Gardener's Question Time - 21st June

The Gardener’s Question Time garden party was good, although it still didn’t feel like the summer party it was billed as being (last year was a torrential downpour, but most invigorating). They had 2 question and answer sessions, the second one of which I was picked to ask a question. It really is a case of chance as the chairman (Eric Robson) picks at random. The show that is broadcast is an edited version as obviously on the day they cannot guarantee that all will be done in the time allotted for the programme. And it really is the case that the panel have no idea what the questions will be until the microphone is on us members of the public and away we go. My question was about spacing between vegetables. I said that I followed the instructions on the packet but that I have also read in books that you can plant much denser in raised beds – but how much more denser? The answer was that the spacings are only a guide and you can plant as close together as you can get away with. Raised beds have richer soil put into them so you will get away with more plants in them. You can also grow closer for smaller vegetables if that is what you want. An example was given that you could grow 5 small onions or one very large onion but the total weight of crop won’t be much different.

The main stage with chairman Eric Robson (L), then (L-R) panellists Pippa Greenwoodd, Bunny Guinness and Bob Flowerdew



An info slot with (R-L) producer Roger Taylor, Eric Robson and Pippa Greenwood

Tomorrow - pictures from last year's GQT garden party