0:00:11 > 0:00:15Hello and welcome back to Beechgrove Garden after a couple of weeks away
0:00:15 > 0:00:19and the place has burgeoned because we've had unending sunshine.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21A bit of cloud now, thank goodness
0:00:21 > 0:00:23and so there's a lot of things to see.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28Let's start off with the hardy annual border and regulars will know
0:00:28 > 0:00:31that we actually sowed the seeds of these in little plugs
0:00:31 > 0:00:34and planted them out here and we've got a splendid display to look at.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39Now, at the same time, Carole was sowing hardy annuals
0:00:39 > 0:00:42in the ground at the same time, coming on fine but quite obviously,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46they're not as far on as this, and that really makes a point.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50As far north as here, if we're going to get our really money's worth, we want to start early.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53We'll get some favourites, with old favourites and some newcomers.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56All the names well be in our fact sheet
0:00:56 > 0:00:59but let's start with an old favourite, the corncockle. Agrostemma.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Absolutely stunning in its elegance and more flowers to come.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Then below it, nemophila. Isn't that stunning? Never fails with us.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09It's a very popular thing.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Star of the Veldt is doing tremendously well.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16That's the Dimorphotheca and so, too, does the annual candytuft.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Great display, doing well there.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Ours is a little Linaria, the toadflax. And this one, gosh!
0:01:22 > 0:01:26I've been growing this one for years and years, would never miss it out.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Echium, known as viper's bugloss and the bees are going at that like the clappers.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34I like, too, the Gypsophila, bridal wreath. Now one of the discoveries.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37I think this calendula is a wee stoater.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Absolutely lovely. Look at that. Quite a different...
0:01:40 > 0:01:43A colour break, I think it's called red buff.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47That I would certainly grow again. And so, too, this one. Gilia.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48Isn't it gorgeous?
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Now, we'd normally see it without that eye and strangely enough,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56this variety is bird's eye and it's absolutely stunning.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58These are doing well and if we keep them deadheaded,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00they'll flower on for weeks.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Now then, we're off to the west across the sea to...
0:02:05 > 0:02:06I'll leave you to guess.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17This is one of the more remote of the Hebridean islands.
0:02:17 > 0:02:23A two-and-a-half hour ferry ride from Oban, short flight, brings you to this island oasis
0:02:23 > 0:02:26which is ten miles long and two miles wide,
0:02:26 > 0:02:32home to around 135 souls, numerous sheep, goats and cattle.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38And of course a golf course. This is the island of Colonsay.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42There is also a surprising variety of plant life on this beautiful wee island,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45from rhododendrons to wild orchids and this gorgeous wild iris.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49It's amazing what will grow in this island environment.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I could certainly get used to this.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Recent innovation on the island is the brewery
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and I'll tell you what, it's got some reputation!
0:03:04 > 0:03:08The minute you step off the ferry, you can really feel the wind coming in from the sea.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12The first piece of land you can see is the bit right in front of the Community Hall here in Scalasaig,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14which is where the community garden is going to be.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19- But the first challenge is going to be finding out what's actually going to grow here.- I think so.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24But meanwhile, back to the garden on the mainland with Jim and Carole.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28From the beautiful island of Colonsay,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31here we are in the wild area and I think this looks really
0:03:31 > 0:03:34attractive at the moment, full of flower.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38What I want to take a look at is the wild flowers that I started off
0:03:38 > 0:03:43on the second programme, so that's 15 weeks ago and this is the result.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47We've got some lovely plug plants which are ready for planting out in this area.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51And to give them a bit of a chance, what I'm going to do
0:03:51 > 0:03:54is take out little pockets, take away some of the weed,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58so there's not too much competition and I've already planted some of
0:03:58 > 0:04:02the field scabious, which has got lovely sort of mauvey-blue flowers.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06In particular, I'd like to point out this one - it's vervain, because
0:04:06 > 0:04:10it is in flower and this tends to grow down south rather than up here
0:04:10 > 0:04:14in Scotland, so I'm not sure how hardy it is but we will find a nice
0:04:14 > 0:04:19sort of sheltered pocket for it and we'll see if it comes through next year.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Then I'm planting here the meadow cranesbill, Geranium pratense
0:04:22 > 0:04:28and I'm actually adding a little bit of lime, because where it grows
0:04:28 > 0:04:32in the wild, it tends to grow in a chalky situation.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34I mean, it's not particularly fussy about the soil
0:04:34 > 0:04:38but I thought, well, let's give it a bit of a helping hand.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Now you can see the ground is really dry, so what we're going to
0:04:42 > 0:04:46have to do is give these plants a right good soaking.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Here on Colonsay, the community has rallied round
