The 2026 Gardening Programme Thread

[NebulousSadTimes]

Welcome 🤗. Pull up a chair, or an upturned bucket, grab a handle-less mug of whatever takes your fancy, ignore the cobwebs in the corner, there are some seed catalogues on the potting bench for you to entertain yourself until someone else pops in to chat about whatever has taken their interest on the telly or radio in all matters gardening 🌻🐞🌿🐝🍄🐌

I've been watching Real Gardens from a couple of decades ago on Channel 4 online- Monty, Carol and Anne Marie Powell. Really enjoying it!

I'm holding off planting any spring bulbs until Beechgrove and GW have done their usual sections on same. In case they have cunning new ideas.

Neither progs this week though have indicated they're having such a section next week. So I may need to just press ahead at some point. Altho can't imagine NEITHER would do a spring bulb section!

They're bound to @AntiqueVases . Some new ideas would be lovely but there's probably a limit to what can be done with the little nuggets of potential, we can live in hope though 🌷

I think Monty was more excited at the finding of Ned's carrot than Ned was last night 😁

I'm now clutching FOUR different daffodil varieties and TWO different grape hyacinths.

And waiting...

Last year there was a lovely display of dwarf daffodils mixed with large flowered crocus bulbs in a village I was passing through. I was surprised that the crocuses were flowering so late but apparently the large flowered ones flower later than the usual smaller ones.

https://www.bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk/crocus-bulbs/large-flowering-crocus-mixed-231-3642.html#/4-pack_quantity-25

I kept a link to the crocuses with a view to replicating it in my garden but I don't know where to put it.

Monty has announced he is stepping down from presenting GW at the end of this season.

It'll be interesting to see what changes are made.

I like both Frances and Adam and would be very happy with those two presenting.
Also Adam has a cat! 👍

I like them both too. I'll miss Monty and Longmeadow though! It feels like a peaceful place I actually know- plus it's similar in climate and soil to my garden so that was always extra useful!

Edited to add PLEASE not Jamie Butterworth though- I like his gardening style and expertise but not his delivery- so irritating! Give me Carol, Huw Richards, Rekha, and Adam yn ardd (that's his SM handle not his actual surname which I can't remember) for the 'occasional' presenters please!

Agree with this, they're both great.

Will Monty keep his gardeners on that help him with his garden ?

Edited to add PLEASE not Jamie Butterworth though- I like his gardening style and expertise but not his delivery- so irritating!

Hear hear.

Didn't Monty announce he was leaving aaages ago? Is it finally happening!

I like Adam but he's stepped back for mental health or family reasons before now, so the Beeb might worry about making him the figurehead. I don't think Frances will get the gig since she doesn't have her own garden.
I think that they will go for somebody whose main attribute is being a journalist / presenter / celebrity, rather than being a gardener.

I have a new pick with a new blank canvas 3 acre garden! Love this chap, Adam Jones, he's featured on GW a few times:
https://youtube.com/shorts/u5XIPiHg_G8?is=X2KQXqjD4FK3DvhJ

GW isn't on until 9pm tonight. Wonder if it will appear on iplayer sooner.

FFS! Delayed cos some men are running around a track.

Did you see it @AntiqueVases ? I'm hoping my machine will have recorded it because I fell asleep when the seed people were on and woke up to Adam laying paving.

I could not believe the size of Sue's lemon verbena tree. I wondered if the wood would smell lovely when dried out and burning.

And most importantly, did Adam leave the people who bought his old house without a water tank or had it been in the garden? I asked my plumber if he ever came across such items of potential but he just kind of muttered in the negative. He's probably got a side hustle selling them in posh places for mega bucks.

@NebulousSadTimes yes, I managed to watch it, thanks, but I was a bit distracted cos I was tired. I couldn't tell you the first thing about it. EXCEPT that I noticed that there was still no hint of when they will be doing a segment on spring bulbs!

I'll be pissed off if I plant my bulbs and then they do a segment that gives me a GREAT IDEA!