In Gardeners World episode 18 2017, at the height of summer, it is time to ensure that fruits and vegetables are given attention to ensure maximum cropping. Monty Don gives advice on the summer pruning of fruit trees, as well as showing how to get the best from tomatoes and chillies. He also recommends plants which will carry on flowering into autumn.
Carol Klein meets one of her gardening heroes, Roy Lancaster, and joins him as he reminisces on his life and explains his passion for plants. Nick Bailey is on the trail of some more alien invaders to our gardens, and we travel to Wales to meet a chef who has taken on a field in which to grow vegetables.
Monty pays a visit to an extraordinary garden in Berkshire and we continue our 50-year celebrations when Rachel de Thame reflects back on how we used to garden 50 years ago. Joe Swift and Flo Headlam begin an exciting new project to celebrate our golden anniversary when they help a community create a garden in Wiltshire.
Gardeners World episode 18 2017:
Bindweed
Hedge bindweed or bellbind (Calystegia sepium) with its pure white trumpet flowers is a familiar sight, choking plants in borders and twining around any plant shoot or cane. The smaller field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) with white or pink flowers is problematic in long grass and bare soil.
Apples and pears: summer pruning
Summer pruning apples and pears allows sunlight to ripen the fruit and ensures good cropping the following year. This is the main method of pruning for restricted forms such as cordons, espaliers, fans and pyramids.
How to grow chilli peppers
Home grown chilli peppers have excellent colour, texture and flavour, including many shapes and colours not readily available in shops. Plants are extremely varied; some have a mild flavour, while others are so fiery that they’ll blow your head off. You could grow chillies in the ground, but are perfect for raising in pots.
