0:00:11 > 0:00:13I think this is really straw hat weather,
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- we should be issued with a...- Yeah. - Summer has arrived!- Exactly, it has.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Hello there, welcome to Beechgrove on an absolutely delightful
0:00:21 > 0:00:26- summer sunny day. Not like we've been having it of late, really.- Mm.
0:00:26 > 0:00:32- And it's nice to be back after our Olympic break. Well done, Andy!- Yes!
0:00:32 > 0:00:35But disastersville while we've been away - the potato crop,
0:00:35 > 0:00:38or some of it, has been affected by potato blight.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Here is classic potato blight on the variety Kestrel.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's been the right weather for it, hasn't it?
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Absolutely, because what it needs is ten degrees centigrade plus,
0:00:48 > 0:00:53for 48 hours, and 75% humidity, and we have had that, haven't we?
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Because we've had so much rain.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- And of course, it's a fungal complaint, phytophthora.- Yes indeed.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02So, those conditions are ideal for the plants to become infected
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- and the spores to remain active. - But how do we deal with it?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Well, the way we've set out to do it here is,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12the first row there is early potato that's been lifted anyway,
0:01:12 > 0:01:16this is a second early here and that was affected by blight,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19so we've taken away all the haulms, the shaws,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21and we've covered them up with soil.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23So really, you just want to cut that back.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Well, look at this, this is the variety Kestrel.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29And there is the first shaw. And that's not all of it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:35- And it's perfectly OK.- Mm.- So, if we remove all of that foliage there,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37get them up, we can leave them.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- Yeah, don't panic is the thing, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Take the foliage off, cover in soil, you are trapping the spores then,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46don't lift your tubers at the same time as you are removing
0:01:46 > 0:01:48the foliage, otherwise you will infect the tubers.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50There is a logic, isn't there, in doing that?
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- But they will be fine for weeks. - Yes.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55And then a difference on some of the other varieties...
0:01:55 > 0:01:56Well, these two varieties
0:01:56 > 0:01:58are actually sold as being blight resistant.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02This is Athlete, and it's looking perfectly clean,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04- barring one or two leaves. - Starting to come in.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- And it's right next to that one. There's the start of it.- Yeah.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10That's what it looks like to begin with. But it's safe.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- This one, on the other hand... - One of the best, I think.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14This is Carolus.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17We don't know it, we don't know how it's going to perform,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19you know, but it's absolutely splendid.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21This is one of the Sarpo varieties, this is Kifli,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and even this one has an odd little bit of blight in it.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27And similarly with Pentland Dell on the outside.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30- So, it's safe to leave these, isn't it, for now?- Yup.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32- They're not going to come to any harm, are they?- Nope.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37But I tell you what, there's a lot to be done in this garden this day, so better get a move on!
0:02:40 > 0:02:42See what I've found in the Book Nook.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46I'm just reading up about where I am today. I wonder where it is.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52And for the sweet course in my grow-a-gardener menu,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55we've come to a training establishment with a difference.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02From tatties in the main veg plot to tatties on the decking.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05This is a system that I like to do every year, growing earlies,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08and I stress earlies, because I think it's really important that
0:03:08 > 0:03:12you grow the early ones, because you can eat them straight away.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16In containers, three different types of containers I've got here,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18and two varieties.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20So, the varieties I have are Pentland Javelin,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23which I've harvested already, and Diva,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26which is meant to be like Pentland Javelin, so we can compare them.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31As for the three systems, we've got the typical pot that I've
0:03:31 > 0:03:34used for several years, quite pleased with the results there.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Fairly large tubers. Then we go for the sack, this is a new one.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And I'm delighted with this,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43because I would say this is the best crop and really large tubers.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47And just to remind you, it was three tubers that we planted.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51And then, the last system, which I was interested in
0:03:51 > 0:03:54because it's rather clever - a pot within a pot.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58So you can kind of cheat a bit and see how the tatties are doing.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01And the number of tubers is great, but they are really tiny,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and I would say that's to do with the size of the container,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and I think if I was using this system again,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10maybe one or just two tubers I would put in it.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13So, what I need to do now is harvest these three
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and we can compare the harvest.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I always get excited at this bit! Let's see.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23Oh, yes, look at these.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Gosh, they are so clean! Look at the size, brilliant.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Wow! They just keep coming!
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I love this job.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51So, just to recap, what we have is Pentland Javelin in the front,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54and behind, we've got Diva, and I'm absolutely delighted with
0:04:54 > 0:04:57the results overall, not a lot of difference.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00If anything, I would say Pentland Javelin -
0:05:00 > 0:05:02slightly more of a harvest.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06But of the three systems, the sack definitely wins, because they
0:05:06 > 0:05:11are really clean potatoes and quite a sizeable potato well.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15So, this system, we will use this again, because it is reusable,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17definitely worth having that.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20But also, it's not about necessarily the crop, is it?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22It's about the taste.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24So, we'll come back later in the programme and let you know
0:05:24 > 0:05:26which one we prefer.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Well, now, how would you like to work in this environment?
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Magic, isn't it? And the weather to match.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Well, one of the themes I've been following this year at Beechgrove
0:05:40 > 0:05:42is how to grow a gardener.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46I started off at Aberfeldy with some secondary school pupils
0:05:46 > 0:05:48who were offered a course called rural skills,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50which has got a bit of gardening in it.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54Then I went to Elmwood Campus in Fife - formal courses
0:05:54 > 0:05:56in a college environment.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00And today, I've come to Douneside House, here in Aberdeenshire,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04to meet up with an old chum who has a traineeship scheme
0:06:04 > 0:06:05working in the garden.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08And that old chum, now Head of Gardens here,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11used to be Head Gardener at Beechgrove - Stephen McCallum.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Well, Stephen, it's very nice to see you.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24- How long have you been here now? - Coming up on ten years now, Jim.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Tell us a little bit - I know it's difficult,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29but tell us a little bit about Douneside House.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Well, we're sitting outside Douneside House,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33which is the former home of Lady MacRobert and her family,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37surrounded by 17 acres of these magnificent gardens.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40These gardens were laid out by Lady MacRobert
0:06:40 > 0:06:41in the early 1900s to mid-1900s.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44And of course, it's the best place to train people,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46because there's a bit of everything -
0:06:46 > 0:06:49it is a traditional country house, with all the stuff.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51So, tell us a little bit about your training scheme.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56I take four trainees per year and that's funded by the MacRobert Trust
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- as a charitable activity.- Yes.- In support of horticultural education.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01We bring them in for a year,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04it's learn-while-you-earn, so they are paid,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06and we give them housing on the estate,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09and they are with us 40 hours a week for the full year,
0:07:09 > 0:07:15so they see the full horticultural calendar and that entire cycle,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17and that's an important learning process alone.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19And of course, they are working side-by-side
0:07:19 > 0:07:22with professional gardeners, so they're getting a real training.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Do you check on them?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26We are teaching them, we assess them
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and we have got regular appraisals as well.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Do they keep a diary?
0:07:31 > 0:07:35They do indeed, they keep a written and a photographic diary.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38They record everything that's happening over the year.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39So, you take four -
0:07:39 > 0:07:42I suppose there is a lot more than four who want to get a shot at this?
0:07:42 > 0:07:46We've got approximately 50-plus applications every year.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Many of them come from college -
0:07:47 > 0:07:50college students who are about to finish, that don't feel confident
0:07:50 > 0:07:52to go into the workplace at that stage.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55And I suppose, I mean, having finished their year,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57they don't have a problem getting another job,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59because this is an amazing piece of training.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02We've got, thankfully, a very good success rate.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04In fact, all four that we've got at this point
0:08:04 > 0:08:07have already got something fixed up to move on to.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11- Well, I'm away to talk to one or two of the present lot.- Great.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- Rather a nice lettuce, eh? - Yes.- Isn't it?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Now then, Holly - you must have been destined to be a gardener,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28for goodness' sake, what a lovely name!
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Have you always been interested in gardening?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- Yes, I worked in my granny's garden a lot.- Yes, yeah.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37- When you left school, did you go right into gardening?- Not quite.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39There was a few years of just
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- finding out what I wanted to do. - Yeah, yeah.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46- And then I came across horticulture in the Elmwood prospectus.- Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50- So, studied there are two years, getting my NC and my HNC.- Yes.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52And then after that,
0:08:52 > 0:08:56I did sustainable forest management in Inverness, I did an HNC.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- I get the feeling that you were searching still.- Yes.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03- You hadn't quite found...- Yes.- And then it was Douneside?- It was, yes.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05And do you think this is the end of the trail,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- you've found now what you want to do?- Yes.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12After all the experience I've had here, it's really consolidated
0:09:12 > 0:09:15my feelings about gardening and I realised this is what I want to do.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17What's the next move for Holly?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20At the end of August, I finish here at Douneside and then start
0:09:20 > 0:09:24a two-year placement at Bodnant Garden in North Wales.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Oh, you lucky person, you! Oh, I love that garden.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33We worked in Shropshire and visited it regularly. Stunning place.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35But that also tells me something about you.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38You've now been round the gamut of all these different things -
0:09:38 > 0:09:41trees and shrubs are your kind of first love, would that be right?
0:09:41 > 0:09:42Yes, uh-huh,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45that's where I'd like to specialise, trees and shrubs, yes.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47- I wish you all the best.- Thank you.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59HE CHUCKLES
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Dipladenia. Oh, it's fantastic! Beautiful thing.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Here's the man I'm looking for. Craig, how are you doing?
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- Hi, Jim.- Nice to see you. - Nice to meet you.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Now then, here we are, the first time I've had a look at a glasshouse.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14My first job after I was trained was looking after a bit like this.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Absolutely stunning. I enjoyed it. Do you like this kind of stuff?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Yeah, it's great. I really enjoy it.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21What's your favourite part of horticulture?
0:10:21 > 0:10:25My favourite part of horticulture is alpine plants.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28So, why did you come to Douneside, then?
0:10:28 > 0:10:31After college, I just realised that I did not have much practical
0:10:31 > 0:10:34experience, and I was struggling to find employment as a gardener,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36so I thought this would be the perfect place
0:10:36 > 0:10:38to develop my practical skills.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39And it's done the business for you?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41- Yeah, it's been great. - What's the next stage?
0:10:41 > 0:10:46- I've got a one-year training placement at RHS Wisley.- Oh! Blimey.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Just the job, isn't it?
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I mean, your chum, Holly, there - she's going away to Bodnant and
0:10:51 > 0:10:54you're going to Wisley, two of the finest gardens south of the border.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Absolutely stunning.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- And will you stick with alpines, do you think?- Hopefully.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02I'd like to work with alpines in a botanic garden in the future.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- I wish you well. - Thank you very much.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- Hello there, Stuart, how are you? - Good, thank you.- Good, good, good.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Now, how long have you been here? - It'll be nearly nine years now.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21And did you start as a trainee?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Yeah, I started with the two years' training.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26OK. Any gardening experience before you started?
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Well, I used to help my grandad, both my grandads, in the garden at weekends and things.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34- Yes, yeah.- And then, er... I tried to get into horticulture.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I went, applied for a few jobs, four or five,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38and then they kept saying, "You don't have experience,"
0:11:38 > 0:11:39so I needed to...
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- How do you get it if you don't have a job?- Yes.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44So, you were pointed in the direction of Douneside.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Yeah. This was perfect, ideal.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Get your training and you get your qualifications.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Now, two things about this.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53The man himself must have liked the cut of your jib
0:11:53 > 0:11:55to offer you a job to stay on!
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- Yeah!- Yeah?
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- That's a good sign. And then, you're now training the trainees. - Yeah, I'm training them, yeah.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- And how long has this border been planted?- Springtime, we planted it.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- What a growing season you've had! - It's growing like mad.
0:12:07 > 0:12:08- Nearly ground cover.- Yeah.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- And you're perfectly happy? - Yeah, yeah.- Good man.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12- Well, thanks for that.- Yeah!
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Well, so ends my little trilogy on how to grow a gardener.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It started off in the schools, secondary schools.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24I think that schools in general could do a lot more
0:12:24 > 0:12:27to promote horticulture as a worthwhile career.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Then we did the formal thing, we went to the college at Cupar,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and we see this is currently the favourite way of doing it.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37But finally, we've come to Douneside, here, and we've
0:12:37 > 0:12:41looked at a method of training young people which is traditional,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45and as far as I'm concerned, it's by far and away the best way to do it.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46There you go.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Here in the cutting garden, just over a year ago,
0:12:53 > 0:12:59I put in a collection of these Weeping Standard roses.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Now, they're slightly out of fashion, but hopefully,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05in just a year, you can start to see why I was so keen to use them.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09This is Excelsior, starting to spill down and produce
0:13:09 > 0:13:13that descending canopy of blooms - a really super grower -
0:13:13 > 0:13:17meeting the herbaceous plants coming in the other direction,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19and it really does provide a good hierarchy of foliage,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22and, of course, flowers - especially at this time of the year.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24And it's quite easy to look at this and think,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26"Well, it's doing well - leave it be."
0:13:26 > 0:13:28But actually, if you look closely...
0:13:28 > 0:13:32you can see that the young foliage is slightly carotic -
0:13:32 > 0:13:34it's got sort of interveinal yellowing.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38It's a classic sign that these hungry plants
0:13:38 > 0:13:43really need a second boost of feed, to complement that given in spring.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47So you can use a proprietary rose fertiliser.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Just scatter the granules, just a handful or so, around the base.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54That provides the macronutrients -
0:13:54 > 0:13:57the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02Give a good mulch, then, of farmyard manure, well rotted -
0:14:02 > 0:14:04that will help to keep the moisture in,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07especially if this warm, dry weather continues.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12And then, to really inject some energy back into the plant,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14a good drench of seaweed.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18And this rose here is Super Dorothy, another of the collection.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Slightly weaker in growth, and that's to be expected -
0:14:21 > 0:14:23it's normal for this particular plant.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25But there's one or two issues -
0:14:25 > 0:14:28a little bit of dieback on some of the stems here,
0:14:28 > 0:14:33so just select back to a healthy bud, prune it away,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35and just clean the plant up.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37And the other thing is to look up at the buds,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41because some of these are struggling with a little bit of mildew,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45and again, that's just really part of the seasonal challenge for roses.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47So, at this time of the year,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50garlic spray is the thing to reach for, because...
0:14:51 > 0:14:56A good drench of garlic extract not only acts as a foliar feed,
0:14:56 > 0:15:01but also, the sulphur content helps to dissuade fungal complaints
0:15:01 > 0:15:03like the mildews taking hold.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08The third in the collection is this one, Rosa Super Fairy,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12aptly named, with these rather wonderful, full blooms.
0:15:12 > 0:15:13Delicate pink.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17And this one is demonstrating how we should go about pruning and managing
0:15:17 > 0:15:20the plant over time, because you can see,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22these stems which try and go upward
0:15:22 > 0:15:25become a little bit too heavy with their buds.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29As the flowers open, the stems then become downward-facing,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33and then, as the season progresses, they will lignify, they'll stiffen,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37and so, the true, arching, weeping habit of these Standards
0:15:37 > 0:15:38starts to form.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42Now, although these plants are derived from ramblers,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and with ramblers, you normally hit them hard with a pruning session
0:15:45 > 0:15:48as soon as they've finished flowering,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52with the Weeping Standard roses, you don't prune them like that.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56You wait until they've assumed this downward-facing stem,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58then you might prune off some of the side shoots,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01and apart from that, you can pretty much leave them alone.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02At this time of year, in fact,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05it really is a case of just going in,
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and pinching out some of the faded blooms.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- Jim, it's all about peas, now! - Yes, indeed.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- It's an overpowering view, this is, isn't it?- Isn't it?
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Because we grew 14 different varieties,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- a couple of them were in pots, they've actually gone over.- Yeah.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23And first of all, the support systems.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26The one right at the back with the canes has worked well.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29That was a work of architecture in its own right without the peas!
0:16:29 > 0:16:31The willow system, bought off the shelf -
0:16:31 > 0:16:33a bit wobbly, quite honestly.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35You just want to get some decent posts in at either end.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Well, you say that, I mean, I think our post system is one of the best,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40with the chicken wire.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43The hoop system was fine - we can use that again and again.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45I fancy them for my broad beans!
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- But I think the answer is, you've got to make sure you get the right variety...- This is true.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50..you know, the height, for the support.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52So you've certainly grown a few.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Haven't we just? Erm... So, where do we...?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- You know, you've got your earlies... - Yes.- ..to get an early crop.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59You go for main crops, and, you know,
0:16:59 > 0:17:04- this all-season one's quite good, cos there's eight peas in that pod. - Well, that's what it's all about.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Most of the rest of them, you've got seven.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Tell me this, why do you bother growing purple-podded peas
0:17:10 > 0:17:11when the peas are green?
0:17:11 > 0:17:12- I know!- That's a bit of a let-down.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14And actually, I just wonder if you cook that,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18- sometimes it does go green rather than staying purple. - That's wishful thinking.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20- Do you like more the traditional pea...- Yes!
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Or going for the mangetout? Yes? - HE LAUGHS
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Traditional!
0:17:24 > 0:17:26I quite like mangetout and the sugar snaps,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- when you do a bit of stir frying. - This is true.- And then...
0:17:28 > 0:17:32But then you wouldn't know what's in it, so when you serve it, it's all chopped up.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Yeah, and I mean, it's amazing, the variety of colours as well,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37and just to look at the flower colour, too.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40You know, that's a heritage variety, quite pretty pea there.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's peas we're talking about!
0:17:42 > 0:17:44It's a blue flower over there with the yellow one.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45Good Lord, so there is!
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Now, the whole point is that there's peas, and there's tatties.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50- Yes, we're onto tatties as well. - What about the tatties?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53OK, so this was the two varieties. We've both had a bit of a taste.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57- Yeah, well, I liked that one. - Yeah, and so did I.- Oh, really?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59So we end up at the end of the day,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03it's Pentland Javelin rather than Diva.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05I think they both had the same texture,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07but that had slightly more flavour.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09There's only one thing missing. Some nice beef mince!
0:18:09 > 0:18:11SHE LAUGHS
0:18:11 > 0:18:13That's true, and a bit of butter!
0:18:19 > 0:18:20Well, this is exciting.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Today, I'm in East Lothian.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25I'm in the village of Athelstaneford,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28which of course is the birthplace of the Scottish flag.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31And this also is where I went to primary school.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34But I'm here today to look at some special gardens.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42This is the garden of Alan and Nora Craig,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44and it's a long, narrow garden.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Now, these narrow gardens were known as rigs.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50This was a garden which would extend from the footprint of the house,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53right out into the fields at the back.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57It was a size that was suitable to support a family,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59to supply fruit and vegetables.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10I'm going to visit a few of the gardens in the village
0:19:10 > 0:19:12to see how different they can all be.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16'First is the traditional plot on two sides of the road
0:19:16 > 0:19:19'belonging to Stephanie and Malcolm Duncan.'
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Gosh, look at that! Eh? - HE LAUGHS
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- Tropaeolum speciosum.- It is. - Oh, my goodness!
0:19:28 > 0:19:32- And it's on a beech hedge.- Well, yes, normally it's on yew, yes.
0:19:32 > 0:19:33Now, did you plant that hedge, then?
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- Yes.- Right, so what was here before?
0:19:36 > 0:19:37A field.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- Right.- A field was here before.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Erm... And the field came right up to the edge of the cottage here.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44Right in.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46- So, where these farm cottages, then? - Maybe.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50Also railway workers, possibly, because of the train down the road.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51Oh, I suppose so, yeah.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Now... Ha-ha!
0:19:53 > 0:19:54This is something which I like.
0:19:54 > 0:19:55This is an old water tank.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Yes, from the old cottage - we had to replace it.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- It's got an old penny in the bottom! - HE LAUGHS
0:20:01 > 0:20:05- For the next generation. - In the hole. Yeah. That's excellent.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Other things, though, look at the colour you've got here with these begonias,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- you've got dahlias, you've got hydrangeas, you've got annuals in the field behind.- Nice in summer.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14It's absolutely fabulous in the summer.
0:20:14 > 0:20:15But...
0:20:15 > 0:20:16no vegetables?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19No - they are across the road in the original garden.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- There's lots of fruit and veg. - Good!
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- Well, Malcolm.- Hello, George.- This is a productive space, isn't it?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Yes, it's not bad at al.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Now, was this original, then - was this what went with the house?
0:20:38 > 0:20:42This would be two rigs of land, which went with the two cottages
0:20:42 > 0:20:44over there, and we've joined them together.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Right. - So now you've got a long stretch...
0:20:47 > 0:20:51We've covered it with fruit trees and things like that,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54but originally it would be the tattie patch that went with the cottages over there.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Cos that was the staple diet in those days, wasn't it?
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Way back at the beginning of last century.
0:20:59 > 0:21:00So, enough to keep you going?
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Yes, tatties, onions, leeks, a lot of soft fruit in the freezer,
0:21:04 > 0:21:05apples...
0:21:05 > 0:21:07And the wallflower for the colour in the spring.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Two lots of wallflower, just set out this week.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11So what was in there before, then?
0:21:11 > 0:21:13That was Epicures - they came up two or three weeks ago,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15and Red Duke of York as well.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Fabulous potato, Epicure, isn't it? - Great.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Typical of East Lothian.- A bit of butter and oatmeal, wonderful.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Just... Oh! It'll soon be lunchtime!
0:21:23 > 0:21:24THEY LAUGH
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Anyway, I've got a lot of other gardens to see,
0:21:26 > 0:21:27so I'll move on, and we'll see you later.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Thanks very much, George, bye.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34From one of the most established gardens in the village,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36I'm now going to meet Di Simcock.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- When did you arrive here? - Well, we came here six years ago...
0:21:41 > 0:21:48- Uh-huh.- ..and found this garden as a long strip of grass.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51What was your plan, then? What had you thought about doing?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I had thought, in this part of the garden,
0:21:53 > 0:21:57of having a horseshoe shape of perennials.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58Uh-huh.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02And I wanted to have a progression from spring on this side,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04with the sort of cool colour scheme,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07and ending up with summer flowers on this side, with a hot colour scheme.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- You see, that's quite hot there. - Yeah, it is.- That's working.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Any problems on the site, you know, weather-wise?
0:22:13 > 0:22:16- It's very windy, in fact you can see the wind's picking up a little bit now.- Yeah.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- And the prevailing wind comes from the west and the north.- Uh-huh.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25So this beech hedge over here is very useful as providing...
0:22:25 > 0:22:26shelter from the wind.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Well, let's go and see what's beyond it - there's a greenhouse or something up there.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- I think we need to see. - Yes, there is indeed!- You lead on.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Ah-ha!
0:22:35 > 0:22:36It's sunken!
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Well, the next thing we did was to establish a greenhouse,
0:22:40 > 0:22:41and as you can see, it's sunken down.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- Why?- There were several reasons.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46First of all, we didn't want to lose the view,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49which is absolutely staggering, fantastic.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Secondly, as I've explained, it's a very windy site,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53so I didn't want to lose my greenhouse.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Thirdly, I understood that if you sink them down,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59it will help to stabilise the temperature.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Solution to every problem, isn't there?- Yeah.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- So I really love my greenhouse. - Well, I'm off to see Harold now.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- OK, oh, you'll really enjoy that. - Will I?- Yes, you will.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09- Don't tell me about it!- OK!
0:23:09 > 0:23:10THEY LAUGH
0:23:14 > 0:23:17'Next on my travels, I'm off to meet Harold Vox,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20'who knows a thing or two about getting places.'
0:23:24 > 0:23:27So, how did you get involved in trains, Harold?
0:23:27 > 0:23:32Well, I have always been interested in trains since I was a child.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34What did you do, then, as a profession?
0:23:34 > 0:23:35I became a teacher.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37So when did they come back?
0:23:37 > 0:23:42It didn't come back till... Really, I...started this year.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45- Here, when you came to Athelstaneford?- Yeah, yeah.- Right!
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- And what made you come back to it? - Well, it was...er...
0:23:48 > 0:23:49Something I thought...
0:23:49 > 0:23:52for once, trains would run the way I want them to run.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54THEY LAUGH
0:23:54 > 0:23:58- The railway really fits into the landscape of the garden, doesn't it? - Yeah, yeah.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01And it's just another wonderful way of showing how we can use
0:24:01 > 0:24:03a garden for other things.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Oh, yes, yes.
0:24:05 > 0:24:12- So, I've pinched a lot of vegetable land...- Space!- ..for this here!
0:24:12 > 0:24:16- It has changed over and over again. - Thanks for showing us it!
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- It's really good, really good. - HAROLD LAUGHS
0:24:24 > 0:24:29'My last visit is to an old school chum, Irene Howe's garden,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33'which local garden designer Nicola Semple is going to guide me around.'
0:24:36 > 0:24:38This is Irene's garden, and she's been gardening here
0:24:38 > 0:24:41for more than 25 years, and she works in the local nursery.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Now, that bit shows, because everywhere you look,
0:24:44 > 0:24:45there are these fantastic plants.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- Yeah.- The more you look, the more detail you see...- Yeah. - ..and the better it is.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50I mean, look at that.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52This is one of the snake-bark maples,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- now, just look at that - isn't that just fabulous?- Yeah, it's beautiful.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Absolutely splendid.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- But this division of rooms is really something.- Yes.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Well, as a garden designer you know that.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Yes, this is a lovely little place to come and relax.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Yeah, and then we go through this one, and we're into...
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Well, a productive area.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Very productive. I think Irene could feed the village.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I mean, even in this productive area, look at that -
0:25:13 > 0:25:16look at the combination over there.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20- That's fabulous, isn't it?- I know. Everything's just...piled in!
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Irene says she just buys a plant when she sees it,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24that she likes, then comes back,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27- finds a space in the garden, and bungs it in any old place. - HE LAUGHS
0:25:27 > 0:25:30But you have to know what you're doing to get away with that.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32You have to know your plants, and she obviously does.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35But, you know, there's more to see, and if you want to come back
0:25:35 > 0:25:37and see it, come on the open day - that's it, isn't it?
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Mmm-hmm. Yeah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43'Well, I've really enjoyed this trip down memory lane today,'
0:25:43 > 0:25:46and if you want to visit all of these wonderful gardens
0:25:46 > 0:25:50and more besides, they'll be open on September 4th
0:25:50 > 0:25:53as part of the Scotland's Gardens scheme.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57One of the big challenges with summer winds,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00especially with a young tree like this, in full canopy
0:26:00 > 0:26:04and with rain as well, is that very often boughs will break.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06That's exactly what's happened on this sweet chestnut,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10so to remedy the situation, take the weight off the broken bough,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and then a quick cut...
0:26:13 > 0:26:17..through the wounded specimen...
0:26:17 > 0:26:21and I've deliberately left a peg on here, because what I want
0:26:21 > 0:26:25is for a new shoot to come in here, to replace this hole in the canopy.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28That will take place hopefully over the next season or so.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Now, we've already remarked about the lovely summer weather
0:26:33 > 0:26:36that we've got at the moment, and yes, this is a fig, outside,
0:26:36 > 0:26:37because it's a hardy variety.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40It's a Bavarian fig called Violetta.
0:26:40 > 0:26:46And I'm delighted to say, at last, after being planted in May, 2012,
0:26:46 > 0:26:48we finally have one fig.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50But I hope this is the start of many more to come.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56A selection of summer bedding plants always turns up something new,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58and this one certainly turned my head.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Look at that little Osteospermum.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04It's no more than about nine inches high, it's called Blue Eyed Beauty,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07it's compact, it's full of flower - that's one I would grow again.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09We'll come back to them in a couple of weeks' time.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Talk a bit more.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18I'm not normally a fan of pink, but I do think that that...
0:27:19 > 0:27:23- ...is a really spectacular sweet pea.- It's lovely, isn't it?
0:27:23 > 0:27:24- What's she called?- Valerie Harrod.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- Yeah, really nice, the frilly edge. - Yeah.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Now, I've got two that I'm going to pick out.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- One for the perfume, the fat one there.- Oh...
0:27:32 > 0:27:36Because it is so strong, that, have you smelt that one? That's...
0:27:36 > 0:27:38- Mmm.- Cream Eggs.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I mean, I can smell it from here, cos it's up there.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43- Why is it called Cream Eggs? - I've got no...!
0:27:43 > 0:27:47- Cos it certainly doesn't smell of a Creme Egg.- No... I think... - Doesn't look like one, either.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49I don't know, there's a bit of yellow in the centre,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52and then it comes out creamy and...
0:27:52 > 0:27:55- purple?- Grasping at straws, I think, probably with that one!
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- But the other one...- Either that or it's wrongly labelled!
0:27:58 > 0:28:01I love the colour of this one. Emilia Fox,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and I think those two go together.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05- But, I mean, I love sweet peas, anyway.- Yeah.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Well, I think they could be down as one of the big successes
0:28:09 > 0:28:11of a summer that's been pretty mixed.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Anyway, if you'd like any more information about this week's programme,
0:28:14 > 0:28:16whether it's the sweet peas or all those tatties,
0:28:16 > 0:28:18it's all in the fact sheet,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20and the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I have to say, it's been an all too brief visit to Beechgrove,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25and we're away on our travels next week.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27- We're going away to the north-west. - We are.
0:28:27 > 0:28:28So remember to pack...
0:28:28 > 0:28:30midge cream...
0:28:30 > 0:28:31SHE LAUGHS
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- ..wellies.- Yes.- ..waterproofs...
0:28:33 > 0:28:34Expect anything!
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- Until then, bye-bye.- Goodbye!- Bye.