What do you want on Television / DVD ?

[Nicos]

I was thinking of the sort of garden make-over which would incorperate veg into the garden in various ways to make it look attractive aswell as productive.
People are more likely to GYO in their gardens if they are shown how to tie them in with a 'traditional' garden. Most people need to see how well it can work to be tempted to have a go!
Perhaps the landscape gardeners of the 21st century will need to address these environmental issues in their plans??

[WiZeR]

I think make-over shows can never be good for the GYO'er in the same way home makeover shows where no good. They are too rushed and obsessed with making the viewer believe you can get instant results in a day. The viewer rushes out to the garden centre buys loads of things that aren't right for their garden, gets home and in a week its either all died or looks even more of a mess ( I speak from experience :P ). Shortie mentioned the Heaven's Kitchen\Garden show. To be honest I found this programme the worst of the lot. Hannah Jengas (sp?) basically cheated by bringing in a load of bought in veg plants and rushed over any useful information. It was basically a huge advert for Mike Robinson's pub. I hate it when these shows cram too much in to a show to make it more 'snappy'. The result is less useful information for the viewer. Take some time to show the viewer exactly what, when and how to do it.

[Peter]

A year long weekly series.

Covering fruit & vegetable gardening in a number of sites, suggest a couple of allotments of different sizes and similarly for back gardens. This should show what people are doing at this time, obviously it would be a week behind.
For the slow (in gardening activity) seasons, doing some special features on stuff. e.g. How seed trials are done. New varieties. History of Potato. How the Victorians did this thing. All about Glyphosate.

Oh and none of the usual condescending presenters or overly opinionated "peddle only one line" types.

Bring back Geoffrey Smith, an honest gardener.

Oh well, back to reality, 30 seconds with Monty tonight where he might in passing mention a vegetable.

[eskymo]

this has aprked quite a debate. A year long series would be fantastic.

Having slept on the idea though - who needs a gardening show - I'm quite happy with Grow Your Own and the Grapevine!!!

[Birdie Wife]

Definitely agree with the idea of showing seasonal growing, I think this would be a revelation to a lot of folk who just go to the supermarket and buy what looks good but if they knew what what in season they could buy what tastes good too, regardless of whether they grow it at home.

Also more programmes about gardeing when you have a tiny space. Many of us are lucky enough to have large gardens or allotments to grow lots of interesting things, but I think tips on what to do when your space is very limited would appeal to a majoirty of folk. Something based on square foot gardening or the grow bag challenge might be a good start.

[WiZeR]

i also agree, small space gardening is something that everyone can take an interest in, even if you do have a big garden. I realy like that idea. A series dedicated to showing all the tips and tricks to growing in a small space. Be it on the window ledge, in the conservatory, on the back step, or in a tiny garden. I'm not sure what the legal issues are with doing a show on Square Foot gardening, but I am sure the ideas can be adapted. I'd love to see a show all about starting off different types of veg and then later seeing how they are pricked out, potted on then planted out. You never really see that in detail.

[interfusionfilms]

Thank you for your comments

Many thanks for all your comments we will certainly look at every one of them and will keep you informed as to the outcome. We do feel that using allotment holders and gardeners to present these types of programmes is a good move and something that we are already looking into.

We aim to commence filming on the final project this Summer and will put forward the programme to a number of channel during the Winter. Making TV is a long process, approximately 18 months, so don't think we have gone away - we'll be busy working away in a little shed somewhere.

In relation to the posting mentioning "The Victorian Kitchen Garden" - we are pleased to announce that we have been working closely with the creator of all the Victorian series on producing a new television series that looks at the history of the UK flower show. Sadly, Harry Dodson died last Summer but Ruth Mott is still banging away at her pastry. As soon as we get a broadcast date and channel we'll let you know.

We are currently in the process of filming a new television series called "Me and My Garden", "Me and My Allotment" and "Me and My Greenhouse". These programmes will have members of the public like yourself demonstrating to viewers your own hints and tips for better gardening. If you feel that you have a hint/tip that you would like to pass on then feel free to get in contact with us but emailing your hint/tip, location, name and include a recent photo: forward to - gardening@interfusionfilms.com

Please feel free to continue this posting as we will be receiving updates from it on a daily basis. Let's make a programme that YOU want to watch and not what we feel you want.

Thank you,

Sean James Cameron
Producer

[GardenFan]

I agree with all the comments here, a program about garden make overs and flower growing has been done before and done (mostly) well. Growing your our produce is not well covered at all, shows like GW do cover these subjects but not in great detail. Sure we have great mags like GYO and indeed plot and veg\fruit coverage in other more general mags (seems to be a pattern).

What I want to see is a program that covers all the area's, plot and small holding owners and small space/garden growers. In plots it can show the sort of advice you would get from working a plot and talking to others. In the small space gardening advice on growing in containers, keep fruit trees etc (the sort of fruit\veg growing I do) and will help folks see that they can do grow things and it not take a lot of time or money. I would love to see folks on the show talk about this and share experince, lets not see yet another TV personality but someone who has done this and can share the pain and glory.

The Victorian garden show is really good because the chap on it (who has now sadly passed away) had spent 40 years doing it, his experince was at one time passed down but those days are gone. The TV mean while is a great way of bringing that back.

In terms of subject material lets see things like

Keeping chickens (you can do it at home too) and the practial and legal advice in doing so.
Soil, digging, not digging, soil types, why it matters, what not to get confused about
Compost, types, buying, making your own (all important)
Fruit, trees, bushes, canes, location, feeding, watering, pruning, eating !
Veg, what's best for your space, veg types, all of the above from location
Seeds, heat, light, pricking out, growing on

and loads more besides

My 10 pounds worth

[eskymo]

advice on keeping chickens would be something I would definitely tune into as I would love to have chickens but don't think my garden is suitable. I also don't know how much is involved in the process and so it would be great to see someone setting up their garden to house chickens and giving advice on this.

[Lesley Jay]

As well as growing vegetables and fruit I would like a programme on preserving the glut of vegetables and fruit that we all have in the summer so that we have a supply of preserved vegetables for winter use.

[eskymo]

that gives me the idea for another eskymo food fest thread - I've got recipes galore for jams, chutneys, butters, pies, puddings etc...

[Lesley Jay]

Well then, what are you waiting for then Eskymo???

[Shortie]

Eskymo, get typing now please!

[Alice]

I would love to see a programme that included a section on what we can all grow - parents and children together. I see so many people, adults and children, who don't recognise even the most common plant growing in the ground. They have no idea where their food comes from. Anyone who has a windowsill and the least amount of money can grow something. Could we have a programme that would address that. Sure we would all learn something. Maybe we have a windowsill going to waste.

[Jaxom]

Growing vegetables on a very tight budget. Perhaps £50 to do everything, including buying tools. This could be aimed at small families who live on income support or low wages. Grow your own food for a fitter healthy life.
A lot of families could change the whole way they live and eat with such a little financial input. Neighbours could share the cost of buying seeds, as a packet will spread quite some distance.
Covering propagation and splitting fruit bushes would bring more fresh fruit into the diet.
Teaching people how to cook the vegetables they grow would be good. I agree that learning to preserve the harvest to store a glut would also be helpful.
Planning the vegetable plot backwards from the plate on the table to the number of seeds sown. How to provide a wide range of vegetables while keeping the harvest going to avoid gluts of vegetables and spread the season to fill empty gaps when fresh produce is most wanted and more costly to buy in supermarkets.