510: Magnificent mini-beasts, figs, and another bulb of the week

About this episode

The episode discusses ways to support pollinators, offers advice on growing figs, and features the Turk’s cap lily as the bulb of the week.

There’s a myriad of weird and wonderful beasties out there who feast on flowers, but all is not rosy inside the garden gate. Pollinators are in trouble, and Josie Stuart, RHS Senior Entomologist at RHS Garden Wisley shares some unexpected ways home gardeners can help pollinators thrive, no matter the size of your plot. Horticultural specialist Jim Arbury offers expert advice on a hot topic many RHS website visitors want to know more about: figs. Which variety should you choose? How do you get started? And how do you grow them successfully? As September brings cooler temperatures and an increasingly autumnal feel, RHS Wisley’s Claudia Connal offers her pick for the next instalment of our Bulb of the Week series - the mysterious and beautiful Turk’s cap or martagon lily. Plus, we answer your gardening questions on dealing with tomato gluts, growing echinaceas, and pruning hydrangeas and evergreens. Host: Gareth Richards Producer: Dan Cocker Contributors: Josie Stuart, Jim Arbury, Claudia Connal Plants mentioned: Turk’s cap lily (Lilium martagon); lilies 'Claude Shride’, ‘Golden Morning’, ‘Pink Morning’ and ‘Albi Morning’. Hoop petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium), Crocus…

People in this episode

Host: Gareth Richards

Guests: Josie Stuart, Jim Arbury, Claudia Connal

Topics covered

• pollinators
• figs
• bulbs
• gardening advice
• autumn gardening

Keywords

• pollinators
• figs
• Turk’s cap lily
• gardening advice
• autumn gardening

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Royal Horticultural Society

Products: Turk’s cap lily, lilies 'Claude Shride', lilies ‘Golden Morning’, lilies ‘Pink Morning’, lilies ‘Albi Morning’, Hoop petticoat daffodil, Crocus ‘Vanguard’, Figs ‘Brown Turkey’, Figs ‘Little Miss Figgy’, Figs ‘Brunswick’

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