University of Reading

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – What tips would the panel give to a novice gardener who’s new to gardening? (0’54)

Q – Should I replace my drought damaged, slow growing conifers? or does it still have a chance of survival? (4’13)

Matthew Biggs –

Genista aetnensis, mount etna broom

Q – What suggestions do the panel have to attract new gardeners to our community allotment? (07’41)

Juliet Sargeant –

Squash

Q – Could the panel suggest evergreen hardy plants for some winter interest, that I can have in my tropical themed garden? (11’03)

James Wong –

Schefflera taiwaniana, taiwanese schefflera

Matthew Biggs –

Cordyline australis, cabbage tree

Julia Sargeant –

Fatsia japonica, japanese aralia

Fatsia polycarpa Green Fingers, aralia [Green Fingers]

Fatsia japonica 'Tsumugi-shibori' (v), japanese aralia 'tsumugi-shibori'

Euphorbia mellifera, canary spurge

Libertia grandiflora (R. Br.) Sweet, new zealand satin flower

Feature – Peter Gibbs speaks to Professor Sarah Dance about Reading University’s study into meteorology (15’38)

Q – Are there any perennials that can be grown from seed and are easy to find? (21’35)

Matthew Biggs –

Lupins

Poppies

Juliet Sargeant –

Ornamental Grasses

Anemanthele lessoniana, pheasant's tail grass

Stipa tenuissima, mexican feather grass

Panicums

James Wong –

Lobelia tupa, devil's tobacco

Q – Which small flowering cherry tree would be good to plant on our boundary? (25’19)

Juliet Sargeant –

Prunus 'Kursar', cherry 'Kursar'

Matthew Biggs –

Prunus incisa 'Lotte', cherry 'Lotte'

Prunus 'Amanogawa', cherry 'Amanogawa'

Prunus 'Tai-haku', great white cherry

James Wong –

Prunus 'Kanzan' (D), cherry 'Kanzan'

Prunus 'Ukon', cherry 'Ukon'

Q – Any tips on Growing fruit and veg during hot and dry summers? (30’17)

Q – What three interesting houseplants would the panel suggest for my undergraduate students to take care of? (35’39)

James Wong –

Dionaea muscipula, venus fly trap

Nymphaea, waterlily

Nymphaea × helvola, waterlily 'pygmaea helvola'

Juliet Sargeant –

Chlorophytum, spider plant

Cymbidium orchids

Matthew Biggs –

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Moonshine', mother-in-law's tongue 'Moonshine'

Echeveria

Lithops aucampiae, aucamp's living stone