Pinchbeck: Awkward Astrantias, Watering Wisdom and Courgette Chaos
Peter Gibbs and the GQT panel visit Pinchbeck where they discuss colourful plants that can withstand exposed, windy gardens and discover the remarkable ways plants use water.
Peter Gibbs and the Gardeners鈥� Question Time panel visit the Lincolnshire village of Pinchbeck, a fenland landscape shaped by waterways and a long history of horticulture.
On the panel are plantswoman Christine Walkden and garden designers Matthew Wilson and Bunny Guinness.
The team tackles questions on choosing pond plants to support dragonflies, finding colourful plants for exposed, windy gardens, and why some gardeners struggle to grow much-loved astrantias. They also offer practical advice on improving courgette crops, planting around hydrangeas, and dealing with troublesome vine weevil.
Water is a recurring theme throughout the programme. Bethan Collerton visits Winterbourne House and Garden to meet plant scientist Professor Jeremy Pritchard and uncover the remarkable ways plants depend on water, from photosynthesis and cooling to the internal hydraulic systems that keep them upright and growing.
Back in Pinchbeck, the panel turns to a question many gardeners face during a heatwave - how often should we water our gardens? Christine shares her advice on watering deeply and effectively to help plants withstand dry conditions.
Producer: 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.
Tickets are available for the 91福利社 Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time Summer Party 2026 held at RHS Garden Wisley on Saturday 5th September.
Information and ticket details can be accessed via: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/gardeners-question-time-summer-garden-party
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Plant List
Q1 鈥� 鈥淐an the panel recommend an emergent pond plant suitable for the many dragonflies that crawl out of our pond?鈥� (01鈥�33鈥�)
Christine Walkden
鈥� Butomus umbellatus, flowering rushMatthew Wilson
鈥� Lythrum virgatum, purple loosestrife鈥� Equisetum spp., horsetailNon-invasive ornamental Equisetum species (unspecified)
Bunny Guinness
鈥� Zantedeschia aethiopica, arum lily鈥� Zantedeschia 鈥楪reen Goddess鈥�, arum lily 鈥楪reen Goddess鈥櫶�Q2 鈥� 鈥淐an the panel recommend a way of dealing with vine weevil other than nematodes?鈥� (05鈥�59鈥�)
Christine Walkden
鈥� Heuchera spp., heuchera听Q3 鈥� 鈥淲hat can I grow in a very windy garden that will tolerate exposure and have pink or purple flowers?鈥�(09鈥�00鈥�)
Matthew Wilson
鈥� Salvia nemorosa 鈥楥aradonna鈥�, salvia 鈥楥aradonna鈥欌�� Salvia 鈥楳ainacht鈥�, salvia 鈥楳ainacht鈥欌�� Salvia 鈥楴achtvlinder鈥�, salvia 鈥楴achtvlinder鈥欌�� Miscanthus sinensis 鈥楴ippon鈥�, eulalia grass 鈥楴ippon鈥欌�� Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber', eulalia 'Rotsilber'Christine Walkden
鈥� Teucrium spp.鈥� Phlomis spp., Jerusalem sage鈥� Ceanothus spp., Californian lilacBunny Guinness
鈥� Syringa vulgaris, common lilac鈥� Species roses (Rosa spp.)鈥� Rosa 鈥楰ew Gardens鈥�, rose 鈥楰ew Gardens鈥欌�� Persicaria 鈥楧avid鈥�, bistort 鈥楧avid鈥櫶�Q4 鈥� 鈥淚've tried several astrantias in different places and can't keep them growing. Should I give up?鈥� (14鈥�13鈥�)
Question context
鈥� Astrantia major 鈥楻oma鈥�, astrantia 鈥楻oma鈥欌�� Astrantia major 鈥楽haggy鈥�, astrantia 鈥楽haggy鈥欌�� Hydrangea spp., hydrangea鈥� Astrantia major 'Star of Billion' masterwort 'Star of Billion'Bunny Guinness
鈥� Astrantia 鈥楯ill Richardson鈥�, astrantia 鈥楯ill Richardson鈥�Christine Walkden
鈥� Astrantia 鈥楽unningdale Variegated鈥�, astrantia 鈥楽unningdale Variegated鈥�Matthew Wilson
鈥� Astrantia spp., astrantia鈥� Salvia spp., salvia听Q5 鈥� 鈥淢y courgettes start growing but then stop and rot off when they're only thumb-sized. What am I doing wrong?鈥� (19鈥�08鈥�)
Christine Walkden
鈥� Cucurbita pepo, courgette鈥� Cucurbita spp., squash听Feature 鈥� 鈥奣he science behind the way plants use water, and why is it so important to them? (Bethan Collerton with Professor Jeremy Pritchard) (23鈥�06鈥�)
听Q6 鈥� 鈥淒uring the recent heatwave, how often should we be watering our garden?鈥� (28鈥�23鈥�)
听Q7 鈥� 鈥淢y walled garden is full of hydrangeas. What can I grow between them to set them off?鈥� (32鈥�36鈥�)
Christine Walkden听
鈥� Heuchera spp., heuchera鈥� Evergreen ferns (various species)鈥� Ajuga spp., bugleMatthew Wilson
鈥� Hydrangea paniculata, panicled hydrangea鈥� Anemone 'September Charm', Japanese anemone 鈥楽eptember Charm鈥欌�� Geranium 脳 magnificum, hardy geranium鈥� Hakonechloa macra, Japanese forest grassBunny Guinness
鈥� Taxus baccata, yew鈥� Standard roses (Rosa spp.)鈥� Clematis 脳 durandii, clematis 鈥楧urandii鈥欌�� Persicaria spp., bistort鈥� Ferns (various species)鈥� Salvia 鈥楢mistad鈥�, salvia 鈥楢mistad鈥櫶�Q8 鈥� 鈥淧art of my privet hedge has died back. Could it be connected to honey fungus?鈥�
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