0:00:13 > 0:00:16Hello there, and welcome back to Beechgrove Garden.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19When I got up this morning, the sun was streaming through the window.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22I thought, "Hawaiian shirt, the day". No!
0:00:22 > 0:00:23Just as well I didn't!
0:00:23 > 0:00:26The sun's gone - but it's fine, it's dry.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29This time of year tells me we should be howking early potatoes.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Well, we've got a bonny lot of potatoes here.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Not a lot wrong with them. Been sprayed with copper oxychloride.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38There's been a blight warning here - so keep your eye open for it.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41When I say everything's green and looking well,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43There's one plant that's no' so well over there -
0:00:43 > 0:00:45I reckon that's blackleg,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47and we'll wheech it out later.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51But look at that one back there, which is flowering away like mad.
0:00:51 > 0:00:52That's "Blue Danube".
0:00:52 > 0:00:55I reckon it's worthy of being in the herbaceous border.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Gorgeous flowers. When you see it in a block, it looks stunning.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Anyway, we've got four varieties of early potatoes,
0:01:01 > 0:01:03planted the second week of April.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06It tells me there should be a few tatties to harvest.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09And what's better than early potatoes
0:01:09 > 0:01:10with a wee bit oatmeal on them?
0:01:10 > 0:01:13We've got four varieties, half-rows.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Started off with this one here, which is "Casablanca".
0:01:16 > 0:01:19This one is billed to take the place of "Epicure",
0:01:19 > 0:01:21the early Ayrshire potato.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Better than that, heavier-yielding, and shallower eyes.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27So that one's heading for the big time.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30There's only four tatties at the shaw, at the moment.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32One good thing about potatoes -
0:01:32 > 0:01:35if you're not getting enough when you lift them, leave them.
0:01:35 > 0:01:36They'll get bigger.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38The next one I lifted is "Rocket",
0:01:38 > 0:01:41one of the earliest - that's the one in the middle, looking not too bad.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43But the surprise, one I knew nothing about,
0:01:43 > 0:01:44is "Ambassador".
0:01:44 > 0:01:48That is a decent boiling from one shaw. And they'll just get better.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Then, the final one is "Lady Christl".
0:01:52 > 0:01:55I'm away to lift that and somebody handed me this -
0:01:55 > 0:01:57a new piece of kit.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01It looks like for taking the chips out the pan,
0:02:01 > 0:02:02and getting the fat off them.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04This is meant to be for lifting tatties.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Fine, if they're growing in buckets and things...
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Cost you 15 quid, by the way.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12You're supposed to, I suppose, do this.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14And then, this....
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Then lever them.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18And all the soil falls away.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20And the wee potatoes are caught in the middle.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Ha-blooming-ha(!)
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Here we've got "Lady Christl".
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Looking quite nice.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30But I shall revert
0:02:30 > 0:02:33to what I've always used.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36That is a flat-tined tatty grape.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37See if there's a bit more in this.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40I think there might well be.
0:02:40 > 0:02:41Get down there.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48While I continue to search, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Now, this really is a garden brae view.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Those are the Braes of Angus.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00This week, I'm problem-solving in Forfar.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08And I'm in an inspirational garden, just outside Edinburgh.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12And to get you in the mood, this is A Forest by Jim Lambie.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I'm going to start with a good-news story. It's the okra.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Do you remember a few weeks ago, they looked really poor plants?
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Then we had the idea of putting them onto the heat mat.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29They do need high temperatures -
0:03:29 > 0:03:31between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33And we finally have got
0:03:33 > 0:03:35some ladies' fingers. They're beginning to set.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37I think that's fantastic -
0:03:37 > 0:03:39it's a variety called "Pure Luck".
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Obviously, it's a bit of a novelty crop.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44But I'm really pleased
0:03:44 > 0:03:47that we are going to get some of those ladies' fingers.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Over on this side, this is a crop that people really like to grow.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Tomatoes.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55And here, I have a comparison
0:03:55 > 0:03:57of grafted and non-grafted plants,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59of the variety called "Shirley".
