Gardeners’ World & Alan Titchmarsh Gardening Club 2025

OH no, going off topic again.
My fault.

 

SORREEEEEE.............got sucked in there.....

 

I thought I'd pressed Post on this yesterday, but my rubbish fingers obviously missed....

I think I mentioned before about the old episodes of G's World [not sure if it was this thread] being shown on Eden - don't know if that's available on cooncil telly, or just Sky etc, but they're the ones from 2006 @Thevictorian
I actually watched 2 this morning [maybe episodes 24 and 25?] as I've been awake since before 2am, and the telly usually sends me to sleep, so I got up and switched on. They were doing a piece on compost mixes, and there was a previous one on making compost, plus a trial on runner beans. That last one was of no interest to me as I can't abide them, but it was short and concise, so perfectly suited to new and experienced growers alike. Like @AnniD, I just feel that there was definitely more actual gardening info on these programmes.
I've been saying for years that the current hour long shows could easily have a small section each week showing seed sowing, cuttings taking etc, with proper, regular follow ups. If you're experienced, a five minute slot surely isn't too much to ask. Basic info on a range of items - surely that's important?
I noticed an item on a current episode where the follow up was basically glossed over, and it was to do with potting on something and then planting it out. I remember thinking - but you didn't explain the reasoning for waiting until something's big enough, and adapted enough to plant out, and the time of year etc. Beechgrove is like that sometimes too - especially with that 'wumman'. No wonder new gardeners have failures and don't understand why. Too many 'random' presenters which isn't helpful.
Mr Titchmarsh has become a smarmy individual IMO. I used to love watching him when he was on G'sW, although Geoff was my favourite, and the one who got me interested.

I have Geoff's book The Living Garden beside me as I write this @AnniD . I don't read it very often, but I use it for support for the mouse/mouse mat!

 

We went to Percy Thrower's GC on a coach trip yesterday. It's near Shrewsbury. Thought it was going to be something out of the ordinary but it turns out that it belongs to one of the big chains!

 

You bring back memories Fairygirl re follow up. It was the Beechgrove garden I think decades ago when they grew seed potatoes in a tyre stack. When the potatoes were ready for picking they broke down the tyre stack and what did they find - only one very large potato. The scene was so funny. AT tried a follow up program to his Garden Rescue TV series only to find the houses had been sold.

 

I used to like Bob Flowerdew, never see him on telly nowadays, although I think he's occasionally still on the panel of BBCR4s 'Gardeners' Question Time'? I'm sure he did a tyre stack for spuds once, though I might be mistaken, it was a long time ago.

 

Completely irrelevant but my mum went to school with him and she says he hasn't changed since then.

 

I still like Bob Flowerdew! Just never see him on the telly these days. Bet his plait's longer than it was when he was at school, though, @Thevictorian

 

I just asked mum and apparently he had a crew cut when he was at school.

 

8pm tonight.

" It’s almost summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and Frances Tophill is gardening at Damson Farm, a magical garden set in the glorious Somerset countryside. There's a beautiful wildflower meadow, a productive edible garden and naturalistic ornamental planting to inspire. The designer shares many of Frances’s passions - growing plants for purpose and creating wildlife-friendly spaces - and at this time of the year, there’s plenty to get on with.

Carol Klein shares her growing experience and favourite plant combinations to guarantee colour in beds and containers all summer long. Adam Frost meets a grower who has adapted her garden to cope with serious annual floods thanks to a clever choice of plants and innovative design. And the plants don't just survive, they thrive!

There’s also a visit to an Aladdin’s cave of a garden in Watford to meet a gardener who can’t resist a junkyard buy to add to her collection. "

 

His [Bob Flowerdew] hair was quite something wasn't it! Fantastic. Nice to hear he hasn't changed @Thevictorian. Always seemed to be a very knowledgeable man, but with a lovely manner in the way he presented his info. I think that's what's wrong with a lot of tv shows now - it's all about the latest fashion/fad, and speeding from one item to another, without covering the subject well. Is it because people have such short attention spans nowadays and want it all to be instant?
I'm getting to the point where I might not bother with the Titchmarsh prog. or will fast forward quite a lot, because it's just too nothing-y somehow. I think I might be fast forwarding a lot of G's World too.
Or maybe I'm just becoming a crabbit old wumman....
...don't answer that

 

Aye AnniD the nights will soon be drawing in.

 

Aagh!! Bob Flowerdew with a crew cut ?? That's quite spoiled my day

 

Just had that very conversation with my Dad @waterbut. I could have done without reading that first line this morning.
The beard may be greying, but the plait is vibrant @Philippa .

 

Whew....... that's a relief