0:00:13 > 0:00:15Well, hello and welcome to Beechgrove Garden.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17This is a day for the beach, isn't it?
0:00:17 > 0:00:20We can't be there but we've got the next best thing, haven't we?
0:00:20 > 0:00:24- We are by the pond. - Clear blue sky, clear water.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Now, how did that happen? When you think what it was like.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27If we go back...
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Jane, our head gardener, found this magic ingredient,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33it's all to do with microbes, you just add it to water.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37That was in May, I did another one in June because it seems to work
0:00:37 > 0:00:39better with higher temperatures, around about 13 degrees C.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42You'd have to wait until the temperature came up, wouldn't you?
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Yes, and it's absolutely cleared that blanket weed, it's fantastic.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- Astonishing, it really is, not a sign.- Wonderful.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Look at the hardy annuals as well, looking bonnie at the moment.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Everywhere! We'll be coming back to that, I think.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Well, I'm off to look at some sweet peppers.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Meanwhile, in the rest of the programme...
0:01:02 > 0:01:05In this week's garden visit, I'm meeting a gardener who is
0:01:05 > 0:01:07particularly passionate about plants,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09but her real love is wild flowers.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And you might think you were in the middle of a farmer's park here
0:01:16 > 0:01:21but no, there's more, much more. Keep watching.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Well, it's time for a wee bit of an update on our sweet peppers
0:01:29 > 0:01:32although I know some of you call them bell peppers,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35I've always known them as sweet peppers.
0:01:35 > 0:01:36This plant, if you let it be,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39will grow in a sort of triangular fashion.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41It starts from one point there at the top of the pot
0:01:41 > 0:01:43and it keeps going and keeps going and keeps going
0:01:43 > 0:01:47because every shoot, when it reaches its maturity, divides into two
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and it's 2+2+2 and so it goes on.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53And my view of the way to train them
0:01:53 > 0:01:56is to remove one of these shoots every time at the top and you
0:01:56 > 0:02:00finish up therefore with a single stem, although it's a bit zigzag.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Going down the same theme, you'll notice that here we've got two
0:02:04 > 0:02:07peppers at one leaf joint. We've got another two at one leaf joint.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10What we're going to finish up with, if they all do the same, is a glut.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Meantime, the plant is actually stymieing
0:02:13 > 0:02:17because it can't produce enough energy to extend.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Far better that you actually remove,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21and I'm going to be a bit of a vandal here,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26I'm going to remove one there and one there.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28One...and so you then get a progression.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30You release the plant from that burden
0:02:30 > 0:02:33and so it will keep on going up the way.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34That's the important point
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and gives you a nice succession as I keep saying.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41I noticed in our Letter Digest this week, one that was
0:02:41 > 0:02:43talking about the sweet peppers being grown in this fashion
0:02:43 > 0:02:46but the flowers were dropping off. It's what we call dry set.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48It happens with tomatoes as well and it's
0:02:48 > 0:02:52because you've got an arid, dry atmosphere, so you must keep a
0:02:52 > 0:02:55certain amount of humidity for these flowers to set and stay there.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59George, this is great, we're harvesting our onions
0:02:59 > 0:03:02and these were actually planted back in September last year.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05So, it's our overwinter onions and shallots.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08And we grew them at Beechgrove, that's this lot here
0:03:08 > 0:03:11- and also in your allotment at the front here.- That's right.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13And what I did in my allotment, because I am
0:03:13 > 0:03:18so full of onion white rot, the soil is contaminated with it,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21I grew some in the soil and that's the ones along the front
0:03:21 > 0:03:25and I grew some in a compost. So, I took out a trench
0:03:25 > 0:03:28and I filled it with multipurpose compost and I planted them in that,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31thinking that I'd be able to solve the problem.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32- And did it?- No.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35There was so much in the soil that it's leached into this compost
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and all of the crop has been infected.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- And it was quite a wet winter as well, wasn't it?- Really wet, yes.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43OK, so this is why we've set it up here, because you've still got
0:03:43 > 0:03:45the white rot and we don't want it in the garden.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- I don't want it back there! - Right, what are we looking at?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51We're looking at an onion which can often look quite fresh on the outside
0:03:51 > 0:03:54but what we've got here is this really soft growth there.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55- Pretty awful, isn't it? - Really awful.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59And that will eventually crinkle right down really
0:03:59 > 0:04:03and it becomes small black spots and these are what
0:04:03 > 0:04:07are called sclerotia, and these sclerotia then go into the soil
0:04:07 > 0:04:11and they can stay in the soil for anything up to, what, seven years.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14So the answer for you really is not to grow onions for at least
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- seven years.- Go to the supermarket. - Well, or come to Beechgrove.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- Cos these are brilliant! - They are really good.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23So, the front of these trays, these were the ones that were grown
0:04:23 > 0:04:28outside and at the back, the same variety were grown under cover.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Like a giant cloche, open doors, and I have to say,
0:04:32 > 0:04:34the ones under cover are the best
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- and in particular... - That's a cracker!