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Now, I start with the first bag -
0:04:01 > 0:04:03that is a non-grafted.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Then it goes on to grafted
0:04:05 > 0:04:06and then non-grafted.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10What it says is, the grafted plants are going to be more vigorous.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11You might think that,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15from the one there in the corner, which is non-grafted,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17but I think that's been affected by the cold weather.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21The rest of them here are all about the same height.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24The other thing they say about grafted plants
0:04:24 > 0:04:26is you are going to get them to crop earlier.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30Well, at the moment, when I start having a look at these,
0:04:30 > 0:04:31you can see one or two of these -
0:04:31 > 0:04:34the setting may be up to the third truss.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38That seems to be setting a bit ahead of the non-grafted.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42But we won't know until we start actually cropping.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44The one thing that I want to do at the moment
0:04:44 > 0:04:47is to let in a little bit of light.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48And the way to do that,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51is taking off some of the lower leaves.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53You can just bend these back and forward,
0:04:53 > 0:04:54and snap them off.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I'm only going to go up to the first truss.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00That will let in a little more light -
0:05:00 > 0:05:02it will help the tomatoes to ripen.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04They're really healthy.
0:05:04 > 0:05:05The only thing is,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08I think there's a little bit of chlorosis setting in here.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11I think, like Jim was speaking about with his tomatoes,
0:05:11 > 0:05:12and the gro-bag trial,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15we need to put some Epsom salts here.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18In other words, giving it a dose of magnesium.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Now, the melons. A variety called "Outdoor Wonder".
0:05:21 > 0:05:24We grow them under cover. Look at the size of the plants.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I can't imagine we will get a crop off of this this season.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30However, we've got squashes - winter squashes,
0:05:30 > 0:05:31and summer squashes.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34I think what you've got to bear in mind here
0:05:34 > 0:05:36is fruit starting to set.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38I'm now going to nip off the tip here.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41You really only want maybe half-a-dozen
0:05:41 > 0:05:43of the squashes setting on each plant.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Again, it's just because of the season.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47And finally,
0:05:47 > 0:05:48I've got a gherkin.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50It's a variety called "Partner",
0:05:50 > 0:05:52And...well, again,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55I don't think we've grown these before.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Related to the cucumber family.
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Mm. Beautiful and sweet.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03You can cut those up fresh, in salads,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06but I really like them pickled, too.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13This week, I'm in east Scotland,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16in Forfar, the county town of Angus,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18which is well known for its agriculture.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21I'm helping Grace Murray with a small problem area
0:06:21 > 0:06:23in her back garden.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25What a view. This is absolutely brilliant, isn't it?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Isn't it? It's lovely.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Super planting at the front of the house, great planting here.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32You've obviously got an eye for planting.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Thank you very much.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36BUT it wasn't always like this.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37We've been here five years now,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and when we came in at first, it was an absolute tip.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43There was nothing but concrete and hard-packed earth.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- Oh, right. - So we designed it ourselves.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48You've made a fantastic difference to the whole thing.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- You know what you're on about with plants.- Thank you.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53What's the problem?
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Well, this here.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57The weeds come up through, all the time.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59and I've got arthritis in my fingers.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00I find it very hard to weed.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02It's funny how that's what goes.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05The grip goes, and we can't pull them out.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Possibly, there is no fabric underneath here,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- to stop the weeds coming through. - There isn't.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12That was a big mistake.
0:07:12 > 0:07:13We can do something with that.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Nice little Acer in the middle.
0:07:16 > 0:07:17- Is that a water feature?- It is.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20That's a curling stone, with a hole in the middle.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23We actually like water music in the garden,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26but there's not a big enough drop at the moment, so we can't hear it.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29We'll have a look at that, and see what we can do.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Now, this is viewed from the kitchen,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- and from the dining area. - That's right.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36You're going to see it all the time,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39so it's quite important that we get this right, isn't it?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Oh, yes. But I'm sure you'll manage, George!
0:07:47 > 0:07:51I'm glad we're going to save the Acer, cos I'm really fond of it.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00The idea is that when we've finished,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03it should be much easier to maintain.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Oh, I'm sure it will be.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07This is just a weed, isn't it?
0:08:07 > 0:08:09- No.- What's that?
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Lysimachia nummularia folia.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16A nice little yellow one, and it creeps along the top of the ground.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It would do just in one of the borders,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20if you were to put it into one of the borders,
0:08:20 > 0:08:21and let it come over the edge.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25I'll do that right now, in fact. I've got a trowel somewhere.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Grace wanted to be able to see the water feature,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42and to have what she calls "water music".
0:08:42 > 0:08:45I'm going to have to cut away some of this foliage,
0:08:45 > 0:08:46to let the water come up,
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and then fall back down again.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50We've tested this pump, haven't we, Mike?
0:08:50 > 0:08:52It's OK. There's nothing wrong with it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55We've had an electrician in and it appears everything's in order.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58It's just a case of adjusting the flow of water
0:08:58 > 0:09:00to make it more suit the requirements.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02- To give us the music. - That's the effect.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06When I go to a garden centre, and order one of these pumps,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08what will they tell me?
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I suppose the main choice is whether you go for mains voltage,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14or a reduced, 12-volt pump, or whatever.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Low voltage obviously being the safer of the two,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18They'll keep you right about all of that,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and there'll be information on the packaging.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23We could make such a fool of ourself, couldn't we?
0:09:23 > 0:09:25One could.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26HE LAUGHS
0:09:29 > 0:09:31What's in there, Mike?
0:09:31 > 0:09:33I dread to think.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36Hey, that's terrific!
0:09:36 > 0:09:38That's really good!
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- You can hear it now, can't you?- Yes.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43You'll be able to hear it right up there in the terrace, as well.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- That's marvellous! - That's one of the problems solved.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Part one solved.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49Part one, we're OK.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58While Mike's down there, working with the fabric,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01getting that all sorted out, I've come up onto the patio,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04because Grace said she was having a problem with the roses up here,
0:10:04 > 0:10:05and if you look at them,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07they're not growing terribly well at all.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09There's a bit of a problem.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12They've been planted into a very small space next to the wall.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Come and see what's happened.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18This is what the roses have had to deal with.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20The landscaper, when he put in the patio,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23made sure there was plenty bottoming for the patio,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26but there's not enough soil for the roses to grow properly.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27So, what we'll do,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30we'll mix some topsoil and some compost,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33put that into the hole, re-soil the whole thing,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35and I've got two new roses to put in.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40I've got a range of things here which are slightly Japanese.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43They give that sort of feel, because that's what we've got.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45- Remember, we're focused on the window?- Yes.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47So the water leads us down
0:10:47 > 0:10:49what looks like a wee dry river bed,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51down to the window.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53We could put these irises where the water-splash is.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Now, that's a nice variegated one.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58You have to have this one in an area where you can see it.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00That would maybe go over there?
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I think it would be beautiful there. That would be really nice.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Isn't that wonderful? - It is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10- A "Red Hot Poker" primula is what it's called.- It's a lovely thing.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14That can go down in at the front there, perhaps.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18This is Meconopsis cookei, and it's a thing called "Old Rose".
0:11:18 > 0:11:21And that's exactly the colour it is, isn't it?
0:11:21 > 0:11:22It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24- Can you see that inside?- Mm!
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Look at that!- You'd need a mirror underneath it.- You would, just about.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- Now, what do you think?- I think that's super, it's really nice.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40The iris is in front of the jet of water.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41We'll move that to that side
0:11:41 > 0:11:44and then the meconopsis needs to come that way a wee bit.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- It does, and the thyme need to come...- Just a wee bit out that way.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- Could you do that? I'll watch you. - You shout if I'm getting it right.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Come and have a look at that. - What do you think of that?
0:12:02 > 0:12:04That better?
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Much better! That's really nice now.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14When you're planting through fabric and putting stones over the top,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17make sure the plants are sitting proud of the fabric,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19so that when the stones go in,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21they're just underneath the neck of the plant.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Don't plant these too deep, or the stones will be right over the top.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33So there we are, the bed transformed.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Nice bit of water music, OK?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Planting, I think, should look OK from the window.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40The roses are in as well,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42the weeding has been reduced,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46so, easier on our arthritic fingers later on.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48So there we go - all the boxes ticked.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- Perfect, George, it's wonderful. 100%.- Thank you.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- Not bad, coming from a teacher! - There's your gold star.- Thanks!
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Now, if you remember, the point of this trial, Carol,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06was to look for alternatives for Impatiens walleriana,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09which were the ones last year had all the trouble with the downy mildew.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11You've got a whole range of plants and of course,
0:13:11 > 0:13:16it's not been the summer, has it, for bedding plants? Here we go again - weather, weather!
0:13:16 > 0:13:18But, you know, it's not been as bad as I would have thought,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20because some things have actually done quite well.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23I can see why the begonia is the number one -
0:13:23 > 0:13:26look at the flowers, they're great, but they haven't filled out.
0:13:26 > 0:13:27They've flowered well,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29but they've not grown because it's not be warm enough.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Same with the semperflorens, across there.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Flowering, because they don't mind the rain, but not grown, as they need the heat.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36There's a bit of a sad story here.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39The reason I put these impatiens, this is a variety called "Divine."
0:13:39 > 0:13:42It's a seed-raised New Guinea Impatiens.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45That's done quite well, because it doesn't seem to get downy mildew.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49It won't, but it needed more heat. That's what that should look like.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51That should be full of things like that.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- If the weather improves, do you think they'll recover?- I don't know!
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- I think it's doubtful. - I think these will.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58I think these verbena and these dianthus,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02you can see in the last few days of sunshine, their flowers are starting.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04They've filled out a bit, haven't they?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06They don't mind coolness, same with dianthus,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10there's flowers just starting to open now it's become a bit sunnier.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12Look at all the buds still to come.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15That will look superb if we get a bit of sunshine now.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Now what about thinking ahead, maybe to next year,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and what are the breeders producing for bedding plants now?
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Ornamental breeders are primarily interested in the flower,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26so we're looking at new flower shapes.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30We got things with these begonias, with a lovely long, delicate petal
0:14:30 > 0:14:33and these orange and red ones with an even longer petal.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- They're really nice. Now the bacopa, the size of the flower!- I know!
0:14:37 > 0:14:39They've been breeding them to get the flowers bigger.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43Remember little "Snowflake" was tiny? This is "Atlas" and it's a huge flower.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45That's stunning. I presume there's different colours?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48They're always looking for a new and exciting colour.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51We've got black petunias, we've got blue diascia.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Not sure if that's exciting. I mean, I like the colour blue...
0:14:54 > 0:14:56It's different, though, it's different.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58- It's rather a dirty blue. - I know, but I like the black.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Also, within the colours, they're looking for interesting styles.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05We've got a pink petunia here with a dark vein.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09We've got a pink verbena there with a white star, so extra interest.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Something else that we've been trailing as well,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14is bringing in plans that now are trying to be a bit hardy.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17This is it. Breeders were trying to get indoor plants, like gerbera,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20breeding them so they're hardier, so they can go outside.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Yes, for the summer though. We've tried it through the winter.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- It's not hardy enough for Scotland! - Not yet, not yet.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31And then, I mean, how long does it take to produce something like that?
0:15:31 > 0:15:33It takes a long time. Breeding is a long process.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Something like the geraniums,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38to get from a self-colour, like these reds and pinks,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40to a bi-colour, can take five years.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42They start crossing them, they get seedlings,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44they grow them on, they trial them.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Five years to get from that to these bi-colours here.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51And it's the number of plants as well, that's involved in it.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52Out of about 30,000 seedlings,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55you'll get five to ten plants that will make the grade
0:15:55 > 0:15:56and go into production.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59It's a long time and a very small, small success rate.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03You're saying five years for that, but something like doubles is a lot longer?
0:16:03 > 0:16:05The work that's gone into double osteospermums
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and calibrachoas has been 10 years to now get doubles of each.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12I mean, they are stunning, but it's taken a long, long time.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Now what they're doing is looking at getting the flowers bigger and more interesting colours as well.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20The process goes on and on and on, just to please you and me in our gardens.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Well, some you like, some you don't.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32Well now, I'm just picking the last of the cherry crop.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35How's that? Aren't these looking gorgeous?
0:16:35 > 0:16:36The variety is "Sweetheart".
0:16:36 > 0:16:38The sad thing is,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41I have no idea how prolific that tree was,
0:16:41 > 0:16:47because a lot of the harvesting was unrecorded, if you see what I mean!
0:16:47 > 0:16:51And it wasn't just blackbirds that were getting in, I can tell you.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Isn't that lovely?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54We think it's worthwhile growing this cherry indoors
0:16:54 > 0:16:56to get something like that.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00The variety is "Sweetheart", and, of course, it's on its own - it self-fertile.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02The real reason for being here, of course,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06is to pick the last of the strawberries of this crop.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10What you do notice is, last of the crop,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13they're getting smaller, they're sort of jam-size berries.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16The variety, as you can see, is "Sonata."
0:17:16 > 0:17:19We've only cropped half the quantity this year
0:17:19 > 0:17:21that we cropped last year - for two reasons .
0:17:21 > 0:17:23First and foremost,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25they got off to a bad start -
0:17:25 > 0:17:28we got some crown rot in them. We'd to start them all over again.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Since then, as you know, we've had bad weather,
0:17:30 > 0:17:34we've had poor light and we've had a bit of botrytis coming in.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37In fact, here we are, just picking the last of the goodies.
0:17:37 > 0:17:38Like so.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43And what I'm going to do, is take these boxes down.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44There are a few fruits to ripen yet,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47but I'm going to take these boxes down from the frame,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49put them on the floor out of the way,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and put the new ones in their place.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56And that will take us to fruiting right into September.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Same variety.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01These come out of the way, these come up.
0:18:01 > 0:18:06These were planted in June and they've been in the cold frame,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08and they're making really nice growth.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12In fact, you can see flowers appearing on them already.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13Before we start harvesting them,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16we're going to be harvesting from the outdoor crop,
0:18:16 > 0:18:17which has already started.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21We've got a nice continuum of strawberries.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24I was alluding to the fact that we've had botrytis problems.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28When you're picking fruit, you should always use two punnets.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32One for the ones that have got damaged with the foust,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34with the botrytis on them,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37and one for the good fruit as well.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40You must pick this to reduce the inoculum.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42But there's maybe a saviour on its way,
0:18:42 > 0:18:46because it's just been launched on the market as an organic fungicide.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51We have it here, ready. This lot are going to get sprayed once a week.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I don't want any botrytis on this crop going into the autumn.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55because the days are shortening,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58we would expect to get botrytis in that time.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00If this weather continues, it's almost a certainty.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03I'm looking forward to testing out this new material.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05It can be used to prevent botrytis
0:19:05 > 0:19:07and to prevent mildew.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11There we go. I'll get on with finishing the harvesting.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Jupiter Artland, just outside Edinburgh,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24is a totally unique garden, full of contemporary art.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Where are you going to see an orchid like that?
0:19:27 > 0:19:29It's called Love Bomb.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Richard Irving, you're head gardener here at Jupiter Artland.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Normally when we come and visit, we're looking at fantastic trees
0:19:41 > 0:19:44or rhododendrons, but here, it's all about works of art.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Yes, it is, and here we have Antony Gormley's piece, Firmament.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Antony Gormley, of course,
0:19:50 > 0:19:53famous for Angel Of The North down in Newcastle.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56It's made up of an ancient star constellation
0:19:56 > 0:19:57twisted into the shape of a man.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00The ground level's been built up
0:20:00 > 0:20:03so that we can see the blue sky in the background
0:20:03 > 0:20:05and also the Forth rail bridges
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and the bings from Edinburgh's industrial era.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Antony was quite specific about how it was to be arranged?
0:20:11 > 0:20:12He was, very specific.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15In fact when he came up after it had finished being installed,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17he said it would actually look a lot better
0:20:17 > 0:20:19if it was turned round 161 degrees.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20- That's quite precise.- Very precise!
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Don't forget that last degree, but he was right.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23Once it was turned,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26it does look better and does frame the background.
0:20:26 > 0:20:27It looks fantastic.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39It was started by Nicky and Robert Wilson.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Nicky is very much at the forefront of Jupiter Artland
0:20:43 > 0:20:44and bringing artists
0:20:44 > 0:20:47and putting them into a setting in the landscape.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49She's actually a sculptress herself?
0:20:49 > 0:20:52She has been a sculptress herself in the past,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54- and very passionate about what she does.- Lots of contacts?
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Yes, lots of contacts, well-connected in the art world.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Now, it's a charitable trust, so it's non profit-making?
0:21:00 > 0:21:04That's right. All the money we make from it goes back into education,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08bringing kids and students from the local community in
0:21:08 > 0:21:12to see land, and famous artists in the landscape.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25This is a totally different scale, isn't it
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Yes, it is.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30This piece is by Laura Ford. It's called the Weeping Girl.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33She got this idea when her friend's child...
0:21:33 > 0:21:37They caught her pretending to have a tantrum in the mirror -
0:21:37 > 0:21:39covering her face, and clenching her fist,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41to see how effective it would be.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44So, there's actually five of these, and they're spread around.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46They work really well in this situation, don't they?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49That's right, and why it's important to get an artist involved
0:21:49 > 0:21:50in how they want things to be set.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53When I first saw this, I thought they were a little bit creepy.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56But actually, they're very tactile,
0:21:56 > 0:21:57and you feel like comforting her.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00I've been patting her, and she's actually made from metal.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02That's right.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Made up of scrap metal, left lying around a foundry.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08It's melted down into wax...moulds.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Poor wee soul. It'll be all right.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24This is very characteristic of Ian Hamilton Finlay's work, isn't it?
0:22:24 > 0:22:26It is. The Temple Of Apollo.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27A very special piece for me.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30When I was a boy, I went out to work at Little Sparta,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32where my dad's the head gardener.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I was cleaning out a pond, and planting a hedgerow.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36And, as all fathers do,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38they're talking to their son about what you're going to do -
0:22:38 > 0:22:40what's your career going to be in life?
0:22:40 > 0:22:42It was an inspirational day at Little Sparta.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44When we were just leaving,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46I saw these stones piled up in palettes,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48and I asked my dad what they were.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51He said this is a temple that Ian had built for Little Sparta,
0:22:51 > 0:22:55installed, but didn't feel it was right for the setting.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59So it was taken down, piled up,
0:22:59 > 0:23:00and actually, one of his last commissions
0:23:00 > 0:23:03was to come here to Jupiter, and he found this home for the temple.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07Like Ian Hamilton Finlay's poetry, which was written in stone,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10I also like to think that it was written in stone somewhere
0:23:10 > 0:23:13that I should work at Jupiter Artland.
0:23:13 > 0:23:14Oh, that's lovely.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26This is the latest addition. It's just beautiful!
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Yes, this is Anya Gallaccio's new piece.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32It's called The Light Shines Through Me.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35It's made up of a three-metre-deep hole,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38filled with amethyst
0:23:38 > 0:23:40and surrounded by obsidian.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43It was a real Jupiter team effort, building this.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Everybody was involved in some way.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47And we all had great fun working with the artist
0:23:47 > 0:23:49in putting this piece together.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50It's just beautiful.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I had no idea amethyst came in so many different shades.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Yeah, it's quite an incredible piece.- It is.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00There must be some logistical issues in building a huge hole like this.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02What have you done with the water?
0:24:02 > 0:24:04We've got quite an elaborate drainage system,
0:24:04 > 0:24:05which takes the water away.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Also, the walls are waterproof.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09They're two-feet-deep, and have a waterproof membrane,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11which runs in behind them.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Wow! It's just beautiful.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31This is a massive installation.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33It is. This is the Charles Jencks Landform.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37It's called the Life Mounds, and it's to do with cell division.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41For me, it's to do with the symmetry of the bankings,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44the slopes, and the way it all runs together.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- You helped actually build this, didn't you?- That's right.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50It's been under construction for about six years.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I've been involved with it for four years now
0:24:52 > 0:24:56and I am very proud of the work that's gone into it down here.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59It's fantastic. It must be a nightmare to cut the grass.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02It is. We call it the Forth Rail Bridge of grass-cutting jobs.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06SHE LAUGHS It's excellent, because as you come in, this is what greets you.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08It is - we call it "the jaw-dropper".
0:25:08 > 0:25:11It really is a majestic entrance to Jupiter Artlands.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14It's fantastic. We have just scraped the surface here,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17but people can come for themselves, can't they?
0:25:17 > 0:25:19We're open from Thursday to Sunday, from ten till five,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21throughout the summer.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43I can't quite believe we're into the fourth season of pruning this pine,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46so that we get this cloud-pruning effect.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48The first time I pruned it,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51gosh, we ended up with kind of pyramids.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53But now, I'm delighted to say we've got these lollipops,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57so it does take a bit of time and a bit of patience.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00This is the time of year when you need to prune these candles.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Basically, you just cut them back by half.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06It's quite fiddly, quite time-consuming,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08but I find it quite therapeutic.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10And you get results like this.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13There's so many things going on in this place,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15we sometimes miss key jobs.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17We have paid practically no attention
0:26:17 > 0:26:21to our new crop of perpetual-flowering carnations.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25And a little bit of dis-budding is necessary. Look at this here.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26If we leave all these buds to grow,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28it will reduce the size of the end one.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Of course, this is the one we need for a button hole, or whatever.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36So, it could pay to just do that.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Take these off, like so.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Now, if I was growing them as cut flowers,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44wishing to have a stem,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48as well as that, I might even take that one off, as well.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51But we'll leave some, and we'll be able to compare them later on.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54These anther lines are looking quite good, but as you can see,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57the weather has affected all these first flower spikes.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59So, what I would like to do is
0:26:59 > 0:27:01nip all them off, right at the bottom.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03That's going to encourage lots of new flowers,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06so when the weather gets better, they'll be good to go.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Because it's been so wet lately,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12I bet you've got this little fellow in your lawn.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14This is red thread.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17It will have turned patches of the lawn pink or red.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18Don't be too alarmed.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21All you need to do is to feed the grass
0:27:21 > 0:27:23with a heavy potash feed.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24That will sort it.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Well, a bog garden with beach.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33- Looking quite nice at the moment. - It's lovely.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36I think the beach is working well, cos it's containing that juncus,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40- which can be a bit of a thug. - That little wild orchid right in the middle -
0:27:40 > 0:27:42did we plant that, or did that just appear?
0:27:42 > 0:27:43That's just appeared.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47We put in the primulas and things, and they self-seeded, which is nice.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Did we plant that "Lady's Mantle" there, there and there?
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Don't! My garden's the same. I wish I'd never planted it!
0:27:54 > 0:27:56But it looks pretty, as you say.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Absolutely gorgeous!
0:27:59 > 0:28:01If you'd like any more information about this week's programme -
0:28:01 > 0:28:04maybe it's about Jim's tatty varieties,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07or Caroline's new bedding plants -
0:28:07 > 0:28:08it's all in the fact sheet.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10The easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Don't forget, new for us this year is Facebook and Twitter.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15Next week, we won't be in the garden,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18because it's our first community garden of the year.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Yes, we're on the randan again.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23We're going to God's country, we're down to Ayrshire,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27where the community in Barrmill are putting the finishing touches
0:28:27 > 0:28:30to a super project, and we want to be part of that. See you then.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32- Bye.- Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd