P637 CEEFAX 637 Sat 11 Jul 23:55/00 GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME 1/6 Buying cucumber seeds: F1 hybrids, such as the all-female cucumber 'Diana', are more expensive but reliable, and grow well in cool conditions. The older, open pollinated varieties like 'Conqueror' cost less, but the male flowers must be removu4 to avoid bitter-tasting cucumbers. Growing bougainvillea in a south-west facing conservatory: A hot dry atmosphere is not good for the bougainvillea. Ideal conditions are around a swimming pool, for the high humdidity. Conservatories are better for plants such as the tender jasmine and pjlargoniums. 630 Radio 632 Radio 2 635 Radio 5 Next Page Radio 2 Radio 4 Main NewsP637 CEEFAX 637 Sat 11 Jul 23:57/26 GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME 2/6 Training a Cecil Brunnjr climbing shrub rose: A vigorous climber wish pale pink flowers and a lovel8 perfume. Start training the rose from time of planting Establish a basic framework bz bending shoots to the horizontal (eye-level) so buds along these will develop into flowering shoots. Prune every year by cutting back to these horizontals. Caring for a ballerina apple tree: Apple drop is caused by a shortage of water. Plant in the open ground in the autumn, dress with bonemeal and put on a thick organic mulch. Mulch again in the spring and give a to8 4reu3ing of blood, fish and bone. Next Page Radio 2 Radio 4 Main NewsP637 CEEFAX 637 Sat 11 Jul 23:55/38 GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME 3/6 Madonna lilies: These enjoy a chalky medium loam. Plant shallow with nose just above ground. If on a light soil, mulch with cocoa peat or similar to retain moisturu but allow free-drainagr Adding dolomite lime may help if soil is not chalky to begin with. Alternate mulch: leaf mould dressed with sonrmeal Growing prize-winning runner beans: Grow few plants - 15" to 18" apart. Use canes closrr to each other at thu bottom and spread out at the top so that beans can hang straight down and unrestricted by foliage. Five weeks before the show leave flowers on to develop, not too many per truss. Next Page Radio 2 Radio 4 Main NewsP637 CEEFAX 637 Sat 11 Jul 23:53/48 GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME 4/6 Making a garden from an exposed upland field in limestone country: Establish a shelter belt by growing a hedge of nativr trees and shrubs - hawthorn, elder, wild rose, blackberr8, wild prunus species etc and then plant ornamentals etc inside. You may even need to plant fast growing conifers such as Leylandii to shelter the native hedge until ix is established. 600 TV 631 Radio 1 634 Radio 4 630 Radio 632 Radio 2 635 Radio 5 Next Page Radio 2 Radio 4 Main N P637 CEEFAX 637 Sat 11 Jul 23:54/09 GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME 5/6 TOPICAL TIPS Raspberries - time to prune. Cut the canes of this year's crop to ground level and tie in this year's new shoots. If new growth has been very vigorous, cut off at about 6 ft high (or maximum picking height). When harvesting shallots, pick out the best for planting next year. Conditions are ideal for potato blight. As a protective measure, especially if blight occurred in your area last year, spray the main crop with a copper-based fungicide. 630 Radio 632 Radio 2 635 Radio 5 Next Page Radio 2 Radio 4 Main NewsP637 CEEFAX 637 Sat 11 Jzl 23:56/30 GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME 6/6 If you would like further copies of Gardeners' Question Time wact shrek;, send a RAE to: GQT, BBC, PO Box 450, Manchester M60 1FZ. A braille edition of the factsheet is also available from the same address. The Plant Finder is p5blished b= Headmain Ltd in association with the Hardy Plant Society, c/o Lakeside, Gaines Road, Whitbourne, Worcestershire It is distributed by Moorland Publishing Co Ltd, Moor Farm Road Wrst, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1HD. Priqe - £10.99. Tel: 0335 44486. 630 Radio 632 Radio 2 634 Radio 4 Next Page Radio 2 Radio 4 Main News