Gardening on TV and Radio

[Auricula]

I enjoyed the lunchtime programme - Big Al is (at last!!??) going gently grey I see ;D
Nikki Chapman seems to know more about what she's doing this year - and I haven't yet seen a garden I hate ( give it time!!!) ;D
Looking forward to the plant marquee tours on the red button - especially with Chris Beardshaw ;D

[Barbara]

What has happened to UK, TV gardens, does anyone know..
I sat down with a cuppa to watch some old gardening programmes, and got some one making a football pitch.

[carolann]

I was wondering the same thing Barbara, I was flicking through on sunday to watch some old gardening progs and its vanished?

[Ladygardener]

Yes guys it has vanished. I think it's amalgamated with some other channel to make a new channel called Home on Virgin its 265. I'm really annoyed as the new channel seems to have very few gardening programmes on it except ground force from years ago. May be something to do with this recession but it's an awful shame.

[Tig]

I've read that they have closed the channel due to 'significant under-performance'

Some of the gardening progs are on the UKTV Home channel others are on the factual channel Blighty ..

I just have to make do with whats on the usual channels, freeview and freesat

At least there is Chelsea all week and two doses tonight

[Auricula]

Yummy lot of Chelsea programmes yesterday - looking forward to more tonight I think the coverage has definitely improved this year

[4pygmies]

So do I! I only have terrestrial channels so don't have a red button.....usually I get grumpy with all the silly chat but I think they have definitely changed their priorities and are concentrating on the actual show this year. Having had a good browse through the Chelsea bit on the Beeb though - there are loads of gardens that haven't been shown yet.........

[Ladygardener]

Tig thanks for telling us about Blighty, I watched a lovely programme at 6pm called Finest Gardens. It features a British garden every night. Today's garden was in Tresco on the Scilly islands and was absolutely amazing. Lots of hints on propagation and plants for free as well as some fantastic plants. ;D

[Auricula]

How can one find Blighty??

[Tig]

If you have Sky it is channel 534, if you have Virgin Media it is channel 206, if you don't subscribe to these services it isn't available

x Tig

[Auricula]

Hmmm.....I only have Freeview at present - but I am getting Sky very soon. I'm really getting it for Skyplus as they are turning our analogue off on July 8th and after that our video recorder won't work I thought it was about time we ventured into the 21st century....so Sky it will be ;D

[Tig]

What's the verdict on last nights GW?

I enjoyed some bits (Carols info on sowing green primula seeds in particular).

I thought the 'front gardens' section was OK for folk who are just starting out, but not all the advice was 'sound' in my humble opinion.

The 30 minute 'green roof' challenge was pathetic and made Alys look stupid.

The lady who made things from felt had a lovely garden, shame they didn't show more of it.

x Tig

[Auricula]

I agree Tig - the 30min challenges could be ditched for all the good they are and Alys is turning into a comedy stooge.
On the whole I enjoyed it

[Missredhead]

I don't like the 30min challenges either.

[Dr Bill]

I am heartily sick of being shown how to lay a path!!!

[4pygmies]

I think if you watch as an Entertainment programme, it's quite fun and passes the time nicely but it's not really much of a gardening programme any more is it? It doesn't seem to have any gravitas about it and there is far too much inane giggling and cheesy grinning for my taste nowadays... I must be getting old! I was hoping for so much more though........I miss Monty....

[Auricula]

I wish they'd go back and show us how the various beds are developing - and maybe they will.......I do have a tendency towards impatience!! ;D
I didn't like Monty - found him too "up himself" and patronising, but I think the real rot set in when they moved away from having a presenter's garden - the loss of "ownership" somehow made a huge difference. I bet both Monty and Toby would have seemedmore comfortable, had it been set in their garden.

[Tig]

I really enjoyed Gardeners World 'Live' tonight (apart from the 30 minute challenge ).

I have a list of plants I would like to buy, and many thanks to Carol for providing information on what conditions they need to grow and be happy!

The roses were blooming lovely, enjoyed the generation gap piece on the allotments (wonder if beer works for butternut squash ?? oh and pumpkin ;D)

They didn't explain what they were doing with the parsnip very well I thought

Loads of interesting people doing gardens, and the plant swap of course .. this lady was donating agastache liquorice blue for Greenacres ;D





And a picture of loveliness she and her companion were

x Tig

[4pygmies]

Cheery and her sis...aren't they lovely? I wish she had her hair bright red still though - Carol would have loved that! ;D I'm sooo pleased they put the clip in - after that it wasn't quite so interesting for me, although I liked the lottie bit very much too

[Cheerypeabrain]

[Auricula]

Wow Cheery - you, your sister and the plant looked good!

[Cheerypeabrain]

....I've gone back on my diet......

[Ladygardener]

I watched it and thought "that lady looks familiar" ;D I must watch it on i player now that I know why. You and your Sister look great CPB.

[Chuckles]

I've just watched the GWL show on iPlayer and you and your sister looked great Cheery, well done. Carol sounded well impressed with your Agastache too. I see Alys chose the Hawian Palm as her plant, isn't that what you bought.

Wished I'd gone to GWL now the show gardens looked lovely, loved the Yvonne Matthews one with all the different coloured benches. Didn't realise Bottesford school had an entry, the village is only about 10 miles from me. The old bath made into a garden seat tickled me, can't remember who's garden it was now think it was the one where everything was from recycled stuff, they had car tyers as planters aswell.

Ralph and Linda Nichols were a lovely very ordinary down to earth couple, how natural was there garden Something in the Air very passionate weren't they. Can't believe Twiggy is 60 this year and I loved her rose, and a few others caught my eye too.

[Tig]

Not really a gardening programme, but it often shows growing stuff and collecting edibles in the wild - did anyone watch Valentine Warners 'What to Eat Now' on BBC2 last night?

The lady tomato grower who trialed 50 plus types to see if they were worthy had one which they said was really tasty - I'm sure she said 'Cuban Black' but I could have mis-heard

I want to find some seeds for next year ..

x Tig

[Auricula]

Yep - you heard right, she did say Cuban Black ( sounds like a cigar!!) ;D

[Tig]

Off to search for a supplier then Not that easy ..

[Mowhay]

Guys
Found this on the seed by size site

/www.seeds-by-size.co.uk


Cuban Black 5 seeds cost £2.00 10 seeds cost £4.00 25 seeds cost £7.00
Black–Regular Leaf. Flattened small beefsteaks. Green shoulders,mahogany/brown colouring. Good flavour.
Low Yield.

[Tig]

5 seeds for £2 Blimey they would have to taste better than steak for that price!!

I might try these instead ..

www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/319/1.html

Thanks Mowhay

x Tig

[4pygmies]

I have sown 'Black Krim' tomatoes this year which look very similar to those and they are superb! Hoooge, succulent and really delicious - I had a fresh slice on toast with fired mushrooms and Basil last night for my tea and it was really delicious - just as good as the ones Valentine Warner was getting so worked up about on that programme.... I don't often get peckish watching foodie programmes but I did watching that one.......mmmm.......that GH full of tomatoes...