelique tulips, narcissi...
0:27:22 > 0:27:24so we're going to repeat it again.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26We've got slightly smaller pots this year.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29I think maybe they were a bit too big, and we are doing two pots.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31So one's going to be exposed
0:27:31 > 0:27:33and the other one will have more shelter.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Gravel in the bottom for drainage, always important,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and the first layer is in - Angelique tulips.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Just using ordinary compost, and then we will put in Woodstock hyacinths
0:27:44 > 0:27:48which are purple, then another layer of compost, narcissi Tete-a-Tete,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50another layer and then crocuses on the top.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54- So you get colour for quite a few months.- Indeed, weeks!
0:27:54 > 0:27:59- Oh, I think months.- Months?! - There's a challenge.- All right.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03I can also hardly believe it's that time of year again where we're asking for community garden
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and Problem Corner applications. Like the Kinross potager I was at,
0:28:06 > 0:28:08or your Problem Corner in the school.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- We're looking for small problems. - That is a good point, isn't it?
0:28:11 > 0:28:15If you want to apply, what you need to do is go on to our website
0:28:15 > 0:28:17and look for the link which says "How to apply".
0:28:17 > 0:28:20And again if you go on to the website you can find our fact sheet
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- with all the information about this week's programme.- Absolutely.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27And talking community gardens, we won't be in here next week,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30we're at our last community garden of the season.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34We will be in Spey Bay on the Moray Firth watching all the wildlife
0:28:34 > 0:28:39and putting the finishing touches to a rather unique wildlife garden.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41- Until then, goodbye.- Bye.- Bye!
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:50 > 0:28:53E-mail: subtitling@bbc.co.uk