0:00:12 > 0:00:15Hello there, welcome to Beechgrove on a reasonable sort of day,
0:00:15 > 0:00:17unlike the last four or five weeks. CAROLE LAUGHS
0:00:17 > 0:00:20- It's been absolutely horrendous, hasn't it?- Hasn't it just.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23But, listen, this has blossomed since we saw it last.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Well, some of the weeds have,
0:00:24 > 0:00:27but anyway, first of all, let's just explain ourselves
0:00:27 > 0:00:31because last year this was a riot of colour. That is the control.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35In other words, we used a scatter mix right across the bed
0:00:35 > 0:00:37- over different weeks of sowing. - Sure.- It was wonderful.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- So, we challenged ourselves.- We did.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Each of us would choose our own scatter mix.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- Yes, so, we've got the control there.- Yes.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44And then that's my mix, that's your mix,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46and, you know, as I said, weeds.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- Well...- The weed has come out.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53There's been a whole host of spurry seeds in this soil,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56and all of a sudden, the conditions are right, and they've grown faster
0:00:56 > 0:01:00- than some of the annuals, especially mine.- Yeah, I mean, that's nice, Jim, the blue that you've chosen.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Well, it's kind of a Scottish theme to it, isn't it?
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Yeah, but when I look at mine, I'm going, "I never picked any pink."
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Mine was meant to be the whites and the yellows and the red,
0:01:09 > 0:01:10like the ladybird,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13but we've got the Silene, which has come up,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15so that had obviously set seed from last year.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19But it's a wee while since we've seen the garden. There's a lot to do
0:01:19 > 0:01:23and I just can't wait to see what Mr Beardshaw's up to in the bog.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25THEY LAUGH
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Blue skies, a palm tree -
0:01:30 > 0:01:32you would have thought Beechgrove has headed south.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Maybe even somewhere like Madeira.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38But no, for our garden visit, we've headed north to the Black Isle.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46Well, these peas are just coming up to harvest time now.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48The pods are pretty full.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50And look at them, just look at that,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52aren't these just wonderful?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54These'll be fabulous.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Either steamed or whatever.
0:01:56 > 0:01:57There's one or two beans ready here.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01That pea is a variety called Avola,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04and this bean is then called Robin Hood
0:02:04 > 0:02:07and it's a nice dwarf one for growing in what is this area,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10which is the gardening in a small space.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Now, we've also got things like lettuce,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14which are starting to mature now.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16And really through this summer period,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18we've had quite a bit of success here.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Look at that. That's the variety known as little gem,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23and that is a wonderful, compact lettuce.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25If you cut that up through the middle,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28you'll see just exactly how beautiful that is inside.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30There's plenty eating in that.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31So, that's there.
0:02:31 > 0:02:32I can harvest that.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I can also harvest one or two beetroot.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36There's a beetroot here.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Now, that is one which we've maybe eaten some of the leaves off
0:02:39 > 0:02:42and things like that, we can steam those along with bean tops.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44But watch this when we cut it through. Look at that.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Look at that, isn't that just wonderful?
0:02:46 > 0:02:47That colour in there.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Now, because it's bigger, it can now be grated and put into the salads
0:02:52 > 0:02:56and that will make a wonderful, colourful addition to the salad.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59These peas there, we've had the tops off them already.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01There, they're starting to regrow.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04We'll leave those and they'll produce peas like that up there,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05so we get two crops off the one space.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13The pond has been something of an ordeal this year.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Clearing it all out during the winter,
0:03:15 > 0:03:16reworking it,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18doing the banking,
0:03:18 > 0:03:19putting a beach in.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23And on the other side of the pond is another of the original inclusions
0:03:23 > 0:03:27of the garden - it's not Callum, it's this bit, the bog garden.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31And it's hard to believe that this entire run -
0:03:31 > 0:03:33right from the stream at the top, through the waterfall, the pond,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35down to the bog garden here -
0:03:35 > 0:03:38this was originally the centrepiece of the Beechgrove Garden
0:03:38 > 0:03:4020 or so years ago.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45And the idea is that the next step is to plant all of this.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47One of the things I want to do
0:03:47 > 0:03:49is to bring a new stepping stone path in here,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52using some of these log rounds.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55These are from the conifers which have been started to fell
0:03:55 > 0:03:59on that side of the garden. Use them as a series of stepping stones.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02And I thought it would be really lovely because of the exuberance
0:04:02 > 0:04:04of the bog garden plants,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07you know, the sheer size, and how verdant they are,
0:04:07 > 0:04:11to be able to sit amongst them looking back down the stream
0:04:11 > 0:04:13across into the depths of the garden.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18A stepping stone path to here, which we'll do in bark and bark mulch.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20But before we get too carried away,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22the reason that Callum is,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24well, seemingly dismantling the bridge here
0:04:24 > 0:04:28is because of one or two nasties which are lurking beneath.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Notably this, it's the Equisetum, the horsetail.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34It's a really pernicious weed.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Anybody who's got it in their garden or on the allotment will know
0:04:37 > 0:04:39just how difficult it is to get rid of.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41It's been cleared from this area of the garden
0:04:41 > 0:04:43and cleared from the beach on that side,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47but it is venturing in underneath what will be a continuation
0:04:47 > 0:04:48of the beach on the site.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51So, it's really important before you do anything
0:04:51 > 0:04:54in this very fertile and verdant ground
0:04:54 > 0:04:56to get rid of the perennial weeds,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58which, unfortunately, means taking the bridge slats out
0:04:58 > 0:05:00and then excavating all this soil.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13It's something of an archaeological excavation,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15going through a job like this, because what we're trying to do
0:05:15 > 0:05:19is to protect the liner. There's the edge of it
0:05:19 > 0:05:23and it dips down very, very steeply to create the bog garden section.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28But in a way, it's the liner itself which is helping the horsetail
0:05:28 > 0:05:31to really succeed, because it's stopping the roots
0:05:31 > 0:05:33from going further down into the ground
0:05:33 > 0:05:35and creating a sort of plate on which it's growing.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38So we only ever really see the top growth,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40and that's just a short section of it,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43but what's happening beneath ground is you have these very dark,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45very brittle roots.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48It's so brittle, when it breaks just the smallest section,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50a few millimetres,
0:05:50 > 0:05:51as long as it's got a leaf node on it,
0:05:51 > 0:05:55it will start to grow and then infest the garden.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59And to give you an idea of just how long these things have been around,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01most coal deposits from the Carboniferous Period
0:06:01 > 0:06:03are made of this.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04So, it's been around a while
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and it's going to be around for quite a while more, I suspect.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12The Equisetum is such a pernicious weed,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14it's well worth excavating as much soil
0:06:14 > 0:06:16as you think that the roots have penetrated,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20and then just take a little bit more, too.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21Backfill with fresh soil,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25and then what we have done is to lay a geotextile
0:06:25 > 0:06:28to stop any of those fragments pushing through again,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30and then finally a continuation of the beach
0:06:30 > 0:06:33from the pond side of the bridge.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42The stepping stones are made of conifer trimmings.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47It's the log sliced into three to four-inch thick sections.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49And although it's softwood and it rots pretty quickly
0:06:49 > 0:06:52it'll give us a three, four, maybe even five years
0:06:52 > 0:06:55of a temporary tiptoe path through the middle of the bog garden.
0:07:02 > 0:07:03In the farthest corner of the bog garden,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06there's a wonderful opportunity for a perch seat.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08So with a little bit of soil excavated,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11geotextile laid to stop the weeds coming through,
0:07:11 > 0:07:16and an edging of recently felled logs to keep the soil back,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19we can then just tip in some recently chipped timber
0:07:19 > 0:07:24and that will give us the perfect bedding on which we can sit a seat.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33There really are some wonderful bog garden plants
0:07:33 > 0:07:37that you can lay your hands on that add such a splash of vibrancy
0:07:37 > 0:07:38and energy to the garden.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41It's really a treat to deal with them.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43But it's worth making the distinction between
0:07:43 > 0:07:46those plants that need to be right on the water's edge,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48like, for instance, the iris here,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51this one is butter and sugar, a Sibirica type -
0:07:51 > 0:07:56it likes having its rhizomes right in the water,
0:07:56 > 0:07:57just above the water line, really -
0:07:57 > 0:07:59or Lobelia cardinalis,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02with the fabulous sort of beetrooty-coloured foliage,
0:08:02 > 0:08:03they need to be distributed
0:08:03 > 0:08:05immediately alongside the streambed here.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09But then, once you get to about that sort of point,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11because of the grading on the soil,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13everything else in the bog garden
0:08:13 > 0:08:15is just a moisture-loving herbaceous plant,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19so you can really go to town on whatever takes your fancy
0:08:19 > 0:08:22to create that lavish and luxuriant feel
0:08:22 > 0:08:25that bog gardens inevitably have.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27It's also worth bearing in mind the soil.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30And the reason I'm walking along the watercourse
0:08:30 > 0:08:33is to try and protect the soil as much as possible.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38This is just the ordinary topsoil from the garden.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Now, remember, we're dealing with a great bowl of butyl liner here,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45on top of which the soil is sitting,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49and it's very wet, so if we were to traffic across this and walk on it,
0:08:49 > 0:08:53what we're going to do is to squash it into a really hard pudding,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55which, of course, won't help the plants at all.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58So, as far as possible, keep off of the soil
0:08:58 > 0:09:00and stick to the watercourse.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Geranium rivulare Album,
0:09:07 > 0:09:13great, ground covering, sprawling, mat-forming aquatic.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16You can see that as soon as you put green around the Lobelia,
0:09:16 > 0:09:17it bounces the Lobelia out
0:09:17 > 0:09:20and elevates its importance within the garden.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27And as with any planting scheme, when you're trying to make it
0:09:27 > 0:09:30look natural, which is roughly what we're trying to do here, isn't it?
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Trying to make it look as informal as possible, not too structured.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Try and get them in groups of threes
0:09:35 > 0:09:38so you get a bounce, a bounce and a bounce,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41the eyes moving through the garden. Always working in threes.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Either groups of threes or clumps of threes.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- And we've got the water forget-me-not...- Yes.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47..which is a real beauty.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I think because that's so delicate we'll have that right underneath
0:09:50 > 0:09:51- the Lobelia here.- OK.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- And I think that's the mermaid one, the blue one.- OK.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58This is a white one in flower, as well.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Again, it's about trying to get that green lightness
0:10:01 > 0:10:03underneath the Lobelia.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04That's a great start with the aquatics.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07I think we'll get planting those and then we'll deal with the next batch.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09OK.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18This second layer of planting in the bog garden
0:10:18 > 0:10:23is all about exploiting herbaceous perennials that enjoy wet ground,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25so they're not the marginals,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27they're not the ones that have to have their feet in the water,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29they just like a slightly more moist ground.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34So you may ordinarily see them deep in a normal herbaceous border.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36One of those is Lythrum.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38How about that. A drop more purple.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39With a colour like that,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43it really demonstrates what these structural plants can do.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46They're clump formers and they're really dramatic,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48they catch the eye
0:10:48 > 0:10:51and create the kind of building blocks, if you like,
0:10:51 > 0:10:52of the garden itself.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55So, a good clump of them by the bridge
0:10:55 > 0:10:56will give us a good full-stop.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58And there's more than enough to choose from,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00but some of my favourites...
0:11:00 > 0:11:01How about this?
0:11:01 > 0:11:05This is Ligularia, "The Rocket", named for fairly obvious reasons
0:11:05 > 0:11:09with this wonderful golden spike going skyward.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11It's already got bees on it, too.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16And the dark stems of this against the golden flowers
0:11:16 > 0:11:18really are absolutely stunning.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Wonderful, broad foliage, as well, a great mat is produced,
0:11:22 > 0:11:24through which these spikes emerge.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29And how about something like this Eupatorium over here?
0:11:29 > 0:11:35A really dramatic plant, a sultry purple, almost blue in this light.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37This is a really good full-stop plant,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40which is why I've put it at the end of the stream here.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41It draws the eye in
0:11:41 > 0:11:45and creates a great big wodge of purple planting at the end.
0:11:45 > 0:11:46Very generous.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Now, don't worry about holes like this.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51In a normal herbaceous border,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54you might be picking the slugs and snails off
0:11:54 > 0:11:56and getting hugely frustrated.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59And, in fact, these have been lifted from elsewhere in the garden.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05But, knowing the army of frogs and toads which reside in this pool
0:12:05 > 0:12:09during the spring months, and how much they chomp through,
0:12:09 > 0:12:11I don't think the slugs and snails
0:12:11 > 0:12:13are really going to have much of a chance.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16So, I'm hopeful that once we've got this assembled,
0:12:16 > 0:12:18the whole of nature will come together
0:12:18 > 0:12:20and celebrate the new bog garden.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35It's wonderful when you get to the stage in a planting scheme
0:12:35 > 0:12:38where you really are just sprinkling that fairy dust
0:12:38 > 0:12:41amongst the planting. And it's those finishing touches
0:12:41 > 0:12:44that make all the difference, the little holes that you can find.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48And there are some gems for the more moist soils.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52For instance, the Hemerocallis, this one is called bumblebee.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55They are incredibly hardy,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58but also don't forget the candelabra primulas.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00This one is Bulleyana.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02It's just coming to the end of its flowering phase.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05It's been in flower since about the beginning of April.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10Certainly April, May, June, fantastic months for the candelabra.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And then you've got Beesia, look at that,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16and you can see these whirls which come out in sequence.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20You can see exactly why you have such a long flowering period.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22And then, how about that little Primula down there?
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Inverewe, the most incredible, tropical colour,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29and adds that sense of what we're trying to achieve
0:13:29 > 0:13:34here in the garden, that it's lavish, it's lush, it's abundant,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37and it's just a riot of foliage and flowers
0:13:37 > 0:13:41from the moment that spring kicks in right the way through into autumn.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45This will knit together this season and look fantastic.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Well, as I said earlier, we're playing catch-up this week,
0:13:57 > 0:13:59really because we've been away for a wee while,
0:13:59 > 0:14:00so here we are in the veg plot.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Four-course rotation.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Start in this corner here, broad beans looking good.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08And what I'm in doing at the moment is taking that top out,
0:14:08 > 0:14:09because it has two purposes.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12That can go in a veg basket, that becomes part of the menu,
0:14:12 > 0:14:13these are very tasty.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Really lovely. Don't need much cooking.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18But in doing that it helps to fill out the pods.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21And there's quite a nice looking crop coming along here
0:14:21 > 0:14:23with these broad beans. That fills it out.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Instead of the energy going up that way, it's going out into the pods,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28so that's one thing you could be doing. I can't say the same
0:14:28 > 0:14:29for the runner beans.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31They like heat.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32They like plenty warmth
0:14:32 > 0:14:34and they really are struggling.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Whether we'll get a crop off them this year or not is very doubtful.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Then we can go across the path to potatoes.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41As you might recall,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44we're actually growing some light-resistant varieties.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46We've got some earlies there,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49then we've got Carolus, Athlete, Mayan Gold
0:14:49 > 0:14:52and the white-flowered one is one of the sharper varieties, that's Kifli.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54We hadn't grown that before, so we'll see how we get on.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58But be warned, if you've got light-susceptible varieties,
0:14:58 > 0:14:59you've got to be careful.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02You might have to knock the tops off them cos there ain't no cure now.
0:15:02 > 0:15:03Moving over to the next plot,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05the carrots have been covered up with fleece
0:15:05 > 0:15:07because we're now about to get a second generation
0:15:07 > 0:15:09of carrot fly
0:15:09 > 0:15:13and the grubs will eat into the maturing roots and make a real mess,
0:15:13 > 0:15:14so we protect them there.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16And then over to the brassicas.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Now, if anybody ever needed convincing
0:15:18 > 0:15:21that brassicas love water, just look at them.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23They're looking stunning. They're very even.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25The different varieties are doing well.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27We're cropping Calabrese and broccoli.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28Looking good.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29The chards are doing well.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Not the courgettes - they don't like this kind of weather.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35But look at these onions, started early, as sets,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37these ones in the middle are going to make cracking onions.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40And just note that they are actually under the cornstarch,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42which keeps the weeds away.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44But, you know, also on this programme,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46we're doing a lot of cropping,
0:15:46 > 0:15:50and under cover here, we have a real success story with our cucumbers.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55For a start, the plants are really healthy, no sign of powdery mildew.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57And we've got three varieties.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59So, the one behind me is called greenfit.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04Now, that was recommended for cold greenhouses,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06and really I'm quite disappointed
0:16:06 > 0:16:10because we've only had 13 cucumbers from three plants.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14However, the two varieties here, they are absolutely wonderful.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Anbar is great because the good news there
0:16:17 > 0:16:18is that it doesn't need a pollinator,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20so you're assured of getting a good crop,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and we have had 35 cucumbers.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27And baby describes the cucumber cos you cut them really small
0:16:27 > 0:16:28and we've had 29.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Both of these cropping from early July.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34And of course the important thing is to have a bit of a taste test.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35And of these two,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40baby, I would describe as crunchy and quite a bit of flavour,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44and Anbar is quite watery but really refreshing.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48And of the two I would go for baby, but it depends what you like.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51And then, also another success story is with the winter squashes.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Again, we've got three varieties,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and they're all very different shapes and colours.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57We've got Festival.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01And if we look in here, it's described as a large grapefruit,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and I suppose it looks like the colour of grapefruit.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07This one is our heritage variety, Honey Boat,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10and I suppose that tends to look more marrow-like.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12I'm really pleased, as well, with the support system,
0:17:12 > 0:17:14because we've used the pea-netting.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16And you can imagine if you get a good crop like these,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18they can be quite heavy,
0:17:18 > 0:17:19so it's a good way to support them
0:17:19 > 0:17:22cos you know, you can either have them trailing or climbing.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25And then finally we've got little gem,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28so you can crop this one when it's tiny.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Lovely dark fruits to those.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32And, of course, the great thing with all of these,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34you can roast them in the oven,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38just serve them with a bit of butter and some black pepper
0:17:38 > 0:17:40and they will taste delicious.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Earlier in the season, Jim and I set up a little experiment.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48We were going to compare the conventional dig with the no dig.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50And in the conventional dig, what we did was
0:17:50 > 0:17:54we buried the compost in to about three, four inches under the soil,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56and on the no-dig situation,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59what we did there was we just spread the compost on the top.
0:17:59 > 0:18:04Now, we felt there would be no great difference in the first year.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Such is our wisdom and knowledge of gardening.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08But after seeing...
0:18:08 > 0:18:12The gardening gods have conspired against us somewhat, look at that.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14That's just in the beetroot, right?
0:18:14 > 0:18:18This one is the no dig, that one is the dig.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21So, what's the difference? What's happened?
0:18:21 > 0:18:23This has been a peculiar season, remember.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28In the dig situation, what we've got is water falling on the soil,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30dragging all the nutrients right down through
0:18:30 > 0:18:34and leaving it slightly impoverished, so the crops suffer.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36On the no-dig situation,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38the water is hitting compost,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41the nutrients are being held in that compost,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44and they are therefore accessible readily to the plant
0:18:44 > 0:18:46and we get bigger crops.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47Look at that.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49The beetroot is a classic example of it.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Now, the cabbage are the same,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54but look at the potatoes,
0:18:54 > 0:18:59the crop there is much heavier than the crop in the conventional dig.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03So, there has been an obvious difference this year.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06But we're going to continue this for the next one, two, three years,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10and we'll see if there's a long-term difference in the results.
0:19:19 > 0:19:20What a stunning location.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23This is Kilmuir on the Black Isle.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27It's right next to the Moray Firth and across the water is Inverness.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Now, I think this is a really pretty cottage-style front garden,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33but it totally belies what's in the back.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42Penny and David Veitch moved into the aptly-named Lookout in 1984.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46I have judged this garden several times and know it well.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48But I'm always surprised by the challenging site.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55This is one of the more difficult paths, Carole.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Well, this just shows you a bit about the site.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01It wasn't a bit like this when we moved in.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05We had grass that was way down there covering everything
0:20:05 > 0:20:07to the top of the garden.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09We didn't know we had any rock.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13And when we started peeling it back, we found bicycle frames,
0:20:13 > 0:20:14glass bottles.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16It's wonderful, I think, to have a rock face like this,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19but not particularly easy to establish plants.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Well, a lot of them have established themselves.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26There's a small Gunnera down there, which has seeded this year.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- The Primulas love it, which I'm surprised about.- Yes.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30So, there must be little moist pockets.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Well, you can see we've got a little waterfall
0:20:32 > 0:20:34goes down there when the rain's heavy.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37There's water going down at various parts all the time,
0:20:37 > 0:20:38so it's coming under you.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Do you have a favourite part to the garden?
0:20:42 > 0:20:44We love all of it, really.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46We've got parts where we have morning coffee,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48we've got another part where we have our lunch.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- Well, shall we go for the next coffee stop?- Yes, come on, let's.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04I love this part of the garden, Carole.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06This is where we have our morning coffee.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- Right by the pond. - Right by the pond.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11You obviously like cottage-style planting.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I adore it, I really do.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I've got no themes.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17If there's a space, I put a plant in.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19I just love plants.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20- Lots of colour.- Yes.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21Perfume, I mean, that rose?
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Oh, that's gorgeous, that's called Jacques Cartier.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- The perfume, well, actually, I can smell it from here.- Mmm.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29It's absolutely beautiful.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31And you'll see through there,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33there's some lovely ladybird poppies.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- I adore poppies.- Well, ladybird, I think, is one of my favourite
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- and comes true from seed, doesn't it?- Yes, it does, it's lovely.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41And then, this natural rock garden.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Well, yes, all of this used to be lawn, the whole lot.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46I used to have to do the cutting,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48David wasn't here usually,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and with the Flymo, I used to hit a rock just up there
0:21:51 > 0:21:55and I decided one day I was going to try and get that little rock out
0:21:55 > 0:21:57and started digging,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59and this is what we uncovered.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01We just sort of went on and on and on.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04It was like an archaeological dig, it really was.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06We were bagging the soil, that was going somewhere else.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09It's lovely to have that variety of habitats.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Well, some of them, you see, were put in before we actually realised
0:22:12 > 0:22:13what we had underneath.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18So, the trees have been in so long up at the top,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20but I like them there, so we left them there.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- They suit it.- It's a lovely backdrop, isn't it?- It is.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25And it's nice to have that sort of evergreen interest,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- you know, for 12 months of the year. - Yes.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29And then another seat, is that some of David's work?
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Yes, isn't that lovely?
0:22:31 > 0:22:33We were at an exhibition and David saw one
0:22:33 > 0:22:35and decided he could do one, too.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36So, that was fine.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38It's Taradale sandstone
0:22:38 > 0:22:39and he designed it.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43It's lovely to sit up there and have the view over the Moray Firth
0:22:43 > 0:22:45and over the cottage garden.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Well, it's beautiful, he's obviously a handyman.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49So, am I right in saying that maybe the next stop,
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- find David and it's lunchtime? - That's right, it is.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- THEY LAUGH - That way.- You'll find him along the path there.- OK.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07Well, David, we're climbing up the garden.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I'd probably say we are about halfway up.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- SHE LAUGHS - And you're an engineer to trade,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15so tell us a little bit about the construction of the pond.
0:23:15 > 0:23:21This water feature was constructed about three, four years ago.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22And the interesting thing is
0:23:22 > 0:23:25that the liner there in the bottom of the pond
0:23:25 > 0:23:30is made from an oil tank, which was cut in half,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32provided by a friend of mine.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34And then, what I've done is
0:23:34 > 0:23:37I've lined the inside of the tank with stone,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39so you can't see the line at all.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Perfectly natural, I think, it's really effective.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Yes.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- And you're right to recycle as much as you can.- Yeah.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47What about these posts?
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Well, they were telegraph poles
0:23:49 > 0:23:51which were purchased not far from here.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Unfortunately, my chainsaw wasn't working at the time
0:23:54 > 0:23:56so I had to cut them all with handsaw.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Oh, my goodness.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01The hardest part was bringing them up the garden,
0:24:01 > 0:24:02because some of them, you can see,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05are quite large in diameter and they're heavy.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- Because you can't use a wheelbarrow, you've got steps everywhere.- Yeah.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Everything has and was brought over in sacks or on your back,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16there's no way of getting any other materials up here
0:24:16 > 0:24:18apart from in sacks.
0:24:18 > 0:24:19But it looks great.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Are you a bit of a plants person, as well?
0:24:21 > 0:24:23To a degree. Not very much.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26But this is what we call the hot bed
0:24:26 > 0:24:28and I like Heucheras.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30You'll see Heucheras all over the garden.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36But we have tried to make this blend in with the Taradale stone,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39with the reds and all the shades that go with it.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43And, I mean, the lily, a gorgeous colour, and the Ligularia, as well,
0:24:43 > 0:24:45with the foliage. Now, I know that we've got a bit of shade, as well,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47we can wander through the woodland?
0:24:47 > 0:24:48Yes, OK.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02This is an area where we've lifted the canopy to allow more light in
0:25:02 > 0:25:04and planted all of these rhododendrons.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07And you obviously like encouraging the wildlife.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Yes, we put these up a couple of years ago,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11it's really for my grandson,
0:25:11 > 0:25:12to encourage the birds
0:25:12 > 0:25:15and teach him all the different birds that we've got around here.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17And we get the red squirrels down, as well.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Oh, they're beautiful creatures.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20- Oh, yep.- Onwards and upwards.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23SHE LAUGHS
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Well, Penny and David, we've made it to the top, we've had our lunch,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35- what do you do in this area? - PENNY LAUGHS
0:25:35 > 0:25:38This is the recovery corner. THEY LAUGH
0:25:38 > 0:25:41You bring your drink up and you sit and you relax.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44It's the end of the day and you don't have to do anything else.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46And what a beautiful place to relax.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49So, David, can we have a few facts and figures?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51For example, you know, the angle of the garden?
0:25:51 > 0:25:58Yeah, the garden's probably on around about a 40, 45 degree slope.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03The height from the bottom up to here is about 20, 25 metres.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05It's absolutely incredible.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09The wonderful thing is it's open to the public under Scotland's Gardens?
0:26:09 > 0:26:13That's correct, we open every Sunday 12-4,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15teas in the back if it's possible.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17And I can recommend the scones, freshly-made.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Thank you.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21I mean, I have been around the garden several times,
0:26:21 > 0:26:23to me it's an absolute delight coming round here,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26and what you've done to the site, cos it is a difficult site.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28And not only the garden is beautiful,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31but the view is to die for.
0:26:31 > 0:26:32It is, isn't it? Yes.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35So, thank you very much, I've had a fantastic day.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36Thank you very much, too.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Thank you, we've enjoyed it.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44Many gardeners across the land
0:26:44 > 0:26:47will be persuaded to use water-retention granules
0:26:47 > 0:26:50in their baskets and tubs out of doors.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Recent trials have shown that it doesn't make any difference.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56So we've chosen Begonia Illumination,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59the variety's apricots shades, looking stunning and very popular.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04This lot have granules in the boxes, this lot haven't.
0:27:04 > 0:27:05Well, as we say in Scotland,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Blame the weather.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Aren't these stunning?
0:27:15 > 0:27:16This is the foxtail lily.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19It's a variety of Cleopatra.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22And when these things come in the spring and you plant them,
0:27:22 > 0:27:24they're like a big dead spider and you think, "What's going to come
0:27:24 > 0:27:27"from this?" Put them in the ground and then they rut
0:27:27 > 0:27:29through the ground, these great rockets of growth. Look at that.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Absolutely outstanding.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Now, here's a happy accident.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36At the beginning of the year,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39we saw these little seedlings here appear in the border
0:27:39 > 0:27:41and we thought, "Well, shall we leave them?"
0:27:41 > 0:27:42I actually thought they were candytuft
0:27:42 > 0:27:44and that's exactly what they are.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46And they make such a pretty display.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51- Well, that's been a bit of a race round, hasn't it?- It has, yeah.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54But this heralds the start of our fruit-picking season.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Well, I think Chris was at the cherries, as well,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58but isn't it a fantastic crop?
0:27:58 > 0:28:01- Indoor grown, of course. What's the variety?- Sweetheart.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03- Absolutely is.- They are stunning. SHE LAUGHS
0:28:03 > 0:28:05- These are great. - And you like the Bidens.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Well, yes, we looked at that earlier and I was very sure about it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- It depends on the background, but that is a classic.- Yeah.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- That is really, really good. - Beedance painted red.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15- Amazing.- That's good.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19So, if you'd like any more information about this programme,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21whether it's the cherries or perhaps the Bidens,
0:28:21 > 0:28:22it's all in the fact sheet,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Well, that's it for this week.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29And believe it or not we're away for two weeks.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32There's some kind of Highland Games going on in Rio, or something,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35so until three weeks' time, bye-bye.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36- Bye.- Goodbye.