0:00:11 > 0:00:13Well, hello and welcome to Beechgrove Garden,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16the last programme of the present series.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Aww, what a shame! And we've got a full turnout.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20It's nice to see Chris back again,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22and add young Mr Cunningham to the troops.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25And we're all raring to go, and I tell you what,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28we're not going to be short of vegetables over the winter months.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30We've got plenty of fresh vegetables right here in front of us,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33and we should start with brassicas, I think. What is your choice?
0:00:33 > 0:00:36I'll go for the kale, Redbor, for the colour. I think it's amazing.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39That's good, but what about this? Seaweed kale. Look at the...
0:00:39 > 0:00:42That's such a bold texture, and the way the water's sitting on that,
0:00:42 > 0:00:43- I think that...- It's lovely.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45That's good enough to be in an ornamental garden, isn't it?
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- Definitely.- Absolutely. - Brussels sprouts.- Look at that. Eh?
0:00:48 > 0:00:49Parsnips. They're crackers.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53- How about mine? - Possibly better for a small family.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Nice smelling. Smell nice.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56They do, don't they? Yes.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It's good!
0:00:58 > 0:01:02But not only parsnips, but we've got plenty there. Let's get on with it.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09The garden I'm visiting specialises in cloud pruning,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11and this is just one superb example.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And the spring bedding is looking good.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20It may be autumn but, already, we're preparing for next spring.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Well, now, as the days shorten and the light gets worse,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29we've a bit of work to do in the glasshouses.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31First thing to do is, of course, to take off the shading.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33This was painted on in the summer.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35It's there for the whole time.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37It's got to be removed now, and it's quite a laborious job,
0:01:37 > 0:01:44whereas next door we've used netting that was rolled down when we need it
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and rolled back on these dull days, even in the middle of summer.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50So, as I say, that's the easiest part of this job.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Before we go much further,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56I just wanted to take a minute to talk about what we've done in here
0:01:56 > 0:01:58during the summer. We've tried this,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00four different plants in this watering system.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Two different tomatoes, two different cucumbers.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04They got on all right together.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06It worked reasonably well.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10The other thing that we started off doing was to use a new compost.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12And this new compost, which is on the market, it's available,
0:02:12 > 0:02:17is made up of bark and woodchip and coir.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19No green waste,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22so there's an element of consistency about it which I really like.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24About 12p a litre.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25It's doing rather nicely.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28These plants are in it and have been since they were cuttings,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31so they're doing well. Now we get to the job, and, of course,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34what we're looking to do is to clean out all the gubbins,
0:02:34 > 0:02:35all the muck and everything
0:02:35 > 0:02:39in the glasshouse that has accumulated over the year.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42And the first thing we do is to absolutely fumigate.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Two ways of doing it.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47There is this, using a candle, which is a garlic.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51I'm not so fond of this for this part of the season.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53I would prefer to use a sulphur candle
0:02:53 > 0:02:55which gets into all the nooks and
0:02:55 > 0:02:57crannies and kills the disease that's there and kills, maybe,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00some eggs and insects and so on.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02So sulphur fumigation at this time.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Take the plants out,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06keep them out for a day or two and then get them back in again.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Block up the door, light the candle, late afternoon, perhaps,
0:03:10 > 0:03:11when the temperature is up.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15You want a temperature 15, 20C for the first two or three hours,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17but leave it overnight, and in the morning,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20open the door and walk away and let it ventilate itself.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Clean up, and then you're ready to start the next start of the process
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and that, of course, is to wash it down using a disinfectant.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31And, of course, one of the laborious things to do is to actually,
0:03:31 > 0:03:32and I started here,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34is to use a label to get that muck out
0:03:34 > 0:03:37from between the glazing bars, you see?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41And then a really good wash with a hose and disinfectant.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45And, as with all washing,
0:03:45 > 0:03:46you must rinse properly,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48because the last thing you want is little pockets
0:03:48 > 0:03:51of disinfectant caught up here, and then you've got nice,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54valuable seedlings there and it drips down and burns them.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57So be sure that you do the job properly.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Then if you're going to use the glasshouse in late winter
0:04:00 > 0:04:01into spring for propagation,
0:04:01 > 0:04:02you need to insulate,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and the best way to do that is using bubble polythene.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09The whole thing is enveloped with bubble polythene.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12This little fella is made to go and trap the polythene here.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17It's stretched tight, and then you put that into hold it in place,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and the point is that you've got an insulation layer there.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22If the polythene hits the glass,
0:04:22 > 0:04:23you're spoiling the insulation altogether.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26So be sure to take your time and do the job properly.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37A-ha, I've found you, George, digging to Australia!
