Gardeners World 2024 Episode 12

Gardeners World 2024 Episode 12: With summer just around the corner, the gardening season is in full swing, and Monty Don has some exciting plans to share. In this episode, he unveils his approach to planting up pots in his charming cottage garden, offering invaluable advice for gardeners of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Monty’s tips will help you create stunning container displays that will thrive all summer long. He also delves into the art of topiary, guiding viewers on how to start their own topiary from scratch. In the vegetable garden, Monty gets some pumpkins in the ground, sharing his expertise on how to cultivate these popular autumn fruits from planting to harvest.

Meanwhile, Sue Kent takes us on a journey to a unique and enchanting garden in Carmarthenshire. This garden, nestled around a wooden house on stilts, is a true work of art. Designed with a keen artistic eye, it seamlessly blends aesthetics and functionality, creating a haven for wildlife. The garden’s magnificent pond serves as its centerpiece, attracting a variety of birds, insects, and other creatures. Sue’s visit offers viewers a glimpse into the innovative design elements and sustainable practices that make this garden a sanctuary for both people and wildlife.

Carol Klein continues her masterclass on how to grow plants for free, a series that has become a favorite among viewers. This week, Carol focuses on taking cuttings, a simple yet effective method for propagating plants. With her expert guidance, viewers will learn how to take cuttings from their favorite plants and ensure they develop into healthy new specimens. Carol’s practical advice and enthusiasm make it easy for anyone to expand their garden without spending a penny.

In Devon, we are treated to a rare horticultural spectacle – the flowering of a Puya chilensis in a sub-tropical garden. This striking plant, native to Chile, is known for its dramatic flower spikes and vibrant colors. Its blooming is a noteworthy event, drawing attention from horticulturists and garden enthusiasts alike. The segment provides an in-depth look at this extraordinary plant, its growth habits, and the specific conditions required for it to thrive.

Gardeners World 2024 Episode 12

Finally, we visit Suffolk, where a dedicated gardener tends to a National Collection of bearded irises. This impressive collection was originally created by her great-great-grandfather and has been meticulously maintained and expanded over the generations. The gardener shares the rich history of the collection, as well as her own passion for these stunning flowers. Viewers will gain insight into the care and cultivation of bearded irises, along with a deep appreciation for the legacy and tradition behind this remarkable collection.

Gardeners’ World 2024 Episode 12 is packed with inspiration and practical advice for gardeners of all kinds. From Monty Don’s expert tips on container gardening and topiary to Sue Kent’s exploration of an artistic wildlife haven, Carol Klein’s masterclass on plant propagation, and the celebration of rare and historic plants in Devon and Suffolk, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to enhance your garden’s beauty, attract wildlife, or learn new gardening techniques, this episode has it all. Join us as we celebrate the joys of gardening and the wonders of the natural world.

Gardeners’ World 2024: A Year of Inspiration with Monty Don and Friends

Gardeners’ World 2024 continues to captivate and inspire viewers with its blend of practical advice, breathtaking garden tours, and the inimitable charm of presenter Monty Don. This year’s series showcases the diverse beauty of gardens across the UK and beyond, offering a wealth of ideas and tips for both seasoned gardeners and those just starting out.

Monty Don, with his deep knowledge and passion for gardening, guides viewers through the seasons, sharing his expertise on everything from planting and pruning to creating stunning floral displays. His Longmeadow garden serves as a constant source of inspiration, showcasing the ever-changing tapestry of nature throughout the year.

The 2024 series features a vibrant mix of familiar faces and new experts, each bringing their unique perspective to the show. Carol Klein, with her encyclopedic knowledge of plants, continues to delight viewers with her insightful plant profiles and garden visits. Adam Frost, renowned garden designer, shares his creative vision and expertise in crafting beautiful outdoor spaces.

