Monty’s thoughts turn to spring as he gives his recommendations for bulbs to plant now that will thrive in pots and bring much-needed colour next year. Monty also shows how to prune summer-fruiting raspberries.
Frances Tophill travels to Norfolk to visit a gardener who, at 97, still gardens every day, Adam Frost takes a look at a new garden at RHS Wisley which has been planted up with tropical plants and Carol Klein is in Buckinghamshire helping a viewer who is struggling to find plants that will thrive in heavy clay soil. Alan Power guides us through seasonal spring highlights at Stourhead, and we visit a tiny garden in Essex which is packed with plants, ponds and seating areas.
In Gardeners World episode 25 2017:
 1. How to grow Pak choi
Pak choi can be used in salads or stir-fries as a baby leaf, or used in a variety of Oriental dishes as a cooked vegetable when semi-mature or as fully-grown heads.
 2. Growing hellebores
Hellebores (sometimes known as the Christmas or Lenten rose) are perennial garden plants with elegant flowers, perfect for brightening up shady areas during late winter and early spring. Some species are grown for their striking evergreen architectural foliage.
 3. Planting bulbs
Bulbs make a fine display planted in containers or borders, especially daffodils, snowdrops and tulips in spring. They are one of the easiest and most rewarding garden plants to grow.
4. Clay soils
Soils rich in fine clay particles are called ‘heavy soils’ and, although hard to manage, are also potentially very fertile when treated in the right way.
 5. Plants for clay soils
Without some intervention, clay soils can be like concrete in summer and a sticky mess in winter. Any effort to improve the texture of clay will be rewarded with strong plant growth. This soil is rich in nutrients and will happily accommodate a considerable range of plants.
6. Growing raspberries
Raspberries are really popular garden fruits and are very easy to grow. Try growing both summer and autumn-fruiting varieties: just a few plants will reward you with plenty of fruit from midsummer until mid autumn. If you end up with a glut, raspberries also freeze well, and make wonderful jams, sauces and cooked desserts.
