Gardeners' Question Time packs out Springfields for Lincolnshire recording

BBC Radio 4's much-loved panel show drew a full house of green-fingered locals as Springfields Horticultural Society celebrates its 60th anniversary year

Springfields Horticultural Society was delighted to welcome BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time to Springfields Events Centre on Tuesday 30 June, as the ever-popular panel show recorded a special double bill in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 100 gardening enthusiasts. Two episodes were recorded on the day, meaning listeners can look forward to not one but two programmes from Spalding when they air later in July.

Chaired by Peter Gibbs, the panel of Bunny Guinness, Matthew Wilson and Christine Walkden — all familiar voices to the show's devoted listeners — fielded a bumper crop of questions from the audience, tackling everything from persistent vine weevil problems and why astrantia can be so reluctant to establish, to the finer points of caring for an olive tree on British soil.

With the summer season in full swing, the panel also delivered a masterclass in watering technique — or, just as usefully, how not to water your garden. The headline tip for green-fingered locals: forget little and often. Instead, water once a week, and water deeply. It encourages roots to grow downwards in search of moisture, producing stronger, more resilient plants that can better withstand dry spells.

True to form, the recording was packed with laughter throughout, with the audience particularly tickled by an unexpectedly candid discussion of the private life of the courgette. It's fair to say nobody in the room will look at their veg patch quite the same way again.

The recording holds special significance for Springfields Horticultural Society, which owns, manages and maintains the much-loved Springfields Gardens in Spalding, open to the public free of charge, and which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Hosting one of the nation's best-loved gardening programmes was a fitting way to mark six decades of championing horticulture in the heart of Lincolnshire.

“We were thrilled to welcome Gardeners' Question Time to Springfields, and to see our events centre so full of enthusiasm for all things gardening. It was an honour to host such a well-loved programme in our 60th anniversary year, and wonderful to see so many local people turn out to celebrate their love of gardening with us. Judging by the reaction to the courgette conversation, I don't think anyone left disappointed!”

Marion Durose, CEO, Springfields Horticultural Society

Both episodes will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Fridays at 3pm later in July, with each repeated the following Sunday. Gardeners' Question Time is one of the longest-running radio shows in the world and is enjoyed by around 2 million listeners every week.