0:00:12 > 0:00:14Hello there.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17And welcome to Costa Beechgrove!
0:00:17 > 0:00:19What a stunning day it is.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21I've chosen it to be planting some sweet corn,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24and I just had to go from my favourite kneeler.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27I can't do the job without a kneeler, nowadays.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29The story of the sweet corn is they are going this bed,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32which has been prepared, fertilised and everything else,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34and was covered with black polythene.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37We are now ready to start planting, so we turn the polythene over
0:00:37 > 0:00:41because the other side is white. Black polythene helps to warm it up.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43White polythene reflects the light.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46We've grown sweet corn before at Beechgrove, several years ago.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50We've always grown it in a tunnel, because it does need a good start.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53So I reckoned that if we planted them this way
0:00:53 > 0:00:56and then put a big cloche over the top of them,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58we can get them off to a real whale of a start.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00We'll take the cloche off end of June, something like that,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02when they are beginning to touch the roof.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05And away they go. We've got three varieties.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08We've planted quite close and grown them in root trainers.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Look at these. Aren't they stunning? Beautiful plants.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17The reason for planting them close is these plants are wind pollinated.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19They have male and female flowers on the same plant.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22If you've got them close together, the wind blowing through,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26you get nice pollination and you get full cobs at the end of the day.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29That's why they're planted as close as this.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Now, the big problem, of course, is watering,
0:01:32 > 0:01:33especially on a slope,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36where the water landing on the polythene would run to the bottom.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39But before we put the polythene down, we have a seep hose there
0:01:39 > 0:01:41and it goes down the bottom going back up
0:01:41 > 0:01:46and we make sure they're well irrigated, so it's all go.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50It's time I got on. Now, in the rest of the programme...
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Six weeks ago, I met two families trying to salvage
0:01:55 > 0:01:59something from the rubble they found in their back yard.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03And, this week, I'm returning to see how they getting on.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05And I'm 25 miles north of Glasgow.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08With a setting like this, just wait till you see the garden.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15This is our last chance to admire the spring bedding display,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18because soon that is going to have to come out
0:02:18 > 0:02:19and summer bedding going in.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Look at that white tulip there, it is called White Marvel.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I think it is really lovely.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I'm going under cover, into the polytunnel,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32cos there's lots going on here, and starting off with a plant
0:02:32 > 0:02:35that Jim was planting up for us to start off with.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38This is the New Zealand yam.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42I wanted to show you this house plant,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45which is a purple-leaved Oxalis.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47You can see the leaves are exactly the same.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51It is related, because oca is also Oxalis.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53But this one is edible
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and what we're doing is we're treating it like a potato,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01so as the foliage starts to grow, we're gradually earthing it up.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03You don't necessarily have to do that,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07but I am hoping, by earthing it up, we will actually get more of a crop.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09And that is half hardy,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13so I'm going to put it outside on the decking in a couple of weeks.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Then what I have here, something ornamental,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18is the Tennessee spinning gourd.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Never grown it before. Quite tiny gourds.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24As I say, they are ornamental, so you pick them
0:03:24 > 0:03:26and dry them off for decoration.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Then we've got Little Lanterns - Cape gooseberry - a small plant
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and you get those lovely orange fruits from them.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Quite a tang to them.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Then we are going on to the pattypans, or summer squashes,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and I've got four varieties.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46There are some that are green, some will be yellow, some will be white.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50And then do you remember I grew cucamelons last year?
0:03:50 > 0:03:53What it said was to overwinter the roots
0:03:53 > 0:03:56and, by doing that, you'd maybe get an earlier crop.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Well, I'm afraid it's a bit of a disaster.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03If we try and find the roots here, nothing is happening.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05A little bit like the story with our chillies -
0:04:05 > 0:04:08overwintering those plants. It didn't work for us.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11My suggestion again is try and grow them from seed
0:04:11 > 0:04:16and you get these lovely fruits that have a taste of lime to them.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19As usual, we like to grow the cucumbers,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22and they do need fairly warm temperatures,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25especially when you start to germinate them from seed.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28And it's quite important you quite have high humidity
0:04:28 > 0:04:29when you're growing them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33I'm using the usual technique of strings.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38What I like to do is put the string in the bottom.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43Pull out one of the plants, and this is a variety called Mini Munch.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48Basically, you put it underneath and, as the roots grow,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51that will keep the string in place.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56The other thing I like to do is plunge a pot right next to it.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Because what happens, if you actually water
0:04:59 > 0:05:02around the neck of the plant, especially if it is cold water,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05the plant itself can rot.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07So, instead, water into the pot.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11The other thing is I'm going to do a little bit of a trial
0:05:11 > 0:05:13with this variety, Mini Munch.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18I'm going to grow one lot in a peat-free compost
0:05:18 > 0:05:20and the other in a peat-based compost,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22a bit like I'm doing with the potatoes on the decking,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24and we'll have a comparison.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27The other thing is it is called Mini Munch, the name gives
0:05:27 > 0:05:30it away, because the cucumbers are only three inches in size.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35We're up in the show veg tunnel, where we've been growing show veg
0:05:35 > 0:05:39to put on the bench and, last year, we had a problem with our beetroot.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41It was too big.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44What we're doing is we're going to show this variety,
0:05:44 > 0:05:46which is, I think, called Pablo,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50and I'm going to sow it now, so it doesn't get to big.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54You want beetroot about the size of a tennis ball when you pull it.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56That's it there.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58We've got little seeds which are blue in colour,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and makes it absolutely brilliant, so you can see them.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04We'll thin these out later on, one per station,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06and that's going to be ideal.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Now, this thinning has got to be done to this lot in here as well.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13These are carrots, a variety called Sweet Candle,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16which is a stump-rooted carrot. Brilliant for the show bench.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19And we've got quite a number sown at each station
0:06:19 > 0:06:22and I want to thin these out to one per station,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25so we get carrots about that round at the top and about that length.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26That's the idea.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30So what I'm going to do is hold one carrot to the side like that,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33so that we can pull all these out.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35There's only one carrot left.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38And that will grow into a show-bench winner.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39At least, I hope so.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47- OK then, Jim, organised? - I'm glad to see you, my dear boy.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50In a manner of speaking, I don't know what the dickens I'm doing,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53apart from drawing drills for seeds.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I've just come from a place where we're growing conventional veg.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58This is uncommon veggies.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02You will recognise these as flowers that you'd normally grow in beds.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I have to say, it's a kind of wacky arrange!
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I mean, it's all over the place. Yes, these are bedding plants.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Normally, it's a bedding plant. This is called a Perilla.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14It's got this wonderful purple on the reverse of the leaf.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18I see it as a wonderful plant - big purple leaves, marvellous thing.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20- Are we supposed to eat that? - We eat the leaves of that.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24We can use it in stir-fries or we can use it in salads.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- I say "we" - people who like it can. - This is true, yes.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31We've got things like the Electric Daisy,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- where we'll eat the flowers of that. - Oh, really?
0:07:33 > 0:07:37And we've got things like yacon, where we eat the roots, or the tuber.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40It's like a dahlia. We've got these unusual things.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Somebody wrote to us about growing something unusual,
0:07:42 > 0:07:44we're ahead of the game!
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I recognise this - it's sea kale. It's going in a pot.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50That's going in a pot, because we're going to have to move that.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Look at this thing here, this is an unusual one.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- Yes, indeed. - If I can read it off the label,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58it's Wa Wa Cai Choi' Zha Cai.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- We're off!- Like a Hawaiian song.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03That is a brassica.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05The leaves will taste like cabbage leaves
0:08:05 > 0:08:07and you can use them in stir-fries.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- What is that in the wee tray there? - Isn't that lovely?
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Look at the colours in that.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15That is what we would call sweet corn, Jim, or popcorn.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17And it's the coloured variety.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- Cabbage.- The one at the end... Ah, but it's not just any cabbage.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- That's the...- Walking Stick. - ..Walking Stick cabbage.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26That's going to get up to there. That's why it's at the end.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29In this ground, boy, they'll be like fence posts by next year!
0:08:29 > 0:08:30We better get on with it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- You take the drills out and I will sow the seeds.- OK, OK.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Now then, it's time to try and catch up with that young Mr Beardshaw.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41He's away again to see his new clients down the coast.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42The new gardeners.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50It was just six weeks ago
0:08:50 > 0:08:54that I first met my first met my two new-build families,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58who had both taken on plots in new-build estates
0:08:58 > 0:09:02that were largely built on this, the remains of rubble
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and all sorts of debris that developers leave behind.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10And, after a lot of hard labour and moving of all of the detritus,
0:09:10 > 0:09:15well, they're beginning to experience the fruits of their labours.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Anna and Andrew Robertson and son Fergus were keen
0:09:21 > 0:09:27to have a productive garden in their 10 by 10 plot in Portlethen.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30The original soil, well, it was soggy and boggy
0:09:30 > 0:09:34and the only way of solving the problem was to build raised beds.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40We could then start planting the trees
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and those initial sowings of vegetables.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- This is starting to look like a proper growing garden.- Isn't it just?
0:09:51 > 0:09:54I'm very impressed at how well we are doing.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56There's some young beetroot coming through.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- A little bit of lettuce under here. What's under that one?- Rocket.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02And leaving the cloches on to get them to germinate
0:10:02 > 0:10:04and get the plants to fill out is a good idea,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07because, on a day like today, even if it's 10, 12 degrees outside,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10inside here, it could be 15 to 18 degrees,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12- which is exactly what they need. - It's a big difference.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13The strawberries look good.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Peas are almost ready for those wonderful nests of pea sticks
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- you can put over the top. - Just a little bit of support.- Yep.
0:10:20 > 0:10:26Now, apples. This is Scrumptious. It's a real winner.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30It's very sweet, very succulent, and a good, rosy flesh to it, too.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32When it comes into flower,
0:10:32 > 0:10:37the beauty of this plant is it is considered to be partly self-fertile.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- OK.- The pollen will be transferred from one flower to another
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- and, therefore, you'll get fruits. - With our abundance of bees.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45With your abundance of bees.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49That's the problem in an estate like this - complete absence of insects.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Ordinarily, the bees would do the job
0:10:51 > 0:10:54and, in time, they will, once everyone else plants their gardens.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58However, in the short-term, it's a little bit of a make-up brush.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Go into the ripe flower. You can see the ripe one there.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03The anthers, really a nice, golden colour.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Give them a dust and go on to the other flowers
0:11:06 > 0:11:08and just go round and touch.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- You're doing the job of the bee. Really important.- OK.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15But, not all apples are created equal.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Because, over there, we have a small bush tree, that's Egremont Russet.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24It is a really good, old variety. Very disease-resistant.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26But it needs the pollen from this one.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28It needs two plants in order to pollinate.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31This is where you have to simulate the bee.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33You have to collect pollen on this,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36run over there when the flowers are open and put it on that one.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40And similarly collect pollen on that one and bring it back to this one.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42OK. The neighbours are going to be entertained.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45The neighbours will think you've completely lost the plot.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Even more so when you then dash into that corner,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50because, over there you've got your Bramley,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53which is the best of those traditional cookers.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56- Really big, very juicy fruit. - Yeah, we're quite excited.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58There's so much you can do with it.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03Bramley, just for the sake of confusion, is known as a triploid.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08You need two other plants, plus the Bramley, in order to get the apples.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11- That's why we have the combination. - Exactly.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- Only then will you get your Bramley fruits.- OK.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27'Susan and Brian Duthie had dreamt of an ornamental garden
0:12:27 > 0:12:30'to go with their new home in Cove.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34'Brian was keen to get building a deck, as well as pergolas
0:12:34 > 0:12:38'and some seats. Meanwhile, Susan and I cleared the garden
0:12:38 > 0:12:43'of what seemed like tons of stone, laid out the structure of trees
0:12:43 > 0:12:47'and hedges, and cracked on with the ornamental beds.'
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- Look at this. Colour. - Isn't it great?!- It looks fantastic.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03- You need a sign hanging on the gate - "open to the public".- £2 a view.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- £2?!- It's getting better. - THEY LAUGH
0:13:06 > 0:13:10You're allowed to walk on the decking now, Chris. It's good,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12because we've had two coats of paint, so it's much better.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14I'm too nervous to tread on the deck after last time!
0:13:14 > 0:13:16After being told off, I want to stay on the grass.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19How are the plants coming on? How are you living with them?
0:13:19 > 0:13:20I think the plants are great.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23I can see... We've got the higher ones, the lower ones,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27the ones that are spreading out a bit. Most of them look happy.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29One or two I'm concerned about.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32And Brian has done a fabulous job with the pergolas.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35I think that works really well. Which ones aren't you sure about?
0:13:35 > 0:13:39I'm not very happy about this little poppy here.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43- He doesn't look very happy at all. - Yeah, I agree with you.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Because this is a plant that should be, at this stage, full of life.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48At the moment, we're seeing nothing,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51it is falling away in my hand where it was falling out the pot.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53I think we need to nurse it, take it out the ground,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57put it back into a pot, put it in a nursery bed and talk to it nicely.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- It may well come back.- OK.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Generally speaking. if it's only a couple of plants,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06that's not bad going in a full-sized garden. That's not bad.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09What's the next in the plan of action?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I've got some sprockets to put in the top of the pergolas.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Once that's done, you can get your climbers up through the pergolas.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- Perfect.- Sounds good.- Can I finish my coffee first?- OK, then.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- Might be a bit cold now. - SHE CHUCKLES
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Doing a grand job there, Brian.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35There is nothing that makes people work in a more self-conscious way
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- than having an audience.- Yup. That's why I've got my tape measure out,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41make sure I get them in the right place.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50What is governing the way we put our climbers out at the moment -
0:14:50 > 0:14:53the first thing is we want to make sure both sides of the pergola,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58and the top, are clothed and, hopefully, clothed equally.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Also, we want a long season of flowering.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04For instance, on this side, we have Belgian honeysuckle,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06which you can see by the way it's growing in the pot,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08it's quite vigorous and, therefore,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11will easily fill one side of the pergola.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15But on this side, we've got a relatively small clematis,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Clematis Pixie, and then we've got a little Chaenomeles,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20commonly called the quince.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23This is spring and autumn on this side.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- This one is summer.- OK.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29That means there is always something of interest happening on the pergola.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32This one over here, same sort of principle,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34we have a vigorous honeysuckle on that side,
0:15:34 > 0:15:38which will entwine Callum if he doesn't keep moving around!
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Again, summer flowering,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44but also we have early-season colour with Clematis armandii.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47And winter flowering with the winter-flowering jasmine,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- Jasminum nudiflorum.- But each of the plants is quite different,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55so how are we going to get them to climb nicely over the pergola
0:15:55 > 0:15:57to give them a bit of clothing?
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- You discipline them. - You discipline them! OK.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04You are right, they are all different and they climb in different ways.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07For instance, something like a honeysuckle,
0:16:07 > 0:16:12you can see from the stems it has slightly wayward, rambling stems.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Need to be brought in line!
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It's what is technically known as a weaver.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18It goes through and round and through and round,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22so perfect for going through these gaps in the trellis.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- It will loll against the trellis. - That's lounging!
0:16:26 > 0:16:31That one is definitely a weaver. Then you have the Clematis Pixie.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32This is quite a good climber.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34It has little leaf petioles,
0:16:34 > 0:16:39the stem attaching the leaf to the stalk will twist.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41When it comes into contact with anything,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44it will twist its way around, but it needs quite fine support,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47so we will have to put some wires in on the trellis
0:16:47 > 0:16:49to allow that to twist around.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53It won't be able to make a twist around the individual timber.
0:16:53 > 0:16:59It needs fine mesh or fine wires. And then we have these sorts of things.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02So, for instance,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05We've got Hydrangea petiolaris.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08This is a good climber, first-class climber,
0:17:08 > 0:17:13especially for a shady position, because it has these on it.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16These are adventitious roots, which is a root where you don't
0:17:16 > 0:17:19normally expect a root, in this case, coming straight off a stem.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23- It is a bit cheeky.- This then glues itself to the wall.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27The root will root into the wall and glue itself to a freestanding wall.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29You wouldn't put it against your house,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31because it causes problems with your damp proof.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- Perfect for a freestanding wall like that.- It's a Spider-Man plant.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39Definitely. The important thing is to get not just your season of interest,
0:17:39 > 0:17:40but to match that with
0:17:40 > 0:17:44how is the plant going to attach itself to the pergola, to the wall?
0:17:44 > 0:17:46- OK, well we better get going, then. - OK?
0:17:50 > 0:17:52With all the climbing plants positioned
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and tied to their supports appropriately,
0:17:55 > 0:17:59I can leave Brian and Susan discussing the merits
0:17:59 > 0:18:02of how to position annual bedding.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Oh! No, it's very straight.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08I won't make you take it off and start all over again.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10You've done a good job.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17These are our single-cordon sweet peas.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19A little bit of work needing to be done to them.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21You will see they were originally stalked,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24this one was stalked just there,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26and it has produced other shoots.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Now I pick the best one, which is this fella here,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33and I actually take this one out.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Like that.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Having singled it, I don't want it to break,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42so I put a little wire around it.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46And as I am handing over to Carole and George,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49there is a little bit of pea and bean weevil on these
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and you have a control for that, haven't you?
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Yes, the late James Bruce, who was my tutor at college,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58used to suggest that one of the best ways of getting rid of it
0:18:58 > 0:19:01was to keep hoeing, because they don't like the disturbance.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05It also exposes them to the birds. That's important.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Even with your peas and beans in the veg patch,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10- keep hoeing between them and you'll get rid of it.- Yep.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Anyway, Carole, what's on?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Lots of courgettes, but different ones, this time,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17because they're all round courgettes.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- We have nine different varieties. - Oh, right.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Vigorous feeders, aren't they?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24We will need some compost in the bottom.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26I've put compost in the bottom and I put a bit of fertiliser in.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Mixed it in, because you've got to watch it for burning the roots,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- haven't you?- How deep are you going to plant these?
0:19:32 > 0:19:34They like their necks to be dry, don't they?
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Slightly mounding them up, because, otherwise,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38you've got to be careful,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40because they do rot a bit, like cucumbers.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- And you know about cucumbers, the number you've planted!- That's true.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47The other thing is, we've got two plants of each variety.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51If you remember, last year, the sweet peas on the slope...
0:19:51 > 0:19:53They were taller at that end.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Was it that end, or that end? I can't remember.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- But it was the slope effect.- Yes.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03So we have Baseball here and Baseball at the top, just to see.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- So the varieties are reversed in each row?- Yeah. And different colours.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Yellows, some striped ones and dark green ones.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Seems to be a spherical theme, though!
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I'm just north of Glasgow, beyond Aberfoyle,
0:20:29 > 0:20:30on the banks of Loch Ard,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34and I'm here to meet a good friend of mine, Callum Pirnie.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Callum was head gardener at Crathes Castle for 15 years.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42He has spent the last four years restoring
0:20:42 > 0:20:44and developing this beautiful lochside garden.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58Here we are coming down into the azalea collection at Dun Dubh
0:20:58 > 0:21:00and there's a wonderful range
0:21:00 > 0:21:03of different old hybrids and species in here.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06And with the climate and humidity, they just thrive.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10We have the beautiful perfume with the luteum. Look at this one.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13That's right. One of the old hybrids.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17You can see, old plants, we had we do a lot of restoration pruning,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19but they do come back. They respond to it
0:21:19 > 0:21:22and you get that beautiful tone of colour.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25And the scent of the luteum behind it is spot-on.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40This looks like one of your projects,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42because it's fairly newly planted.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46This was a blank canvas when I came four years ago.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Essentially, it was the bare ground.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53So we came up with a theme for the upper terrace
0:21:53 > 0:21:56to become a gold and purple and blue theme.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58I love gold, because,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00whatever the weather, it's always bright and cheerful.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03That's right. And it lifts.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04You get a lot of dull days here
0:22:04 > 0:22:07and on the dull days, the gold lifts the whole garden.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09There is a distraction.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13- Look at that beyond. It's absolutely amazing.- You can't go wrong.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15And we did open up the view slightly,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18so you get that into the, basically, borrowed landscape beyond.
0:22:18 > 0:22:19Absolutely stunning.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35The glasshouse was built
0:22:35 > 0:22:39to replace an old glasshouse that had been there,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42which we identified from photos from the 1940s.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45It is in the Victorian style.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49It looks beautiful and it is really set off by these beautiful dykes.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Who's been building those?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54That's right, we had to do a major restoration
0:22:54 > 0:22:58and rebuild of many of the retaining walls and terraces.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02Duncan Mackintosh came down with his team and did a stupendous job,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05both of what you would call the formal walls,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08which were done and cement-pointed, and the dry stone walls.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11It's an absolute skill, isn't it? But back to the plants.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13What about the fruit trees?
0:23:13 > 0:23:16That's right, we have got our orchard here, which we are improving.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20We developed the fruit garden, as was, from the old photographs.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23The wall holding up the veg garden terrace had to be rebuilt.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27As a result, we had to bring in about 60 tonnes of topsoil.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40This is like being in Japan - a natural moss garden.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42That's right, the moss has come in here
0:23:42 > 0:23:44and it's in its natural environment,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46it's happy and, as a result, it just thrives.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50We decided to enhance it and make it a feature of the garden.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51OK. You say enhance it,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54have you had to do a little bit of work to encourage it?
0:23:54 > 0:23:55Essentially, yeah.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58The key is first getting any rhododendron
0:23:58 > 0:24:02and all the vegetation off the top, which then lets the light in.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04And from there, keeping the leaf litter off it,
0:24:04 > 0:24:08because, essentially, it's a seedbed and if we left the seedlings
0:24:08 > 0:24:10of the young trees and rhododendron and everything else,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12it would regenerate quickly.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15In probably ten years, it would be back to semi-woodland scrub again.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Yes. So it isn't no maintenance to get it looking like this?
0:24:18 > 0:24:23No, it's just an ongoing, very intricate maintenance, very detailed.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24Very therapeutic.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Callum, I know you are passionate about plants,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39but, in particular, the Japanese maples.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43When I came to Dun Dubh, I had the chance to develop the collection.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46I've introduced one or two of the Japanese maples
0:24:46 > 0:24:48and one here, this is Orange Dream,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50which has the vivid foliage in the springtime. Very orange
0:24:50 > 0:24:54- and one of the newer cultivars. - It is a stunning colour.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57And then such a contrast to the one next to it.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00This is what you call the deep-red varieties,
0:25:00 > 0:25:05an Acer palmatum "Yubae", and it is a very, very striking maple.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08When you see this one from a distance, it's like a beacon.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Well, this is a really impressive rock garden.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25Yes, well, this is a talking point on Dun Dubh.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Basically, the idea was that there was a bank in here
0:25:29 > 0:25:33and we decided to put in a rock garden, brand new. It is brand new.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34It looks so natural.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It looks like the rocks have been here a long time.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40We've managed to source rock that was well weathered
0:25:40 > 0:25:42and that has been the key to it.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47The thinking was that, probably, as the house dates to late Victorian,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49there may have been intentions at that time,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51given the trends at that time,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54to put in a rock garden and crag. So this was our chance to put back
0:25:54 > 0:25:57something that we thought might have been here originally.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01It's a beautiful feature, but really set off by the pine on top.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03The pine on the top was the final, I think...
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Just finishes off and brings that Japanese element to the crag
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and we'll keep it pretty much in that shape and size
0:26:10 > 0:26:11to give scale to the feature.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Callum, I have to say, it's an absolute credit to you,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17and the rest of your team, and I've had a fantastic day.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Can we go and look around the corner now?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21We certainly can. Thank you.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Last year, we planted two roses - Maigold and Seagull -
0:26:38 > 0:26:40and the idea is we want them
0:26:40 > 0:26:42to climb up through the branches of the tree
0:26:42 > 0:26:43and out they come.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47If you are pruning or training woody plants,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50you've got to be on the ball. Look at this one here.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It has been trained to go around the stem
0:26:53 > 0:26:55and it's heading up there.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59This one is going to need a little bit of direction,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01because it's trailing on the ground.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Do it when the growth is still pliable and soft.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Don't wait until it is woody,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09because, try and bend them and they'll break.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Here is something you might like to try at home.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I have a collection of rapid salads -
0:27:16 > 0:27:18things like lettuce, rocket,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21and I'm sowing here mustard.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26What it says in the catalogue is that they mature within 21 days.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29So I'm going to put that to the test.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31The last time we were in the Secret Garden,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34we had a yellow theme going on, but, today, it is a purple theme.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37We've got purple apple, the purple of the honesty
0:27:37 > 0:27:41and down in the foreground, purple of the Bergenia.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Again, bouncing the colours around
0:27:43 > 0:27:45so that your eye looks at the whole garden.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- Hasn't it been a cracking year from rhododendrons?- Wonderful!
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Superb, yes. No frost, you see?
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Aye, well, I lost one or two flowers with frost,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58- but no, they're good. - That's lovely, isn't it?
0:27:58 > 0:28:01- That one is a variety called Viscy. - We'll write that down!
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Fair enough, it doesn't matter what it's called,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06- it still looks good, doesn't it? - It is superb.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09And this Ravenswing, this Anthriscus, it's absolutely superb.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Although, it's spreading, bit like a weed.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13There are seedlings at this side as well,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15- it's getting out it and about. - Taking over!- Well...
0:28:15 > 0:28:17But if you would like any more information
0:28:17 > 0:28:20about this week's programme, it's all in the fact sheet
0:28:20 > 0:28:23and the easiest way to access that is on the website.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Well, next week, we're not here. We are at Gardening Scotland.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30We're going to have a unique preview and sample a little bit
0:28:30 > 0:28:33of that special atmosphere at Gardening Scotland.
0:28:33 > 0:28:34Until then...
0:28:34 > 0:28:36- Bye!- Goodbye!