Chelsea Flower Show 2026 - Postbag
Kathy Clugston and Peter Gibbs are at the Chelsea Flower Show for a postbag episode of Gardeners' Question Time with Bethan Collerton, Matthew Wilson and Pippa Greenwood.
Kathy Clugston and Peter Gibbs are at the Chelsea Flower Show for a special postbag episode of Gardeners' Question Time.
From the showground of the world鈥檚 most celebrated horticultural event, they're joined by a stellar panel - former Chelsea exhibitor and medal-winning designer Matthew Wilson, one of the world's leading authorities on plant pests and diseases, Pippa Greenwood, and making her press-day debut at Chelsea with GQT, Head Gardener at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Bethan Collerton.
As Kathy and the panel roam the show gardens answering questions submitted by listeners, they catch up with several garden designers behind this year鈥檚 show, including Frances Tophill (The RHS and The King鈥檚 Foundation Curious Garden), Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux (The Sightsavers Garden) and Patrick Clarke (The Children鈥檚 Society Garden). They explore the ideas, craftsmanship and planting inspiration behind their Chelsea creations, from sensory container gardens to spaces designed for well-being and connection.
Meanwhile, Peter takes the roving reporter mic inside the Great Pavilion, discovering the science behind our gardens, speaking to exhibitors, and uncovering the latest innovations in horticulture and biodiversity research.
The panel tackles everything from gardening in challenging coastal conditions, to choosing the right trees for privacy and produce, as well as tips on drying flowers for wedding confetti, and solving the mysteries of struggling container plants and stubborn succulents.
Producers: Dan Cocker, Matt Smith and Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for 91福利社 Radio 4
* If listening on 91福利社 Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.
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GQT Chelsea Flower Show Postbag Plant List
Q1 鈥� 鈥淚 have a lot of moles in my garden鈥� I absolutely welcome them, but what should I do with the molehills where I need to mow? Will I end up with dips or even a sinkhole because of the amount of soil they bring up?鈥� ()
Matthew Wilson
- Salvia spp., salvia
The RHS and the King's Foundation Curious Garden with Frances Tophill (5鈥�46鈥�)
Mentions:
路听听听听听 鈥奛epeta Six Hills Giant
路听听听听听 Lavandula buchii var. buchii, jagged lavender
路听听听听听 Allium Sativium, Garlic
Q2 鈥� 鈥淢y front garden is very sunny but exposed to strong south鈥憌esterly coastal winds. What vegetables could I successfully grow in raised beds in these conditions?鈥�
Frances Tophill
- Solanum lycopersicum, tomato
- Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla, chard
Pippa Greenwood
- Spinacia oleracea, spinach
- Allium porrum, leek
Matthew Wilson
- Crambe maritima, sea kale
- Crithmum maritimum, rock samphire
Q3 鈥� 鈥淢y nephew is getting married in August 鈥� what should I grow now to make dried flower confetti for the wedding?鈥� (10鈥�59鈥�)
Frances Tophill
- Ranunculus acris, meadow buttercup
- Rosa spp., rose
- Consolida ajacis, larkspur
Pippa Greenwood
- Matricaria chamomilla, chamomile
Q4 鈥� 鈥淲e need trees along a busy road boundary, ideally something fast鈥慻rowing that can be kept bushy rather than tall, and that also produces fruit we can eat or turn into alcohol. What would you suggest?鈥� (12鈥�45鈥�)
Matthew Wilson
- Mespilus germanica, medlar
- Malus toringo var. sargentii, Sargent鈥檚 crab apple
Pippa Greenwood
- Prunus domestica subsp. insititia, damson
Frances Tophill
- Rosa spp., rose
听Peter explores the Great Pavilion (16鈥�25鈥�)
Sight Savers Garden with designers Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux - Sensory planting in containers (19鈥�29鈥�)
- Foeniculum vulgare, fennel
- Anethum graveolens, dill
- Stachys byzantina, lamb鈥檚 ear
- Heptacodium miconioides, seven鈥憇on flower
Q5 鈥� 鈥淚 have a palm tree in a large pot, and I鈥檝e planted ivy and trailing nepeta with it. They look good, but they鈥檙e very vigorous, could they damage the palm?鈥澨� (21鈥�58鈥�)
Janice Molyneux
- Begonia spp., begonia
Q6 鈥� 鈥淢y aeonium was growing beautifully, but after winter in the conservatory it keeps dropping leaves and looks dull, while the others are recovering. Can I still save it?鈥� 听(23鈥�31鈥�)
Bethan Cullerton
- Aeonium spp., aeonium
Pippa Greenwood
- Vine weevil - pest reference
Q7 鈥� 鈥淚 have two large south鈥慺acing planters by my front door, but everything I plant in them dies鈥� What easy, low鈥憁aintenance plants would survive there?鈥� (26鈥�13鈥�)
Sarah Fisher
- Philadelphus 鈥楤elle 脡toile鈥�, mock orange 鈥楤elle 脡toile鈥�
- Viburnum 脳 burkwoodii, Burkwood viburnum
- Osmanthus 脳 burkwoodii, Burkwood Osmanthus
Matthew Wilson
- Salvia rosmarinus 鈥楤ritannia鈥�, rosemary 鈥楤ritannia鈥� (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Tropaeolum majus, nasturtium
Q8 鈥� 鈥淚 planted Euphorbia wulfenii three years ago. It looks healthy but has never flowered. It鈥檚 in full sun and sheltered. What might be wrong?鈥� (28鈥�24鈥�)
Matthew Wilson
- Euphorbia characias, Mediterranean spurge
- Euphorbia amygdaloides, wood spurge
- Euphorbia amygdaloides 鈥楻ed Wing鈥�, wood spurge 鈥楻ed Wing鈥�
- Euphorbia schillingii, schilling鈥檚 spurge
- Euphorbia polychroma, cushion spurge
Peter explores the Great Pavilion pt.2听 (30鈥�04鈥�)
鈥奣he Children Society Garden with designer Patrick Clarke (33鈥�57鈥�)
Q10 鈥� 鈥淚 have a shaded area near the house where I鈥檇 like to plant ferns with some colour. Which ferns are non鈥慽nvasive and suitable, and what can I mix with them?鈥� (36鈥�09鈥�)
Patrick Clark
- Polystichum setiferum, soft shield fern
- Digitalis purpurea 鈥楽utton鈥檚 Apricot鈥�, foxglove 鈥楽utton鈥檚 Apricot鈥�
Matthew Wilson
- Dryopteris erythrosora, copper shield fern
Pippa Greenwood
- Asplenium scolopendrium, hart鈥檚鈥憈ongue fern
Bethan Cullerton
- Linaria spp., toadflax
- Lunaria annua, honesty
Q11 鈥� 鈥淢y front door faces north and has reflective glass panels where seagulls keep pecking at their reflection. I want to block the view with an upright evergreen shrub for shade in a container, what would you recommend?鈥� (38鈥�31鈥�)
Bethan Cullerton
- Bamboo spp.
- Mahonia spp., mahonia
Patrick Clark
- Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Soft Caress, Oregon grape 'Soft Caress'
听
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- Fri 22 May 2026 15:0091福利社 Radio 4
- Sun 24 May 2026 14:0091福利社 Radio 4
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