0:00:12 > 0:00:16Hello and welcome to Beechgrove on a cracker of a morning
0:00:16 > 0:00:19and that's following quite a sharp ground frost,
0:00:19 > 0:00:23but it's a great opportunity to get on with the work in the garden.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Following on last week's comments about putting fertilizer on the
0:00:26 > 0:00:29ground to replenish that which has been leeched out, we've got to think
0:00:29 > 0:00:32about the plants as well and this young border here
0:00:32 > 0:00:34needs a bit of attention and a bit of feeding.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Let me just tell you about the history of it. It is, of course,
0:00:37 > 0:00:40splitting off the Silver Garden from our trials ground.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42We thought it should be a little bit formal,
0:00:42 > 0:00:44so when we started way back in 2004,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47it was Euonymus "Emerald Gaiety" we had right along here
0:00:47 > 0:00:50'and I felt we might make a little square hedge and
0:00:50 > 0:00:54'it would be really quite fine and nice backing for the Silver Garden.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56'It didn't work, it didn't do what it was told,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00'so we ripped it out and thought a different range of lavenders
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'with pillars, obelisks, with clematis.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06'In the mind's eye, it looked wonderful.'
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Two hard winters sorted that lot out,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10so it's third time lucky
0:01:10 > 0:01:14and here we've got Nepeta "Six Hills Giant", we've got these pillars...
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Are they going to be pillars or pyramids? We'll discuss that later.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Of holly, Silver Queen, and then "Silver Beauty" Lonicera.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Now, what I've been doing is taking the canes out of the Silver Queen
0:01:25 > 0:01:29here, because they were quite blown and unstable, and putting up a firm,
0:01:29 > 0:01:35a really firm post to hold that leaning shoot going all the way up.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38I've also been weeding and then putting in the fertilizer
0:01:38 > 0:01:43round the plants and finally, finishing it off with...
0:01:43 > 0:01:47the fork and it's then, when you're really paying attention
0:01:47 > 0:01:51and getting up close, you can observe several things.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Look at that...albino shoot of holly.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57I remember when I saw that as a youngster, I thought,
0:01:57 > 0:02:00"I'm going to make a fortune! A new variety! Get cuttings of it!"
0:02:00 > 0:02:04It won't root. Now, back to the work of the day, which is, of course,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06putting on the fertilizer and gently forking it in.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10We're using a slow release organic fertilizer, which, in fact,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14is blood, fish and bone, and how much? Well...about...
0:02:15 > 0:02:19..that much around each plant, just like that, just like that.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Take the weeds out when you're at it.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24And fork, gently fork it through.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Now then, we come to the next holly and do you see that?
0:02:29 > 0:02:33That's wind rock, it's blowing about, it's unstable.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37That's why we're taking the cane out and putting a stout stake in
0:02:37 > 0:02:39because we want these guys to be straight up.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Now then, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Every garden's got to start from somewhere.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Find out where these are going.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55And you might be used to seeing one or two of these.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57It's the dog's tooth violet,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59but wait till you see how many I've found.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Chris, we're back in the Fruit House again.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Slightly different cos we haven't got that swimming pool,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08- it's all been filled in. - It looks a lot tidier, doesn't it?
0:03:08 > 0:03:10But it does really open up the opportunity to fill it
0:03:10 > 0:03:13full of a hugely diverse range of plant material.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It's all about keeping them small
0:03:15 > 0:03:17and getting as many different forms of fruit as possible.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Yes, growing them in pots. So, I'm excited about this one,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22never grown a quince before.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Well, it's a pretty vigorous plant, I mean,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27quince trees are enormous and that's not on a dwarfing rootstock,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30but we're trying to keep it in a relatively small container.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32So, that is one way of trying to keep it fairly small,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35by pruning it and cramming it into a pot,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38but these ones are on dwarf rooting stock.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41This cherry, it'd be nice to have the comparison with the one
0:03:41 > 0:03:44that's growing in the greenhouse itself, but not a good shape.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45We've only got two main stems.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Yeah, it's a nice dessert cherry, it's called Celeste,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50but it definitely indicates that it needs the pruning,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53so we need to take the top off to encourage plenty of side growths
0:03:53 > 0:03:56in here and sacrifice the flowers, which is really painful to do!
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- I know!- Cos you want to get its fruits as soon as possible,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01but I think if we take those flowers off now,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04we won't get the fruits, but we'll get a much better head on it.
0:04:04 > 0:04:05- It's all about shape first.- Yeah.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07This is quite a good specimen though.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Already we've potted it up, Rochester, but I would take
0:04:11 > 0:04:14that one off, you know, that's the head of the tree, basically.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Yeah, Peach Rochester, you know, I used to grow this in my
0:04:16 > 0:04:19cold glasshouse and I just found it such a good performer.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24Orange flesh, rosy skin to it, very juicy, very prolific,
0:04:24 > 0:04:25and pretty easy to grow,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28but you can see that it's quite a vigorous plant with all these
0:04:28 > 0:04:31extended growths here, so, again, I think
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- we'll be pruning off about here... - Have you got the secateurs then?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36- Maybe we should have a wee start. - Am I allowed?- Yeah, definitely.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38I would take that one right back.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Yeah, well, that one can definitely go.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42And then, like, find an outward facing bud,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45so, I mean, is it obvious, like that one, would you cut just above there?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- Yeah, I think we're halving the stems, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- Just take that one off.- And then you'd end up going right the way round.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55As for the potting itself, we're going to go for an apricot
0:04:55 > 0:04:59and...yeah, bare root plants, you save a bit of money, don't you?
0:04:59 > 0:05:03You do, and we're right at the end of the bare root season, aren't we,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05now? So, you do want to take advantage of it.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08This is Apricot Isabella, which is a Gloucestershire tree,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- I'm pleased to say.- Oh, well, it's going to do well then, isn't it?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- Of course, it's bound to be a good specimen.- Nice and hardy.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Very hardy and another very prolific fruiter,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19but what's fascinating about it is, just look at this,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22look at the way that it's producing its internodes there,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25- the distance between one bud and the next.- It's very tight.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- It's going to be a neat habit, a small tree.- Yeah. Compare that with
0:05:28 > 0:05:31something like Rochester where you've got several centimetres.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Because each one of these little buds is going to produce
0:05:34 > 0:05:37a side shoot, it's on the side shoots we get fruit.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I think this is going to be absolutely festooned with fruit.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42But would we just nip out the tips as well?
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Because it is bare root, it's under a little bit of stress.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Yeah, so, I think we need to just go in and maybe just take the tips out,
0:05:49 > 0:05:51encourage a bit of side-shooting on there.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57So, we should have, well, a whole fruit bowl by the end of the season.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Well, maybe not this season. Next season.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09Last year, Beechgrove came to Scone Palace in Perthshire to
0:06:09 > 0:06:11celebrate the delights of the Chilli Festival.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15This year, head gardener Brian Cunningham has a new project
0:06:15 > 0:06:18on his plate...establishing a kitchen garden.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Now, Brian, this is a fairly new project for you,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29so what was it like before?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Well, up until a couple of years ago, this area
0:06:31 > 0:06:34was basically just grass and weeds.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39And, behind us, we used to have an old wooden greenhouse that had
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- seen better days as well. - But, let's explain.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44What's the kitchen garden all about?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47The kitchen garden's an area of the garden where we grow vegetables
0:06:47 > 0:06:50and cut flowers and all the produce is taken down to the palace
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- and used there.- And then who does all the work? Apart from yourself!
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Well, at the palace,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59we have a small gardening team of four gardeners and we also get
0:06:59 > 0:07:02a lot of help from our community team from a bunch of volunteers,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05we have another four of them as well who come in on a regular basis.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07And then I think it's really great as well, Brian,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09you're involving the younger generation.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Are local schools coming in?
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Yeah, we've just started a wee project with them too
0:07:13 > 0:07:14and they've been great fun,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17just learning all about growing vegetables from seed,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19right through to harvesting and hopefully,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21we'll all sit down and enjoy a bit of food as well at the end.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30So, can you all remember what we did?
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Three weeks ago was the last time you guys were here and we all did
0:07:33 > 0:07:37a bit of seed sowing and this is the results of all your seed sowing.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Very good, eh? Can you all find your own trays?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- There's mine.- Is that yours? - That one's mine.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43That's really good results.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Now, can you all remember the three different vegetables we've sown
0:07:48 > 0:07:51and who can work out which one is which?
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- Um, lettuce.- We did lettuce, that's right, that's right.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- We did beetroot.- Beetroot, which one's the beetroot?
