Gardeners’ World & Alan Titchmarsh Gardening Club 2025

Beechgrove Garden starts again next week. BBC Scotland 8pm Thursday.

Presumably it will be repeated on BBC2 for everyone to enjoy.

 

I think it's repeated on BBC 2 the next day (Friday) at 7pm, except on BBC 2 Wales where it will be shown at 7.30pm.

 

8pm tonight.

"It’s officially spring! The clocks go forward an hour this weekend and there’s more time for gardening in the longer days ahead. Monty’s busy adding herbaceous perennials to the revamped Jewel Garden – but before planting, he has good advice on how to plan a border. In the veg garden, there are broad beans to sow and after a wet and cold winter, the lawn needs a bit of attention to get it summer-ready.

Nick Bailey visits a gardener in Essex to demystify the art of matrix planting. Frances Tophill heads to a garden in Bradford, the 2025 UK City of Culture, to meet a group of gardeners working together to grow fresh fruit and veg for the local community.

We meet a grower in Dorset who is totally dedicated to dahlias. And a gardener in Cambridgeshire who’s transformed the back garden of his semi-detached home by planting an incredible 35 trees."

 

I was struck by Monty's enthusiasm when he spoke about creating his garden years ago. The way it didn't work out with the circular lawn and yew hedge, so they started again and the Jewel Garden was conceived.
I found it very noticeable compared to his "TV presenter" tone of voice.

The dahlias were beautiful, there's something about a trug full of them that really lifts the spirits.

Not sure that I understand "Matrix planting" even after the explanation. It still seems like succession planting to me !

 

We watched AT first series but gave up. Tried again on this latest series but not for me or OH.

 

Another very enjoyable GW this week. I watched the whole thing without falling asleep! My attention usually drifts when they feature community gardens but this week's visit to the Bradford enterprise really drew me in. Some really interesting features this week with the bonus of having Nick & Frances as presenters.

 

The key word is 'present'. That's his job and he doesn't have to be a gardener to do that job. He doesnt have to be a perfect example. But he is a very good gardener who welcomes a wider range of people, with different levels of skill to the fold than any other I have seen. Since Percy Thrower for me.

Businesses are going bankrupt everywhere and I feel for any business that does. Not a stain of character or an obstacle towards getting on in live though, and Monty is a good example. Good luck to him for beating the competition to present gardeners world, and it's great to see the recovery after his stroke in 2024.

My gardening knowlege is small and so I will miss any mistake he might make. It doesn't matter to me, we all make them, and hide them. He has shown me lots of things and I wish him all the best.

I did like Geoff Hamilton though. Warm and inviting. He gets my vote as the top presenter.

 

I wish I could agree but given the general lack of basic knowledge which even 20 years ago so many Brits did have (didn't we have the best gardens in the world?) it now seems to have disappeared, TV Gardening seems to be all about buying plants whether they're suitable for the conditions or not, superficial 'chunks' of info, visits etc. I'm sure the formula works on a 'something for everyone ' basis, but it isn't providing sound, practical information.
Or maybe it's the same as the cookery programmes? Just entertainment? People watch but do they learn?
As for the internet , Youtube etc....don't get me started!
Hastily adds that this forum amply fills the gaps left by other media

 

I don't see it that way because there are always instructions given and with a repeated mantra of 'right plant, right place'. These days the show is in competition with websites and social media which might explain your critisms - why the program managers choose a more diverse format these days. I doubt if Monty has cart blanche over program choices and can't be blamed.

A lot is bad out there but the RHS with its plant database and member's questions answered is a resource that cannot be overstated as a competitor. The GW website is full of basic instruction with a plant database as well, and then we have Mr Titchmarsh who is all over YouTube with his take on how to garden.

Climate change is affecting how we garden as well and I see plenty of that on the Gardening World program. This will account for gardening skills and instructions changing. Gone are the days when we can grow that perfect 'English Country Garden' (other countries apply).

 

We don't watch much of the GW programme anymore. There are bits that still interest us but it seems tailored to the new gardener with to many basic items simply on repeat each year. Most of us know how o grow potatoes, sow tomatoes, over winter dahlias etc but they are always featured each and every year. I know new gardeners have to learn but surely it would be better to expand their knowledge base a little.
I don't really have a problem with Monty, the only criticism I would have is that a lot of his advice is for his situation, if we watered post once a week like he recommends, then we'd quickly have dead plants.

It's always interesting that people recommend beechgrove, we managed about 15 minutes and hough I was so slow that we turned it off. It was mentioned down the allotment and most had similar feelings towards it including one old fella who said he almost lost the will to live. Perhaps we jus caught a bad episode.

 

I rarely watch gardening programmes other than just to pass a bit of time.
Not because I think I know it all but because there doesn't seem to be anything new, its all very stale.
I'd like to see more in depth info on growing a particular type of plant, even if it was just a short section of the programme.

All we see on GW is a wander around someone's garden and MD poking a few plants into the most stupid overgrown areas of his jumble of a garden.
Or some arty farty type moaning about what colours should not be put next to each other

The only consolation I get from it is my garden, such as it is, is not too bad.

 

8pm tonight.

" It’s full steam ahead at Longmeadow for Monty, who is busy getting the garden ‘summer ready’. He’s planning displays bursting with colour and scent, sharing tips for rejuvenating houseplants and planting new and tasty soft fruit.

Adam Frost is in the Lake District, bathing in the dazzling spectacle of azaleas, rhododendrons and a striking collection of meconopsis – the blue Himalayan poppy – in a garden run solely by volunteers.

In a bid to learn more about successfully growing fruit and vegetables in her garden in the Peak District, Rekha Mistry visits a local kindred spirit to compare notes on tried-and-tested fruits and vegetables to sow, grow, and eat.

We meet Colin, who has dedicated his entire life to growing and perfecting his beloved delphinium collection. And there’s a whistle-stop tour of Bedminster in Bristol to discover the secret gardens thrown open to locals just once a year."

Also Beechgrove is on at 7pm in most areas.

"It's spring, and Beechgrove Garden is for back another season of great growing advice. As usual, we have tips and handy hints to get the most from whatever you are cultivating this year - whether it’s pot plants or veg borders, trees or tomatoes, there will be help at hand from the Beechgrove team.

In this episode, Carole Baxter and Brian Cunningham review how Beechgrove Garden has survived the winter - what damage did the storms cause, and what plants were lost to the cold snap in January.

Carole and Brian give advice on a topic they get asked about more than any other - what, how and when to prune? The pair have secateurs and loppers to hand and are ready to demonstrate everything you need to know about cutting back at this time of year.

This series sees the Beechgrove presenters competing to see who can produce the most successful vegetable plot, so before the challenge begins, Brian gives a beginner's guide to sowing and growing your own veg.

Sustainable gardening is an important consideration at Beechgrove, so Carole has a project that will help the local wildlife in your garden, and also give you something to do with the old branches and logs that you might have following a stormy winter.

George Anderson reports from his own garden in Joppa, and this episode sees him planting out a new border and giving his willow its annual 'haircut'. All that plus the usual handy hints - help from the Beechgrove Garden team is a great way to get your garden, containers, beds and borders producing and looking great across this year’s season."

 

Exactly my thoughts as well. The bits I enjoyed were in the depth, nerdy type, growers. It didn't matter if I wasn't interested in growing the species they adored either as I just like learning about new aspects I'm not familiar with.

 

8pm tonight.

"Adam Frost is in his garden, revealing what he has in store for the coming season. He takes stock of his ornamental veg garden, adding bulbs to a border and sowing some seeds to grow as cut flowers for a big family celebration in the autumn.

Rachel de Thame is at a nursery in the West Country, marvelling at the magnificence of the magnolia and meeting a grower who is passionate about perfecting them. And Advolly Richmond celebrates the golden age of the English landscape garden with a visit to one of the country’s finest examples, at Painshill Park in Surrey.

There’s a couple from Northampton who were so inspired by a trip to the rainforests that they recreated one in their back garden. And a breeder in Cornwall bewitched by crocosmia shares his expertise on how to grow them."

 

Thank you! I know what the Welsh means (but it is helpful info for others), I was curious what additional items there were. Sounds like a lovely program - I will look out for it!