Gardeners’ World 2024 takes viewers on a journey to some of the most stunning gardens across the country. From grand estates with meticulously manicured lawns and vibrant borders to intimate cottage gardens brimming with charm, each location offers a unique glimpse into the world of horticulture. The series also explores innovative and sustainable gardening practices, highlighting the importance of biodiversity and environmental stewardship.

Throughout the series, viewers are treated to a wealth of practical advice on a wide range of gardening topics. From sowing seeds and nurturing seedlings to managing pests and diseases, the experts offer step-by-step guidance to help viewers achieve gardening success. The show also features inspiring stories of individuals who have transformed their outdoor spaces into personal havens, showcasing the transformative power of gardening.

In addition to practical advice, Gardeners’ World 2024 delves into the fascinating world of plants, exploring their history, cultivation, and uses. The show features in-depth profiles of popular garden plants, as well as lesser-known varieties that are sure to spark curiosity and inspire experimentation. Viewers are also introduced to the latest gardening trends and innovations, from cutting-edge tools and techniques to new plant varieties that are pushing the boundaries of horticulture.

One of the highlights of the 2024 series is the focus on gardening for well-being. The show explores the therapeutic benefits of spending time in nature, highlighting the positive impact that gardening can have on mental and physical health. From creating calming spaces for relaxation to growing your own food for a healthier lifestyle, Gardeners’ World 2024 emphasizes the importance of gardening as a holistic practice that nourishes both body and soul.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice enthusiast, Gardeners’ World 2024 has something for everyone. With its blend of practical advice, breathtaking scenery, and inspiring stories, the show continues to be a beloved source of information and entertainment for viewers across the UK and beyond. So tune in, grab your gardening gloves, and get ready to be inspired by the wonders of the natural world.

How to Grow Squashes: A Comprehensive Guide

Squashes are not only visually appealing with their wide range of colors, shapes, sizes, and flavors but also relatively easy to grow. Whether you have a sprawling garden or limited space, there’s a squash variety to suit your needs. In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps to successfully cultivate squashes in your garden.

Squashes are typically started from seeds indoors during the spring months to ensure a strong start. While they require some initial attention, once transplanted outdoors, they generally only need regular watering. With the right conditions, squashes can be highly productive, making them a rewarding addition to any garden.

Choosing the Right Variety

There are two main types of squashes: summer and winter. Summer squashes have thin skins and are best consumed fresh, while winter squashes can be stored for several months. Within these categories, there are various shapes, sizes, and flavors to choose from, so select varieties that suit your garden space and preferences.

Preparing the Ground

Squashes thrive in warm, sunny locations with rich, moisture-retentive soil. Prepare the planting area by digging a hole and mixing in compost or well-rotted manure. Spacing is crucial, especially for sprawling varieties, so ensure adequate room between plants.

Sowing

For optimal germination, start squash seeds indoors in spring and transplant them after the last frost. Alternatively, seeds can be sown directly outdoors, but this method may result in less reliable germination. Keep soil consistently moist and protect seedlings from pests.

Planting

Transplant young squash plants outdoors after hardening them off to outdoor conditions. Plant them carefully, ensuring minimal disturbance to the roots. Provide adequate spacing between plants to promote healthy growth and prevent overcrowding.

Plant Care

Squashes require regular watering, especially during fruiting, to keep the soil consistently moist. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Additionally, feeding with a potassium-rich fertilizer supports healthy growth and fruit development.

Pruning and Training

Trailing squash varieties can be left to sprawl or trained up supports. Prune excess growth as needed to maintain plant size and shape. Supporting individual fruits with netting prevents damage and encourages uniform ripening.

Harvesting

Harvest summer squashes when young and tender, while winter squashes should be left on the plant until fully mature. Store winter squashes in a well-ventilated area at a consistent temperature to prolong their shelf life.

Common Problems

Squashes are susceptible to frost, pests, and diseases. Protect plants from cold weather and monitor for signs of infestation or disease. Prompt action can help mitigate damage and ensure a healthy harvest.