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and is putting its back into the new focal point for the island.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02Local development officer Morna Piper has been spearheading the project.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- Morning, Morna. How are you? - I'm fine, thanks, George.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06Now, lovely day.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- Super involvement here.- Fantastic. - How did you get them all involved?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Um, it was very easy, really.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14They were coming to me, wanting to be involved.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17I put up a poster in the shop, but every time you're working on site,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19you just get people joining in spontaneously.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- What will it be used for once it's finished?- It's really going to be a recreational space for
0:05:23 > 0:05:26the whole community so we've got the village hall behind us.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30People will come out from that during events, people using the shop will come and eat ice cream.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- And you didn't have this before?- No, it was a wasteland before and it's such a central part of the island,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38it's going to make an enormous difference to everybody living here.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Alan, so you're the plantsman for this project, aren't you?
0:05:41 > 0:05:43So they tell me, yes.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46So, what do you think of the challenges for planting in this garden?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Er, well, the main one that would be the wind.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51That's the thing you've got to manage.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It just comes whipping round the corner of the garden there,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56so we've got the beginnings of a shelter built in.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- What about the actual climate? - Similar to the other Scottish islands in some ways,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03but being that bit further south, when you can get out of the wind,
0:06:03 > 0:06:04it's actually really rather mild.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Very rarely do we get any frost or snow.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09When the rest of the country's under two foot, we've got
0:06:09 > 0:06:11two inches over here.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13A lot milder in the winter and well, on a sunny day like this,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16in the summer, you can hardly imagine that, can you?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Garden designer Karen Laing has been working with
0:06:19 > 0:06:22the community in Colonsay to help realise their ideas.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25You've been involved in this community for what, three months?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Just three months. It's been quite a tight turnaround.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31How did they communicate to you what they wanted?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Well, initially they had a little loose sketch
0:06:34 > 0:06:38of what they were looking...and a long list of aspirations
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and my role has been very much as been very much as a facilitator
0:06:41 > 0:06:45to help them achieve these goals in the time that they've got, with the resources they've got,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49and it has all very much been about a sustainable ethos.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Being on an island, though, and remote from the mainland,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54it must be quite difficult, because everything has to be shipped in.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Oh, it's been quite a challenge and as a mainlander,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- I've found it particularly challenging.- This is not a "wow" garden.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03This is a garden which will grow with time, isn't it?
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Yes, because it has to do that because of the conditions,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09so we are going to be taking small seedlings and planting them
0:07:09 > 0:07:14cos they'll get their feet in the ground and they're going to survive these harsh winter winds.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Before the wind comes out of there and blows them into the sea.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Using plants from all over the island will make this space
0:07:20 > 0:07:23into a friendship garden and I'm sure you're used to
0:07:23 > 0:07:26swapping plans with lots of other gardeners and here, the garden
0:07:26 > 0:07:30is going to be filled with tried and tested plants from all over Colonsay,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33as well as a few that we've brought from Beechgrove.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36I think for islanders to come and sit if they're at the shop, and you can
0:07:36 > 0:07:39come in here and have a blether and that'll be really nice.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40Also for visitors,
0:07:40 > 0:07:44often there's a long wait from coming out of your house until the ferry.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47And it will be lovely to have somewhere just to sit with children.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52They could run around without having cowpats and sheep poo,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55everything like that. It'll be just, it'll be great.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- Hi, Moira. How are you today? - Hello, George.- You well?
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Absolutely shattered. It's very, very hot.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- Now, you're donating some plans, and you?- I am, yes, yes.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Take a wee rest and let's go and get them.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12What a fabulous garden, isn't it?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Well, I'm quite proud of it, I have to say.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Now, you see, the thing is, that this is what we hope the community garden
0:08:19 > 0:08:23will look like, because we've got the island beds here and this growth.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Now, you came here, what? Four years ago?
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- This is our fourth summer on the island.- So what was it like before?
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Mostly veg. I like veg, but I'll buy it at the supermarket.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- I like my flowers, I like my colour. - So what are you giving us?
0:08:37 > 0:08:42- Osteospermum.- Right, the yellow thing? No, that's a Lysimachia. What's this?
0:08:42 > 0:08:44And this is an escallonia here.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Well, that, you see, will do wonderfully well near the sea.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50It's got wonderful glossy leaves.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54I'm on my way to Jan Binnie's amazing allotment
0:08:54 > 0:08:58which she has created on very difficult and harsh land.
0:08:58 > 0:08:59Well, Jan, this looks absolutely fabulous
0:08:59 > 0:09:01but it wasn't always like this, was it?
0:09:01 > 0:09:07- No, I started with just rough moor. - Was it like that, over there?
0:09:07 > 0:09:10- Yes, yes.- How did you break from that into this?
0:09:10 > 0:09:12It was too big a ground to do all in one go,
0:09:12 > 0:09:13so I got hold of this black polythene
0:09:13 > 0:09:15and covered the whole ground in that,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17weighed it down and then as I had time and energy,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19just started rolling it back a bit.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22It's the time and energy together that are important, isn't it?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Now, we've got water running down here as well, which is
0:09:24 > 0:09:27a wonderful feature but it's coming through a bucket.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29So what are you doing here?
0:09:29 > 0:09:32This is my irrigation system. My son got this set up for me.
0:09:32 > 0:09:33As soon as you build a polytunnel,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35nature doesn't water your plants any more,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37so I said, how am I going to do this?
0:09:37 > 0:09:39And there's a wee burn that comes down off the hill here,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41so we've got a header tank sunk into the burn.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44It feeds it in and then a tap at the bottom,
0:09:44 > 0:09:45and straight into the polytunnel.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- What have you got for us? - Yes, I've got some plans here.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50If you could take them round to the community garden.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Right. So what have we got here?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55It's fuchsia for the hedging, and then a wee monkey puzzle tree,
0:09:55 > 0:09:56grown from seeds.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Well, that will be a spectacular thing,
0:09:58 > 0:09:59and right in the front somewhere.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01- But the fuchsia is so important for shelter.- Yes, it is.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03We need that here. You lead on.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Considering the particular environment on the island, Colonsey
0:10:10 > 0:10:14houses a spectacular woodland garden filled with subtropical plants.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Kate Joll is the daughter of Lord and Lady Strathcona,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20- who has known this sheltered garden her whole life.- Well, my goodness.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Look at the size of this, what, Gunnera manicata? Look at that!
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Is that not just fantastic! What will it be?
0:10:25 > 0:10:31Six foot across and six foot long? It's a fantastic piece of foliage.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Now, you've brought me some small plants for this,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35to put down at the bottom of the garden.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- How long till it gets to this size, do you think?- A matter of moments.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- Spring to summer, we can do this.- Oh, come on!
0:10:41 > 0:10:44You have a different climate up here, after all.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46In the walled garden, we're very lucky.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55There's a lot of different things in here,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57things like the Alchemilla mollis,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00this lady's mantle, and the red valerian.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01Yes, that's nice.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05So, there's a whole host of things which we know will survive
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- in this climate.- Once we get the shelter going.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Once we get the shelter. And it's not just because we're
0:11:09 > 0:11:12so far north that we should worry about growing things.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15We can grow plenty when we're this far north.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Possibly not on this scale. - Oh, my goodness. Look at those.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Look at those. These are just absolutely outstanding.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- But what age?- 163 years old. - Oh, my goodness.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27We'll not see them ourselves.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29We won't. If we plant them now, at 160-odd years...
0:11:29 > 0:11:31By Jove, it'll take some while
0:11:31 > 0:11:33for the community garden to get to there.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35THEY LAUGH
0:11:52 > 0:11:53THEY CHEER
0:11:56 > 0:11:59We've had a very productive and lovely day in the garden, haven't we?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- It's really taking shape, isn't it?- It is.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04We've spent the afternoon getting all the plants ready as well
0:12:04 > 0:12:07cos you've got different plants for different purposes and different
0:12:07 > 0:12:08areas of the garden so we sorted them out.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10And you've got an osteospermum here.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12This is one of the donations.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Don't think you've finished when you've done that one.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Look at the weeds.- Never mind the weeds. Here's some other things.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Some white foxgloves and there's an escallonia.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Well, we've had a great day here, haven't we?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27I wonder what they've been getting up to back at Beechgrove Garden.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Is that ready to go?- It a bit heavy, Chris, be careful.- Got it.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33I hope you're all right.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35It's usually me in the waders, you know.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Judging by the size, I think they're tandem waders, actually.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- So this is a lovely water lily, isn't it? Collosea.- Collosea.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Yeah, it's turn of the last century, it was bred.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46It's supposed to have a fragrance.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Have a sniff, see if you can detect anything.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50There is a slight fragrance.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Maybe not something that I'm that particularly keen on and,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55of course, what we are doing is we're re-potting them
0:12:55 > 0:12:57at the moment, which I think is a good idea.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- We don't have to do that again, do we, at the moment?- No.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02The less you can fuss with them, the better, to be honest.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Just trying to find the right level here
0:13:04 > 0:13:07so that the young lily pads are on the surface.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I don't want to throw it in too deep otherwise they just disappear
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- and you never see them again. - That's right.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15And I'm using an aquatic compost, which is nice and easy, isn't it?
0:13:15 > 0:13:19And it's low in nutrients cos you don't want to encourage the algae.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Well, do you know, I've never made my own aquatic compost.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Cos there are recipes for subsoil and cow manure and these sorts of
0:13:25 > 0:13:28things but it's much easier just to go with a proprietary mix, isn't it?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30As you say, it's really convenient.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33And then on the top we put the gravel. So, here we go.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37- That's a beauty.- I'll put that one in next to its partner.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42And then, as it grows, you will gradually take it down.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43Well, that's the idea.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48Just gently lower it in, get it to the right level and when it gets to
0:13:48 > 0:13:53swamping the area, we can just move it slightly deeper into the depths.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57But let the flowers float on the surface.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Well, this pond, Chris, is a bit of a contrast,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03isn't it, to the other one? Much smaller and very formal.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04Yes, it's much more typical
0:14:04 > 0:14:07of the sort of ponds that we have in our gardens these days,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09rather than a great, big, naturalistic pond.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12But, in a way, it's perfect for water lilies.
0:14:12 > 0:14:18This is how water lilies were really fashionable in the 1920s, 1930s.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21You know, they were exhibited in a very formal way in these
0:14:21 > 0:14:23geometric ponds, known as water lily canals.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27You know, if you had a collection of different sorts. These marliacea
0:14:27 > 0:14:30are just perfect. I mean, they're the most beautiful water lilies.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31They're absolutely stunning
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and we're doing exactly the same as we did in the other pond.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Putting them on bricks
0:14:35 > 0:14:39and then gradually, as they grow, we will lower them down.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41But you've a lovely story about these.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Well, Latour-Marliac, a Frenchman,
0:14:43 > 0:14:47late 1800s, became fascinated by water lilies and apparently,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50we think, he crossed the white European water lily,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53which was, at the time, the only hardy water lily,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55with two from America, one from Mexico
0:14:55 > 0:14:58and one from Sweden in this sort of massive breeding programme he had.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00And he perfected water lilies.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02What he introduced was a whole range of colours -
0:15:02 > 0:15:05pinks, lights, yellows, all sorts of roses -
0:15:05 > 0:15:07and fragrance, hardiness
0:15:07 > 0:15:09and this ability to grow in very shallow pools.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- So, 60 cm maximum depth for them.- Amazing.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14But you say, "We think," because there was a problem.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Well, he died in the early 1900s
0:15:16 > 0:15:19and he took all of his secrets to his grave
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and nobody has ever been able to repeat
0:15:21 > 0:15:24this sort of extraordinary breeding programme that he perfected.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26He's the only person that ever been able to do it
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and we are able to benefit from the plants that he produced.
0:15:29 > 0:15:30Absolutely fascinating.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Now, we're going to even go down a further size with the water lily
0:15:33 > 0:15:35and you've got a little pygmy one there.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I mean, the size of that leaf is about the size of a two pence coin.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Yeah, this one is another hybrid.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43It's really good for very, very shallow pools.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Each plant needs about three square feet, so about half a barrel size,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49so perfect for a patio or terrace or that sort of thing.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52But only down to, what, four inches, ten inches of water?
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- Something like that? - Really, very shallow.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56I mean, you can see the length of the petioles there.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- That's how deep the water needs to be.- And we have the perfect trough.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01It's silver, it'll go with the theme of the garden.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Drop them in there. There's a little collection in there.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05We've got a miniature canal
0:16:05 > 0:16:07and you can always pop a few extra plants in too.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09You could kind of create marginal shelves
0:16:09 > 0:16:11and have some marginal parts create a bit more colour.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- I think it'll look really nice.- No excuse for not having water lilies.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18It's surprising, given a little bit of warmth,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20just how quickly crops start to come on.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22You really have to keep on top of them.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Here's a good example of if you blink, they mature just a little
0:16:26 > 0:16:29bit too quickly. The calabrese here has just got a little bit too big.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31You can see the florets starting to open.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Not to worry because, although that one might be lost, it is
0:16:35 > 0:16:40worth cutting it out because, if you cut it out,
0:16:40 > 0:16:45what you will encourage is plenty of side shoots
0:16:45 > 0:16:49and that's exactly, after harvest, what happened on this one.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52You can see that second flush of side shoots
0:16:52 > 0:16:54really starting to be produced and
0:16:54 > 0:16:57those are definitely worth harvesting.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00They're prime little crops there.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05The trick is not to be too greedy from any one plant.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Leave a few of the little side shoots on and what you should get
0:17:08 > 0:17:10is about an extra six to eight weeks' of harvest
0:17:10 > 0:17:12as long as you're not too greedy.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Something else that flushes very quickly
0:17:14 > 0:17:19and always causes a perennial discussion are the courgettes.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22When is a courgette a courgette and when does it become a marrow?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Well, of course, technically, courgettes are marrows.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28They're all members of the cucurbit family.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30They're all part of the same family.
0:17:30 > 0:17:37But the technical explanation is that if they've got to about that size,
0:17:37 > 0:17:42about the size of a decent cigar, then that's a courgette.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47But as soon as they get to that size, 15-20cm,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50well, that is a zucchini.
0:17:50 > 0:17:58And then, once they get to that size, technically, it's a marrow.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01And the Italians call everything zucchini,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04the French word for zucchini is courgette,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and they're all marrows.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09So that probably clears it all up. Maybe.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12The other rule of course is, you know your courgettes have
0:18:12 > 0:18:15turned into marrows because you've gone on holiday.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20And up here, we should have, yes, more crops.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23This could be a red-letter day for me.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I want to get a boiling of our own potatoes,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29and this is the variety "Rocket". Let's see what there is there.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- How long have these been in the ground?- 12 weeks, I reckon.- OK.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- Look at that. That's not bad. That's all right.- Oh, don't lose any.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39THEY LAUGH
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- That's not bad.- Nice and clean.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44That's pretty good for 12 weeks, isn't it?
0:18:44 > 0:18:47One of the earliest of all of the earlies.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Now, if you're going to stay for dinner,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51we'll need to get another one.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Back on Colonsay, the plants have all arrived from
0:18:59 > 0:19:03around the island, but how is the preparation of the site progressing?
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- Hello.- So, how many men does it take to hang a gate?
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Three professionals - two doctors and a teacher.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13- And none of us have ever hung a gate before.- You MUST have hung a gate!
0:19:13 > 0:19:16- I've hung a gate before. - Have you?- Aye.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Well, you should have been here at six o'clock in the morning, then.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26You two can get that tray over there.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- And this tray down by the boat? - And that tray down by the...
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- See the hedge?- We'll take it to the boat.- The fence.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- The fence beyond the boat? - The boat area.- Can you manage that?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Because she just walked away.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42She says, "That one," and then walks away.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50So, that's the kind of hard landscaping done, isn't it?
0:19:50 > 0:19:53The borders are prepared, the gravel's down, the boat's in,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- and now it's the fun part. - Now it's the fun part.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58All the hard work has been done.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Yes, it's the planting, and you've got loads of plants.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03The wind comes off the west here,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06so we're going to try and create a really sturdy shelter belt,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and one of the things that grows incredibly well in the island
0:20:09 > 0:20:10is griselinia.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Some pittosporum. There'll be more pittosporum coming
0:20:13 > 0:20:14in the autumn, and olearia.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Those are the sort of things they use for shelter round you.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21- And fuchsias, as well. These are quite tall ones, aren't they?- Yes.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24That's magellanica. They're all over the island.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27So, this is the bit that's going to get the worst of the weather,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and as soon as that's established,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- that's going to protect a lot of the rest of the plants.- That's the idea.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- That and the deciduous planting there.- OK.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39So that's going to start this process of establishing shelter.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41I mean, slow and gentle.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49WOMAN LAUGHS
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Maybe this isn't the best place...
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- Goodbye.- Well done!
0:20:55 > 0:20:57OK, back to the digging.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07- So, where did this come from, then? - Just down at Port Mhor.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Down round the other side of the island.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12It washed up about a year ago.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Are there a lot of skulls and things like that get washed up? Skeletons?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Not huge, big ones, like this.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20This is quite spectacular.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26- The big problem here is the quality of the soil, isn't it?- Yes.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28I mean, there's precious little.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31You hit rock or stone every time you go into the soil.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- So, where did you get the extra soil, then?- This was donated.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37There's a chap who's digging out the back of his garden,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40just in the right time for us needing it here.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Because the thin soil gives you that, doesn't it?
0:21:43 > 0:21:45That's what this site was like.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Yes, the whole thing, pretty much up to chest height.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51How did that come from there to here, then?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53First, we strimmed the whole lot down
0:21:53 > 0:21:55so we could get an idea of the shape of the site,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and then diggers in to dig great holes for drainage,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01and then just lots and lots of spadework from volunteers.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24But I would like it six feet over here. That's the right direction!
0:22:25 > 0:22:27THEY BOTH LAUGH
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Isn't this fabulous? I absolutely love this.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42It's got such a vibrant green leaves against the red.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- It's fabulous. - Well, that's a fatsia.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Fatsia japonica.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50That's a genuine seaside plant. We grow that a lot on the east coast.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53It gets wonderfully glossy leaves, and things like that,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56but because the leaves are so big, it'll just need a bit of shelter.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- So, I could grow that over by, couldn't I?- Oh, you could.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Are you thinking of taking it? - Well, no, I won't take that one.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03I might get another one!
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Well, as you know, clematis are a wonderful climbing plant
0:23:14 > 0:23:16for a sunny south-facing wall,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18and this one is going to do just beautifully there.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22But if you've either not got height or you want to cover a low space,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24they're also great as a rambling plant.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Now, this one here has got gorgeous blue flowers
0:23:27 > 0:23:30and what I'm going to do is plant it behind this wall
0:23:30 > 0:23:34and let it just grow up and ramble over here,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37so the roots are kept nice and cool behind the wall
0:23:37 > 0:23:40and the top will get all the sun it needs to perform beautifully.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- Look what I got for you, George. - Look at that! That's fantastic!
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- Sarah Moss's contribution. - That's splendid.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Well, you'd better take it in. Never get too much cake!
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Whenever you're planting things in the summer,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07make sure you give them a good soak
0:24:07 > 0:24:10before you even take them out the pot.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Get the roots and the plant full of water,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14then when you plant it,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17water it again and it will grow away quite happily. That's the idea!
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Now the garden's nearly complete, is it how you visualised it?
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- Better.- Is it really?- Yeah. I'm just so pleased, actually.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41- They pulled it together nicely. It really looks like a garden.- It does.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44- Big difference from the beginning. - And everybody's so happy with it.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47It's nice to have all these special things that mean something
0:24:47 > 0:24:49to the island placed in it.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51It's a real welcome to the island.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Smile!
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Aw, surely not smiling?
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- So, are you happy with the garden, then?- Yes, it's fantastic.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02We're all really delighted.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05But it's also gone more smoothly, more people have turned up,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08the weather's been even better than I could have hoped for,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11so it's been incredibly hard work but really exciting,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15- and really good fun, as well.- There has been a lot of people here.- Yes.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I was amazed how many people turned up first thing in the morning
0:25:18 > 0:25:21then stayed for the day. We've had visitors who popped in
0:25:21 > 0:25:23for a few hours instead of going to the beach,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25so we couldn't have asked for more.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31One of our most favourite garden plants is lady's mantle -
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Alchemilla mollis.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Every year, we get letters from people saying,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38"They're taking over the garden."
0:25:38 > 0:25:40And we tell you every year the simple thing
0:25:40 > 0:25:42is to take the best of the flowering period
0:25:42 > 0:25:43and then cut them off.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47If you cut the flowers off, you prevent it from seeding.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50This is our first visit this year to the white garden,
0:25:50 > 0:25:54and there's one or two plants looking absolutely great at the moment,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57starting off with this penstemon. It's a really hardy variety
0:25:57 > 0:26:01and the name is "Arctic Fox" and it looks great at the moment.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04The lovely white foxglove, which is slightly unusual,
0:26:04 > 0:26:05rather than the pink form,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09and finally, an alpine strawberry and the fruits are white.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Willow cuttings taken at this time of the year
0:26:12 > 0:26:15can have a surprising effect in the garden.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17If you cut about 50 to 60 stems,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19slice them up, chuck them into a bucket
0:26:19 > 0:26:21and fill it with a gallon of water,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25this makes a willow tea. Let it steep for about four weeks.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29This tea, in theory, is hugely valuable.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34Willow naturally contains salicylic acid, the root of aspirin.
0:26:34 > 0:26:41The salicylic acid has the effect of inhibiting ethylene in plants.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43One of the things that we know is that
0:26:43 > 0:26:47the principal barrier of rooting in cuttings is ethylene
0:26:47 > 0:26:50so, therefore, if we tip the tea onto the cuttings
0:26:50 > 0:26:53or onto the compost, it takes out the ethylene
0:26:53 > 0:26:55which means that, in theory,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58our plants should root much more effectively.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Well, guys, this makes it all worthwhile,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- when you start to harvest.- Certainly does.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09It's absolutely burgeoning. What's your favourite strawberry?
0:27:09 > 0:27:13I'd go for the red one here - "Honeoye". Do you want a taste?
0:27:13 > 0:27:15It's funny, because I think "Honeoye"
0:27:15 > 0:27:17is the sweetest and most fragrant,
0:27:17 > 0:27:21but look at "Cambridge Favourite". That's the one I grew up with.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25- How far we've come.- Yes.- This is what we expect now.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Red right the way through.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31- This is one of the cucumbers - "Crystal Lemon".- Oh, really?
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- Is that going to be sliced? - I would think so.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38I wouldn't think it has a really strong flavour to it.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41And lovely radish here - "Viola" and "Red Head".
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- Splendid. The peaches are doing well.- Peaches are doing very well.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- The tree is redeeming itself. - On its last legs!
0:27:48 > 0:27:50- Good crop of figs. - They're wonderful.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54But we've had to have a padlock on the door for this lot here -
0:27:54 > 0:27:56aren't they absolutely stunning?
0:27:56 > 0:28:01- Gorgeous.- Guardian of the cherry!- You have to have the first cherry, Jim.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Well, folks, that's it from here,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06but we'll leave the goodbye this week
0:28:06 > 0:28:09to the new community garden on Colonsay.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Look at the transformation. Isn't it just wonderful?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18I can't believe how green it is now!
0:28:18 > 0:28:21It looks super. We've had a wonderful time on Colonsay.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25You've been fantastic, and the hospitality has been wonderful.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27We've eaten cake after cake after cake!
0:28:27 > 0:28:29So thank you all very much for that,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32but if we're going to get that ferry, we better go.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- From all of us here on Colonsay... - ALL: Bye!
0:28:44 > 0:28:48Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd