Gardeners' Corner
Gardeners' Corner
BBC Radio Ulster
The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.
Success with delphiniums, easy early summer cuttings, and peculiar plums
As the summer holiday season begins, David Maxwell is joined in studio by Ann FitzSimons and Mary Doris who are full of summer gardening inspiration. Ann explains how to make more plants for free right now by taking semi-ripe cuttings. Mary makes the best of the gardens summer bounty including, chive pesto, honeysuckle syrup and lemon balm cookies. Together they answer listener questions including how best to grow delphiniums, rejuvenating old box hedging and a tree producing peculiar plums. Contact the programme on [email protected]
Jul 4
56 min
How to grow olives and basil, cameraman vs bee and the garden legacy of a retiring Tyrone teacher
Join David Maxwell for an hour of gardening advice for summer. He'll be joined in studio by expert Neil Porteous who will have advice on how to grow olives successfully in a climate which isn't always as hot as this week! In Ann FitzSimons County Down greenhouse she is growing tomatoes, basil and chillies - so what is the secret of her success? As the school term ends one Bush Primary in Dungannon is marking the retirement of a teacher who has inspired pupils to get into gardening for the last 30 years. David visits the class plots and meets some of the budding gardeners. Also on the programme, wildlife cameraman, Martin Dohrn on his documentary 'My Garden of a thousand bees' where he discovered over 60 species of bee in his own Bristol back garden. Contact the programme on [email protected]
Jun 27
56 min
Gardeners' Corner at BBC Gardeners' World Live, Birmingham
David Maxwell is joined by Adam Frost and Jekka McVicar live from the NEC in BirminghamPresenter Nikki Chapman reflects on her relationship with her garden and David meets some of the growers and designers.Contact the team any time by emailing [email protected]
Jun 21
56 min
Four decades at Tattykeel, cost-cutting propagation and soil health for community gardens.
Helen Mark visits Tattykeel Garden in Omagh, where Hugh and Kathleen Ward reflect on four decades of gardening as they open their gates for the National Garden Scheme. Helen meets Ian Marshall to explore simple, cost effective propagation techniques for Hydrangeas and a range of houseplants. Near the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, Helen catches up with Miriam Turley at An Creagán to discuss the challenges facing community garden groups across the country. And with Conor O'Kane she learns how homemade bio char can boost soil health. Colin Agnew joins Helen in studio. Email the programme at [email protected]
Jun 13
56 min
All about alliums, clematis cuttings, summer care for succulents and the best plants for moths
Join David Maxwell for an hour of early-summer inspiration for your garden. He brings you more highlights from the garden show season and is joined by expert Claire McNally to answer questions on taking clematis cuttings and moving peonies and hebes. Also in the studio, wildlife expert Katy Bell tells David about the hummingbird hawk-moth, a recent visitor to his garden, and shares advice on what to grow to help all our moths. Adam Frost chooses alliums as his Bulb of the Month. David's plant pick - Leptospermum scoparium 'Martini' Contact the programme at [email protected].
Jun 6
56 min
Gardeners' Corner at Bord Bia Bloom 2026
Gardeners' Corner attends Ireland's biggest gardening show, Bord Bia Bloom, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Presenter David Maxwell tours the show gardens and plant stands in search of takeaways for the ordinary gardener. Along with regular expert Anna Hudson, he meets Adam Frost and Neven Maguire, who are taking part in the show. Also on the programme are top plant picks from the show and highlights from the postcard gardens, which are created in one day by community groups from across Ireland.
May 30
56 min
Gardeners' Corner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026
Highlights from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 with David Maxwell, featuring the gold medal-winning Trussell’s Together Garden — the first Chelsea garden to be relocated to Northern Ireland. David meets women from the Strabane Community Project, where the garden will soon be rebuilt, and its designer, Rob Hardy. He also speaks to Arit Anderson about her show garden for Parkinson’s UK and meets The Traitors star Rachel Duffy, whose late mum lived with the condition. As usual, David catches up with Joanna Lumley and other famous faces, including Sophie Raworth, Timothy Spall, Dame Judi Dench, Alan Titchmarsh, Rob Brydon and Nigel Slater. Inside the Great Pavilion, plant experts offer advice on roses, alstroemerias and vegetables, while David also visits Sarah Eberle’s award-winning garden, On the Edge, which encourages us to garden with nature in mind.
May 23
56 min
Dan Pearson on the value of gardening slowly, lavender alternatives and getting peonies to flower
David visits the GROW community garden at the Waterworks site in north Belfast where members of Anaka women's collective are gaining gardening knowledge and forming friendships at the same time. Gardener Craig teaches them how to split mint plants and sow carrots for a harvest later this year. Renowned garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson chats about his own garden and the value to taking things slowly. In County Antrim, David drops in on Creavery Primary School which was awarded best school garden by the local council last year. Also on the programme Colin Agnew joins David to answers questions on lavender alternatives and getting problem peonies to flower. Contact the programme at [email protected]
May 16
56 min
Sarah Raven and Shane Connolly on cut flowers, gardening with a disability and Adam Frost's bulb of the month
David chats to renowned plantswoman Sarah Raven and royal florist Shane Connolly at the Festival of Gardens and Nature in County Laois. In West Belfast, he meets Paula Kerr who uses every bit of her back garden to produce fresh organic fruit and veg. Adam Frost reveals his favourite bulb for May, and Brian and Amy Kelly talk about the value of gardening even when it becomes more physically difficult to do. Rosie Maye joins David in studio to take questions and provide seasonal inspiration. Contact the programme on [email protected].
May 9
56 min
Garden birdsong with the Nature Boy, giving berberis a go and cutting back camellias
David Maxwell visits Ballyrobert Cottage Garden where Maurice Parkinson tries to convince him to give the prickly berberis shrub a chance. It's also time to cut back the camellias which have just finished flowering. As the dawn chorus reaches its peak, ornithologist and award-winning author Sean Ronayne extols the health benefits of taking in birdsong at this time of year. In Dundonald, David meets Rory Blight and Sean McDermott in an urban oasis where their Keen 2B Green community interest company is providing a home for nature and a place to benefit the community and those with learning disabilities. Work is underway to create ponds, a bee bank and a species rich grassland. Ann FitzSimons joins David in studio to answer questions on patchy grass, a rowan tree with no leaves and an unruly Rosa rugosa. Contact the programme on [email protected]
May 2
56 min
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