How to Grow Chili Peppers: A Comprehensive Guide

Growing your own chili peppers offers a diverse palette of colors, shapes, flavors, and heat levels that surpasses what you find in supermarkets. These tender plants thrive in warm, sunny conditions and can be cultivated in a greenhouse, outdoors in a sunny spot, or in pots. Compact varieties are ideal for small spaces, making it easy to grow multiple types even with limited room. For optimal growth, chili peppers require conditions similar to tomatoes, including heat, humidity, and ample sunlight.

Month by Month

Jobs to do now:

• Plant outdoors when all risk of frost has passed
• Feed every two weeks with a general-purpose fertilizer

Choosing

When selecting chili varieties, you’ll encounter a vast array of options, each offering unique colors, shapes, sizes, and heat levels. Heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), ranging from mild to extremely hot. Consider factors like plant size and the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) when making your selection.

What and Where to Buy

Chili seeds are readily available in garden centers, online seed suppliers, and specialist chili seed retailers. Grafted plants, which are more vigorous and produce larger crops, are another option. Explore recommended varieties like ‘Apache’, ‘Fuego’, and ‘Hot Thai’ for a successful harvest.

Sowing

Sow chili seeds indoors from late winter to mid-spring for an early and extended harvest. Seeds require warmth to germinate, ideally around 21°C (70°F). Once seedlings emerge, transplant them into individual pots, and gradually move them to larger containers as they grow.

Planting

Chili plants thrive in pots, greenhouses, or outdoors in sunny locations. Ensure young plants are kept warm until late May before transitioning them to their final growing environment. Planting in containers requires well-drained, fertile soil and regular watering. Harden off plants before transplanting them outdoors to prevent shock.

Plant Care

Maintain a minimum night temperature of 12°C (54°F) for optimal growth, with humidity levels around the plants. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, and feed weekly with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer once flowering begins. Overwintering chili plants can provide a head start for the following year’s crop.

Pruning and Training

Encourage bushier growth by pinching out shoot tips once plants reach 30cm (1ft) tall. Provide support for larger plants to prevent breakage.

Harvesting

Chili peppers are typically ready for harvest from mid-summer to autumn. Pick them when green for immediate use or allow them to ripen for a richer flavor. Extend the harvesting season indoors with grow lights.

Storing

Preserve harvested chili peppers by drying or freezing them for later use.

Problems

Common issues include reduced fruiting in cooler climates, sap-sucking insects, and pests like slugs and snails. Regular monitoring and preventive measures can mitigate these challenges.

Topiary

Topiary has been used historically in many different European gardening styles, from early Roman gardens through to modern day. From box balls to yew ‘peacocks,’ it is so versatile and striking that many are inspired to create their own piece of living architecture.

What is Topiary?

Topiary is the art of training plants (typically evergreen shrubs and trees) into intricate or stylized shapes and forms. The term may also be used more loosely to describe a number of garden features that rely on the close clipping and shaping of plants.

Parterres

Typically lavish Italian Renaissance gardens would have simple, large, clipped specimens in and among statues. These would then have beautifully ornate, clipped box hedges swirling around them in mirrored patterns or geometric designs. This style of hedging is known as a parterre garden. In earlier parterre gardens, the gaps in the patterns would be left open and the ground would be covered with ornamental gravel to produce a crisp, clean effect. As time went on, the styles became more elaborate, and other plants were added to give extra color and interest.

Mazes and Labyrinths

The Normans introduced pleasure gardens with mazes and labyrinths formed from clipped plants. A number of private and public gardens still have such features today.

Knot Gardens

Topiary gardens became very popular in Great Britain during the reign of the Tudors and Stuarts. During this period, knot gardens and clipped ornate shapes were introduced to gardens up and down the country. The knot garden was formed from different colored box, planted in crisscrossing patterns so that it appeared that the ribbons of hedges had been tied up in knots. Highly-scented herbs were also used as hedging plants, planted in and among the gaps to give a tapestry of color.

Plants Suitable for Topiary

Traditional subjects for topiary have usually been evergreens to retain a permanent feature throughout the seasons. Typically box (Buxus sempervirens) and yew (Taxus baccata) are used. However, other evergreens such as privet (Ligustrum japonicum), holly (Ilex), and Lonicera nitida can also be used.

• Box (Buxus sempervirens)
• Yew (Taxus baccata)
• Privet (Ligustrum japonicum)
• Holly (Ilex)
• Lonicera nitida

Trees and shrubs can be bought ready-trained from specialist nurseries, saving time and effort but can be expensive. Also available are plants with topiary frames over the top of them, which allow you to grow your own topiary with a little helping hand.

When to Clip

Trim annually with topiary shears or hedge-cutters in early or late summer to keep the specimen in shape. Faster-growing species may need to be trimmed twice or more each season. Suckers and unwanted branches can also be removed.

How to Make and Care for Topiary Specimens

Starting Your Own Topiary

1. Shape Decision: Decide upon the shape you wish to create. Balls, pyramids, and cubes are a few of the easiest shapes to start with. Large or horizontal shapes may need more than one stem.
2. Plant Choice: Choose which plant you would like, and whether it is to be grown in the ground or in a pot, and then plant it.
3. Encourage Growth: Apply an annual dressing of Growmore and a mulch of organic matter in the spring to encourage strong, healthy growth.
4. Main Stem Selection: For standard specimens (e.g., lollipops), select one upright shoot to act as your main stem, tie this to a cane or stake, and remove all others. Gradually clear the lower part of the stem of shoots and foliage until the desired height is reached.
5. Shaping: Begin clipping it into shape. You could do this by eye or make a template or a wooden frame to ensure the shape is clipped uniformly.
6. Maturation: As the plant matures, it will bush out, and the branches and leaves will become tightly knitted together to give a solid appearance. This can take many years, depending on the plant selected and the ultimate desired size.
7. Height Adjustment: Allow for the plant to grow to the desired height before its main leader is trimmed.

Maintaining Existing Topiary

Existing specimens should be trimmed once or twice a year to maintain their shape; vigorous species may require more. Apply Growmore once a year in the spring if desired to help maintain the plant’s vigor and appearance. Mulch with bark or organic matter if the plant is not surrounded by ornamental gravel.

Rejuvenation

Once a topiary specimen has been neglected, all is not lost. The majority of evergreen plants will respond to hard pruning in early or mid-spring, especially yew, box, and holly. After hard pruning, help promote new growth by feeding and mulching, and avoid drought stress in the following seasons. Depending on the species, it can take a few years for the specimen to grow back into its desired shape.

Containerized Specimens

Topiary can be grown in containers, but you need to ensure the pot is big enough for the specimen and is well-weighted to prevent it from falling over if the container has dried out or there are high winds.

Topiary Frames

Simple shapes such as balls can often be trained by eye. However, for more intricate shapes, frames are available. The subjects for topiary specimens can range from fairies and mushrooms to horses and people. They are usually placed over the plant in the early stages of growth, allowing the plant to fill the frame to create the desired shape, acting as a former. Once the plant starts to protrude through the frame, prune once or twice a year through spring and summer to maintain the shape.

The frames can either be made out of galvanized wire or plastic-coated wire, which is usually green or grey. Some can be removed and reused, though most are just meant for one use and remain part of the structure of the plant, ultimately hidden from view by the foliage. The frames are often sold with a box plant ready to start.

Problems

Establishment

Establishment of any plant is essential for the plant’s survival and performance; however, large mature specimens often need more care and attention.

Diseases and Pests

A large percentage of topiary pieces are grown from box (Buxus sp.), so it is a good idea to be aware of box blight and box suckers. Be especially aware of box blight as if this is left undiscovered it can prove devastating to a garden full of box. The other disease to be aware of is Phytophthora root rot; yew specimens especially can be hard hit by this root disease.

F.A.Q. Gardeners World 2024 Episode 12