0:00:14 > 0:00:18Hello there, and welcome to Beechgrove Garden.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20By jingo, these carrots are coming away fine.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22They were sown at the beginning of April,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26and I rather envy them today because they've got a bit of a colour and it's a wee bit nippy.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27It's been cold, it's been wet
0:00:27 > 0:00:30and getting things done has been quite difficult.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33I could do with a skateboard to get round all the different bits.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37All I'm saying is that the tatties are in but you can't see anything yet.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40They are keeping down out of the way of the frost and everything else.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45We made a start in this plot here. We've got the onion sets going out under corn starch.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49We use that to keep the weeds down so we don't need to go through them again.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51It's devilish stuff to work with, to be honest.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53It's very lightweight and it blows about
0:00:53 > 0:00:56so you've got to dig it in all round the sides to keep it in place.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00When you're finished with it, you just bundle it up and chuck it in the compost heap.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03It is biodegradable, that's the whole point about it.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Here, I'm getting ready to plant the brassicas.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10I've always been taught to do this by planting them in a v-shaped drill,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14but you can see the ground behind me here is flattened.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16We've had it covered with a tarpaulin
0:01:16 > 0:01:20to keep the worst of the wet off it and to raise the temperature a little bit.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23It needs a wee bit worked up, put on the fertiliser first,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27and I'm getting ready to plant the first of the summer cabbages.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The variety is golden acre, which is quite a small cabbage.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34We showed several years ago that if you actually plant them
0:01:34 > 0:01:37close together, they will heart up more quickly
0:01:37 > 0:01:39than if you give them more room.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Rows about 15 inches apart.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45That would be 35 centimetres.
0:01:45 > 0:01:51The plants are 30 centimetres apart. Really super plants.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Going in at the bottom of this.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57You can see already that they are getting a bit of shelter from here,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01but, in fact, by the end of the day, these plants will be covered
0:02:01 > 0:02:05with a fleece like that, because they suffer from pigeon damage
0:02:05 > 0:02:08very readily, and that would make a nice meal for the pigeons.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11There we go. We made a start in the veg garden.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Now, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:15 > 0:02:21I'm going to investigate the strange world of pretty ugly plants.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28I'm in Portobello. Am I stumped or can I grind out a solution?
0:02:30 > 0:02:34I want to take the opportunity of having a look at my seed trial.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37This is all about seed and cutting compost,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40and I was sowing marigolds and lettuce.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44The whole idea is to look at some alternative composts,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47ones that are low in peat or even peat-free.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Straight away, we've got to have the control.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54It's a Levington compost we've used here,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57and the results are rather interesting, because
0:02:57 > 0:02:59what we've got is quite erratic germination.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01The gardeners have been great here
0:03:01 > 0:03:04because we've tabulated the germination,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05the percentage of germination.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09When it comes to the marigolds, we've got 73%,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13but with the lettuce, only 40%.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16I'm really disappointed with that one.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Moving on, this is quite exciting for us, because this is New Horizon,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and it's a peat-free seed and cutting compost.
0:03:23 > 0:03:29It's come out top. We've got 93% germination with the marigolds
0:03:29 > 0:03:33and 87% with the lettuce.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34You can see it's really even.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39The only thing is, when you compare it, the plants are a lot smaller.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43What we've really got to do here is adjust the feeding regime.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Because that's come out top,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48I think we should be trying this a bit more in the garden.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Then we move on to another peat-free. Not quite so good.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56We're talking about 77% and 67.
0:03:56 > 0:04:0077 for the marigolds and 67 for the lettuce.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05John Innes, so that's really a soil-based one, with about 44%.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08The good news was that did really well with the marigolds.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13We're again up to 93%, but not quite so well with the lettuce.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Then, finally, the reclaimed peat. That was pretty average.
0:04:17 > 0:04:2077% and 87%.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23All in all, these four, pretty good,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26and the control, really disappointing.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30As I say, we will try this peat-free one more with other plants.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Also, we've got our foliage baskets.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37We're going to do a trial this year with different types of foliage plants,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39so we're going to be putting them in the border,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and plants that we can put in hanging baskets.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45It's quite amazing, the range of plants that we've got,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and I just want to highlight a couple at the moment.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52I'm going to start off with this one here, it's ipomoea, called blackie.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Interesting colour, beautiful-shaped leaves,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00and in the catalogue it says that that really spreads and hangs over,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02so we're going to have to come back in a few weeks' time.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Then this one. The little helichrysum.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Silver mist, tiny leaves, so I don't know that one either.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11The great thing is, if you get them planted up now
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and you hang them here for a couple of weeks, when we put them out,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17they're going to look really established.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Then the trial in here,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24we've gone Shirley mad with tomato plants,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28because Jim is growing the variety Shirley with the growbags,
0:05:28 > 0:05:33but here, I'm comparing grafted plants with non-grafted plants.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36In other words, plants you can just grow from seed.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40This is the first time we've had a chance to compare the same variety.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Grafted plants, they're a lot more expensive.