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- Which one's the beetroot? - Erm, wasn't it those ones?
0:08:01 > 0:08:02What are these ones?
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- I'm not sure, those aren't mine. - Onions!- That's right.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Wasn't the smallest ones that one?
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- Because you had to put, like, eight in.- Yeah, you put eight in.- Yeah.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- Yeah.- Yeah.- The spring onion?- Yeah, the spring onion.- That's right.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18So, when we harvest it, we want to harvest a bunch of spring onions,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20so we sowed eight seeds, didn't we, per module?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Well, I think you've done a great job with this, but there's
0:08:22 > 0:08:26more work to be done today, so, Brian, what are they doing?
0:08:26 > 0:08:28OK, so we're going to divide you into two groups now.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30If I give you a tray of lettuce, you're going to head
0:08:30 > 0:08:33into the polytunnel and we're going to do some planting up in there.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35And if I give you a tray of potatoes,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38you're heading out into the kitchen garden for some potato planting.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Are we having tea and cake?
0:08:45 > 0:08:46And a scone.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08OK, so we're going to do some lettuce planting now.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10So, what we're going to do, we're going to do it in these two blocks.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12We'll have two on that side, two on this side,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15and you're all going to plant two rows each.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18So, first of all, we need to get our finger
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and create a little planting hole.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Then after we've got our planting holes,
0:09:22 > 0:09:24you're all going to get one of these sticks.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26You use the stick to go to the bottom of the plug...
0:09:27 > 0:09:29..and remember to hold the...
0:09:29 > 0:09:31hold the plant by the leaf.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34OK. Does anybody know why we hold the plant by the leaf?
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Why do you think we do that?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39When we hold it like that, we could hold it too hard
0:09:39 > 0:09:41and then it crushes all the soil.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Exactly, so, if we do any damage, then it will grow another leaf,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46but if we damage all the roots
0:09:46 > 0:09:49then the plant's not got a chance to grow, has it?
0:09:49 > 0:09:50So, once we've got our plug,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53we're just going to gently pop it in the hole...
0:09:53 > 0:09:56tight up against the line, put a little bit of soil round,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59and then, most important, a nice firming in.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03And then we're going to use our planting stick to measure
0:10:03 > 0:10:07the distance between that plug and the second plant.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09And then you just start again.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26So, how are you finding that?
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Well, it's quite hard cos
0:10:29 > 0:10:32when you're putting your hand in the soil,
0:10:32 > 0:10:37it always just falls down in and it's hard cos you always want to
0:10:37 > 0:10:40reach for the stem in the soil, but you have to reach for the leaves.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Reach for the leaves, that's the most important thing, isn't it?
0:10:43 > 0:10:46And I think we could now leave you to it
0:10:46 > 0:10:48because we're going to plant some tatties with the rest of...
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- Potatoes!- Potatoes!
0:11:03 > 0:11:05So, do you all want to put your trays down
0:11:05 > 0:11:07and then we'll do a little demonstration just now.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09So, do you all want to get a trowel each?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14So, when you get your trowel, you're into your hole
0:11:14 > 0:11:17and the hole you're wanting to make is about ten centimetres deep,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19so that's about the depth of this trowel, OK?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22So, you want to go in, give it a good little turn, break it up...
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Shall we try that? Shall we all try that?
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- Yeah, it's easy. - And you can see some of the manure.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- How are you getting on?- Yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Brian's going to lay them out, so that then we know where we planted.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- Is it quite hard work?- Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Just give it a twist, try and twist it around a little bit.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54So, do you all like eating potatoes?
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- Yes.- I only like mash. - You only like mash.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- What's your favourite way of eating potatoes?- Eh...chips.
0:12:07 > 0:12:08So, what did you enjoy about it?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Getting mucky!
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Well, I really enjoyed it,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13- and you're going to be coming back, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And I'm going to see you in May time. What are we going to be doing?
0:12:16 > 0:12:20We're going to be in the polytunnel planting up some tomato plants.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22We're also going to be out in the garden planting up
0:12:22 > 0:12:25some of the lettuce and beetroot plugs that you've been sowing,
0:12:25 > 0:12:26and, of course, we'll be able to see
0:12:26 > 0:12:29the progress of the potatoes that the potato team have been planting.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- So, you'll be looking forward to that.- Yeah.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33OK, we'll see you soon.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46There's almost no area of the Beechgrove Garden that's
0:12:46 > 0:12:48devoid of a planting opportunity, largely
0:12:48 > 0:12:53because we can construct raised beds even where there's no soil.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55If it's just a concrete base or a tarmac pad,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57standard construction like this,
0:12:57 > 0:13:02softwood timber up to about 450ml high, back-filled with
0:13:02 > 0:13:06organic matter and topsoil, a sort of garden compost mix.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Great if you want to grow fruits and veggies,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11the standard range of salad crops, that type of thing.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14But, if you want to try something that's a little different,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17and gives you a planting opportunity for plants that are much more
0:13:17 > 0:13:18exotic, those that are
0:13:18 > 0:13:21perhaps a bit temperamental for your garden or that normally you'd
0:13:21 > 0:13:25grow under the protection of glass and polythene, you can
0:13:25 > 0:13:28always try a hotbed, which is what we've got here.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Just to explain how hot this can get,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36the thermometer that's stuck in the top of it is reading...
0:13:37 > 0:13:40..45 degrees. That's not bad,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42considering that that temperature is going to be
0:13:42 > 0:13:46warming the soil and warming the roots of your plant.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49The warmer they get, the faster they're going to grow,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52and the happier exotic fruits and vegetables are going to be.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55As a comparison, a standard bed...
0:13:56 > 0:13:58..eight degrees.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00So, you can imagine how excitable your plants are going to
0:14:00 > 0:14:04be in this one, as opposed to a standard bed.
0:14:04 > 0:14:05So, how'd you get it so hot?
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Well, it's a standard timber construction lined with
0:14:08 > 0:14:10polythene to stop any moisture escaping.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Then a 20cm layer of top soil and compost mix,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19exactly the same as in our standard bed.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Beneath that...is a layer
0:14:22 > 0:14:26of charcoal. This is actually a standard product from
0:14:26 > 0:14:29nurseries and garden centres, it's a coir and charcoal mix.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31The reason for putting charcoal in is that
0:14:31 > 0:14:34when the microorganisms are involved in releasing
0:14:34 > 0:14:38nutrients in the soil, they generate toxins which can prove
0:14:38 > 0:14:42problematic to plants, but the charcoal absorbs all of those toxins.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44So, there's a thin layer of that.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49To stop the charcoal falling through into the next layer,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53some newspapers soaked in water and then, I have to say,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57the system gets slightly questionable and certainly pretty smelly,
0:14:57 > 0:15:02because there's a layer of animal bedding which is soaked in urine
0:15:02 > 0:15:06and then a layer of chicken dung.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09And beneath that...
0:15:09 > 0:15:10the kind of engine room,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14the kind of rotting factory of this whole bed, this is hay,
0:15:14 > 0:15:16bales that have been broken up and you can see,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20once this has been soaked in water, look at the steam coming off of that.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Amazing how quickly it starts to break down.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25It's rotting taking place.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30The heat is created by the microorganisms literally
0:15:30 > 0:15:33bouncing off one another in a frenzy trying to digest all of this
0:15:33 > 0:15:37material and it's that that's warming this soil here.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41It's a sort of readymade underfloor heating system that anything
0:15:41 > 0:15:44you want to grow, in our case, courgettes at this end
0:15:44 > 0:15:47and melons at this end, and we're going to test to see whether
0:15:47 > 0:15:50I can get my melons bigger than Jim's.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55- Did you hear that?!- There's a challenge for you.- He's at it again!
0:15:55 > 0:15:57It was marrows the last time, melons this time.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00I'll tell you, it's sweetness that counts, dear boy, not size
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- when you come to melons. - Quality, quality.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03Yeah, sweetness, sweet peas.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07I know, well, sweet peas, one of my favourite cut flowers, Jim,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09and what we're doing is we're actually looking at two
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- different methods of the way that you can grow them.- Yeah.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13And remember, last year,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I was looking at four different systems, but they were all about the
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- fact that the sweet peas could just scramble up there.- Sure.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22'And this was the best one, a rigid plastic mesh, um,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24'just a couple of inches in diameter.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26'Readily available, isn't it?'
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- And it's not that expensive. - No, quite.- Whereas you are...?
0:16:28 > 0:16:32I'm going for the...as it were, the cut flower purist show bench
0:16:32 > 0:16:34type thing with the long, straight stems and the big
0:16:34 > 0:16:38- heads of flowers, and all the rest of it, cordons, single cordons... - Hmm.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42- ..that, I always regarded, is for garden display.- Yes.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45And picking the flowers becomes secondary,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47because, obviously, the tendrils and everything pull them
0:16:47 > 0:16:50in and you get twisted stems and you get wee flowers.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52I was surprised with this system.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54It'll be interesting to see, but, you know,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56you're looking at just one side-shoot.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Absolutely. One plant.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02And here we've got...it's been stalked,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05the top has been taken out of it, but this is the fella I'm
0:17:05 > 0:17:08looking for, this brand-new, very strong side-shoot.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11When it's established, that one will be cut back and this will be
0:17:11 > 0:17:16taken on, tied in and the tendrils removed, big long stems. Mmm!
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- Lots of work!- Fragrant, of course.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Sweet peas, for me, have got to be fragrant as well as these
0:17:21 > 0:17:25delightful colours and, um, all of the names will be on the factsheet.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- At the moment, they all look them same!- Well, this one, look, I've got
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- two side-shoots there. I'm going to keep everything on there. - Absolutely.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- I don't take off the tendrils... - You're going for quantity.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- Quantity, low-maintenance.- Yes, yes.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40And I'm also going for a collection that are bi-colours,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44I've got one that's three colours. I've even got Sir Jimmy Shand.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47That'll dance a long way. These are fragrant and
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- there's one of them called Percy Thrower!- Oh, nice!
0:17:49 > 0:17:52And he had a fragrance about him, because he was a pipe smoker.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57I worked with him several times when I was in Shropshire, way back when!
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Here in Fife, on the East Coast, I've come to Wemyss Castle.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12And I'm going to take a walk in the woodlands with
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Charlotte Wemyss to look at some absolutely special spring colour.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30When we came to live here in 1993, these woods were really in a bad
0:18:30 > 0:18:35state and so we cut out an awful lot of the dead trees and the overhanging
0:18:35 > 0:18:38growth and everything like that and, I suppose, we let the light in.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40So, basically, Charlotte, opening up the canopy.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44Yes, we opened it up considerably and, whether by chance or luck,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- I don't know, the eryths began to creep along.- Yes, the erythroniums.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- I know.- I have never seen anything like this before!
0:18:50 > 0:18:52They're amazing, aren't they? They're just amazing.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Look at them in great big drifts everywhere.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- So, some of them were here already? - A tiny, tiny amount were here.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Michael's grandfather planted them in the very early '70s by seed
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and he always got furious cos they would never spread.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08He used to go out every evening in the autumn and spread these little seeds.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Nothing would make them grow.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Maybe it's the time they take naturally or maybe it was the light,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15maybe it was a bit of both, but the whole thing, really, is,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17without grandfather, they wouldn't be here.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30Charlotte, this is absolutely amazing!
0:19:30 > 0:19:32I mean, you see a swathe of them
0:19:32 > 0:19:35and then you sort of draw your eye into another clump.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38That's it, you see, and once you get used to them,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40you sort of you see all the drifts through here
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and then look up here, all of that is...I mean, look at this,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45have you ever seen anything so ravishing?
0:19:45 > 0:19:49It's absolutely beautiful, I mean, I love this flower,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51but what's your fascination with it?
0:19:51 > 0:19:54I just...I love them being as extensive as this, I think
0:19:54 > 0:19:59the colour is absolutely amazing, and they're like little fairy hats.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02You look how sweet that is, I mean, isn't that incredible?
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And look inside there...it's gorgeous!
0:20:05 > 0:20:07The colour, the yellow against the pink.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11I first met an erythronium in '76
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- and the label had been cut off very neatly and it said, "Ronium."- Oh!
0:20:14 > 0:20:19So, I spent hours looking for roniums and, of course,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- I hadn't seen the "eryth" bit that was missing.- Yeah.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23And then I came here and there they all were.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26The common name is the dog's tooth violet.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Yup, dog's tooth violet, and you can get them in yellow and white
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- and all the rest of them, but these are the revolutums.- Yes.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34And these are the ones that sell for a fortune in all
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- the posh garden centres. - Well, they are expensive.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Well, the difficulty with them
0:20:38 > 0:20:41is that they are so deep to dig out, you can't just help yourself.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43You'd think, "Hurray! I'd like to give these to my friends."
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- They go down really deep.- They've got a piece of cotton, literally, with a corm
0:20:47 > 0:20:50at the bottom, so, by the time you've dug them, you've snapped it all off.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Oh, gosh. But, I mean, the foliage is attractive, isn't it?
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- I know, I know. - As well as the flowers.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56The whole thing is just a joy.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- I think it's completely ravishing, all of it.- Yeah.- Look at that.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01And I think as well, it looks delicate,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- but look how hardy this plant is. - I know!
0:21:03 > 0:21:06And then you run over them with a tractor and they bounce up again.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08So, they really have spread, haven't they?
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Yeah, they've gone absolutely mad. I mean, they're just everywhere.
0:21:12 > 0:21:13So, is it just this area?
0:21:13 > 0:21:15No, no, no, I mean, they go over there as well,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18and then there's a place I'd love to show you, where I've put
0:21:18 > 0:21:21corms and seed and everything, and they're just beginning to sprout.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30This is another lovely spring bulb, isn't it? "Gloria of the Snow."
0:21:30 > 0:21:34They're absolutely beautiful. I love that blue, it's like nothing else.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36- And still the dog's tooth violet popping up.- I know.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- Look, look, they're pale now.- Yes, they are a paler pink, aren't they?
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- Look, that's almost white.- Hmm. - And there's another clump behind you.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Wow, they are, they're everywhere.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Perhaps they'll bloom in that colour, which would be rather nice.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01So, my plan is, one day, one day, is to have all this area stuffed
0:22:01 > 0:22:03with hellebores of all different colours and everything.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Well, again, they kind of self-seed, don't they?
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Well, they do, they're meant to. Let's hope.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10And then this is my new nursery of the eryths.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- So, how long have these been in? - These have been in about three years.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15When you start to see the foliage, look, there's
0:22:15 > 0:22:17a patch of foliage coming up there.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20And then the seed heads, I just pick and pick and pick,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22and put them all in a plastic bag, and shake them,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24- which gets them out of the little holders.- Yes.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- And then I just chuck them any old where.- Just naturally spread them.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Yeah, hope for the best and they seem to sink through the leaf mould
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- and, look, proof of the pudding. - Timing as well, isn't it?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Every year it's another year and you think,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39"Another year older, another year on." One day, one day,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42I can just see a whole sea of hellebores in here with the odd
0:22:42 > 0:22:45erythroniums, cos we can't be greedy, we've got thousands of eryth.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47- Well, I love woodland gardening. - So do I.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49I think woodland gardening's wonderful.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00So, how long has the Magnolia campbellii been flowering for?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Well, we've had about three weeks this time, which is unusual,
0:23:03 > 0:23:07because, normally, three or four days and you get a spanking frost and...
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- And they get spoilt, don't they? - Absolutely gone.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13And then the primulas as well, lovely colours.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Well, these have never gone to bed, which is quite extraordinary.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I mean, I took a photograph of that cowslip on Christmas Day.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- Christmas Day for a cowslip! - Everything's out of sync, isn't it?
0:23:22 > 0:23:24It's completely mad!
0:23:30 > 0:23:33- Well, we've got all the family. - Yes, we have, we absolutely have.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35I see you've even brought in some of the woodland
0:23:35 > 0:23:36plants into the walled garden.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39I know I have, but I can't kind of help myself, really,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42cos it's the perfect place to put it, and I just think it looks
0:23:42 > 0:23:47so brilliant here and I love the way that the hellebore matches the
0:23:47 > 0:23:50trillium leaf, although, you know, obviously, it's two separate plants.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Yeah, but it's a nice planting combination, as you say,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57- the right spot because it's shady... - Exactly.- ..fairly moist here as well.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It is, and then, hopefully, I can fill in the gaps with more
0:24:00 > 0:24:04begonias and things, but it's the perfect corner and I just love it.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- Well, it's been a perfect time for me. I love your garden.- Good.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- I love woodland gardens...- So, do I. - ..so, thank you very much. - Thank you.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Well, there's yet more pruning to be done.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19I'm amongst the heathers this time.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22You see in front of me there, a couple of spring flowering ones,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24they have a wee while to go before they'll need pruning.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26There's still a lot of colour in them.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29This one here, the sooner it's pruned, the better.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Hedge clippers and, really, basically,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34you're taking the flowered shoots.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39Don't go too hard into the old wood as it were,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41because these fellows don't like that.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Just one of the amazing things about plants,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49is that every cell in a plant has the ability to regenerate itself,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52and that means that you can get free propagation material from
0:24:52 > 0:24:57low lying branches like on this Viburnum plicatum here.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58Just excavate a trench...
0:25:00 > 0:25:02..put your branch in the ground,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04peg it down quite firmly...
0:25:06 > 0:25:08..and then you can backfill...
0:25:09 > 0:25:13..to hold it in place and, before you backfill the end...
0:25:13 > 0:25:17just scratch the underside with your thumbnail.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20That exposes the cells that are active.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It's here that the rooting will take place, just like in a cutting.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26You can then peg that into the ground...
0:25:26 > 0:25:29cover it over, and that single branch will provide me
0:25:29 > 0:25:32with 8 new plants within 12 months.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Well, back here at Beechgrove, I've found another erythronium.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41This is of a variety called White Beauty, it's a real gem,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44but, you know, these plants are very expensive
0:25:44 > 0:25:46and Charlotte explains to us why.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49They are absolute devils to get out,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52because their roots go down to Australia and,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56if I can just demonstrate to you, for instance...I hope this works.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Careful, careful!
0:25:59 > 0:26:03This is the piece of cotton that goes down to Australia
0:26:03 > 0:26:06and this is two and a half years old, and,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08in another two years' time, it will be even longer.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Yes. So, it's difficult to dig them out, isn't it?
0:26:10 > 0:26:12It's impossible to dig them out,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14unless you have a forklift or something,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16but, just with spade or a trowel, forget it,
0:26:16 > 0:26:20cos you always snip this bit and then you've lost it, you've got nothing.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23So, that, I think is why they are as expensive as they are.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Well, we're a bit spoiled for choice here.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- What a display, isn't it wonderful? - It's stunning, isn't it, yeah.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39And it's going to go on for some weeks yet.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- Yeah, it's absolutely beautiful. - Myosotis still to come.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Tulips still to come. What's your favourite?
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Well, the perfume to start off with!
0:26:46 > 0:26:50That's me after my hotbed experience with all the dung. Sorry about that!
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Well, it is amazing coming off the hyacinths at the moment,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55I mean, which one would you pick?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58I'd definitely go baby blue eyes in the corner down there.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00I think that iridescent blue, as the light drops in the evening,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03it just sings out from the garden, it's beautiful.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05These were some of the varieties that we grew from, you know,
0:27:05 > 0:27:06- the year before.- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09I mean, they were new bulbs, but, obviously,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12we've had a good winter and they really look stunning.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Of the violas, I think that one there, Penny Mickey.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17They're like little faces, they're lovely.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Yeah, I think the winter has been kind to them and we can enjoy that.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Next one along is Marley's.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- I was down there earlier and they were all looking at me...- Yeah...
0:27:26 > 0:27:28..transfixed with it, it's gorgeous.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30But it's a lovely colour theme, isn't it?
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Cos it tends to be the blues, the whites and the pinks and then,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- look at this as well!- Mm-hm! - I mean, that's gorgeous.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39- Asparagus, parsley... - Look at the rhubarb there.
0:27:39 > 0:27:40I know, forced rhubarb.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43- The colour alone is worth growing it for, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- And the flavour of that, so sweet. - Yeah, wonderful.- Beautiful stuff.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Very much so. Well, if you'd like any more information about
0:27:49 > 0:27:52this week's programme, you'll find it all on the factsheet
0:27:52 > 0:27:55and the easiest way to access that is on the website.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Next week, well, what am I going to be doing?
0:27:57 > 0:28:01I'm going to be on the decking, it's all about growing vegetables
0:28:01 > 0:28:03- in containers. - And, Mr Anderson, what's he up to?
0:28:03 > 0:28:06- Oh, he's going to be sowing some Flanders poppies.- Right.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Chris, you're out and about?
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Second visit to the new-build families, so moving them on,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14this time planting fruits and veg,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17- and also trying to get herbaceous borders started.- Magic.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Great stuff, well, one of the things that gets left, I think,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22sometimes we're so keen to get out, are the house plants
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and the flowering plants indoors, so I'm going to have a look at that.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27I hope it's raining and I don't miss something.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Oh, now, that's not fair, that's not fair!
0:28:30 > 0:28:32- Until next time, goodbye. - Goodbye.