In The Beechgrove Garden episode 2 2018, Jim and Carole celebrate Beechgrove’s ruby anniversary in true Beechgrove style as it’s tattie time. Both Jim and Carole are planting a range of ruby or red potatoes, and they also dig up an archive tattie tip from the late George Barron. Brian is back in Beechgrove revisiting his alpine garden and reviews the winter damage, as well as doing a bit of weeding and feeding.
Last year Carole met almost-nonagenarian garden hero Sandy Inkster in his immaculate and award-winning Cults garden. Carole will visit Sandy several times throughout the 2018 series but this time meets him on his allotment on the south side of Aberdeen.
Chris is adding to the rose garden at Beechgrove. Roses and clematis are a classic combination but you do have to choose carefully, Chris explains, as they have to be able to be pruned at the same time.
The Beechgrove Garden episode 2 2018
Main Vegetable Plot: Planting tatties
In the Main Vegetable Plot it was tattie planting time. Last week Chris and George were measuring the soil temperature which stood at 6C at the surface and 6” down so it was deemed good to go. Since then lots of weed seedlings have started to appear – a good sign that the soil is warming up. Brian prepared the soil by removing the tarpaulin, giving the soil a tickle with a fork to remove any weeds and then firmed the surface(tramped with his feet). Potato fertiliser was then sprinkled over the surface (1 ounce per square metre) which was then forked in.
Decking Planting Tatties
In comparison to planting potatoes in the main veg plot, Carole was planting tatties in containers. Ever since Carole can remember the team have been planting tatties in containers –an archive clip from Carole’s very first programme in 1986 illustrated this. An archive clip from 2nd May 1986 showed Jim and Carole with Winston and Henry planting potatoes in barrels as part of a competition. Jim and Carole were experimenting with planting tatties in only perlite and adding liquid fertiliser.
Roses, herbaceous and clematis
Whilst there was a glimmer of spring showing in the new rose garden, quite a few of the roses in this new rose garden have been affected by the long cold windy winter/spring so first of all Chris showed us how to prune them down to unaffected growth. It’s best to prune back to just above a healthy bud. Address the whole plant like this taking out anything that is showing scorch or die back.