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Shakespeare. Look right across the board here, these are the winners.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45It's a new variety, British bred and I think because they're under cover
0:04:45 > 0:04:49as well, they're already fairly dry, they're absolutely fantastic.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51And it fills the gap, doesn't it?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Yes, because these are the ones which are mature, what, end of June,
0:04:54 > 0:04:55beginning of July
0:04:55 > 0:04:58and the other ones that we've planted conventionally in May and June,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01they're not going to be ready until September, so it fills a gap.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02It's worth doing it. Worth doing it.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04SHE GIGGLES
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Back in March I made my first visit to the Aden allotmenteers.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22This is the first year of productive gardening for the group.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Four months on, I'm back to see progress and it's pretty impressive.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Well, you know how first impressions are so important?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Well, after my last visit here I went away
0:05:40 > 0:05:44and thought, "How successful are these guys going to be?"
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Wow.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49I tell you what, there's beautiful crops all over this place.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53OK, some are maybe falling behind, but I tell you what,
0:05:53 > 0:05:54they've cracked it.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09In March, Josh had only had his allotment for a few days.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Well, hi there, Josh.- Hello, Jim.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Things have moved on a bit since you...since I saw you last.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21Nice onions.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23- Thank you very much.- Yeah, good.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27And I did want to pick up on your wee story about the raspberries.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29That intrigued me when we were here last.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32How did you plant them and where does the idea come from?
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Dug a trench and filled it with manure.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Planted it on top of the manure.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Back-filled it all in and put a four-inch layer of wood chips.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44As a horticultural student, you will know that wood chips,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47in breaking down, tend to rob the soil of nitrogen,
0:06:47 > 0:06:48so how do you compensate?
0:06:48 > 0:06:53So, you constantly top up with more manure and then rake it in.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55OK, and where does this idea come from again?
0:06:55 > 0:07:01- It came from a documentary I saw based in North USA.- OK, OK.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Now, they've got a longer growing season, colder winters,
0:07:03 > 0:07:07- hotter summers, although it's hot today, isn't it?- Oh, yes.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Do you think it will work here? I mean, are you quite confident?
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- Well, it's an experiment, so we will see.- Well, be assured,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18we will follow this experiment. I look forward to it.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Well, this looked like a load of pallets had been dumped off
0:07:36 > 0:07:39the last time I saw it, so we've moved on reasonably well...
0:07:39 > 0:07:41raised beds indeed!
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Gordon is only just starting work on his new allotment
0:07:59 > 0:08:02and he's building it up on No Dig principles.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Took a back injury a couple of years ago or so.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12And I was just forced to come up with a new method of growing
0:08:12 > 0:08:20and I wish I did find the No Dig years ago. It's a lot easier.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Supposing we were going to tackle this bit,
0:08:22 > 0:08:23make a bit of vegetable garden.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26You would do nothing with this, just start on top of what you've got?
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Yeah, pick your area, cardboard is usually the first layer.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33It's very popular, it disintegrates.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36And then you just layer up brown and green
0:08:36 > 0:08:40- until you get to the height you desire.- What sort of depth?