0:05:43 > 0:05:49You're speaking about roughly £3 a plant as opposed to just over £1 a plant.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52What they say about the grafted ones is they're more vigorous,
0:05:52 > 0:05:57you're going to get more of a crop, they're going to crop earlier.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59They're more resistant to pests and diseases,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and also fairly tolerant of nutritional disorders.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Only time will tell.
0:06:09 > 0:06:10I'm in Edinburgh.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14I'm actually in Portobello, and I'm down here to see Jacqui Ritchie
0:06:14 > 0:06:16and her daughter, Rosa.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20They want to grow vegetables in a little raised bed, but you know what?
0:06:20 > 0:06:25You should see the mess the corner's in where we've got to do it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40So, an old lilac tree. You decided you didn't want it.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Of course, the problem with that is when you cut them down,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44they all come from the base.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46We hadn't realised that.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50We thought by cutting it down it would kill it off, and it hasn't.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Then we started looking into how you get rid of them.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56We just didn't really know where to start.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00We would love it taken out so that we can use the land
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- to plant vegetables. - My dog's called Harry!
0:07:02 > 0:07:05We'll cut it right down and we'll get the stump grinder in
0:07:05 > 0:07:09and we'll grind the stump down as far as we can, and that should stop it.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11We can put some fabric down underneath
0:07:11 > 0:07:15to stop anything else coming up and then put the soil in.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17What's your favourite vegetables?
0:07:19 > 0:07:24- Lettuce.- Lettuce, and? Anything else?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- Do you like carrots?- Carrots.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- Carrots and?- Peas. - Peas. Now, will you help me?
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- Broccoli.- Broccoli! My goodness,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35what a challenge you're setting me.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- Would you like me to sow those for you?- Yeah.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- And will you help me?- Yeah. - Good girl.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54- There's the main stem. Now, that's the bit you cut back, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57It's just all grown from round about it.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01That's what happens, because this thing has been grafted on
0:08:01 > 0:08:04to a wild lilac, and it's also good at suckering.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07It suckers all over the place and just grows away from that.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26- That's a girl.- It's a worm, Mummy! - You show Mummy. There it is.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37OK, Mr McGlashin. I think that's up to you now, that's a grinding job.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We can't get any more out, I don't think.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44This is going to be a bit experimental.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53So, a grinding machine, there you are.
0:08:53 > 0:08:54There's the teeth on the grinder.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58These are pretty heavy duty teeth, and the thing is, they're attached
0:08:58 > 0:09:01to a motor that's going to be going round at a great number of revs.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Make sure that you wear goggles, make sure that you wear ear protectors,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07because it's going to make a bit of noise.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20- Quite a difference.- Isn't it? Unbelievable.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- Is that all the way down to the bottom of that root?- Yes.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28That root's now completely and utterly gone
0:09:28 > 0:09:31and it shouldn't come back, but in case,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34what we'll do is we'll level this out.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Give it a good level and a tramp and rake it, then put a membrane on it.
0:09:37 > 0:09:43Then we'll start making the beds. Then, madam can get our plants sown.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47And again round this way. It's a job at the corners, isn't it?
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Look at us, Mummy! We're doing this.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59I actually can't believe it's all gone. I can't believe it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00And what a space it leaves.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I mean, it leaves a workable space now, whereas before it was just
0:10:03 > 0:10:06this mound of vegetation, so we'll put some membrane down,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10fabric down, to stop anything that wants to grow come up through it.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Is that a precise keel? THEY LAUGH
0:10:32 > 0:10:35No scratching!
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Just getting its eye in...
0:10:36 > 0:10:41Just looking... "Oh, that looks like good for scratching in."
0:10:41 > 0:10:43THEY LAUGH
0:10:43 > 0:10:45I don't want the hens to scratch,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47but you can't stop them.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55When are we going to plant?
0:10:55 > 0:10:59We are going to plant in about two minutes.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03The seeds are right here.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Oh, they're right there? We'll need to see what we've got.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Can you remember what we've got?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Now, you'll need to find the carrots for me.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Find the carrots in there. Find the carrots.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19They're quite munchy, aren't they? And crunchy. They're good.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Do rabbits eat them?- Yes.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23So you'll need to keep the rabbits off.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Now, what we will do is we'll make some rows across the way
0:11:27 > 0:11:29and then we'll sow them.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Mike has gone off to saw a board so we can measure.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Can you hear him?
0:11:33 > 0:11:37So that we can measure the rows, and then we'll sow these seeds
0:11:37 > 0:11:42and then we'll cover them up and one day they will all come through.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44That'll be good fun, won't it?
0:12:02 > 0:12:04So, Jacqui, there we are. What a difference, eh?!
0:12:04 > 0:12:06A bit of an improvement, isn't it?
0:12:06 > 0:12:07Isn't it just!
0:12:07 > 0:12:09We've put the space to good use and it should be nice and dry.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13You just need to stop the hens from scratching round about in.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15The veg are all sown and planted.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Her majesty has been very good in doing that.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21We've filled the whole thing with a good quality topsoil
0:12:21 > 0:12:23and planter mix.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26That'll be absolutely super. You'll not need to do anything to this, just water it,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29put some fleece over it and that's it, job done.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Thank you.- You are welcome.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34You've been a good help, haven't you?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Yep, not a cross word between us.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Oh, George, she was a lovely little gardener.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Wasn't she just? And she was just so special. Now, can you be special?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- I hope so. - And can you also be quite discreet?
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Yes, indeed.- Good.- We're back in your polytunnel with your show vegetables.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- Yeah. - You've got them covered in fleece.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Yes, this is the parsnips in here.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02They'll need to be thinned, cos we want them down to one parsnip for each clump.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Cos you want the roots to be really, really long.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- And they'll go right to the bottom of that, I'm quite sure. - And you would choose...?
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Keep the biggest seedling, Lesley, always keep the biggest one. - Quite a decision...
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- No, it's very important to keep the big one.- Those are nice. - These are good.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17These are the little globe beet.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21They'll get to about the size of a tennis ball. We want them all the same.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Some carrots, and then in the one at this end is long beet.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25- You can thin these out as well. - Okie-dokie.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28If you can be trusted... Excuse me.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Are you going to leave me in here... - Yes, but...- ..to do the thinning?
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Swear you're going to be good and not muck anything up, OK?
0:13:35 > 0:13:39I've got a wee jobbie to do outside with Carole. See you in a minute.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- That sounds interesting!- It does, doesn't it? What's this, then?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Well, the story is, we're going French bean mad this year.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- You've plenty here, haven't you? - We have. We've got four varieties that we're trying.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52We've got four varieties here outside, the same varieties
0:13:52 > 0:13:57in the giant cloche, I like to call it, like a polytunnel but no doors,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00and then you are going to take these varieties down to your allotment.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03That will give them about a 120-mile separation.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05We'll see what difference that makes.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Maybe slightly warmer in Edinburgh, longer light here in Aberdeenshire,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11we will see whether that makes any difference.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13I don't think it will, because, remember,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16we grew the leeks last year and I was really impressed
0:14:16 > 0:14:18the way you just sowed them direct from seed.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21- I'm not competitive... - You were cynical at the time.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26I am going to take some seed down and sow some varieties, different varieties again.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30OK, but we're also going to look at some sweetcorn.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Yes, so no chance of being idle, then, is there?
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Oh, no, you've got to keep busy when you're retired, George.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37What retiral? What retiral?!
0:14:37 > 0:14:40This is the same sort of story as the French beans,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44because you're going to be taking some sweetcorn down to the allotment.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47We've got two varieties that we're growing here.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49We've got Early Bird,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52and we've also got Swift, and they're both super-sweet varieties.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56- Are these short varieties?- No, they should get to a decent size,
0:14:56 > 0:14:57hence that we've got the windbreak.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Normally, we grow them undercover. I don't know how they're going to do.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04The other allotment holders down where I am have grown them outside
0:15:04 > 0:15:08and put little shelters round them, so they should be OK.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09We can but try.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- The other thing is... - Difference in size.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15These are the plants that the gardeners have grown,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17which are fantastic, aren't they?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- How much have they cost us? - The wonderful thing is,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23we had about 90% germination from the seed packet.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26So from a cost point of view, round about six pence a plant.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- That's very good, isn't it?- These are mail-order, they've been brought in.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33The cost of those, 33 pence a plant.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Some of that is postage, of course, but even so...
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I think it is still worth trying, isn't it? Because if you get a few cobs...
0:15:38 > 0:15:41But these have got to make sure they grow, haven't they?
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- They certainly do!- We will see.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02I've come to south-west Scotland, just outside Newton Stewart,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05near the banks of the River Cree.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09I'm here to learn about carnivorous plants from Alex Reynolds,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13who grows them in his nursery called Pretty Ugly Plants.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Alex, if I was to name a carnivorous plant,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I would go for the Venus flytrap.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- I mean, that's the most popular, isn't it?- I think you're right.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36It conjures up everything that people think about
0:16:36 > 0:16:38when they think about carnivorous plants.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40It's unique, it has a unique shape,
0:16:40 > 0:16:47it has a unique mechanism of catching the flies with its leaves that close,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49but it's not the easiest to grow.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51The most popular, but not the easiest to grow,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54and that's why I've gone for this sarracenia,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56the North American pitcher plant.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59So, North America, presumably quite hardy?
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Yes. East coast of America, north of Florida,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04right the way up into the Canadian borders.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07They are so attractive! I mean, you don't often see them in flower.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10This is gorgeous. They're really orchid-like, aren't they?
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Yes, when showtime comes along the flowers have normally gone,
0:17:14 > 0:17:15unless you've grown them outside
0:17:15 > 0:17:18where the flowers are going to be a bit later.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21From a show point of view, they will have gone
0:17:21 > 0:17:24and the pitchers will be at the forefront.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27When flowering occurs, how mature do the plants need to be?
0:17:27 > 0:17:32They mature at around three years, and that's when you start to see the flowers form.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36They're here now to attract flies and to pollinate.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38OK, so they attract it for the pollination,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41but how does it actually work
0:17:41 > 0:17:45with the feeding process of the plant into the pitcher?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48As the pitchers mature, the pitcher secretes a nectar solution
0:17:48 > 0:17:52around the lip of the pitcher plant.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- I can maybe see a slight glistening there.- That's it.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59That attracts the insects to it. It's sort of slightly narcotic.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02They get drunk and they stumble into the pitcher.
0:18:02 > 0:18:03It's a nice way to go, isn't it?
0:18:03 > 0:18:08I mean, these are the older pitchers, presumably, looking in.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- That's really gruesome. - That's last year's pitcher,
0:18:11 > 0:18:15which will be taken off to allow the new ones to grow now.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18As you can see, it's full to the top, and the plant is absorbing
0:18:18 > 0:18:21all the nutrients it can from the carcasses.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23So you just treat that like a herbaceous plant?
0:18:23 > 0:18:25- You just cut that off? - That's it, yes.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28You'll cut those back, the new pitchers will come up.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- And do you supplement the feeding at all?- Not at all.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33They're a bog plant by definition.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37They grow in soil that is constantly getting washed through,
0:18:37 > 0:18:38constantly getting leeched.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42They feed like any other plant, they photosynthesise -
0:18:42 > 0:18:44there's green chlorophyll in the stems
0:18:44 > 0:18:47and also in the leaves that they can produce from time to time.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50They're not deformed pitchers, they are leaves.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52They'll take what nutrients they can via the roots,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54but they need to supplement their diet,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57and that's where the insect-catching part comes in.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Look!
0:19:08 > 0:19:13Well, Carole, these are divisions from last year of mature plants,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and like any other herbaceous perennial,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19you can divide them vegetatively in the spring.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21The sarracenias create a rhizome.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- That's a real fleshy root system, isn't it?- That's right.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28You can cut that into sections and create new plants.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30But you can also sow from seed?
0:19:30 > 0:19:33You can, once the flowers have set and been pollinated.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- I can take those and sow that seed. - And this is the result?
0:19:36 > 0:19:37This is the result, yes.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40So, what kind of conditions do you need for sowing, them?
0:19:40 > 0:19:46Typical seed sowing conditions - a bit of heat and some moisture.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50This is slightly different. Do you know what you're going to get when you sow seeds?
0:19:50 > 0:19:53I do with these because I set the flowers.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57However, sarracenia are very promiscuous,
0:19:57 > 0:20:01and you can find some wonderful hybrid seedlings being formed.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15This is sarracenia purpurea,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19which is the hardiest of the sarracenia family.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24Although you do find it moreso in the states of the east coast of America,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27this goes right the way up into Canada
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and this crossed with the flava...
0:20:29 > 0:20:31That's the yellow-flowered one?
0:20:31 > 0:20:34The yellow-flowered one, yes, makes brilliant hybrids.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37I'm really glad to hear you say this is one of the hardiest, though,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39because we're growing this one at Beechgrove
0:20:39 > 0:20:42and it's come through one winter and looking not too bad.
0:20:42 > 0:20:43It's fully, fully hardy.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48I mean, these things grow outside, we grow them in our canals here
0:20:48 > 0:20:51and over the winter time, when these canals freeze,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53you can pull the pots out of the ice,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56put them back in again, and here we have them now with the growth.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Something we haven't mentioned is that
0:21:11 > 0:21:13you're going to Gardening Scotland and it's your first time.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16I'm assuming this is a bit of a mock-up for you?
0:21:16 > 0:21:18It is. This is an island display,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and this is what I'm going to be doing at Gardening Scotland.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24The display itself is going to show people
0:21:24 > 0:21:28how they can either build or add planting to their bog garden.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30You'll notice there's already familiar plants,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33the gunnera, cotton grass,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35iris is there as well.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38It's just to show people how the sarracenia fit in
0:21:38 > 0:21:41to the conditions that you've already got.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43- So it's all about plant association? - Yes.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46I don't want to worry you, you've only got a week to go,
0:21:46 > 0:21:47have you got enough plants?
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- Fingers crossed! - We'll see you there. Best of luck.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10I love it when a trial goes wrong!
0:22:10 > 0:22:13This is up in the trials border,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15and this is where you had your heucheras, isn't it?
0:22:15 > 0:22:16I did, and we still have some left.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- They've not all died, but quite a few have.- What's done well?
0:22:20 > 0:22:23This is green spice, with that pretty marbling, it's fine.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Marmalade's OK with that nice red round its head.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29We were looking at purple ones, greeny ones and orange ones.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30One or two in here,
0:22:30 > 0:22:34that lime marmalade is an absolutely splendid plant when in full flight,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36but there's been something wrong there, hasn't there?
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Things have not gone as well as you wanted.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Quite a few of the purple ones have died.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43What I was maybe expecting was them to slightly lift up,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47there's times you have to replant a heuchera, but these are not happy.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Something else happened. You're lifting up and replanting,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53that happens after two or three years often, but see what we've got here?
0:22:53 > 0:22:55I found this earlier. See? There we are.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58There's a cutworm - that's a moth larvae.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03I also found earlier, although it has disappeared, was vine weevil.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Typical! That's what we would expect to find in an organic soil
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and in a fibrous rooted plant, so they've been jiggering the roots.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Eats the roots, and you pick this up and it becomes more like a wig.
0:23:12 > 0:23:13It does a wee bit, doesn't it?
0:23:13 > 0:23:17In other parts of the garden, they're fine.
0:23:17 > 0:23:22What we are replacing those with are a whole range of sedums.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24We have got sedum spectablie
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and we've got sedum telephium.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- Telephium is the one with the purply leaves...- Oh, we like that!
0:23:29 > 0:23:31..which will suit you, won't it?
0:23:31 > 0:23:34And then we've got purple flowers in the autumn,
0:23:34 > 0:23:35great for the butterflies.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38We've got them all together here and we'll be able to compare them,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40and this should do well enough in that soil.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42This is what I wanted to have a look at,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44because I wanted to do a little instant gardening.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46We're always telling people to be patient,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49but if you've got a new house, a new back garden
0:23:49 > 0:23:51and it's really flat, this is getting you instant height.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55And you can also use annuals on this, you were saying?
0:23:55 > 0:23:58That's right - a whole range of annual climbers growing up wigwams.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03These have all been painted, so as soon as we put them up, they're really good colour straight away.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04These are awfully even.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08This is my nifty thing. I've just got a cane like this with string, and then just make a hole,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11put the cane in there, make a hole, so you get a really good circle.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- Cunning, eh?- These have been started off in the greenhouse.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18This is canary creeper. Lots and lots of bright yellow flowers,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21which I think is going to look fantastic against the blue wigwam.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- Beautiful with blue, really is. - This is an ipomoea.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26That's morning glory, and, normally, it's blue,
0:24:26 > 0:24:27but this one is Spanish flag,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30so it's the yellow one with little red edges.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Almost looks like a runner bean, that thing, when you see it, too?