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Just about it, I'll tell you.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40Yeah. Well, would you believe it?
0:04:40 > 0:04:44We're looking ahead to the spring of 2017, looking at a few problems,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47increasing plants and various jobs.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Yeah. We've not been terribly satisfied with the growth here
0:04:50 > 0:04:53in the fruit cage, and that's why we've been digging these holes.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- So we've got... Yeah, so test pits.- Yeah, test pits.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58We've got one over there, one over here and one down there.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00The idea is to try and see whether
0:05:00 > 0:05:02there is any water lying underneath and
0:05:02 > 0:05:04ponding in this area, which is then causing the poor growth.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07We've always thought it's been a bit of a problem, haven't we?
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Yeah. This was a nursery site and it's on a slope.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12Water naturally runs down a hill,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and I'm convinced that it ponds in here,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and, you know, when I was digging this...
0:05:17 > 0:05:18- See this?- Wow!
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- Look, look!- Really claggy.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25- Oh, it smells!- No, the fruit hasn't particularly grown that well.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27No. Top growth's been bad.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29So we'll monitor it, won't we?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31We'll monitor these holes and we'll come back.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Well, in the spring, we'll see exactly what the problem is,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36whether it's filled up with water or not, we'll watch it over the winter,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38see what's happening, but...
0:05:38 > 0:05:40- Now some jobs.- Get on with some work.- What are you doing?
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- I'm going to go and take some cuttings.- Great.- All right.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58I've come round to this fan-trained gooseberry
0:05:58 > 0:06:00to get some wood for cuttings.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02We're going to create some new plants from this.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05But what the problem is with gooseberries, very often,
0:06:05 > 0:06:06is that right from the very base,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08at soil level, you get these prickly shoots.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12See that one there? You get these prickly shoots arising,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14and they're an absolute menace.
0:06:14 > 0:06:15What I want to do is to take a set
0:06:15 > 0:06:18of cuttings which show you how to avoid that happening.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20So all we're going to do at this point is,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24take one or two cuttings from this, taking the young wood off the plant,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27take these, go down to the potting shed and sort them out down there.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Well, you know, it's quite amazing how quickly
0:06:45 > 0:06:47these plants have grown in the gravel garden.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50It's only three years.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55And why I'm shifting this one out is not because it's in the way,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58but look at that, as comparison to that.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59These are both muhlenia,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03but this is the variegated form and this one has reverted.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07There's just a little sign of the variegation left,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09so it's much more vigorous.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13We want to take that out, and what I would then do is,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I would chop that really hard back, and I could divide that.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I'm sure I could get another three plants,
0:07:19 > 0:07:20and we could put them somewhere else.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Well, I've got the gooseberry cuttings here, but I've also been
0:07:23 > 0:07:25round the garden and I've taken one or two other cuttings.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27I've got some jutes here,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30there's some cornus, willow and blackcurrant.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Now, these cuttings are all taken the same way.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34These are all hardwood cuttings,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37and this is the time of year to take hardwood cuttings.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Normally, we'd take them when the leaves are just off
0:07:39 > 0:07:42the plants, and you make a cutting which will be, what,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45about ten inches long, something like that, so 250 millimetres,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47cutting it below a node at the bottom
0:07:47 > 0:07:49and just above a node, or a bud,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52at the top. So we would snip that off there.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53Now, that's your cutting,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56and that then goes into the soil and we plant that
0:07:56 > 0:07:59vertically in the soil, like that,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02so that the top of the shoot is just at soil level.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05We do the same thing with the jutes, we'll do the same with the cornus,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07same with the willow, so that's easy enough.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10But I... I was telling you about this problem there is
0:08:10 > 0:08:11with these really vicious shoots
0:08:11 > 0:08:13that come out the bottom of the gooseberry.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Right, here are the gooseberry shoots,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18and we do something completely and utterly different with that.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20We're going to be quite brutal to this fellow.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I'm going to cut it off just below a node there, right?
0:08:24 > 0:08:27So we've got the bud at the bottom, we've got buds all the way up here.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30What I'm going to do is, I'm just going to take these buds off.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Right, can you see that? Just going to take these buds off just with the
0:08:33 > 0:08:38blade of the secateurs, so that what I create here is a leg.
0:08:38 > 0:08:44I've got a portion of this stem which has got no buds on it at all.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48So that means that this is going to have a clear leg like that,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51no buds on it, therefore no prickly shoots.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54And I'll leave one, two, three buds on the top,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56and I'll snip that off there.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00We'll get three shoots coming away from there and then that now,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03just like the other cuttings, gets inserted into the soil.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07But this has got to be a bit deeper, cos I want that to be right down,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10so that the top of the cutting is just at soil level.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15And we won't get any more of these vicious shoots
0:09:15 > 0:09:17on our gooseberry bush.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Now, you'll see I've done a little bit of clearing the path,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23because it was getting so overgrown.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24All I've done, basically,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28is cut back some of the lovely seed heads on the grasses,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31and it hasn't really ruined the plant itself.
0:09:31 > 0:09:32I don't want to cut them all back,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34because it's wonderful to leave
0:09:34 > 0:09:36some of these seed heads over the wintertime,
0:09:36 > 0:09:40because when you get those frosts they look absolutely beautiful.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Now, what's the problem here?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45It's a grass that is overshadowing another grass.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48This one is a muhlenia, looks great.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51And this, I think, is superb - a deschampsia.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52That one's OK.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55But look, we've got three little plants here
0:09:55 > 0:09:56being totally overshadowed.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59My idea will be...is we will lift these three.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02This clump, I reckon, again, could be divided.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06And I've got the perfect place, just behind here, fill the gap.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Right, Carol, here's another one for the collection.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16I think we're going to end up filling the conservatory!
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I mean, the whole idea, George,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20is you're bringing in the bay to add to the
0:10:20 > 0:10:23camellias, because we want to keep these frost-free, don't we?
0:10:23 > 0:10:26And the other thing is, not too much water either.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Don't give them a lot of water, don't get them wet and heavy.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29Just keep them on the dry side.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Ticking them over, maybe about 5-7 degrees Celsius,
0:10:33 > 0:10:34something like that.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Slightly different, though, for the citrus,
0:10:36 > 0:10:37and doesn't that one look lovely
0:10:37 > 0:10:39- and healthy? Look at the fruits. - And the flowers.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42So, although you've got to be a bit careful with the watering,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45we've got to change the feeding regime from a summer feed,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47we're going onto the winter feed.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50The difference, the summer feed is high in nitrogen.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51So we're slowing down the growth.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54We've actually got equal amounts now of nitrogen,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56phosphorus and potassium.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- Excellent. - Now, this is the real dry corner.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05People don't like to stop watering house plants!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07But the amaryllis, completely give them a rest.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09We want all that foliage to go brown.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Give them a rest for eight weeks
0:11:11 > 0:11:12and start them off then at Christmas-time.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14And then the achimenes at the bottom, again,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17these will just be completely dried off.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Because they're tiny little tubercles,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23and we leave those and the oxalis until spring.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Spring 2017!
0:11:25 > 0:11:27It'll soon be spring!
0:11:30 > 0:11:31I tell you what, you guys were
0:11:31 > 0:11:33fairly getting off your mark in the last piece.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Lots of jobs, getting ready for spring.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- And there's a lot more.- Definitely.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Now, look at this tuber, dahlia tuber.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Yes, indeed. So, we are actually into the business
0:11:41 > 0:11:42of half hardy perennials,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45which don't need to be thrown out and then have to purchase again.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47We can keep these over the winter
0:11:47 > 0:11:49and will grow them again in the spring.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52The dahlia, so, very often we say wait until a touch of frost
0:11:52 > 0:11:55when this goes black and the foliage dies back.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57With good reason.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00The fact of the matter is, if it gets blackened with frost,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04the plant gets the message, it's finished, and it will shut down.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05- Yes.- There are cases where,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07if you lift them too early and dry them off,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09they won't mature properly.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11They won't ripen properly, if you like.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12So, this is what we do next.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15What I'm doing then is cutting it like that.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16And turn it upside down.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19We take it into the garage, and we do that.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22And we use all of them just to hold themselves up.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Because, a lot of these stems are very sappy,
0:12:26 > 0:12:27and if you sit them like that,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30the moisture will drain down into the neck.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31And you might get neck rot, then.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Well, apart from anything else,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35it's around the neck of these stems
0:12:35 > 0:12:37that the new shoots will come next spring.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39They don't come from the end of the tubers.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41And then once that's dry,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44then you've got to get dry sand, dry leaf mould,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46something like that. Pack them together.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Yeah, yeah.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- Keep them frost-free. - Frost-free.- In the dark.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Similar, I think, with the begonias as well.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54The tuberous begonias.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Yes. This little illumination here was bought as plus, wasn't it?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Sometimes, with the length of growing season that they get,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02they don't produce a tuber,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04but this one has, it's got a little tuber there.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Now, we'll dry these off,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09take them out the pot, lay them out, dry them off.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- All the foliages... - The foliage will die.- ..dies.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13And then when that's dry, we'll get that off as well.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15I'd keep the tubers moist,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18so that, again, you don't want them to shrivel.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Not too wet, but as you say, slightly moist.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Covered in a bit of sand or whatever.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Slightly different, I think, with chrysanthemums.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26These are looking really good at the moment.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Cut these back, what, six inches?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Something like that?- Yeah, yeah. 15 centimetres, dear.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Right, 15 centimetres!
0:13:33 > 0:13:36You can already see, actually, lots of new growth coming at the base.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39So these are the stools, you have to keep those moist, don't you?
0:13:39 > 0:13:43So you pot them up, or box them up, and just keep them in the light.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46But ticking over and no more.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Then, come the spring, the cycle starts all over again.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52- Way to go.- Ready to go.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54As autumn creeps in,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57one or two plants are still hanging onto their summer glory.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00The cosmos is still doing us proud.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04But as they fade, it's worth thinking about feeding the soil,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08because we've got to think ahead to next year, and enriching the soil,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10so that whatever we plant in here,
0:14:10 > 0:14:11which is likely, incidentally,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13to be the exotics which are currently above,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16whatever we plant in here benefits from it.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19And, really, this is the time of year when you should be emptying the
0:14:19 > 0:14:24compost heap, emptying your leaf litter bins
0:14:24 > 0:14:30and spreading this wonderful home compost material on the ground.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34And the idea is that we are feeding the macro and micro-organisms.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37That really is the heart, the key,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41the foundation, of success in the garden.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44What we are talking about is things like earthworms.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Have you counted yours recently?
0:14:46 > 0:14:50There should be about 80,000 in the average garden.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54And if you're looking for macro and microorganisms, well,
0:14:54 > 0:14:59including the fungi and bacteria, you'll find around about
0:14:59 > 0:15:03seven million per gram of soil.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07If you get to seven million, you know you've got great soil.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Now, the point of all these organisms
0:15:10 > 0:15:12is that they digest this organic
0:15:12 > 0:15:15matter down. So they are constantly breaking it down.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20Worms, for instance, will consume the same leaf six or seven times.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Every time it goes through their gut, they release enzymes.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Those enzymes promote plant growth,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29particularly rooting and flowering.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32So it's all aiding to next season's growth.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35And then, of course, there's the fact that
0:15:35 > 0:15:37all of this stuff is dark brown.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42The fact that it has a dark colour allows it to absorb more of the
0:15:42 > 0:15:45sun's energy, even through the winter months.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47But more importantly,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51incorporating the organic matter right into the soil profile.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56And that organic matter then acts as a buffer between soil particles,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59stops compaction, so the next time you're walking on the garden
0:15:59 > 0:16:00you don't get so much compaction,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03and, it allows better drainage,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07but also, better water retention.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09So here's a thought. If you add
0:16:09 > 0:16:12about five centimetres depth of organic matter
0:16:12 > 0:16:14over the surface of the ground,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17let the organisms naturally incorporate it,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19next year, on a sandy soil,
0:16:19 > 0:16:23you'll be able to hold 50% more water in the ground.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Less watering, better plant growth.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Brian, what, two months, three months since you've seen this?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32What do you think of your Alpine garden now?
0:16:32 > 0:16:35I'm quite chuffed, actually. It's looking quite established.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37The plants are putting on some good growth, which is a good sign.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It means they're happy in their new home.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41These ones up there look splendid, don't they?
0:16:41 > 0:16:43These little cushions.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Look at the saxifrage,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46look at the way it's grown already,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48following that crevice line down there.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50And this pratia, look at the roots.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52That's it going down searching.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55And then, look at the astilbe, absolutely stunning.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58For the end of October, that is just cracking, isn't it?
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- That's going to go on for a while yet.- Yeah.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02- And it's fitted in well with that wee slope.- That's right.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Most of these things are hardy, they are things you chose because
0:17:05 > 0:17:06they're hardy and they'll take
0:17:06 > 0:17:08the winter that we throw at them, no bother at all.
0:17:08 > 0:17:09But sometimes, even with that,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12there's things that need a wee bit of protection.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Now, this lewisia, which is down here, perfectly hardy,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18that's on a slope. It will shed the water, not be a hassle at all.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21But this one on the top, it's sitting with its leaves like that,
0:17:21 > 0:17:23and it's going to get all the water that the skies throw at it.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26So I think that will need a little bit of a cover over it.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28We could do it with a sheet of glass,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30or we can do it with this polycarbonate sheeting.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33All I've done is got some pieces of wire, which we've bent,
0:17:33 > 0:17:36and then we just fit that over the top like that.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37So that's just a little,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39it's like a greenhouse with all its doors and windows open,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and the air can rush through that
0:17:41 > 0:17:45and keep the whole thing dry on the top. Still be wet underneath.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48The person that planted that really should've known
0:17:48 > 0:17:49what they were doing though, eh?
0:17:49 > 0:17:51They should have, aye, they should have.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53But, now, down this side where we've got the slate stream,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55we're going to put some muscari down there.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58It's a thing called Mount Hood, it has a little white tip to it,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00and that'll accentuate the flow of the bulbs when they
0:18:00 > 0:18:03come up in the spring, and that will naturalise and spread all over.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06And what I'm going to do is, I've got this little dwarf narcissus,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09it only gets about 15 centimetres high.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11So, I'm going to start up at the mountaintop,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13I'm going to get it coming down in dribs and drabs,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and we'll get a nice wee display down at the bottom.
0:18:15 > 0:18:16A pool at the base.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17- Aye.- Brilliant.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35I'm 950 feet high in Midlothian,
0:18:35 > 0:18:40and the garden I'm about to see has been sympathetically planted
0:18:40 > 0:18:44to blend in with this wonderful moorland landscape.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Now, of course, that also means the plants are going to have to be tough
0:18:47 > 0:18:50to withstand the exposed conditions.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Andrew Moore is the gardener at Huntly Cot
0:18:59 > 0:19:02and has been looking after the garden for the last three years.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09When I came here three years ago,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12I set upon changing the garden.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14It was originally quite overgrown.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Shrubs intermingled with heathers.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22What I did was I set upon cloud pruning the shrubs, one by one,
0:19:22 > 0:19:26so the whole garden would flow into the moorland in the background.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Beautiful, and I want to stop and admire your cloud pruning here.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32So that's a pernettya - or several pernettyas.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Yes, that's right.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36And what a beautiful shape you have made of that.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37So, how do you go about it?
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Well, it's all done by hand, so what I did is I started to
0:19:41 > 0:19:46make the shape so it would meld into the moorland in the background
0:19:46 > 0:19:50and the pernettya gave me that scope, because it was so overgrown
0:19:50 > 0:19:52and that's what the effect is.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56So, you don't have a plan, that shape just forms for you?
0:19:56 > 0:19:57It does, yes.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01So you've got some of these major shrubs and you've cloud pruned them.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04And then the heathers. Now, some of these are quite old, aren't they?
0:20:04 > 0:20:09Yes, when the garden was originally commissioned by owner Peter de Vink
0:20:09 > 0:20:1320 years ago, they were planted and what's happened is, over time,
0:20:13 > 0:20:14they were let go.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18At that stage you, have to replace them because when they're too leggy,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20you can't cut them back.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24You can't go into the old wood, so really you have to prune every year.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25It's quite important.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27So, you're doing some new plantings?
0:20:27 > 0:20:33Yes, over in this new bed here we have Erica darleynsis Ghost Hills.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Lovely white blooms.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38They're just starting to flower, but it's going to be a mass of flowers.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40What about the one on the corner with the purple flowers?
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Yeah, that's Erica cinerea Purple Beauty.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Now, the whole point of heathers is that you can get
0:20:46 > 0:20:48flower 12 months of the year, can't you?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Oh, it's incredible, it really is,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53and when one starts, another goes on.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55It's just like a magic carpet.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58That's a beautiful phrase. And, also, I mean, the foliage?
0:20:58 > 0:21:00What about the tree heather, the golden one?
0:21:00 > 0:21:01Oh, yeah, that's Albert's Gold.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- It really is, it's almost iridescent.- Stunning.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Well, I want to see some more of your beautiful cloud pruning.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23I cloud prune this Weigela every second year
0:21:23 > 0:21:26to allow for form and flower.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28So, we give it a rest from pruning
0:21:28 > 0:21:30one year and it will flower the next.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32And, again, there's a lovely flow to it.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35The cotoneaster, presumably when you came as well,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37was that right over the wall?
0:21:37 > 0:21:38It did completely obscure it.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42What I've done is taken it right back to expose the wall
0:21:42 > 0:21:45and to allow the shrubs to merge into one another.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47It's absolutely tremendous.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Herbaceous border, you've got a bit of a colour theme going on?
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Yes, Carol. This is soft white with a Limelight hydrangea,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59soft yellows and we move through the border into blue and then pink
0:21:59 > 0:22:01at the front of the house.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04And the fact that you've got colour and we're into October.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05Oh, it's incredible.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Now, what I think's incredible are your lilies.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12I know they've passed flowering, but the size of the stems,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15you are so exposed here with the wind...
0:22:15 > 0:22:17The wind just rolls off the moor.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18But you haven't staked them?
0:22:18 > 0:22:21It's the variety, Yellow Rocket.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Extremely strong stems.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Perfect for here. Any new products on the go?
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Yes, well, actually I have a tapestry inspired vegetable garden.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30Would you like to have a look?
0:22:30 > 0:22:31I'd love to see that.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46This was a blank canvas five months ago,
0:22:46 > 0:22:50so everything you see was planted in that timeframe.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52And I'm very happy with the result.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54And where did you get your inspiration from?
0:22:54 > 0:22:58From a famous tapestry called Lady And The Unicorn.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02It's a 16th-century tapestry and the main allegory behind it is the rich
0:23:02 > 0:23:05abundance in the natural world,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09so I wanted to include flowers and vegetables together.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Yes, so you've got that mix of ornamental and productive.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14- And encouraging the wildlife? - Oh, yeah.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17We've allowed the artichokes to go to flower
0:23:17 > 0:23:19because the bees love them.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22You'll often come in and see them lying in the pollen
0:23:22 > 0:23:27and we want to, obviously, do our bit to encourage the bee population.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29So, is that why you've also got the cut-flower border?
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Yeah, because it's a synergy, it all works together.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Now, what is your secret when it comes to the fact that
0:23:36 > 0:23:37the plants are looking so healthy?
0:23:37 > 0:23:42You don't use any chemicals, so how do you condition the ground?
0:23:42 > 0:23:47We're very lucky because we have 20-year-old horse manure
0:23:47 > 0:23:49and we go in and we've scooped out the heart,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53which is the most nutritious and oldest part,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56and we've brought it up here and we mix it with topsoil.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57And it works for you, doesn't it?
0:23:57 > 0:24:01I find it incredible that those standards with the box balls.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03I mean, again, no staking?
0:24:03 > 0:24:05They're quite happy there?
0:24:05 > 0:24:08They are, and we do get an incredible wind,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11even though we have a small break there.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14The one thing that's fantastic, though, is the quality of light.
0:24:14 > 0:24:15Well, haven't we got that today.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- Incredible.- Quality of light,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21The quality of the setting as well and the work that you've done,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- it's fantastic.- Thank you. - Thank you so much.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25It was a pleasure.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34Earlier, when Carole and I
0:24:34 > 0:24:36were dealing with these half-hardy perennials...
0:24:36 > 0:24:37I'm cleaning off the begonias,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40this Illumination here, and just next to the tuber,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42look what's come out of the wet soil.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45That's a larva of the vine weevil.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49And he's going to get into these tubers - but, no, he ain't.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50He thinks he is.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Because we'll clean this off as it dries up and that will
0:24:52 > 0:24:57finish them off. But it just shows what can be happening under the soil
0:24:57 > 0:24:59when you're not aware of it, because we'd no knowledge of it.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Earlier on, the plants were fine until the weather
0:25:01 > 0:25:03took a turn for the worse.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08It's the last chance to admire our grapes, and what a good crop
0:25:08 > 0:25:09we've got this year.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13This variety, Black Hamburg, always does particularly well in Scotland,
0:25:13 > 0:25:17and we've also got a green variety called Foster's Seedling.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19But the point I want to make is, over the winter time,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21we want lots of good ventilation,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24we are going to keep the doors open because it wants the cold
0:25:24 > 0:25:26to initiate the buds for next year.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Our alpine wall is looking really good now,
0:25:31 > 0:25:32but, after a summer of rain,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35the wall's starting to settle down now and there's a few gaps
0:25:35 > 0:25:37beginning to appear.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40So, we can fill them with soil and this will allow the likes of the
0:25:40 > 0:25:42oxalis to run through them,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44while we can leave some of the bigger holes and we could use them
0:25:44 > 0:25:46for planting up in spring.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50In the gardening for small spaces area,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52we fed the soil really heavily,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55lots of organic matter, lots of fertiliser to get lots and lots
0:25:55 > 0:25:58of leaves and look at that - even at the end of October,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02we've got leaves for salad, we've got leaves in order to stir fry,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05and we've got some root vegetables to pickle and use over the winter.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07The whole thing has been a fabulous success.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Prise yourself away from all of those autumn jobs that you know you
0:26:13 > 0:26:18should be doing, but give yourself a moment to gaze at the autumn colour.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21It's a great season and it's only here just so briefly.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Acer Bloodgood, the finest, perhaps,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28of all of the domestic garden trees and if they get too big,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30cut them down. They'll coppice beautifully.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36And how about that as a contrast? Hamamelis - fabulous vase of stems,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38budding up really well for spring flowers too,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40but at the moment, breathtaking.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Well, then, guys and gals,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48I don't think anybody's going to disagree with the fact that
0:26:48 > 0:26:51we've had a very fruitful season. Have we not? Despite the weather!
0:26:51 > 0:26:53- Absolutely. - Just look at that display.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56This is fabulous and I think we should congratulate the gardeners
0:26:56 > 0:26:59behind the scenes, not just for this but I mean for the whole season,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01- all the work they've done.- Well, indeed - but it's a great display.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04And what about this carrot, George, Yellowstone?
0:27:04 > 0:27:07I've grown that before, it's a beautiful carrot.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- Looks unusual. - It's the beetroot, for me.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Look at the markings on that.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14That'll look good on my plate.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17But you can't forget the gourd, particularly the squash, as well.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Cut the head off, bit of butter and garlic,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21stick it in the oven wrapped in foil.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Just melts away, doesn't it. Delicious. And also, what about...
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- ..look - lobelias.- I know.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29- The sequoias.- Wonderful colour. - Ornamental and productive.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30And a bit of sunshine.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I can't let it pass - fishnets.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36THEY ALL LAUGH Are they yours?
0:27:37 > 0:27:39What can I say to that?
0:27:39 > 0:27:40I'd have a job getting them right up!
0:27:41 > 0:27:46If you'd like any more information about this week's programme -
0:27:46 > 0:27:48sadly, it's the last one in this series -
0:27:48 > 0:27:50you can get all the information on the website.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54And also, if you'd like to apply to Beechgrove for next year,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56again, have a look on the website.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00And if you'd like to apply to see Jim in his fishnet stockings,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02at the roadshow - you may remember we do this at Nairn,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Gairloch and Strathkinness -
0:28:04 > 0:28:07then the information about roadshows is also on the website.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08We look forward to that.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Or, if you've got a little problem in the corner of your garden
0:28:11 > 0:28:15that you want us to come and help you with, well, look on the website.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16And if you, or someone you know,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19has a wonderful garden that you think one of us could come and
0:28:19 > 0:28:23take a sneaky wee peek at, then, again, get in touch via the website.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Let's end on a really smashing note.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Beechgrove Garden will be back with you again next spring.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35And, in the meantime, you'll do as we all do - we keep gardening.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- Until then, bye-bye.- Bye-bye. - Goodbye.- Goodbye!