Gardeners’ World & Alan Titchmarsh Gardening Club 2025

Exactly @pete . I can understand that a bit of "back story" to the exhibitors can be quite interesting, but when the programme is only an hour long it really eats into the time.
They were both interesting in their way, and the Camassia lady came across very well with her interview (imo), but I was thinking can we please get on with it.
I always find it ten times worse when the Chelsea coverage is on !

 

Do you sometimes think the programme spends too much time promoting the person rather than the plants, I'm not a fan of garden designers, but I would be interested in people who grow certain plants.
I often wonder if they are almost advertising certain people.

 

I think that certainly applies to the Chelsea coverage @pete, where the design and construction of the show gardens is gone into in forensic detail. I often think that it can be like one giant advert.

Having said that, I do like Carol Klein's visits to the Floral Marquee. I know she's not to everyone's taste but she knows what she's talking about and is clearly held in high regard by the exhibiting nursery owners.

 

8pm tonight.

"As the days lengthen and the garden bursts into life, Monty is busy planting foxgloves, sowing cosmos for cut flowers and laying out his tomatoes.

Carol Klein continues to inspire us to create wonderful planting combinations in borders and pots all year round, and for late spring, she has the perfect recipes.

Ashley Edwards travels to Holker Hall in Cumbria to compare gardening techniques on a much grander scale than he’s used to in London.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and we visit a beautiful garden in Oxfordshire which became a place of healing for its creator when he needed it most.

Plus a visit to the Alpine Garden Society, who are preparing their colourful containers for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show."

 

Sounds interesting , Chelsea around the corner! out all day today will catch-up again . Thanks for posting @AnniD .

 

8pm tonight.

" With summer fast approaching, Monty is changing things up and infusing some drama into his Jewel Garden pots. It’s out with the tulips and in with some bold, colourful bedding. He also dips his toe into the pond in an attempt to breathe new life into his waterlilies and gives his oranges and lemons their annual MOT.

Arit Anderson meets a determined cut-flower gardener in Suffolk who’s on a mission to champion the ‘grown not flown’ movement. And Rekha Mistry shows how to produce and cook with tasty veg throughout the year, creating a home-grown treat to prove it.

There’s an experienced wildlife cameraman who has swapped filming the African plains for staying at home after becoming captivated by the secret life of bees living in his back garden. And a highly successful Australian model explains why she swapped the catwalk for the compost heap and retrained in horticulture to become head gardener at a historic garden. "

 

Must admit I found myself a bit distracted this week.
Don't have a pond/water lillies, don't have space for a cut flower section (although I appreciate the thinking behind it), and don't grow vegetables any more, so I found myself mentally switching off during those segments.

However I did enjoy the "bee man" and the amazing photography. I learnt something new and admit to enjoying the addition of the helicopter sound effects .

The head gardener (ex model) came across very well I thought. As Monty said, she was very modest about her achievements.

 

8pm tonight.

" Monty is busy in the cottage garden. As the roses begin to bloom, he’s inserting a colourful splash of underplanting to add floral icing to the upcoming display. And in the veg garden, there are carrots to thin and tomatoes to plant out.

Adam Frost goes to a beautiful walled garden in Essex, brought back to life thanks to the tireless devotion of one woman. And Nick Bailey explains why his headline show garden for 2025’s Gardeners’ World Live is all about making a metre matter. His aim is to inspire everyone to transform even the smallest outdoor space for the good of the planet.

There’s a man whose sheer determination has turned a barren new-build plot into a wonderful haven for plants and wildlife. Plus a passionate horticulturist who loves peonies so much she rented a whole field to grow them."

 

I rarely watch G's World when it airs, but I was channel hopping last week, and going much further up the channels than usual, and saw that the Eden channel was showing old episodes from 2006 when they were at Berryfields. It made for quite interesting viewing - far more useful hints and tips for people than they ever do now. I've said for years that they don't cater for new gardeners enough, even with an hour long programme. Too much of a magazine programme now, I feel.
They were also highlighting the water shortage problems too. Nothing's changed in that regard other than more cr*p in many people's supplies while issuing the hosepipe bans.

As a slight tangent - Beechgrove was awful last night. I'm afraid I can't bear that Lizzie woman. I've never heard anyone up here with an accent anything like it, and it just 'goes right through me'.
It's as though she' trying too hard all the time. Does anyone else find that?

 

I think it’s a shame they don’t have old GW available on iplayer. When I looked earlier this year. they only had maybe 12 months worth. I must have a look and see if we have Eden

I may be a lone voice on GC but I can’t get on with Beechgrove, odd bits but not the whole programme.

 

I record it and fast forward a lot @Butterfly6 - and I'm a born and bred Scot.
Too much chopping and changing of presenters, and some of them need binned. There was a really good new one a couple of years ago [Diane maybe?] but she was only on a few times. The Kirsty one is unwatchable too IMO, and I can't be bothered with George or Carole either. Brian would be great if he was on more often, but he has a full time job.
I'm in the west, so a lot of info isn't suitable either.
I still don't think any gardening programme understands this - even after decades of watching them. Too much generalisation about conditions, and not enough following up of simple projects - seed sowing, cuttings etc. That can be very difficult for any new gardeners.

 

I like Beechgrove generally but have to agree about Lizzie @fairygirl.
I really like Garddio a Mwy, available on iplayer.

 

Have to confess when Lizzie's on I spend more time trying to identify her strange accent - antipodean influences? - than listening to what she says. I find Callum is easier to understand these days but was unfathomable when he first started. Carole seems to be losing the plot and the interest so the less of her there is the better. Kirsty always seems very stiff and I'm not interested in twee ideas for growing houseplants in strange containers.

George and Brian are good, practical, sensible gardeners and I enjoyed the new head gardener but he seems to have retreated from the camera. Really sorry they lost Chris Beardshaw as he is just brilliant on all levels from plantsmanship to design.

As for GW - never watch it live now as I need to FF jungles and a lot of what MD is doing. Adam and Carol Klein are always good value and informative. I like the Asian veg lady too even tho her garden conditions are nothing like mine.

 

I am with you fairygirl on seed planting. I would like to see any new methods of seed planting and see if any odd methods work like buying seeds on rolls of tape. Even methods of thinning out would be helpful. I am now a bit infirm to get down and dirty. As all these gardening programs show the gardeners down on their knees without any problems.

 

It's interesting you mentioned Lizzie on Beechgrove @fairygirl . It is a very strange accent and one I just couldn't cope with.
Obviously I'd expect a gardening project from Scotland to have Scottish presenters but she defeated me.

I used to watch it back in the days of Jim and George but I think these days they're regarded as way too traditional and old school.
I did get the impression that Carol has lost enthusiasm, but she has been presenting it for many years I think, so I can't really blame her.

There definitely seems to be a younger demographic on Mr T's Gardening Club which is good to see.
The young lady who is trying to restore her grandparents' garden in time for her wedding is a particular favourite of mine.
The other is the chap who does the more practical stuff such as laying bark paths and building a pergola. Puts me in mind of Geoff Hamilton.