Postbag Edition: Finsbury Circus Gardens

Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? What plants are resistant to shot hole disease?

This week, Peter Gibbs and a panel of gardening experts visit the beautifully restored Finsbury Circus Gardens – a green oasis in the heart of London, with roots stretching back to Roman times and now reopened to the public.

Joining Peter are garden designer Bunny Guinness, botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew. They're also joined by members of the City Gardens Management Team – Jake Tibbetts, Jessica Beatty, and Ed Freeman – to explore the newly renovated grounds and celebrate the space’s rich horticultural history.

The panel tackles a thorny crop of questions from the GQT postbag, offering expert tips on topics including how to prevent shot hole disease, successful techniques for growing Pak Choi, and the fascinating science behind a fern’s life cycle.

Senior Producer: Matthew Smith
Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – What plants are resistant to shot hole disease? (04’09”)

Jake Tibbetts –
Pinus parviflora 'Zelkova'
Zelkova serrata, japanese zelkova
Toona sinensis, chinese cedar

Chris Thorogood –
Styphnolobium
Aesculus parviflora, bottlebrush buckeye
Stewartia

Q – Can you recommend plants to go under and around the tree which has very dry soil? (07’25”)

Ed Freeman –
Pachysandra
Polystichum, shield fern
Polypodium, polypody
Asperula, woodruff
Brunnera macrophylla, Siberian bugloss
Asplenium scolopendrium, hart’s tongue fern

Bunny Guinness –
Daphne laureola, spurge laurel
Crinum × powellii, swamp lily

Q – Could the panel recommend fruit trees that are resilient and adaptable to the changing climate? (12’54”)

Bob Flowerdew –
Prunus armeniaca, apricot

Bunny Guinness –
Amelanchier alnifolia, alder-leaved serviceberry
Apples

Jake Tibbetts –
Mulberries
Pears
Pyrus communis (F), common pear

Q – How do you encourage ferns to germinate? (17’55”)

Q – How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? (20’52”)

Dr Chris Thorogood –
Arum italicum marmoratum, Italian arum 'Marmoratum'

Bunny Guinness –
Matthiola incana, brompton stock

Q – Could you advise on how to fill a big dip in our lawn and some ideas on something more interesting? (23’13”)

Q – Why have the 50 bulbs I’ve planted failed to sprout any buds? (27’53”)

Dr Chris Thorogood –
Angelica gigas, purple angelica

Jessica Beatty –
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebell
Narcissus, daffodils
Galanthus nivalis, snowdrops
Crocus

Bunny Guiness –
Allium 'Globemaster', allium 'Globemaster'

Q – How do I stop Pak Choi going to seed before they have hearted up? (33’06”)

Q – Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? (34’58”)

Bunny Guinness –
Ficus pumila, creeping fig
Rosa Basanti ('Ruicl0062a'PBR)

Bob Flowerdew –
Plumbago, leadwort

Dr Chris Thorogood –
Bromeliads

Q – Why haven’t my healthy 4-year-old bird of paradise hasn't flowered yet? (37’49”)