0:00:13 > 0:00:16Well, hello, and welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19We're still doing a bit of ducking and diving,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21weaving and dodging, because of the weather.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25I'm to be planting sweet peas this morning. Aye, that's right.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27The fact of the matter is, the ground's been prepared,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30it's looking really good, the canes are in position,
0:00:30 > 0:00:32the same place as last year. Fine.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Except, the ground is actually like pudding at the moment
0:00:35 > 0:00:37because of these heavy showers.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40However, we can look at the sweet peas, here they are,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42and this whole set were sown, if you recall,
0:00:42 > 0:00:47actually on Saint Valentine's Day,
0:00:47 > 0:00:48on the 14th of February.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And look at that. Aren't they coming away nicely?
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Well, there's a wee job I can be doing on them now, and that is
0:00:55 > 0:01:00to thin the stems down to a single, cos we will take a single stem up each cane,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03and we get really long stems on the flowers, really good.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06And what we're doing now is, if you look at this one here,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09that's the original, you see it? That's where I stopped it before.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11As a result of that,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15we've got one, two, three shoots, there.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Well, we'll take this one out the way, the original.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Take him out the way at the moment. OK?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Then we select the best of these two.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Oh, I don't think there's any argument, is there?
0:01:25 > 0:01:28We'll take that little one out.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And take that one out.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35I usually leave this job until I've got them planted.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39It just means I've got to be extra careful so that I don't damage it.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42But there we are, we'll take that one up the stem. Varieties?
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I've chosen the varieties this year,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48because sweet peas are all about clarity of colour on the flower, and perfume.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Last year we grew some collections,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52and I've never been enamoured of them.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56OK, the weather wasn't awful great, but they were quite disappointing.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58I think it's the leftovers that get put in the collections,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00and then they get blown up to be great.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Don't believe it. Go for the real varieties.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06The names'll be in the factsheet, and we'll have a look at them again when they're in flower.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Now, then, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:10 > 0:02:13This week, well you can see I'm near the Bass Rock.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17In fact, it's North Berwick, and it's all about tulip mania.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18Even the biscuits are like tulips.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Mmm! Delicious!
0:02:26 > 0:02:28And it's back to school for me, today,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30to learn a little bit about gardening
0:02:30 > 0:02:32from some switched-on youngsters.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Well, Lesley, we're doing a bit of an of an experiment here,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41a little bit like Jim two weeks ago.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43He was looking at alternative composts.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46But he was planting little plantlets,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50and we're going back one stage and we are looking at seed composts.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54We've got a range here, so we've got five trays in front of us.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- We have.- So, what's going on?
0:02:56 > 0:02:57This end, I want to call this the control,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01because this is the popular one that we tend to use. It is based on peat.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05It has a nice feel to it, and I suppose we should explain
0:03:05 > 0:03:08that the seed composts, as opposed to the multi-purpose,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10are much finer. That's important, isn't it?
0:03:10 > 0:03:12And very low on fertilisers, as well,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14cos that can suppress seed germination, can't it?
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Very much so. So, moving on, the next one, again, is quite popular,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and this is a soil-based compost.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- Yeah.- There is a bit of peat, about 44% of peat in that one.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Looks quite sandy, that one, doesn't it?
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Yes, drainage is important as well, isn't it?
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- Yeah, yeah.- Then we've got two peat free.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Kind of strange feel to this one.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Yes, it's a bit twiggy, as well.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39You don't want any big bits, cos that can stop the seeds getting through.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- That's based on green waste.- Yeah. - What do you think of that one?
0:03:42 > 0:03:44This is an interesting one, actually,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46cos it's very nice, it's fine,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- it's got bits of charcoal in it. - Yes.- It's very expensive.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52It is, you know, it comes in very small bags,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54that's the other thing we've done, price per litre,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56and the control is the cheapest.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- And the last one. - This feels very nice, actually.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02That's based on reclaimed peat. I thought that was incredibly fine,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and I wonder what the drainage will be like.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06It is, yeah. So what seeds have you chosen?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08OK, very easy seeds,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11things that should hopefully germinate quite well.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14So, marigolds, and what I'm going to do with each compost
0:04:14 > 0:04:19is have three pots and ten seeds in each pot, so that's a repeat.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Marigolds, and also we're doing an edible crop, lettuce, cos that's fairly easy.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28It's a good one to do, if you think you've got a problem with soil, if there's been some contamination,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32then try putting some lettuce seeds into it, and it'll give you an idea if there's any problems or not.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34- That's worth remembering. - Good indicator.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37And once we've sown them, we'll just put a little bit of the compost on top
0:04:37 > 0:04:41and we'll come back in a couple of weeks, three weeks, and compare the results.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- You want these spreading.- It's a bit fiddly. Tweezers are good.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Yes, yes. When you've finished doing your eyebrows.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Well, it's very nice to get a home game for a change,
0:04:50 > 0:04:54because my problem corner this week is in the city of Aberdeen itself.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I'm going to Cornhill School, who've been gardening for a few years.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00They're making progress. I'm going to give them a wee nudge.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05Well, here we are with the primary school pupils from class six and seven,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08and they're all going to be the gardeners of the future. Is that right?
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- ALL: Yes!- Yes. What's your favourite bit?
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- The vegetable garden.- Really? Which bit do you like best?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- The roundabout over there. - OK. And you?
0:05:16 > 0:05:17- Vegetable.- Vegetable.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Well, almost equally split.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23Do you know plenty about the vegetables? You've been growing them before?
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- ALL: Yes.- OK, so you're going to tell me how to do it?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Well, you'll tell me how YOU do it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35So here we are, guys, on the vegetable plot.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39And do you notice I've put strings down, so I'll put it into compartments.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41What we're going to put in here are
0:05:41 > 0:05:44one of the favourite vegetables in Scotland - the potato.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49- Do you like potatoes?- Yes. - Do you like potatoes?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52What other crops do you eat the roots?
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- Beetroot.- Beetroot. Yes, that's a root.- Radish.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58And what's your favourite?
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- You told me, what's your favourite? - Carrots.- Carrots!
0:06:02 > 0:06:05So in other words, this bit of plot here, from there to there,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08is going to be for root crops. That's what we call them.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11The next one, do you like cabbage?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- No.- Do you like cabbage?- No.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- Yuk!- Do you like cauliflower?- Ugh!
0:06:17 > 0:06:19- I'm sure you love Brussels sprouts? - No!- No!
0:06:19 > 0:06:23We call these leaf vegetables, and they all belong to the same family.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26So we've put them into the next group.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29And then the final third is for everything else.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Now, what do I mean by everything else?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- Do you like lettuces? - Yeah.- No.- Not really.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- Peas?- Yeah.- Beans?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- What is something that goes round? - Rotation.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41That's the name of the game!
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Different groups in different bits of the garden,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46and then the following year, you change them around,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49so that bit of ground's not always growing the same thing.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00When you pull it like that, often give it a wee skoosh that way.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Because it means it levels it up.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06If you keep pulling it this way, you'll just get a hollow,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08and you'll finish with it all up at this end.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Well, it's playtime, so it's a chance to talk to Elaine Forbes,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17teacher in charge of the school garden for quite a long time, I believe.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20- Yes, uh-huh, have been.- So how long have they been doing this?
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Must be about five, six years, anyway, been really into it.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26What motivated you to phone us, though?
0:07:26 > 0:07:29The entrance to the garden is so untidy,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and no matter how much work the committee and the club did on it,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36it was just, because of all the trees round about here, the leaves were falling down,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40there was hawthorn all the way through it, it was just so prickly.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42We'd to go on hands and knees to get it tidied up,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- and we didn't know what to do.- Yeah. - And so much ground weed, as well.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48So, we'll concentrate a wee bit on that.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53- Of course, the emphasis then will be on butterflies and bees, encouraging the wildlife.- Yes, yes.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55And emphasise the composting.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Yeah, that's good, cos we've got Waste Aware coming,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00because we want to find a way to compost the food waste from the dining hall,
0:08:00 > 0:08:05- because there's quite a lot. - That's a more sophisticated technique, isn't it?- Yes, uh-huh.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- But anyway, we'd better get started again.- OK.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Well, now, we've got some shrubs and plants all laid out in this bit
0:08:11 > 0:08:15that was causing so much trouble, cos you guys made a super job of clearing it.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18But one thing, a wee tip I would give you,
0:08:18 > 0:08:23is that when you start to actually dig a hole in this ground that's very hard,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27this is the bit of kit you should use to slacken it, you see?
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Because the prongs will go in much easier than the spade. Right.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35Dig the hole. Gaun yersel', Jimmy!
0:08:35 > 0:08:39This ground has had lots of trees and bushes and things in it,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42and the chances are that it has become poor.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45So, we use some compost, like this.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50And we pop that in there, and we mix it with the soil.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53See the nice roots, you don't want to spoil them.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Very gently stand it in the middle of the hole.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- OK.- Now we've got...
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- Ugh!- Cool!- Smell.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Smells like hamster food.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09It's bones.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Look! Now then, with the spade, dear boy,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13turn it the wrong way round.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- That way?- Yes.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18And just start to put the soil in.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Just put the soil in, all the way round.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Now then, I want each one of you to go to a plant that's standing,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- and stand by that plant in its pot. - I like this one!
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- This is my one!- Choose one. Right. Mark the spot where it is.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Stand the plant to one side, and then start to dig the hole.
0:09:43 > 0:09:44Will that be deep enough?
0:09:44 > 0:09:48I would try and make it a bit bigger, so it's nice and loose for the roots to grow into.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50About the size of a tin of beans.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01I suppose you all know what I'm talking about
0:10:01 > 0:10:06- when I'm saying that we should compost our waste, our garden waste. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09All the vegetable material, like banana skins,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12like old cabbage leaf.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17- What are going to do with that when it all rots down?- Use it as compost. - Use it as compost.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22- Yes, but where do you put it? - On the ground.- On soil.- Into the ground.- So it's like a big circle.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25You've hit the nail on the head. Absolutely dead right.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It finishes in the ground and then it grows a new crop.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30The leaves fall off the trees in the autumn,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33they rot into the ground, the worms pull them into the ground.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36That's the natural cycle. When we're gardening, we speed it up.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Right, and then it, like, just turns into normal soil.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Yes, absolutely right.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43So what we've done is, we've put in some vegetable waste, there.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47We can also put in shredded paper.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49It works, I've been doing it at home for several years,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52because that originally came from organic things.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- What do most gardeners have most of? - PUPILS: Grass.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Grass clippings. We've got too much of this.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00You keep it to one side in a wee pile,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03and when you're going to put in some of that coarser stuff,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07you add a bit of this, because this is always sappy and moist, and it helps it all to break down.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14The troops reckoned that the border at the entrance to the garden
0:11:14 > 0:11:18needed jazzing up with an addition of some plants to attract wildlife,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20birds, bees, butterflies.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24So, amongst other things, we planted forsythia, buddleia and scabious.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Well, that's the job about done, isn't it?
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- And we're back to where we started earlier today.- Yeah.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39And it's looking good, and we've got the tatties lined out
0:11:39 > 0:11:42there for planting, at that sort of spacing.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45If you look at the canes at that side, they're closer together,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49because the beetroot and carrots are all part of the same group called...
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- Roots!- Roots! They're all in this plot together.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54And then hiding under here,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57the two vegetables that you really love,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- cabbage and cauliflower.- Eugh!
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Well, that's it, there's not a lot more to say.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- Well done, everybody. OK? - Thank you!- Thank you!
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Well, here we are back on the decking,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and this is a great place for growing your vegetables, isn't it?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22- A small space.- It is, but everything is in containers.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24There's an advantage to that,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27because you don't get so many soil pests and diseases and things.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29And it's amazing how much stuff you can actually grow.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32You've got a new leaflet here, which I think is quite interesting.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Yeah, this is called The Beginner's Collection,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38and it actually suggests crops and varieties which are really reliable,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41so if it's the first time that you've grown vegetables,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43you're going to probably have good success.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46A lot of the ones they are suggesting are the speedy vegetables.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Yes, and I think that depends on the weather,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51because some of these say like two or three weeks.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I think, if it stays like this, it's going to take longer.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Oh, you are a cynic! We're putting it in the veg table here.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01- Yes.- And it's deeper in the middle. - That's veg table, not a vegetable!
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Same thing, isn't it?
0:13:03 > 0:13:07So I've got radish, and I'm sowing this near...the end,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11because it's not so, er...deep at this side, is it?
0:13:11 > 0:13:14And I'm going to pop carrots in the middle two rows.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18This is Ideal that I'm putting in just now.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21And also, we've got the cascade planters here.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Now, I like to plant carrots high up.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27It's all this business of the carrot root fly zooming in.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Yes, but we did them last year in that tier planter,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31and we didn't get any carrot root fly, did we?
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- We didn't, in any of them. - But we got some interesting results.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Well, I thought the bottom ones would be most susceptible.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41They were fine, but interestingly the ones in the top
0:13:41 > 0:13:44were really huge, gorgeous, long-root carrots.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46In the middle, they were sort of medium size,
0:13:46 > 0:13:47and there were titchy ones in the bottom.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- Yeah, I think it's all to do with heat.- Possibly.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- Higher up was warmer. - We're repeating it this year.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55We're going to use St Valery carrot in there.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57I want to try this in the other cascade planter,
0:13:57 > 0:13:59just putting a lettuce crop in or something.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- And see if we get bigger lettuce? - Big luscious lettuces at the top,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- mediumy lettuces and then titchy ones.- We'll see what happens.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09I looked through the catalogues, and you can specifically choose things
0:14:09 > 0:14:12that are good for, you know, small containers.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Sort of compact dwarf varieties.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Here we've got a pea called Tom Thumb,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19so I mean the name is saying that it's quite small.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- A new broad bean, Robin Hood. - Sounds very green.- Yeah!
0:14:23 > 0:14:26And we've grown Hestia before, that's a runner bean,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- but I wouldn't plant that out now. - It's a bit cold and chilly for it.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31That has to go back into the greenhouse.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35And a lovely rocket here, Sweet Oakleaf. I think that's going to be attractive.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37That's really pretty, actually.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39It has that spicy flavour that you can put with lettuce leaves.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43- So those, I think, we can plant out, but the beans have to go back.- Yep.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46We're back to the tatties again, your lovely planter from last year.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49This is how it's going to end up at the end of the season,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52cos it's a stacking system, so as they grow up,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56we put the next level on and put the compost in.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59OK, can I remind you, last year, what was it? Was it Charlotte?
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- I put three Charlotte in here... - And ended up with one tattie.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Yes. Now, that's really very strange, isn't it?
0:15:05 > 0:15:07I don't know how that happened.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08I'm going to put a main crop in here this year,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11which has longer to grow, and we'll get more potatoes.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- Well, I hope so! - Yes, and I think it is a better idea,
0:15:14 > 0:15:15because the main crop is a longer season,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17and then you can build up the stack,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19and hopefully you're going to get a good crop.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23- Right, I'm going to stick to the traditional planter.- OK.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26We will put three tatties into this pot.
0:15:26 > 0:15:32- I've got three new second earlies, starting off with Rudolph.- Red noses.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- And you can see there is a pink tinge to it.- Yes.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Bonnie, which is a nice name, and then is that one Bluebell, I think?
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- Yes, it is. - The eyes are actually blue.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44And finally there's a new first early,
0:15:44 > 0:15:49and that one is called Vales Emerald, so they've all got nice names.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51As I say, you know, you pop three in there,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55- we'll have to put a bit of compost on the top. - And we'll see how tasty they are.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56More carrots.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Because, you know, if people really haven't got much of a garden,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03a grow bag and you can grow these varieties of carrots
0:16:03 > 0:16:05which are just round or globe-shaped.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08They're ideal for grow bags or real shallow files.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12So there's names like Atlas and Paris Market.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14- You could just do this on a balcony. - You could.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16So we're going to get four varieties, two in that one,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20two in that bag, and I reckon we could probably get three rows.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22And then finishing off with something ornamental,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- hardy amaryllis. - Oh, really? Hardy in Hampshire?
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Yes, it might be like the garvinias. But anyway, I've got three there.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31White flowers, yellow flowers and red flowers.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33They should flower in the summer.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Personally, I think after they've flowered,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39when it starts getting cold, I think they'll have to pop that in the greenhouse.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41You tend to associate amaryllis with Christmas.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43I know. It's going to be summer amaryllis.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Well, let's see what happens.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Well, it's asparagus planting time again.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51We did have a crop in here, which didn't do particularly well,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54so the whole tunnel has been re-soiled,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57fresh soil from the garden, plus a lot of our own compost
0:16:57 > 0:16:58into it as well.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01It's in fairly good nick, it's still a wee bit damp.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Now, on that side, we've already planted crowns
0:17:04 > 0:17:05of the variety Ariane.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09This side we're going to look at three new ones that we don't know.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12There's Backlim, Gijnlim and Darlise.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16And of course time will tell how successful they are.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20We buy the asparagus in as two-year-old crowns,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23and the planting of them is a wee bit ticklish.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26You've got to take your time and do it slowly and do it properly,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30because if you do, just look at that crop in there.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32These are from Miss Baxter's polytunnel,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36and she's been picking quality asparagus spears like that
0:17:36 > 0:17:37since the end of March.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Brought on of course by the wonderful weather in March.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43They've slowed down a bit now, but isn't that magic?
0:17:43 > 0:17:45And that asparagus bed is 11 years old.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48So it pays to do the job properly right at the start.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51The ground has plenty organic matter,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54and what we have to do is carefully tease out these roots
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and set the whole thing in the top of a mound,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01so that the roots can go down into the hollow in between.
0:18:01 > 0:18:07And then get them covered over and gradually top the whole thing up,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09hence we've got soil at either side
0:18:09 > 0:18:14and we can gradually, as it were, top dress as the season goes on.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Now, people talk about male and female plants of asparagus.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Well, I think most of the modern clones are in fact male plants.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27If you grow a crop and you find that when the ferns start to come up,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30you've got them with berries on, that means you got female and male,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34so you finish up getting seedlings coming up, and you get a whole mixter-maxter,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37which is not very good, so you're better actually to pull them out.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Don't think that'll happen with these clones,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- because I think these are what are called super males. - LAUGHTER
0:18:54 > 0:18:58North Berwick is a lovely coastal town in Scotland,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and they're actually one of the finalists for Britain In Bloom
0:19:00 > 0:19:03this year. Now, Stan de Prato is heavily involved
0:19:03 > 0:19:06with that competition, and I'm just about to meet him.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16What we've done this year, which is new,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18is we've got a tulip festival,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22and we've got examples of all the 15 types of tulips in planters
0:19:22 > 0:19:24- all round the town. - I think it's a great idea,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27and probably people don't realise there are so many divisions
0:19:27 > 0:19:28of tulips, so many types.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32- So, what are we looking at here? - This is quite a subdued one.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35It's a viridiflora, which is probably best described as a green-on-green.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37I rather like it, I think it's quite subtle
0:19:37 > 0:19:40and blends in well with the griselinia.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42And the viola brightens it up, doesn't it?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45This is peach blossom, a classic double early bedding tulip,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48and it goes very well with the blue viola.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Another combination you might like to try would be with blue myositis.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Oh, that's a nice idea, because that's quite a delicate little flower, isn't it?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And you know, the height, I suppose, would go quite well.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59Yes, they're quite weather-resistant.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Now, this one here is not quite in bloom,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05which tells us that the tulips can flower
0:20:05 > 0:20:07for quite a big period of time.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Certainly our first ones were flowering in late March
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and the last ones, the parrots, which aren't quite out yet,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14will probably be flowering into May.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18This one is quite a blousy one, it's a peony flower tulip
0:20:18 > 0:20:19called Cardinal de Nice,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21probably best described when it's full out
0:20:21 > 0:20:23as a raspberry ripple ice cream.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Yeah, you can see there, can't you, loads and loads of petals,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and very sort of blowsy.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32While we're here, one more tulip, well, two, isn't it?
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Two more tulips, a slight mistake here.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37The basic tulip in this bed is Kaiser's Crown.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40You'll see within it, we have rather unattractive rogue,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44and this is a rembrandt or feather tulip, and this rather looks like the tulips
0:20:44 > 0:20:48which people bankrupted themselves some hundreds of years ago.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49Back in the 1600s, I think it was.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53And they kind of paid, what, for one bulb, about the price of a house?
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Yes, and the really silly thing was that the bulbs they were buying
0:20:56 > 0:20:58were infected by a virus, which caused the pattern,
0:20:58 > 0:21:02but these modern ones have been bred to be like that,
0:21:02 > 0:21:04so they're more vigorous and considerably less expensive.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06They're rather nice to look at, aren't they?
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Stan, you've given me a leaflet all about the tulip festival,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12so I'm going to go and find Rosie now.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15She actually wrote this leaflet, didn't she? Find her in the town.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25Well, here we are, Carole,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28in front of the police station in North Berwick.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30You'll see some more of our planters here.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- We've got about 80 around the town. - Really?- Yeah.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Now, these are lovely and bright, and I like how you've labelled them,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- so people know what they are. - That's right.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40So this is Red Riding Hood, a lovely red flower,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- but also the striped foliage. - Exactly.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- It gives us a bit of extra colour, doesn't it?- Mmm. It's really good.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53These smart green planters have just been repainted for the summer.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Well, they're looking good. They're looking really good.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00- And this one is Black Swan, I think, isn't it?- That's right, yes.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Now, that's meant to be a late-flowering one,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- but do you think they're a bit earlier this year?- Definitely.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06The weather's been so funny, hasn't it?
0:22:06 > 0:22:08It has. It's been very strange.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10And then a bright bit of yellow.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13The lily-type ones, which we've not seen yet.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14It just shows you the variety and the shape
0:22:14 > 0:22:16you can get in the tulips, doesn't it?
0:22:16 > 0:22:18These have got a nice point to them, a nice shape.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20And the variety is West Point.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Right, where are we going next?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Round to the war memorial to see more tulips.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33So, here we are looking at another three varieties
0:22:33 > 0:22:35of the lily-flowered tulip.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38We've got the tall one, which is lilac, Lilac Time.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41We've got the little China Pink, and the nice,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43zingy orange one which is Ballerina.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- Really bright, that one, isn't it?- Yes.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47I like the combination in the central bed there
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- with the wallflowers.- Quite zingy and eye-catching, isn't it?
0:22:51 > 0:22:53You get the perfume from the wallflower too, don't you?
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Now, who did the planting here?
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Well, this is all down to our local team,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58East Lothian Council gardeners.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00It might not have actually happened this winter
0:23:00 > 0:23:03due to the council cutbacks which we've been experiencing,
0:23:03 > 0:23:04of course, all over the country,
0:23:04 > 0:23:06but North Berwick in Bloom came up with some pansies
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and the tulip bulbs, so we've got a nice show for everyone after all.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11So, very much a team effort here.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Collaboration's definitely the way to go.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16OK, well, my next stop is to see Stan again
0:23:16 > 0:23:18and look at a very different project.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Now, Stan, part of the remit now
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- is to encourage wildlife, isn't it, for Britain in Bloom?- Yes.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29There's a lot of concern now about the decline
0:23:29 > 0:23:32in native wild flowers and the knock-on effect on insects,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35so what our young friends are doing here is sowing some seed
0:23:35 > 0:23:38of cornfield annuals, things like poppies, corncockle.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40And these should give a nice show later in the year,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43which will be attractive to people, but more importantly,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46will be of benefit to things like bees and butterflies.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49- And it's a perfect time to be sowing your hardy annuals.- Indeed, yes.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52And it's good to see that you're involving younger people.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55It's essential in Britain in Bloom now to show community involvement,
0:23:55 > 0:23:56particularly young people.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Well, Stan, we're looking at a very different type of planting here -
0:24:04 > 0:24:05- permanent planting.- Yes.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I think if you want tulips to be perennial,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09it's worth looking at the small species
0:24:09 > 0:24:11and some of the forms derived from them.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13They also have the advantage, some would say,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16that they're smaller and perhaps a bit more graceful
0:24:16 > 0:24:19than some of the big bedding types we've been looking at.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21And they will naturally multiply?
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Yes. If you look at this first compartment we're coming to here,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27this is a form of Tulipa humilis named Little Beauty.
0:24:27 > 0:24:28It is a real little gem.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30What about this one?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32This is a form of Tulipa clusiana.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36This occurs in different colour forms in large areas of Asia.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38This one here, we have a red and yellow,
0:24:38 > 0:24:39but you also get a pink and white.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Same plant, but just a slightly different colour scheme.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Nice foliage as well. That's a sort of bluey-green, isn't it?
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Now, what about the number of tulips that you planted for this festival?
0:24:49 > 0:24:51We put in just over 2,000 bulbs.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52That's a lot of planting!
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Compared to the total number of bulbs round the town, it probably isn't.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Between the council, North Berwick in Bloom and the Rotary Club,
0:24:59 > 0:25:01there are probably about a million spring bulbs
0:25:01 > 0:25:02around North Berwick nowadays.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Well, as you've shown me here, it looks absolutely superb,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07- so thank you very much. - Thank you for coming.
0:25:12 > 0:25:13Well, this is your annual warning -
0:25:13 > 0:25:17don't cut the leaves off the daffodils.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Knock the heads off,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21and then once you've done,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24a handful of bone meal,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26and just sprinkle it down in amongst there
0:25:26 > 0:25:28and give them a feed,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and they'll make lovely flowers for next year.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Well, I would just like to highlight our layered bowl pots.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Just to remind you, these were planted up in the autumn.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41We had this one in a shady corner
0:25:41 > 0:25:44and this one was in the open in a sunny situation.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Now, the shady one started flowering first,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50and that gave the first flowers in February,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53whereas the sunny one was a little bit later,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56but a few weeks ago, they both caught one another up,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58and that is still the case.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01What we now have, though, is a great success story,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03because everything has flowered,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05and at the moment we've got the hyacinth Woodstock,
0:26:05 > 0:26:06which looks beautiful,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10wonderful scent, and we've still got those tulips to come.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13This variety is a double late called Angelique.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16And I reckon by the time this display is over,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19we will have had three months of flowering.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Now that really is a success story.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Well, with all this wet weather, the weeds are still growing apace.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I've had quite a struggle to find any weeds here at Beechgrove,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I have to say. The gardeners have got it looking beautiful.
0:26:31 > 0:26:32But I have just found a couple.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36This first one is rockcress, and it's an annual weed,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38so it's got very little root system.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40You can just hoe these away.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42The other sort of weed is a perennial weed,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45and here is a dandelion,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48and the point with these is that they have very long roots,
0:26:48 > 0:26:53and they can come back year after year from those roots,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55so I'm going to have to dig this out completely.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Well, I reckon that that pond has definitely benefited
0:27:00 > 0:27:02- from the early warm weather. - It looks lovely.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04I think the marsh marigolds in particular,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07and the reflection, looks beautiful, doesn't it?
0:27:07 > 0:27:08Looks really bonny. It does indeed.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09What are you doing, Lesley?
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Well, I'm going to plant this bed really inexpensively this year.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I'm going to have a blaze of colour, doing it all with nasturtiums.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18And there are so many different colours in this,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20and they're really easy to plant
0:27:20 > 0:27:22because they're nice, big, chunky seeds,
0:27:22 > 0:27:23so children can do it as well.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Some new varieties - things like Moonlight there,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27- primrose yellow.- That's nice.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31Described as a trailer, but I think it'll just as happily scramble up.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34So we've got three different obelisks in here,
0:27:34 > 0:27:36- so we'll get some height as well.- Mmm.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I like the one with the variegated foliage as well.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Alaska, I think that one is. It is a pretty one.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43You've got that dark red one. Yeah, Empress of India is beautiful.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Bright red. Of course, you can put them into salads and things as well.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Yes, "nippy biscuits", we called them as children.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52And you're going to be responsible for evermore
0:27:52 > 0:27:54when they start coming up everywhere.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I don't think that's a problem.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58- They're really pretty and good for bees.- What about sowing?
0:27:58 > 0:28:00- Will you sow them in rows, different angles?- Yes.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02I've done the shapes just now with sand
0:28:02 > 0:28:04to make sure there's enough space to get them all in.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I'll do them in row so I can spot any weeds coming between them.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08Well, anyway, if you'd like
0:28:08 > 0:28:11more information about this week's programme,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14it's all in the factsheet, and that includes all those plant names.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17And the easiest way to access that, of course, is online,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20and don't forget as well, new for us this year,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23you can find out about us on Facebook and Twitter.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Now, next week I'm going to start having a real overhaul
0:28:27 > 0:28:30in the Garden for Life, which is now 16 years old.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Well, well. It's going to be another busy programme.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36I'm going to pray every day from now on
0:28:36 > 0:28:39that we can appear in shirtsleeves.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40- That'd be nice!- Wouldn't it?
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Till next time.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44- Bye-bye.- Goodbye.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd