0:00:11 > 0:00:14Well, hello and welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17What a cracker of a day it is and, if you thought
0:00:17 > 0:00:21the Jubilee celebrations finished yesterday, you are up a gum tree!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24This is right in the middle of our bedding season, isn't it?
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Now's the time to plant your bedding. What better way to do it than with a Jubilee theme?
0:00:28 > 0:00:31- Take us through the style of it. - Well, it's a Union Jack.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33For the red across the middle, we've got salvias,
0:00:33 > 0:00:37we've got red geraniums, red begonias and some red petunias.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39For the white, we've got some Begonia semperflorens,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41some lovely bright white petunias there
0:00:41 > 0:00:43and there's white alyssum as well.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Blue...blue salvia at the back,
0:00:46 > 0:00:47lots of blue petunias
0:00:47 > 0:00:49and lobelia as well.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52The baskets, they, of course, have been started earlier?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54It's a great way to get your baskets on early,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57so the minute they go out, they're full, flowering, they're ready to flower.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- You're getting a month at the beginning of extra flowering.- Yes.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04- Those bacopa flowers tend to get bigger and bigger.- They are.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Getting bigger. The nemesia are lovely and have beautiful perfume.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09- Following the theme there as well. - Red, white and blue.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Lovely dark red verbena, petunias and blue petunias as well.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16- A nice punchy colour scheme, isn't it?- The other half of the squad,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20- today, are busy along there on something similar.- Oh!
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Yes, over here in our bed,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25we've taken a slightly different spin on the Jubilee, haven't we?
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Well, we have. No flag here. This is all about diamonds, isn't it?
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Three silvery diamonds with Cineraria maritima.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34And then, we've filled them
0:01:34 > 0:01:38with green Lollo Rosso and then the red is round the edge.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42- All very edible.- So you can use edible plants as well, can't you? Limited palette, isn't it?
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I think it's quite sophisticated and then, in the centre,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49we've got a hanging basket and, again, it's greens and whites.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Quite a strong blue-y purple coming through, which is a royal colour.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56A bit of gold helichrysum. I'm hoping that looks a bit like a crown.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58I think that's a great idea.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00You've got an interesting plant in the middle.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02I have. We're going to do another hanging basket,
0:02:02 > 0:02:03just free-standing like this
0:02:03 > 0:02:07and the central plant is going to be a petunia and it's called Queen Bee.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- That's a lovely name.- You'll see it better on here.- That's gorgeous!
0:02:10 > 0:02:15It's a big plant of it and we're going to put, again, more purples and silvers in here.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19- Now, I was talking to the Queen when I was down at Chelsea...- Yes?
0:02:19 > 0:02:21..about us planting up things for her Jubilee
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and I can't tell you exactly what she said, but she was very pleased
0:02:25 > 0:02:28and also the fact that there is so much planting going on
0:02:28 > 0:02:31to celebrate the Jubilee. Really, really cheering people up.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35- There are lots of things going on. - I think it's a great idea, isn't it?
0:02:35 > 0:02:38BOTH: On the rest of the programme...
0:02:40 > 0:02:44I'll be in Scotland's newest city, Perth,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47to see how they're joining in with the Jubilee celebrations.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52And this week, I'm planting trees.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54I was waiting until the ice melted!
0:02:56 > 0:03:01Lesley, a lot of the programme we're going to be spending bedding out plants, the annuals.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03But we've got perennials here, this is my trial
0:03:03 > 0:03:07- of first-year flowering perennials. - And that's what's significant.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11These have been started in seed, but they're going to flower this year.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13People, if they saw the first programme,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Jim and myself were sowing these, or some of them,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- on February 14. - Valentine's Day! How romantic!
0:03:19 > 0:03:20You've got to start them off early
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and it'll be interesting to see whether we do get them to flower.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Even if you don't, it's an incredibly good value way of getting lots of plants,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31because these perennials will get bigger and better year after year.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33You're speaking about value for money, yes?
0:03:33 > 0:03:35It depends how well they've germinated.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Out of the 14, two of them didn't germinate at all.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41The others I really would say are value for money
0:03:41 > 0:03:44and I think, at this time, we've got to look at the price
0:03:44 > 0:03:48and the germination. This is delosperma.
0:03:48 > 0:03:55- It is number one. 100% germination and 1p a plant.- Such good value.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58You can't go wrong with that even if it doesn't come through the winter!
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Prunella, you like that one, don't you?
0:04:00 > 0:04:03It's good for wildlife and I've grown it from seed.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06That worked out at 9p a plant, only 50% roughly of germination.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- It's still very little money, isn't it?- Poppy,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12I think that might be a short-lived perennial.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- Bright red flowers. It's going to be stunning.- It came second in price,
0:04:15 > 0:04:202p, but only a third of germination, but there are so many seeds in the packet.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23We cant mention them all, but I mean, achilleas,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26you've got some of those in the cut-flower garden?
0:04:26 > 0:04:28These are summer berries, a lovely mix of colours.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Just on the planting side of it,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33the soil is lovely and warm, it's incredibly hot.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I would be planting out in the evening
0:04:35 > 0:04:37and certainly watering in the evening.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39I think, if you can, that is a good idea.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Just to say again on price with that one, 6p a plant
0:04:42 > 0:04:47and 90% germination. So far, so good.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- Absolutely.- Back to the bedding again and some foliage plants.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Lesley, this scheme is all about being rather subtle, isn't it,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59because it's just foliage plants.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02These are the baskets you did a couple of weeks ago.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- They're coming along nicely. - Starting to fill out,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06but remember we did have the pansies, we haven't got
0:05:06 > 0:05:09rid of those, because they're looking beautiful, aren't they?
0:05:09 > 0:05:13It's all a little bit about maybe sort of mirror image,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17for example, the sweetcorn which is lovely in the sun, isn't it?
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- You haven't got a plan?- No, what I think now...- Lay them out.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- Plectranthus Silver Shield which is lovely.- Gorgeous!
0:05:24 > 0:05:28- We should have a band of that round the edge of the hanging basket.- OK.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- I've not seen that one before. That's lovely.- It is nice.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34- What do you think of this one? - THEY LAUGH
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- It looks like a tray of weeds! What is it?- It's rice.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41- It's Black Madras. It is starting to go black.- It is. As it matures.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45We'll come back to it, we'll come back to it.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47When you see this week's problem corner,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50you might think I've lost the plot.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53But a good friend of ours, you might recognise her, Eleanor Bradford,
0:05:53 > 0:05:58the BBC Health Correspondent, said to me, "Do you think I could grow
0:05:58 > 0:06:01"a few apple trees, 700 feet up in Morayshire?"
0:06:01 > 0:06:03I said, "Well, let's give it a go."
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Eleanor and Ross,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15the thing that appealed to me about this project was the fact that
0:06:15 > 0:06:19you got started gardening before the house is finished.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22You got your priorities right and I love that.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Of course, hedging to begin with.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25You need shelter in a place like this.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It's an edible hedge,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31so there's pretty much everything you'd expect to find in a hedge,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33but every now and again,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36there's something we can eat or the birds can eat.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- He's a very keen cook!- Right! I was going to say, because there's roses,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43there's amelanchier, hawthorn, cotoneaster
0:06:43 > 0:06:45and there's even a crab apple in there somewhere as well.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49The only thing I'd say is, we're looking east here
0:06:49 > 0:06:52and that's not where the main prevailing wind would come from.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Shelter from here is good, but what about the other side?
0:06:56 > 0:06:58- The prevailing wind comes from over there.- Yeah, yeah.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02You've got something up there to deal with it. Let's go have a look.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- This is the prevailing wind side, isn't it?- Yep.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15What a novel way to get rid of the old timbers.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Where did that come from?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20I think we saw it in a book somewhere. We had all these trees
0:07:20 > 0:07:23all growing in the wrong places, which Ross took down,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26and it left us with loads of branches,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and we thought that would kill two birds with one stone.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- You called it a dead hedge? - A dead hedge, yeah.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34When the wind is blowing from that direction, which it normally does,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36you do feel a difference, actually. It's good.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39It's got all the elements of the right kind of windbreak.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42You're not trying to stop the wind altogether, and frustrate it,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45because it just gets angry and comes over and swirls.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It filters it and slows it down, and that's what achieves
0:07:48 > 0:07:53- the relief for plants underneath. - And not too much expertise needed!
0:07:53 > 0:07:56And if you've any more of the stuff, you can enhance it.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58But we're patently onto a terrace here.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02The middle one of three, if I can judge properly. Yes?
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- What's for the bottom one? - Vegetables, at some point!
0:08:05 > 0:08:09- And then working up here for soft fruit.- Yeah.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- The soft fruit have come through reasonably well.- Yeah.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15There was a bit of a howling gale when we put them in and they were knocked back a bit.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17They've come back, so that's good.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21The bit we're really interested in today, here we are.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26All nicely prepared, grass down, this is going to be a doddle!
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- THEY LAUGH I hope so!- When we first came here,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33your ideas were all about an orchard!
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- Yeah!- That sounded grand, didn't it?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I'm afraid I had to disabuse you of that,
0:08:38 > 0:08:42because I don't think cherries would do too well, or gages.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44- No.- That's right, yeah.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47But I think it's worth having a go, and so, having left you
0:08:47 > 0:08:50with a very good catalogue, you've made your purchases.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- Yeah.- We've got six trees and I think they'll be right here.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56So, that was really good. You gave us a really good list of...
0:08:56 > 0:09:01- Quite a long list...- Yes.- ..of trees that'd stand up to the climate here,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04because what we found before was the list was endless
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and you were trying to choose what would pollinate with what.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11It was all about the taste of the apple
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and not about whether you'd get any apples because of the climate.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Well, exactly. That's still the big gamble.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21We've got to see how effective windbreaks are, how they come through the spring,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23if the blossoms come to fruition in the form of fruits.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26We've also picked a rootstock for the apples, 106, which is quite vigorous,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30but I think that will counteract the short growing season.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32You've got four apples and two plums,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and I think that's a reasonably good test for this part of the world.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38As far as the varieties are concerned,
0:09:38 > 0:09:39they will cross pollinate.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42You do read this is self fertile and that is self fertile -
0:09:42 > 0:09:43that's under perfect conditions.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47- That's something we were getting bewildered with, actually.- Yeah.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- You're on the end of the potential here.- Sure.- I think you've got
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- to be sure that you've got cross pollination.- Right, OK.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- Do you think we should plant some? - Yes. Let's get a warm-up.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08There should be room for all of it with the number of boulders you've taken out of this.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09- LAUGHTER - I felt every one of them!
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Nicely rooted.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Not too interwoven.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21- So that's fine.- Is that OK,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24all the roots going round and round the root ball, is it?
0:10:24 > 0:10:26They've not overdone it, so to speak.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29That plant is just about the right... I've seen me,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31where it's really thick,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- running a knife through them, just to break them open.- OK.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37That's not too bad at all. The crucial point
0:10:37 > 0:10:41is to keep that graft union above soil level.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43If you bury it, up to here,
0:10:43 > 0:10:48then that bit might start to root into the soil...
0:10:48 > 0:10:52- OK.- ..and then it would counteract the effect of the rootstock.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01You want to turn it back and push it all the way down.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- It ensures that there's no pockets.- OK.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Rather than just heaping stuff on top.- And then put the boot in.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10My boots are a bit bigger than yours.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12What an admission for a lady to make!
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Mind you, I have got...dainty feet.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17SCREWDRIVER WHIRRS
0:11:21 > 0:11:23So do we just slacken that off as the tree grows, Jim?
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Yes, indeed. I think you can actually also put a little nail
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- through there to prevent it sliding either way.- OK.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- But in fact, you should look at it every year.- Right.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Now it's a matter of grow!
0:11:36 > 0:11:38One down, five to go!
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Well, we've had three rehearsals, three trees planted.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57I can safely leave you to do the other three?
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- It's been really good, really good. - Thank you very much.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Quite a challenge for you guys, cos you're not used to this environment for growing things.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07No, we've never had a garden before and so
0:12:07 > 0:12:10we jumped in the deep end with gardening in quite a harsh climate.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12The reason I wanted fruit trees is
0:12:12 > 0:12:16because I have fond memories of where I grew up in the Midlands,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19which is called "the fruit bowl of England", and it's full of orchards
0:12:19 > 0:12:23that, in this time of year, are covered in blossom and it's lovely.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27- But here, it's a little different, er...for the trees. - It's a little bit different,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31and, of course, in your present position, you'd want to encourage people to eat healthily.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- Yes, five-a-day, all from the tree for us.- You lead from the front.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Talking about eating, by the way, our food,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40there's quite a bit of fertiliser in the pre-planting compost
0:12:40 > 0:12:41that was mixed with the soil.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44But it wouldn't go wrong to give them a bit of bone meal.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- Just work into the surface.- Sure, OK.- Remember to go back each year
0:12:47 > 0:12:51and give them a handful of bone meal until they're well established
0:12:51 > 0:12:55and leaving a space round the base is really quite important,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58so they don't have to compete with grass for any available moisture.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01And we've had plenty of that today, but moving on swiftly!
0:13:01 > 0:13:06Thank you for a taste of winter again! I hope all goes well.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Any time you want winter, come to us!
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And if you want a taste of summer, then come to Beechgrove.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- This is the best bit today, isn't it?- It's gorgeous.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Do you remember, this is the trial we're doing to look at alternatives to Busy Lizzies impatiens.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21cos, last year, we'd a lot of problems with mildew,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23so we're looking at plants that will offer an alternative.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- A lot of garden centres aren't even selling them this year.- Yeah.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28You don't know - depends on the weather - whether we get it.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- Let's be on the safe side and look for something else.- Yeah, OK.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36- What have you got?- We've got verbena. This variety is called "Tuscany".
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Nice and compact. Same sort of size as the Busy Lizzy,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41flowers through to the end of the season. That one's dark blue.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Next, dianthus. The thing that's good about dianthus is you can plant it earlier,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47cos it's a bit more hardy. Lovely colour range.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51This is called "Strawberry Parfait", but you've got all the pinks
0:13:51 > 0:13:54and lilac, so you've the same colour range as Busy Lizzies.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Begonias we've used before at Beechgrove very successfully,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00and the fact is Busy Lizzies will cope with a bit of shade
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- and still perform, as will begonias, so they are a good substitute.- Yeah.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07The semperflorens there, that's "Bada Boom", and you've also got
0:14:07 > 0:14:10these tuberous ones here, a variety called "Go Go Pink Shades",
0:14:10 > 0:14:12and it's nice because you have that foliage colour.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16- A lovely foil for the flowers.- Busy Lizzies will also take the sun.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19When we plant them out here, they'll cope with a bit of sun as well.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22So, if you've got a sunny spot, you could use some of the petunias.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Now, I always think it's best to go for the multifloras, which are a smaller flower.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28They recover quicker from the rain. This is a variety
0:14:28 > 0:14:32- called "Frenzy Grand Rapids", it's all the blues.- Good point.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- Antirrhinum.- Antirrhinum - this is the new variety called "Twinny".
0:14:36 > 0:14:40It's a double flower. I know you'll give me a row for, but it's pretty.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- You have to have some double flowers.- I know, they're just not very good for wildlife.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46They flower for a long, long time, again they're tougher,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49you can plant them earlier and will flower to the end of the season.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- This last little group here? - These are dahlias.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56I think they're becoming more popular as well.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58We have to think what will take the place of Busy Lizzies,
0:14:58 > 0:14:59for a few years, anyway.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Dahlias, a good colour range,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05they flower right to the end of the season.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07They really have a long, long flowering period.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09And then, let's just have a look,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- because these are Busy Lizzies. - These are Busy Lizzies.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17The problem with the downy mildew, it comes to the walleriana variety,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19which is like the bedding Busy Lizzies we know.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22This is a New Guinea impatiens, which doesn't get it,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24but this is in seed trays first,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- so it's nearer the price point of our walleriana varieties.- Yes.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- The others are expensive. - In a bigger pot and more expensive.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- We'll pop those in as well.- I've got something else to show you as well.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- You expect me to get up quickly? - Come on.- Gosh!
0:15:36 > 0:15:38THEY LAUGH
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Right, so I wanted to show you, I've got another little trial going -
0:15:41 > 0:15:42this is dwarf sunflowers.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Unless you're having a "grow the tallest sunflower" competition,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48you don't need something 15 foot tall, do you?
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Now they're in the shade at the moment,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52but this bed does get the sun normally.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54The nice thing about the dwarf sunflowers,
0:15:54 > 0:15:56you're looking at something at that sort of height.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59They're good in beds and containers, great for kids,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- because they're at the same sort of level.- Some lovely colour.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04This is three different types of "Pacino"
0:16:04 > 0:16:08and this is "Lemon", and I think that's such a lovely, soft colour.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10A lot of them are very egg-yolky colours.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12They're very popular. I'm growing these in the cutting garden.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- None of the same varieties. - There's loads.- Mine are dwarf too.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18This is a nice one, "Junior." This has got the biggest flower.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21It's 17 centimetres across, which is a big flower.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24They have all these little branches, so you get a lot of flowers.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Once this one finishes, all the rest will grow up and take their place
0:16:27 > 0:16:31- and you get a lot of flowers on it. - You know I'm not going to like that.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- I know it's double, but it's "Teddy Bear," it's very sweet.- All right.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Finally, "Choco Sun" is probably the most dwarf one.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40It's got a great big flower, dark chocolate centre,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44- contrasting with yellow round the edge. It'll be lovely.- A lovely bed.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- It will, when we get sunshine all summer long.- Of course!
0:16:49 > 0:16:53A couple of weeks ago, Carole was showing you her trial
0:16:53 > 0:16:56of seed and cutting compost, peat-free compost for seed sowing.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59There were some interesting results coming through on that.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01For some years now, I've been doing the same thing
0:17:01 > 0:17:03but with the next stage, with the multipurpose
0:17:03 > 0:17:07and, this time, we've got all peat-free bar one.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11There's a uniformity about this which pleases me greatly,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13it means these guys are getting their finger out
0:17:13 > 0:17:16and we're getting that sort of reliability that we've been looking for.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20A quick run through them - this is Carbon Gold, with charcoal in it.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24I complained last year, it was awful funny stuff to work with, but it was better.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Here we've got a nice one, this is Miracle-Gro
0:17:26 > 0:17:27and these are looking pretty good.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32This is from East Lothian, this is Gardening Solutions.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33A wee bit of damage to the foliage -
0:17:33 > 0:17:36I'm not sure what that is, they might have dried out.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Nothing to worry about - the young growth is nice and fresh.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43This is a Westland formula here, looking good as well.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45This one here, FertileFibre,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48is one of these that gets delivered by courier,
0:17:48 > 0:17:49it's not generally available
0:17:49 > 0:17:53And the plants are fine, but they're a wee bit thin.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Coir used there instead of peat, by the way.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Finally, we've got New Horizon,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59which is possibly top of the league at the moment.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03All the plants are looking fine. If I go back to this one that's a bit behind,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05there's really nothing wrong with it.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Quite often, the reason why things are slower
0:18:08 > 0:18:11is the nitrogen that's in the mix when they make it up,
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Sometimes, it's a wee bit slow to be released but overall, pretty good,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18as they are with the brachycome, we just did some brachycome,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22the little swan river daisy, just so we've got two different types.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24We're getting the same results through there.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Really, I'm quite chuffed with the fact
0:18:26 > 0:18:29that we can rely on these a wee bit better nowadays.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Same next door - let's look at the tomato trial now.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Well, it's trials, trials, trials, trials this week.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43You'll be sick fed up with them by the time we're finished today.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44We're in the tomato house.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49Each row of tomato plants represents a particular brand of grow bag.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51We're trying one with the other
0:18:51 > 0:18:54and comparing price of grow bag and all the rest of it.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58And, I have to say to you, these are the best set of tomato plants
0:18:58 > 0:19:01I've seen in this establishment since I first came here.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03They're looking superb. Looking tremendous.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06There's very little difference showing at the present moment
0:19:06 > 0:19:08between the different makes of bag.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Perhaps, if you were picky, you'd say that lot at the end there
0:19:11 > 0:19:16are a little bit thin, but time will tell when we come to taste them,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18and when the first pick and the total pick.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22And then, I'm busy actually just putting the strings up.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26You're supposed to be able to do this with one hand -
0:19:26 > 0:19:29I'm getting a bit all fingers and thumbs nowadays!
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- HE LAUGHS - Here you go.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35And there it is. The bottom is anchored to the bottom of the plant.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Quite slack, because you twist it round the plant as it grows.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I tell you what, they're growing like mad.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45If you look here, you'll see all the little side shoots.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48We want to grow them as upright cordons,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52so we just, when they're about that long, you just take them out.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Like so.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58We want to get the energy into the first truss -
0:19:58 > 0:20:01there's the first truss of fruit just there -
0:20:01 > 0:20:04and the plant will go on growing and every third set of leaves
0:20:04 > 0:20:06will produce another truss and another and another.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Happy days! Beautiful fresh tomatoes.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19I'm here in Perth, Scotland's newest city,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21to meet Jenny Williams from the Community Greenspace team,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25to see how they're joining in with the Jubilee celebrations this year.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Jenny, tell me, what have you got going on this year in Perth?
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Obviously, it's Jubilee celebration.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36It's the year that we achieve city status.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39We have the Queen's visit as well
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and so we are having a bit of a Jubilee theme.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46We have a giant crown bed, we have red, white and blue beds
0:20:46 > 0:20:50and various hanging baskets and boxes around the town as well.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53- So you're really going for it big style, aren't you?- Absolutely.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57We're at Westbank Nursery. Is this where you're growing the plants for the display?
0:20:57 > 0:21:00This is obviously the council nursery here.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02We grow thousands and thousands of plants
0:21:02 > 0:21:05and hanging baskets here, working alongside colleagues
0:21:05 > 0:21:08in the YouthGrow program, which is a program for young people.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10It's really a classroom without walls.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14We work with Beautiful Perth, the Bloom Committee volunteers
0:21:14 > 0:21:16and we're working with Community Payback as well.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19We've been working with local schoolchildren
0:21:19 > 0:21:22from Viewlands Primary School, the P7s there.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25They came to visit us in March and planted some seeds with us.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30The first thing we're going to do is have a look at what they've grown.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- So these are all the plants that you guys grew?- KIDS: Yeah.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50- You grew these yourselves from seed, did you sow the seeds?- KIDS: Yeah.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- And roughly when was that? - KIDS: March.- March time.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55And do you know where these plants are going to go now?
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- The bottom of the crown. - So in the crown at the bottom.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03- Are you surprised at what size they're like now?- KIDS: Yes.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- Did you think they'd be bigger or smaller?- Smaller.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- Smaller? Are you surprised how quickly they've grown?- Yeah.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11You're going to plant these outside.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14They're going to get bigger right the way through the summer.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16They'll end up probably about that tall.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19They've a lot of growing to do. They're actually still quite small.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22They'll look fabulous with this lovely, shiny silvery foliage.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24They're going to do a great job in your display.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28So will we go and get trowels and gloves and things get planting?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- KIDS: Yeah.- Come on, then, let's go and load the truck.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Tell me a bit about the design.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Obviously, this is our interpretation of the crown
0:23:00 > 0:23:03and we have a mixture of bedding.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06We have recycled glass in there and we have recycled bark in there.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09What kind of plants have you chosen?
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Cineraria "Silver Dust" and "Cirrus,"
0:23:11 > 0:23:14mainly for the ermine at the bottom of the crown.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17We have the begonias and blue ageratum as well.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Any idea how many are in there?
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- We have 5,500 bedding plants in there.- Gosh, that's a lot.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26How long do you think it's going to take you to plant that?
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Well, we plant with all the schools across Perth city,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32so we actually take a week for the planting.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Pop it in there. Well done.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Is this you giving horticultural advice?
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Well, I know how to dig holes anyway!
0:23:41 > 0:23:43All I know is about digging holes.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Well, if you can dig the hole, that's half the battle, certainly!
0:23:47 > 0:23:51They are doing very well. It is quite hard because people are walking over the ground.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Have you guys done planting before?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55They've got an allotment at the school.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57What kind of things do you grow in your allotment?
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It's one up in Cherrybank allotment.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05Um, stuff like vegetables and flowers.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Yeah, I walk past those quite a lot.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Do you want to put this one in here?
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Do you have a lot of success with your veg?- Yeah.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15What's your favourite?
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I just like sweetcorn.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36So, Scott, what's your involvement in all of this, then?
0:24:36 > 0:24:39I run a project called YouthGrow, which is a partnership
0:24:39 > 0:24:41between education and the environment services.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45We offer a work experience programme to young people
0:24:45 > 0:24:48who would rather their education was outdoors.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51And I want to know more about these jewels. They sound fascinating.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53What are they and where are they going?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56The glass jewels will be dotted about the crown,
0:24:56 > 0:24:58- as you would on the coronation crown. - Right, yes.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Through trial and error, we came up with an idea.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03We actually cast them in buckets...
0:25:03 > 0:25:07- OK.- ..with an epoxy resin...- Right. - ..and they go brick-hard solid,
0:25:07 > 0:25:11- but they still leave a nice sheen, crushed-glass kinda surface.- Lovely!
0:25:11 > 0:25:14They can do them in all different colours.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16That'll look fantastic and, on a day like this,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19when the sun sets, they're going to really sparkle.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37A bit of bling for the Queen.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47And at the back, you've got the beautiful dolphin splashing about.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49What's going in those beds?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Well, that's having a red, white and blue theme
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and that will be planted by our Community Payback team.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I think the design is great and once they're planted
0:25:57 > 0:26:01and we've got a few weeks of growing in hopefully this weather,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04the whole design will look lovely. You must promise to send a photo
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- that we can show everyone. - I'll certainly do that.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11These are our Jerusalem artichokes, and they're looking quite healthy.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14It's interesting, though, the ones in the tubs are further ahead
0:26:14 > 0:26:15than the ones in the border.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18I think that's simply because it's in a container
0:26:18 > 0:26:20and, when you get warm weather, well, the soil warms up as well.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Now's the time to start earthing them up.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27That's a good reminder, if you're growing potatoes,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29then why don't you earth those up as well?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Well, here's another good news story to report.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37It was with some trepidation, I have to say,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40that I agreed we should hollow tine fork this lawn
0:26:40 > 0:26:43in the spring of the year, a job that's usually done in the autumn.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Following that, it's had a top dressing again of fertiliser
0:26:47 > 0:26:51and I think we're well on our way to having a really nice looking lawn.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Here behind the conservatory,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58the white garden is looking really cool on a hot day.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00The tulip "Mount Tacoma", the double one,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02has still got some flower on it and I want to add
0:27:02 > 0:27:07two tall white flowering plants to the back, both with ladies' names.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11This is verbascum "White Bride" and we sowed the seed earlier.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13I shall pop those plants in.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16It gets to about three feet, so it's going towards the back of the border.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19And then a hardy annual, which we can just put the seeds in directly,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22is "Snow Queen." That gets to four foot.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25So I'm going to sprinkle this in little patches at the back.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32You can tell that this is our sunny border.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35I've picked gladioli for it, lovely cut flower.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39Are they all going to be tall? We've got these sticks that we're going to put some netting on.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Yes, there's one variety I think only grows to about two feet,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45but the others get as tall as maybe three, four feet in height.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48So, yes, we're using this, um, lovely netting.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52- Rather bright, isn't it? - Just a little, but it was cheap!
0:27:52 > 0:27:57And on the shady side of the street, you're going to be so pleased to notice that the tree fern's alive!
0:27:57 > 0:27:59- Yay!- Brilliant!- Drat!
0:27:59 > 0:28:01- Aww!- It's going to be round up next spring!
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Carolyn, you've still got your nails painted?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I know! They're getting a little bit chipped now, but hanging in there.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- I'll just try not to do any work! - LAUGHTER
0:28:10 > 0:28:13If you'd like any more information about this week's programme,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17perhaps all the gladioli varieties, it'll all be in the factsheet
0:28:17 > 0:28:19and the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Don't forget as well, new for us this year is Twitter and Facebook.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27Next week, we're going to be dipping into our post bag or Twitter bag
0:28:27 > 0:28:30and we're going to be answering some of your questions.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33I'm going to get up close with some bush tomatoes.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36- Until then, bye-bye. - ALL: Bye!
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd