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In this month’s edition of the podcast we talk to a selection of the top garden designers at the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower show, including Alan Titchmarsh. We also look at seasonal gardening jobs to do in the garden during the month of June and a selection of plants that look good in the garden at this time of year.

Interviews with Chelsea Garden Designers - 7' 33"

At the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower show we talked to some of the top garden designers and exhibitors:

• John Everiss – The "Reachout" concept or fresh garden, winning a gold medal
• Bleddyn Wynn-Jones – Modern day plant hunter from Crug Farm Nursery, winning a silver medal
• Malcolm Dickson – "The Enchanting World of the Peter Rabbit Herb Garden", winning a gold medal
• Alan Titchmarsh - "From the Moors to the Sea" with Kate Gould, celebrating 50 years of Britain in bloom and Alan's 50 years in horticulture

Click here to view photos of the 2014 RHS Chelsea flower show on our Facebook page.

Plant of the Month - 24' 54"

Our plant of the month for June is Lupinus ‘The Governor’.

• Latin translation Lupinus comes from ‘wolf’; a reference to how some species often smother and kill weaker plants
• Height 1m, spread 75cm
• Hardy perennial, likes full sun or partial shade
• Average growth rate
• Soil: Moderately fertile, well drained, slightly acidic soil
• Flowers: June and July, blue and white, tall flower spikes
• Interesting mid-green palmate leaves
• A member of the pea family
• Stake up in spring before the flowers appear
• Promptly dead-head spent flowers to encourage second flush of flowers
• In less than ideal conditions Lupinus ‘The Governor’ can be short lived

Jobs in the Garden - 28' 12"

• Save and store rainwater
• Cut back spring flowering perennials - encourages new growth and a second flush of flowers
• Irises - Keep rhizomes clear of the foliage of other plants to allow them to bake in the sun
• Ward off slugs and snails – Hostas; Set beer traps or surround the plants with sharp grit
• Shrub pruning - Prune any shrubs that have just finished flowering e.g. Kerria
• Open Gardens - For inspiration, visit gardens open to the public, National Garden Scheme
• Fragrant flowers - Plant in close proximity to patio
• Dead-heading
• Regular lawn mowing (raise the height of cut in very dry weather)
• Trim border edges
• Regularly spray roses against greenfly and blackspot
• Water and feed containers and hanging baskets regularly
• Continue to pinch out the vegetative side shoots on tomatoes, encouraging the development of more flowers and fruits. Also feed them once per week.

In the Vegetable Garden - 31' 38"

• Sow seeds outside of: Lettuce, Runner beans, French beans, Pumpkins, Radish, Carrots, Swedes, Beetroot and Spinach
• Plant out young plants that you have started indoors of: Celery, Sweetcorn, Leeks and Pumpkins
• Harvest: Rhubarb, French beans, Onions, Radish, Carrots and Beetroot

Plants of Note - 32' 39"

Two plants that we felt were worthy of note for this month are:

X Heucherella 'Sweet Tea' – Coral Bells

• Semi-evergreen, Hardy perennial
• Cross between a Heuchera and a Tiarella
• Average growth rate
• 45cm tall, 35cm spread
• Partial shade
• Interesting foliage, large lobed, rusty coloured leaves with reder central colour and veining
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil
• Flowers: cream on flower spikes, June to August
• Good for containers
• Tidy up foliage in autumn and divide every few years
  

Aconitum 'Stainless Steel' - Monkshood

• Hardy perennial
• Aconitum is derived from the Greek for ‘dart’, a reference to how arrows were dipped in its sap as a poison
• Average growth rate
• 1.5m tall, 30cm spread
• Full sun or partial shade, prefers some shade though
• Soil: Moist, Fertile, well-drained soil
• Flowers: tall flower spikes of pale metallic blue & white, June to August
• Toxic if eaten and a skin irritant
• RHS Award of Garden Merit
  

Forthcoming Garden and Flower Shows - 37' 32"

• 12 - 15 June: BBC Gardeners' World Live 2014

Useful Links

• Buy Plants Online from Crocus
• Crug Farm Nursery
• Hooksgreen Herbs