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Minimum four inches.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44So, well, let's take tatties for example,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47they are all around us here, potatoes.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49You scrape away the top and you lay the potatoes on the top
0:08:49 > 0:08:54of the cardboard and then you turn that over the top.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Are the tatties not going to go down the way?
0:08:57 > 0:09:00No, they tend to grow on the surface.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02You might get one or two that'll go a little bit lower
0:09:02 > 0:09:04but they tend to grow on the surface and the compost is
0:09:04 > 0:09:07so soft you can just pull them out with your hands.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Would you put any feed on before or subsequently?
0:09:10 > 0:09:14I've never found the need to feed. The compost does everything.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Well, I shall follow your progress.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20We'll be back in September and it's been a fascinating chat
0:09:20 > 0:09:21and I've learned quite a lot.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22Thanks.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46Now then, Sandy and Donald, you've strayed away from your own plots.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Tell me the story of these glasshouses here,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50the frames here...Donald?
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Well, we were gifted this one from an old gentleman in Hatton who
0:09:53 > 0:09:58was no longer able to use it, so this one and this was something similar.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00And the poly tunnels?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03The poly tunnel came from a community project that folded.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- OK, so, a bit of recycling. - Recycling, yes.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09And what's the purpose? Because this is for the whole community?
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Well, for the whole...the whole community, all the plot holders here
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- to use for whatever they want, really.- That's terrific.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18They'll get plants raised early and nicely protected.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22- And Sandy, how's your allotment doing?- Coming along nicely,
0:10:22 > 0:10:23you ken, a big difference in it.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- Do you think we should do a wee bit of a mid-term?- Aye, have a look.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30I went down to the supermarket this morning, got some veggies to show you!
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- THEY LAUGH - Come on!
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Well, this is brilliant, Sandy, let's get it out
0:10:41 > 0:10:43so that we can see the stuff properly.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- Now, is this beyond your expectation?- Much.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Absolutely fantastic.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50We've seen the potatoes before.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Well, I have anyway, you were very kind
0:10:52 > 0:10:53and you gave me some away with me.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58These are Red Dukes. But carrots, ready, parsnips.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- Parsnips, hardly ready, but... - Hardly ready but fine.- Fine size.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Brilliant broccoli and cauliflower.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08They're ready, yes. In fact, they're offering to shoot a wee bit.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10- Yes, I almost said, are you surprised?- I am.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13I was shocked when I saw the cauliflower.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15I wasn't expecting them that size, the cauliflower!
0:11:15 > 0:11:19This was agricultural land. You guys have been working it since winter.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21I think the results are absolutely fantastic.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24I think they are because, I mean, there was a lot of work put into it.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25Any problems?
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Nay... Well, just bolting a wee bit, some of the stuff.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30That, I think, is a weather thing.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Some of my onions have bolted at home and I think it's dry.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37You know, if they get a check not long after they're planted out,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40so we've aye something to complain about!
0:11:40 > 0:11:43We've aye got something to moan about. I'm happy with this.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44- Well done.- Very happy.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Jim, that's absolutely tremendous.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56The progress they've made at Aden Country Park!
0:11:56 > 0:11:58It's a great encouragement to people
0:11:58 > 0:12:02when they see that that was just a ploughed field and, you know,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04they've progressed at different levels.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- It's all about how much time they can put in and so on.- Parsnips?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- In the middle of July. - Absolutely amazing.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12And you are going back.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14We will go back and we will be able to compare
0:12:14 > 0:12:16and we'll have a look at the harvest that's gone.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18What I love about the place is you meet the old stagers
0:12:18 > 0:12:20who've been at it for a very long time
0:12:20 > 0:12:22and the youngsters and the families.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23New ideas.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26This time we're looking at what is perma-culture as
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- we tried several years ago. - Absolutely fantastic.- Magic.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Now, back to my favourite cut flower as a hardy annual, sweet peas.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- I would have to agree with you. - Can't beat them. And the perfume...
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Now that was one of the reasons that you chose this collection.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Yes, one of the seed companies offered a collection
0:12:42 > 0:12:47and the important thing was that all of them had a nice perfume.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51- Wafting out, isn't it?- There is one or two that are quite outstanding.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54This one has taken quite a long while to recognise this man,
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Robert Uvedale, who was one of the people who helped introduce
0:12:59 > 0:13:02and popularise sweet peas way back, three centuries ago.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04- Well, it's taken a long while to recognise him.- Amazing colour.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07It's a tremendously strong grower as well.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I mean, if we go round, that's my favourite this time
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and that is very delicate and it's April In Paris.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- That's a nice name, quite subtle. - Mustn't forget dear old Percy.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21- Percy Thrower there.- And I like that one there. Almost black.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- It's got to be seen with others. - Yes.- Hasn't it?- Yes, it does.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- To...- And the flower's a bit smaller.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Now, the system you're using, it's quite intense really, isn't it?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Well, it is intense and it's meant to be for cut flower,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35not for garden display and of course what you're doing is a single cordon
0:13:35 > 0:13:38and removing all the spare growth and everything else.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41And you've got to work hard at it
0:13:41 > 0:13:43whereas this is garden display as well as providing cut flower.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Yeah, but I'm really quite impressed with the results
0:13:46 > 0:13:48so using a garden mesh...
0:13:48 > 0:13:50You had three or four different meshes last year.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- We had four different systems. - This is the one that works.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54This is the one that came up trumps.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Was sort of middle of the range price-wise
0:13:57 > 0:14:00and, I mean, basically, they just cling to it.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03You haven't got to take out the tendrils or anything
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- and we've got lovely straight stems. - Without a doubt.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Now, my collection was all about going for mainly bi colours.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Slightly different and I'm going to pick this one.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15I think that's my favourite, which is Wiltshire Ripple.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- I think that's absolutely gorgeous. Just veining.- Freckly effect.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Quite sort of wavy on the edge, it's one of the Spencer's
0:14:22 > 0:14:25which tends to be, the Spencer types are more wavy.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28And then I'm torn because look at this one, too - Nimbus.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Almost a sort of bluey, purple tinge to it.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37I thought you might pick out your friend Sir Jimmy Shand.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Of course, yes, dear old James, yes.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Isn't it funny that that's a man's name
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and this one is a lovely delicate, and that's a man's name?
0:14:44 > 0:14:46- I know.- There seems to be no correlation, does there?
0:14:46 > 0:14:50There doesn't. And I'm not so sure about this one. Slightly different colour.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52What's that one? That's Geoff Hughes,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56more sort of an orange flake, I think they describe that one as.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00In terms of value for money, they crop over a very, very long period
0:15:00 > 0:15:02and that's one of the things about this kind.
0:15:02 > 0:15:03If you keep on picking them,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06not allow them to run to seed, then they keep on going
0:15:06 > 0:15:09and maintain the quality and they last well in a vase.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- I would grow them every year. - Absolutely.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Well, after my disaster with the onions, I'm off to kill some weeds.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20I'm going to show you, what is it, three different organic methods
0:15:20 > 0:15:23of killing weeds and one inorganic method.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28Now, often on allotments we would actually use black polythene,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32black matting, you can buy things like weed fabric,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35weed barrier to put on the ground or you can use carpet
0:15:35 > 0:15:38and here is the right sort of carpet to use, I would suggest to you.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40This is the one which has the woven back.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44I would prefer not to use the one which has the foam back
0:15:44 > 0:15:47because there are one or two noxious chemicals in those foams
0:15:47 > 0:15:51which can go into the soil and can cause problems later.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55What that does is, it cuts out the sunlight,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58and plants need sunlight, so it's going to kill the weeds
0:15:58 > 0:15:59by smothering them.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01But it'll take a little while to do it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:07This product is one which has, as its active ingredient, a fatty acid,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10and the fatty acid sprayed on to the foliage of the plant
0:16:10 > 0:16:14will kill anything it touches, so this is going to kill
0:16:14 > 0:16:16all green matter, and that is something which you have to remember.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19So watch, be careful when you're spraying it.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21So the fatty acid sprayed on this,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24and we'll see just exactly what effect that will have.
0:16:25 > 0:16:30Pelargonic acid is the one that is the active ingredient in this fellow.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Now, pelargonic - Pelargonium. That's where it comes from,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36so it's an organic product, you see.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40This sprayed onto the foliage will, again, kill the weeds.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Now, I sprayed this little bit here. Look at that.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45I sprayed that ten minutes, quarter of an hour ago
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and already it's having an effect.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49How long-lasting will it be?
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Don't know, we'll have to come back and see later on.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Next to that we've got the control.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56This is the one where we'll do absolutely nothing,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00we'll let the weeds grow and see how they come through it.
0:17:00 > 0:17:06At the bottom we have one of the chemical inorganic herbicides,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08and this is glyphosate.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It's one which we often use, and we're going to spray
0:17:11 > 0:17:13the whole of that area with this.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17This will then kill all the green vegetation, as it does,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19so you've got to be careful how you use this, as well.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Once we've finished with it,
0:17:21 > 0:17:26make sure you dispose of this container carefully and properly.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Well, we'll see how they work and we'll come back later on
0:17:31 > 0:17:33and note the way that it has worked.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46This week I'm just outside Muir of Ord in Ross-Shire,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50and this is an 18th-century converted watermill.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Now, John and Rosanna Clegg moved here eight years ago.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58When we first came here I didn't know where to start my planting
0:17:58 > 0:18:01because there were so many different areas to manage.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03So I thought I would have a colour scheme.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05So this is the yellow,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09and those are the pinks but, unfortunately,
0:18:09 > 0:18:11even though I love growing things from seeds,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13sometimes you get a surprise.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15- You do, don't you? And you get the wrong colours.- Yes!
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Cos there's a lovely terracotta one.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Beautiful terracotta colours, and yellow,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22and I put these out as seedlings
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and this year they flowered for the first time
0:18:25 > 0:18:27and, guess what? They're pink.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Well, you've so much space, you're going to find somewhere else for it.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Yes, so what I would like to do is to move them all
0:18:33 > 0:18:36over into the pink border, which is over here.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Which is looking really nice at the moment.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Yes, this one is the one that I established first.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43It's a complete mixture
0:18:43 > 0:18:46but, of course, we're within the colour frame of being pink.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48This is lovely, very delicate colour.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51This is Cannon Went, a Linaria.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54It's very easy to grow from seed.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56I have quite a number of other plants in here
0:18:56 > 0:19:00that I've grown from seed, including a wild flower.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03That is hedge parsley, which is about to come out,
0:19:03 > 0:19:05- and that gives a lovely airy feel. - It's quite delicate, isn't it?
0:19:05 > 0:19:08But I like the way you've packed the border,
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- because that keeps down the weeds, doesn't it?- It certainly does!
0:19:10 > 0:19:14And this - just three plants, but doesn't it work well?
0:19:14 > 0:19:19Yes, this is because I was trying to follow one of my garden principles,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- which is to have a large-leaf plant...- That's the hosta.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24..the Hosta halcyon,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28and then the strappy-leaved plant next to it or near it,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30and that's the iris Jane Phillips,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- which does very well up here. - She's nice.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36And this is the rose, which gives an airy feel.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38This rose is called Mortimer Sackler,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40and it's a very tough rose.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43It will take the wind from the West - there's no house
0:19:43 > 0:19:46between here and the West Coast, it's all mountains.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48And it does get cold, doesn't it, in the winter?
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Very cold, because we have a bit of frost pocket.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53The frost comes off the hills and sits here near the river.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06This is my latest project, which is the blue and white border.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08I'm working on this at the moment.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12I find that the beautiful bright light in Scotland
0:20:12 > 0:20:17can make it look a bit flat, so I thought of introducing some yellow
0:20:17 > 0:20:20and I'm trying some yellow marigolds.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I also think the trees maybe make it look a little bit flat.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26And that feverfew's got the yellow centre, which is good.
0:20:26 > 0:20:27Yes, that really helps.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40This border is slightly different, cos there's not a flower in sight.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43That's true, this is a no-flower zone.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45I've chosen plants for shade.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50The hostas were chosen to be particularly slug free, if possible.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52They have the thickest of leaves.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54I don't have to water it
0:20:54 > 0:20:56because we laid the paving stones on top of the grid...
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- So the water can drip through? - And the water just drips through.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01That's really clever.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03The other interesting point is the fact,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05thanks to Prince Charles,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09he has a pyramid of wire in one of his glades,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13full of compost and planted with ferns,
0:21:13 > 0:21:17so I've had a wire round the concrete base there,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19put compost in and put the periwinkle in,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21and I've hidden my concrete lumps.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Another good idea.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37This is a shrub planting, which is of low height
0:21:37 > 0:21:38so it doesn't block the view
0:21:38 > 0:21:41but, again, I followed one of my principles,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43which is one third evergreen to two thirds deciduous.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Because we have a long winter, don't we?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- And you don't want to look at a load of sticks!- No!
0:21:49 > 0:21:50To give it structure
0:21:50 > 0:21:55I've planted three arches in box which will make a solid hedge.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57It will soon knit together and, again,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59- that's an evergreen plant, isn't it? - Yes.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Now, it's obvious to me that you are so passionate about plants,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09but it's not just about the cultivated ones.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13- Wild flowers, as well. - Yes, wild flowers are my first love.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Why in particular?
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Because they are getting scarcer in the countryside
0:22:18 > 0:22:23and the insect life they support is getting scarcer, too.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25I think it's quite complicated
0:22:25 > 0:22:27if you want to grow a wild-flower meadow
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- cos there's so many different types.- Yes, there are.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32I feel that there are three basic types.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35One is the cornfield type, which are annuals with the poppies
0:22:35 > 0:22:38and the cornflowers and a great splash of colour.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41The second type is where there's about 20% of grass
0:22:41 > 0:22:46and you have a wild flower seed mix and it's a gorgeous display.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47And that's this one here?
0:22:47 > 0:22:49This sort of one here, yes.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53And I increase it by the seedlings and by plug plants.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56But, even before I plant them,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59I grow them on in the vegetable patch to make them
0:22:59 > 0:23:02as large a plant as possible so that they can fight
0:23:02 > 0:23:05this already established community.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08So you're managing it and you would say bigger is better,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10- introducing the plants? - Yes, on the whole it is
0:23:10 > 0:23:14when you're going into an already established group.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15And the third type?
0:23:15 > 0:23:18The third type is a hay meadow, which I'd like to show you now.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28This, Carole, is our hay meadow.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31It's unimproved grassland
0:23:31 > 0:23:35and really now a rare thing in this country.
0:23:35 > 0:23:41It is actually a crop, and so it is cut and it's cut fairly soon,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43otherwise the nutrients go out of the grass,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45and it is fed to the animals.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48So the wild flowers are what you see in the grass.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51But you find one or two gems, don't you, as you're looking down?
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Yes, there are quite a few little flowers at the moment
0:23:53 > 0:23:56that you can see, but it is quite different.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59I like it, actually, when you get a bit of a breeze
0:23:59 > 0:24:03and the grass seed heads look absolutely beautiful.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I'm enjoying it at the moment but, you know, other people can, too,
0:24:06 > 0:24:08because you're opening under Scotland's Gardens.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12That's right. On Sunday the 10th of August
0:24:12 > 0:24:14we're opening at one o'clock
0:24:14 > 0:24:16and we would be delighted to welcome visitors.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19We'll put all the information in the fact sheet.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21- Thank you so much. - Thank you, Carole.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39This is a wee reminder that the feed in these baskets is beginning
0:24:39 > 0:24:41to run out so we must do a little liquid feeding now
0:24:41 > 0:24:44if they're going to continue to produce the goods.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45And aren't they just?
0:24:45 > 0:24:48These calibrachoas here are looking absolutely stunning.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50They're loving the warm weather.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54In Flanders Field the poppies blow
0:24:54 > 0:24:56between the crosses row on row
0:24:56 > 0:24:58that mark the places where we lie.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02That was the poem which I recited when I sowed these pots and plots
0:25:02 > 0:25:04of poppies earlier in the season.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Now, the pots, once we'd sown them, we tended them,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10we gave them lots of water and they've looked after themselves.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Look at that, there is the ladybird poppy, which is absolutely stunning,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16this one with the little black dots in the middle.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21This one over there, which is Papaver somniferum,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24one with the great big seed pods on it like that.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29The ones which we sowed out into the plots have not had any tending.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32They've hardly had any rain since they were sown,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34so the growth is a bit different.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38We've got tall ones and short ones, depending on the water in the soil.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41What also has happened here is we have things which are different.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44These were sold to us as Flanders poppies
0:25:44 > 0:25:47but there's one with a white centre,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50there's one here with a black centre
0:25:50 > 0:25:51and there's even a pink one.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I don't think that grew in Flanders Field.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Well, George, I'm really sorry,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59but how about this for a display of poppies?
0:25:59 > 0:26:03These are my scatter mixes, and we looked at them two weeks ago.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06This particular plot then was dominated by the sweet rocket.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10That's disappeared and now we've got these wonderful poppies.
0:26:10 > 0:26:15I think it's really good, but for me, this is definitely the winner.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18We've got the Californian poppies, they are so vibrant,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21and now what's popping up, as well, is the Sileni here
0:26:21 > 0:26:23with the pink flowers, and,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26as you start to look around, what a variety!
0:26:26 > 0:26:31In particular, I love this convolvulus Blue Ensign.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34This is the one I would grow again, it had the compost
0:26:34 > 0:26:37and it had a wonderful shake, very easy to grow.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Well, Jim, annuals are looking good.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45They're all right, but we misfired ever so slightly cos,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47if you recall, we planted plug plants
0:26:47 > 0:26:49on the same day as we sowed seed.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53In fact, yes, the plug plants did flower earlier but I don't how much.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55They've all caught up with one another now.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56What would be your favourite?
0:26:56 > 0:26:59I think the echium at the end, I like that, the old viper's bugloss.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Yeah, the bees like it, as well.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03I quite like the one behind you, George,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05the daisy-like flower, dimorphotheca.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07That's the one, and next to it is the Californian poppy,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10that one just going over but it's been stunning
0:27:10 > 0:27:12and I've got that one at home and it's doing very well indeed.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15But that's a bit of a low. I think we should finish on a high.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18I was going to maybe mention one more hardy annual if I can,
0:27:18 > 0:27:19cos I was looking at new varieties
0:27:19 > 0:27:23and there's a flax, Linum grandiflorum, "Salmon Charmer"
0:27:23 > 0:27:25and it looks gorgeous.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I could do with that, a salmon charmer!
0:27:28 > 0:27:29But it might go over, I don't know.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31I don't know how long it holds flowers
0:27:31 > 0:27:32but it's a cracking colour, isn't it?
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Yeah, so that's a high, and so is this.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- This is definitely high. - Isn't that just splendid? Isn't it?
0:27:37 > 0:27:40All that hard work done by the team and this is what we get.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44So, blackcurrants graded in size? Big Ben?
0:27:44 > 0:27:46That's Big Ben, that's a Baldwin,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48that's an old one, that's a new one,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51and Ben Connan is one of the Scottish varieties.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- What's this?- It's a Japanese variety, I think it must be,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56it's something like hinomayo, yellow.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58- It's huge!- It is very sweet.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01- I also have my eye on the cherries.- But of course.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04I think you've had more than your eye on the cherries, my dear -
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- that was a full punnet a wee while ago.- They're lovely and sweet.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10But if you'd like any more information about
0:28:10 > 0:28:12this week's programme, lots on the hardy annuals,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14it's all in the fact sheet
0:28:14 > 0:28:16and the easiest way to access that is on the website.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21And next week we're down at Dunlop, helping the really enthusiastic
0:28:21 > 0:28:24community there to redevelop a municipal park.
0:28:24 > 0:28:25- Just the two of us?- You and I.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27That's true. And young Mr B
0:28:27 > 0:28:30will be pushing my wheelchair around in the garden next week.
0:28:30 > 0:28:31THEY LAUGH
0:28:31 > 0:28:34And I think melons might be on the menu.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36- Until then, goodbye.- Goodbye.- Bye.