Bangor: Second Chance, Shopping Lists and Hedgehog Gardens
Gardeners' Question Time
BBC
4.6 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 9 May 2025
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
How can you get a second season out of tulips grown in pots? What is the most natural and cost-effective way to add nutrients to my soil? How do you garden with hedgehogs in mind?
Kathy Clugston and her team of gardening experts return to Bangor, Northern Ireland where they solve some gardening dilemmas. Joining her are ethnobotanist James Wong, garden designer Neil Porteous, and Head of Gardens at Balmoral Kirsty Wilson.
Later in the programme, continuing our Edible Essential Series is Bob Flowerdew, who provides the top fruits and vegetable to add to your shopping list this season.
Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer: Carly Maile
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Plant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
Q- What should I do with my phalaenopsis orchid? (01'24")
Q- How do I look after auriculas during the summer? (05'02")
Q- How can you get a second season out of tulips grown in pots? (06’57")
Q- I’ve killed four Japanese acers over the years – what am I doing wrong? (19'30")
Feature – Bob Flowerdew’s edible shopping list. What fruit and veg you should grow this season (14'41")
Bob Flowerdew – Asparagus officinalis, asparagus Ribes nigrum, blackcurrant Chillies Allium sativum, garlic Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, globe artichokes Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichokes Allium cepa, onions Solanum tuberosum, potatoes Raphanus sativus, radish Rubus idaeus, raspberries Ribes rubrum, redcurrants Rheum rhabarbarum, rhubarb Allium cepa var. aggregatum, shallots Fragaria × ananassa, strawberries Zea mays var. saccharate, sweetcorn
Q- My soil is very much depleted of nutrients. What is the most natural and cost-effective way to remedy this? (18'44")
Q – What shrubs could I grow in containers that are exposed to extreme winds and sea salt? (23'36")
Neil Porteous – Grevillea rosmarinifolia, rosemary grevillea Euphorbia stygiana subsp. Santamaria, Ozothamnus rosmarinifolius, sea rosemary
Kirsty Wilson – Phormium tenax, New Zealand flax Hakonechloa macra, Japanese forest grass
James Wong – Pinus pinea, stone pine
Q - How do you garden with hedgehogs in mind? (29'38")
Q - I’m just about to dig out an area for a large pond. What plants do the panel recommend I use to get me started? (31’20")
James Wong – Soleirolia soleirolii, mind-your-own-business Nymphaea, waterlilies
Kirsty Wilson – Iris pseudacorus, yellow iris Hosta, Plantain lily Astilbe, astilbe Meconopsis, Himalayan poppy Cyperus alternifolius L., umbrella plant
Neil Porteous – Eryngium, sea holly Eryngium pandanifolium, pandan-like-leaved eryngo
Q - Can you recommend some plants that are showstoppers and conversation starters? (37'21")
Kirsty Wilson – Nepeta 'Blue Dragon', catmint 'Blue Dragon'
Neil Porteous – Vitex lucens, puriri
James Wong – Mahonia, oregon grape Daphne
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself. |
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| 0:37.1 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:41.7 | Hello and welcome to Gardner's Question Time. |
| 0:44.4 | We're by the seaside today in Bangor in Northern Ireland. |
| 0:48.2 | Bangor's historic route stretched back to the 6th century. |
| 0:51.9 | It was once home to one of the most important monastic settlements in Europe, |
| 0:55.7 | the monks tending to their gardens with as much care as their manuscripts. |
| 1:00.3 | St Patrick was said to be so inspired by the place |
| 1:02.8 | that he named it the Vale of Angels after a vision of the valley filled with celestial figures. |
| 1:08.9 | The town, which is now a city, later became a Victorian holiday |
| 1:12.5 | hotspot, drawing crowds to its grand promenades and well-tended parks. Today, Bangor's green spaces |
... |
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