Sue

At least when Geoff Hamilton and Alan Titchmarsh were presenting the programme, they did small patches of garden that seemed to fit in the overall scheme of the larger garden.

I have stopped watching it on a regular basis, as I found myself shouting 'No!' at the TV far too often, especially on the MUST do this or that. There is seldom a 'must do it this way' in gardening. The one episode that comes to mind is the snowdrop one, they MUST be planted in the green - no, they are perfectly OK being planted in the autumn, in fact I have been doing it this way for years, as long as the bulbs are not dried out they establish even better for me, than when planted 'in the green'.

For me the whole programme has very little credibility, and it seems as if they think anyone can go and spend a couple of hundred pounds on trees, or a reconstited stone urn - bring back the days of making compost bins from old pallets, and lets get some reality back in the show.

I've no particular objections to Monty, but he's just not quite as, well, sexy, as he used to be.

I don't want to see garden design on GW, that's dealt with adequately elsewhere, but I do want to see lots of plants, plants, plants, reasons why I should grow them, the Latin names for EVERYTHING, techniques for growing and propagating them, and fab shots of things I may not have seen before.

OK, OK, I know it's probably not good TV. That's why I'd prefer to spend time poring over a good gardening book than watching GW. Preferably both at the same time, though!

Nuggy, being in Ireland, did you ever see 'How Does Your Garden Grow' produced by Ulster TV? It only lasted about 20 minutes a week, and was just a couple of gardeners wandering round a good garden with the owner, chatting enthusiastically about the plants (shown in close-up, with the name). Each programme covered just one garden, which was often specialist (one was just about Rhododendrons, I recall). Obviously of far too limited appeal to go on BBC.

Not like Wimbledon or football, which has universal appeal, sufficient for four or five hours a day for weeks on end.

DeeDs, never mind the formal garden. What about the tropical garden, with cold WET clay?

GW is ok but now it really is getting boring. they began to do the tropical garden but really following no rules of subtropical gardening in britain. I agree with the pointless plots of land being filled with awful ideas. they have a huge greenhouse used for nothing but sowing seeds! I struggle to fit all of my huge alocasias, colocasias, bananas, carnivores and amorphophallus into my tiny greenhouse (8ft x 10ft) with no table because it's all just beds!

They really don't take into account the budget of the common gardener, we who grow everything from seed, fish around the reduced tables at garden centres and plan out our own design. I miss the old "compost bins from woooden pallettes" approach, who is ever going spend £200 on a palm which is a foot high or 4 box hedges?! My greenhouse so far has cost me about £20 because i either build, sow seed, or get it for free. I put a wanted ad in the paper and someone called on the second day offering me the greenhouse for free.

I think they're just trying to dumb it down and are aiming it towards people who don't know much about gardening so that they can just go out and but themselves a well established garden!

I agree that the separate gardens look like a patchwork quilt - but I think they're catering for viewer's small UK gardens. That said, there are innumerable garden design programmes that do just that and GW has traditionally been about the plants rather than design per se.

I don't have a problem with Monty's organic opinions, but then my gardening politics match his. I'd probably have a problem someone pushing chemicals and sterile seeds! I guess the point is about the pushing rather than the subject of the push! I do find Monty's voice very soothing though! :)

Just my 2p
Alcina

At the moment, the programme is also running on a satelite channel. Does anyone know if its the current series or last year's? They are experimenting with different types of compost containers. Thing is, I'd like to introduce a compost heap now, but looks like I'll have to wait unit the end of the series when Monty provides the results (unless anyone here knows what's best already)

It comes to something when the only thing I can remember from tonight's effort is that last bit on planting pumpkin seeds. Not because it was revelationary by any stroke of the imagination, but because I remember muttering to myself that I've sown thousands of melon, cucumber, marrow and squash seeds in my time and have never noticed any appreciable difference in results from those sown on their edge or flat!

Think you have hit the nail on the head Dave, there doesn't seem to be any passion in the programme anymore, not to mention the sense of humour that AT brought with him, he made me want to go and try new things, his enthusiasm was infectious. None of the present presenters seem to have that, they all seem rather too laid back and bored, going through the motions as it were.

I want a programme that informs, rather than dictates and gives me the little snippets that are now, sadly lacking.

Totally agreed with your post on the BBC boards by the way, pity so many people take what TV personallities say as 'gospel' rather than listen to people with as much expertise as you have.

Steve - Brighton

You should be blaming the BBC for the poverty of the current editorial concept, NOT Carol's hair (the presenters are only mouthpieces, they don't make the programme). All the same, people who sell out their own integrity to this degree have only themselves to blame when others start to see them as biddable muppets rather than honest experts.

Steve - Brighton

G. Hamilton. Now, THERE was a garden show presenter!

That aside, I dislike his irritating, preachy, condescending style of presenting. I agree that GW has serious faults as a programme. It lacks a sense of direction, unity, or humour! Berryfields is less a garden and more a series of experiments/areas of dabbling. Too much time is spent describing the instant effect that can be obtained by buying and planting large and costly specimens, often in large and costly containers. Occasional excellent features, often with Carol Klein, who has real enthusiasm and asks intelligent questions when interviewing other plantspeople, are few and far between.

Oh, and while I'm at it, I could well do without that Sarah Raven, too. Every feature she's involved comes across as an advert for her "cutting garden".

And while I can understand that not everybody is a big fan, I miss Alan Titchmarsh!

If you want to see a real rubbish gardening programme that will make GW shine again try and see the 'The Greenmount Garden' on BBC1 NI.

I spoke to someone in the know re GW. Aparantly Monty et al are told what to say and what will be featured.

I hate it when they are digging a plant to divide and it's obvious the plant has already been dug and it's just sitting back in the hole.

Leave Carol alone she is enthusiastic but she cant be as she is under the thumb of the producers. Dont you remember her being on TV maybe 10 years ago? She was great then

Best regards

Chris

Hmm.

Monty is very popular even in Belgium. There are NO gardening shows in this country, except those on the BBC. Why would you as tax payers want to sponsor a programme that advocated the use of expensive pesticides and fertilizers? I'd rather spend my money on plants and use free compost and mulch.

The new show on growing your own vegetables (organically!) is great as well, though most of you would probably disagree.

I saw the first episode of growing your own veg. It was OK, I guess, I'm not really excited by vegetables, but I do have some garlic growing now :)

I don't care for Chelsea FS coverage, I don't particularly need telling how to sow Godetia and the like in the same manner year in year out, if I wanted to paint the fence blue, I really don't need someone telling me why it's such a great idea to upset the neighbours who have to look at it. I know there is a place for these programmes but it would be lovely if there was something more original or more specialised, without being yet another a reality TV show.

Why is there nothing on the National Collections or some of the large and established gardening groups and societies? Seems to me there is a wealth of topics that could be covered, more veg, trees, plant families etc that are largely ignored.