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Q and A with Gardener Phil McCann

95 replies

RachelMumsnet · 18/10/2010 14:45

He's back by popular demand! Following the highly popular Q&A he took part in this summer, Phil McCann from The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has returned to answer your autumnal gardening questions.

The RHS is the UK's leading gardening charity. It helps to bring gardening into people's lives and support gardeners of all levels and abilities. Phil McCann, PR Manager for RHS Gardens, with support from gardeners at the four RHS Gardens, will be answering questions from Mumsnetters throughout this week. And he's here on the Food talk boards to celebrate the harvest, following what can only be described as a 'bumper year for courgettes'! Whatever your query - from container growing spuds to protecting your peaches over winter - Phil and the RHS team are on hand to give you advice and information.

The final day for questions is Friday 22 October and to celebrate his return to the talk boards, the RHS is offering Mumsnetters an exclusive RHS membership offer. When you sign up for RHS Joint Membership by Direct Debit, you will receive a free Crabtree & Evelyn Gift Set for gardeners. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/mumsnet or email [email protected] with 'Mumsnet' in the subject line.

Phil, who was previously Assistant Producer on BBC's Gardeners' World, is a trained horticulturist and garden writer. He will be checking this thread each day and answering your questions as and when they come in.

OP posts:
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liath · 18/10/2010 15:40

I can't think of a question just yet but would like to say thanks for your advice on the previous thread, I now have a fit and healthy Acer Smile.

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belledechocolatefluffybunny · 18/10/2010 15:42

I have a question (please):
My titchy garden is over run with brambles on an epic scale. How do I get rid of them? Chemicals really don't do anything.

Thank you Smile

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4plus1 · 18/10/2010 15:59

I have just planted an escallonia hedge at the weekend. Should I do any pruning to it now or wait until the spring.

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IrmaGhostSlayer · 18/10/2010 17:21

Hello Phil,

I have a triangular lawn in my front garden and two sorry looking flowering bushes. How can I make a pretty front garden. The left side of the lawn is dying as there is a hedge on the boundary. I was thinking of making this into a bed and planting heather. So not sure how this would work all year around.

Many thanks Brookeslay

( aka irma )

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jonicomelately · 18/10/2010 17:24

I'm sorry but as a Northerner (and former RHS member) I've found it's benefits really limited. The only Northern garden is Harlow Carr (and that's bloody miles away from me). It's OK though if you are in the South. No doubt I'll be told I'm wrong by Phil McCann.

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southeastastralbeing · 18/10/2010 17:25

why is this in the food topic? confused

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champagnesupernova · 18/10/2010 17:39

Hello Phil
2 questions
We are total novice gardeners but seemed to get on okay this year with a "suck it and see" method.

Before we moved here 2 years ago, all we had was a dead plant museum 6 ft by 2ft balcony. Blush

We now have a quite immature garden of about 70 ft square ish but mostly lawn.

Firstly, can you recommend a good but SIMPLE book that says "it's October, you should be doing x, y and z"

Not "here are some poncy garden design ideas" and have you tested your soil? Hmm
I want real basics.


We have hardly any bed space but were bought an "instant" container garden" this year - which worked really well. Loved the planting and really added some colour to the place. We had FAR too much salad greens, our strawbs didn't really fruit. We really enjoyed doing it though.

What's best plan for thinking about next year though - can we reuse the containers - do we plant from seed???

TIA
clueless supernova

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bobs · 18/10/2010 18:05

Hi Phil - two questions if that's okay...

  1. What is the easiest/best way to dry chilis?
  2. I have been growing carrots for the last few years and even with the best soil condition I can give ( raised link-a-bord beds, light soil not recently manured etc) they only seem to grow really small and take ages. Which varieties do you recommend for a decent size?

Thank Smile
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Iamcountingto3 · 18/10/2010 18:32

Ohhhh, glad to see he's back, he was really fab last time Smile

Following your help on what exotics I could grow in my little sun-trap outside the back door - any recommendations for genuinely beautiful veg that I could grow in containers that would fit with a 'holiday vibe' that I'm trying to create (I have mediteranean types hers already...)

Thanks Smile

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:25

Dear Liath,
Great to hear your acer is in good shape - and remember, you've got all week to think of a question.
PHIL

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:29

What a great name!
Brambles - not great fun in whatever sized garden you have. Chemicals do work if you are persistent but if children and animals are around it is always a tricky choice, especially if the environment is a concern. So I'm afraid it's dig them out , dig a few more, and then the ones that reappear, and then some more. You might be able to tame at least a part of the garden. And it will get you fit in the process.

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:32

Dear 4plus1,
Escallonia is a lovely plant for a hedge. I always prefer to leave a newly planted hedge alone for a few months, or even a year, to get its roots down and established. Also, if you start pruning now a hard frost may damage the cut ends of the branches ( and we had quite a severe frost last Saturday so they are knocking around) So leave the secateurs in the shed for now. And great choice of hedge.

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:38

Dear IrmaGhostSlayer ( or Brookeslay or even just Irma)
There's loads you can do to make your front lawn pretty. Heather is one - and they will look good most of the year and can also be smothered in flower. RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate has some fantastic heather displays just near the new learning centre. You could go for a cheaper option and skim off the turf ( or part of it) and sow some wildflower seed ( or mixes of seed suitable for say butterflies or bees) For a couple of quid you will have an easy to maintain display. If you go down your suggested heather route then do plant a few bulbs at the same time. It will ensure a good spring display. They are all for sale at garden centres and it's the perfect tie for planting.

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:40

obviously it is the perfect time for planting but I'm sure there are perfect ties for planting as well.
Whoops!

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twoistwiceasfun · 18/10/2010 19:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:49

Dear Jonicomelately,
If only I could persuade everyone to become members - and how I wish we had gardens on everyones doorsteps! You're right, RHS Garden Harlow Carr is the most northerly of our gardens (and just about to launch a Diamond Quest where you could win a £2.5K diamond to celebrate the gardens 60th birthday - might be worth a trip! Starts November 1st and runs throughout November) but we also have 'recommended gardens' and they are throughout the country. Being a member you get free access to these gardens at various times thoughout the year - you can check it all at www.rhs.org.uk So access to gardens, the advisory service to answer all your gardening questions and The Garden magazine plus loads of other stuff - of course I think it's worth it! You wouldn't expect me to say anything else!!

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twoistwiceasfun · 18/10/2010 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FlyingInTheCLouds · 18/10/2010 19:49

Hi

I would love to grow so blue bold flowers in our acidic soil, for next summer, any ideas?

thanks

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 19:53

Dear Southeastastralbeing,
It might be because lots of the questions last time around were veg related and mumsnetters grow to eat the food - not sure really. Gardening and food are related ( it is in my veg plot) I'm not bothered where we are really - just as long as you've found us!

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 20:01

Dear Champagnesuopernova,
Hello again - who can forget an Oasis name like that? Right - basic books. I should of course recommend RHS manuals ( and there are plenty but look up RHS Simple Steps....series) but in addition a series by Alan Titchmarsh called 'How to garden' are terrific and the ever popular Dr Hessayon range of expert books are still among the best around.
All containers can be resued as long as you wash them out before using again. Refresh with multipurpose compost and away you go. As for planning you cannot beat a roaring fire and this years seed catalogues (oh, and a glass of wine and rain hammering at the windows and rattling the front door... and maybe some chocolate) It's what autumn's for! Worried your strawberries didn't fruit - did the birds beat you to the fruits? Try Marshmallow variety for fruits in about 90 days ( it worked for me) but do eat the fruits small as they are more tasty.
And have a good autumn ( and winter) and then get cracking in spring.

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 20:07

Dear Bobs,
Two questions - no problem.
Chillies: thread them together and hang them in a dry, light, frost free airy space. A cold greenhouse is great but anywhere out of the reach of people and animals.
Carrots: seems strange you haven't had a good crop. Are you giving them long enough to grow? Are you watering in dry spells? Sow in April and May and maybe go for New Red Intermediate for long carrots or a variety called Flyaway if you get problems with carrot fly.
Check out the seed catalogues for loads of varieties.

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 20:15

Dear Iamcountingto3,
Many thanks for your kind comment - and it's really great to be back.
Holiday vibe veg.....it's got to be Swiss chard. It is gorgeous and truly beautiful. The red, orange, yellow or white stems are so colourful and the leaves that bobbly healthy green you want from a veg. It's easy to grow from seed. I have to admit I fancy some in my new cottage garden front garden ( still under contruction and all help welcomed! I also love the ferny leaves of carrots ( again planned into my new front garden)- reminds me of the grassy growth on many sand dunes.
And if I'm right about your name mine would be 'i'mcountingdownfrom5'....? Not sure what to do if I get to zero though!

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jonicomelately · 18/10/2010 20:16

Thanks for the reply Phil. Unfortunately there isn't a single garden in Lancashire that subscribes to the free access scheme you mentioned. I also found The Garden magazine a bit too technical for me. I subscribe to Gardener's World and sometimes buy Amateur Gardener which are a bit more up my street.

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 20:24

Dear twoistwiceasfun.
Don't talk to me about parsnips - mine were rubbish this year. The trick is that they need a really long growing season. Sow in early March and you can be harvesting about now until December. But anything sown that early can be stopped in their tracks by any cold weather in spring. My parsnips roots got in a right old twist this year. I think the best ones are the little ones ( !) and go for Gladiator or Lancer. Sow in April and harvest earlier. And never let them dry out as the root tips die and they never really produce good crops.
Now, your problem peas. I like to grow them on soil that has had loads of compost added to it. Again they don't like gong without water and if stressed mildew often attacks. Plenty of compost, plenty of water and don't feed with anything with nitrogen in it ( look at packets of fertiliser and they have a N:P:K ratio on the side somewhere - the N is the nitrogen content and should be the smallest figure) Alderman is a good reliable variety and I still like Kelvedon Wonder ( old but reliable)

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PhilMcCann · 18/10/2010 20:25
  • fancy missing something off a message or making a spelink mishtayke - as if that would ever happen to me....!!
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