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- It'll be nice with the colour there. - It'll be superb.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39And the foliage is wonderfully layered, so can see
0:24:39 > 0:24:42right through it and you can see the flowers, presents very well.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45And it turns purple in the autumn as well, so that's really good.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47And the other one we've got is hazelwood blues.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49That's more of a typical ipomoea colour,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53shades of blues and whites and purples against the purple wigwam.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57The last one is rhodochiton, or the purple bell vine.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59We're growing that up the pink,
0:24:59 > 0:25:01which will be a really nice contrast, won't it?
0:25:01 > 0:25:02It's going to look just fantastic.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Another plant that we are going to try and grow in the Keder is okra.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10I've tried to grow this before and it has given us a few problems.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13You can see at the moment, there's quite a few yellow leaves.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17As far as I'm concerned, this is a sign of temperature.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21What we're going to have to do, I think, is put them back into the propagation house
0:25:21 > 0:25:22and give them a bit of warmth, a bit of boost,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25and then hopefully at the end of the day,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28we will get some of those lady's fingers.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32By now, the peach flowers have set fruit.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34The fruits are swelling and it's time to thin them out.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38We can thin them out by taking the smallest fruits off.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40What we want to end up with is one fruit
0:25:40 > 0:25:43about a hand span apart from the next one.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46This is the time when we're shaping up our bedding plants.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51Just take the top off that one, because it was getting tall and I want a bushy plant.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52Here's another one racing away.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Just taking that top bit of growth out...
0:25:55 > 0:25:57These little side shoots and the one below
0:25:57 > 0:25:59will now actually burgeon out.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02The other reason I think you can be doing it,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04here we've got a little dahlia,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06and as long as it's putting its strength into that flower,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09it's not going to produce a bigger plant.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11It is a handsome plant as it is, but at the moment,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15that flower's not doing a lot, so I just take it out, side shoots come,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18and we'll get more flowers later on.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I'm often asked, should you continue with bird feeding throughout the summer?
0:26:21 > 0:26:22The answer is yes.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Seeds like this will be a vital food supply for parents,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29particularly when they've got eggs and chicks in their nests.
0:26:29 > 0:26:30Also, peanuts are very good,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33providing that you have them in a mesh feeder like this
0:26:33 > 0:26:37so the parents only peck out small bits.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40One of the rough areas which we don't normally see, isn't it?
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Full of wild flowers, but also,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45there's one or two of your thugs coming through, Lesley,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47one or two of the brambles.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50And the rosebay willow. I would be inclined to deal with those.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54I think you could spot treat these and plant it with something else
0:26:54 > 0:26:57so that it takes over that space and just doesn't let anything else go.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00It needs a bit more thought to it, doesn't it?
0:27:00 > 0:27:05We've quite an area here and we could come up with a plan.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08I'd like to see us try naturalising some bulbous species.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09Oh, fritillarias!
0:27:09 > 0:27:12And then on top of that, how do you manage it?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14When you cut it or do you cut it, etc?
0:27:14 > 0:27:16- We have got to come back to this. - We should.
0:27:16 > 0:27:22And, complete change of direction, it's Gardening Scotland next week.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25It is, as a matter of fact, and what better way to celebrate
0:27:25 > 0:27:29the Queen's Diamond Jubilee than to go to an absolute jewel of a show?
0:27:29 > 0:27:30I hope we can see you there.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33The show starts on Friday 1st,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36and then it's open right through the weekend, the 2nd and 3rd.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Of course, the place to find it, just outside Edinburgh,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42It is Ingliston, the Royal Highland Showground.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44And, as always, there will be the magnificent Floral Hall
0:27:44 > 0:27:47with over 150 exhibitors,
0:27:47 > 0:27:51some of them hotfoot from Chelsea, brandishing their gold medals.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55But as ever, Beechgrove will be concentrating on Scottish talent, Scottish plants.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58And there'll be inspirational show gardens -
0:27:58 > 0:28:01these wonderful large gardens outside,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03if you've got lots of money to spend.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05If you don't have much, have a look at the pallet gardens.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06Absolutely.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09We'll be there, we'll be hoping to give you a flavour of it,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12but better than that, get yourself there.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15And, of course, all the information will be in the fact sheet.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Anything about this week's program will also be in the fact sheet,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Don't forget as well, new to us, Jim, that Twitter and Facebook!
0:28:27 > 0:28:30OK, next Friday, 8:30pm, BBC Two.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32We'll see you there, if not at the show.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- Goodbye.- Goodbye.- Bye.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd