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Gardeners' Question Time
Dovefromabove
Posts: 88,139
Gardeners' Question Time on Radio 4 has been a fixture in my life since I was a teenager when I went with my mother to a recording of the programme. I try to listen every week - usually to the Sunday afternoon broadcast as I currently work full-time, although I'm looking forward to retirement in the not too distant future when I'll be able to listen on Friday afternoons.
I've learnt so much from the various experts on GQT - one of my best memories is of the wonderful late Geoffrey Smith desribing how he would plant a shady garden.
I'm surprised that the programme is rarely referred to on this Forum - does anyone but me ever listen any more?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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I've only recently started to listen to it, I find it informative, occasionally funny and over-all very enjoyable.
You really do have to seek out gardening shows though.
I have listened to it for many years now, and the thing I have learnt from it is that there isn't any one answer to a problem. The experts often have different views.
Oh, Geoffrey Smith. What a wonderful gardener he was, and he spoke with such a passion for his subject!
I do possess a wireless set, but never ever use it. I believe you can pick up wireless stations on modern TVs. I haven't really tried doing that.
Even so, I certainly wouldn't want to watch or listen to a gardening program on a weekend afternoon. I'd much rather be outside in the garden.
Unless you're thinking of listening outside while in a deckchair. In that case I'd regard the noise as more of a public nuisance.
From what people say, it would seem that the program is interesting, possibly as interesting as GW, and very good balanced advice is given. But the medium is outdated, IMO.
An outdated one here! Radio is my favourite medium. Have listened to GQT since forever. 'Fred Lodes, Bill Sowerbutts and Professor Alan Gemill' is a kind of litany remembered from my young days. I find it informative and entertaining. I tend to listen to both broadcasts as I don't always pay 100% attention.
Gary, you don't have to use crystal sets any more, you can get pocket sized radios that you carry around and little headphones to wear so you don't create a public nuisance ;- ) If you miss the programme and you have the wherewithal to connect to a computer you can download the podcast and listen again on the move. Outdated? !! Not to me.
There is some very interesting research on the different ways people learn. I believe that learning by just listening is quite a challenging skill. Most of us need to learn by watching a demonstration, hence the popularity of cookery shows.
I assumed that the people who are talented listeners are a more exclusive group and that is why it is rarely referred to on this forum.
I listen to Radio 4 Gardners Question time most weeks. Some local BBC radio stations also have good gardening programmes - I listen to BBC R.Leicester Down to Earth which is on most Sundays at 12.00. I like that because it is more general to the area to my home. I've picked up very helpful tips from both programmes. Maggie
I listen every week, I really look forward to it
It's on at daft times for gardeners with families so I rarely listen but I do sometimes remember to listen on my PC when I'm doing dance club admin.