Full details are as follows:-
On SKY UKTV Gardens channel 258 on Monday at 8.00 p.m. and every day next week at the same time (I presume that it will follow the same time the following week) the programme "Big Dig" is being rerun. Whilst not everyones cup of tea I quite enjoyed it. For those who don't know what it is about it is a 10 part series, details below:-
1. A tale of two plots as Simon Mayo follows two hugely contrasting sets of allotmenteers from Cardiff and London throughout the growing season. Today it’s the beginning of April and that means it’s planting out the first early potatoes, getting the greenhouse in order, the bean frames up and learning the secrets of bio-dynamic planting.
2. Today it’s nearly the end of April and the allotment inspector visits the Highgate site in London to see if the plots are all up to scratch. Meanwhile in Cardiff the most expensive potatoes in the world are planted out.
3. Today it’s the beginning of May , the world’s most expensive potatoes have gone missing, a prize pumpkin is planted in Wales – last year’s effort needed four firemen to lift it – and in London the local allotment competition is launched. Presented by Simon Mayo.
4. Today it’s the end of May and the British summer serves up hailstones in Wales, but drought conditions in London – how will both sets of gardeners cope? We also uncover the universal mystery of sheds, crop out broad beans and build a pond.
5. Today it’s the beginning of June and for the plot holders in Cardiff the first crop of early potatoes are ready and there’s a shed makeover by the wife of one unsuspecting plot holder. Over in Highgate London, the pond gets finished, watercress is planted in a nearby stream, and we discover how bananas can help your tomatoes grow.
6. It’s nearly the end of June and the allotmenteers are tasting their first strawberries of summer, the Giant pumpkin challenge is underway as to which site can grow the biggest specimen and for one suffering allotmenteer it’s planting out his carrots for the fourth time of asking after three crop failures.
7. It’s the beginning of July and just about everything in their gardens is coming up nicely on both sites, although the local allotment competition in Wales nearly ends a longstanding friendship between two keen gardeners.
8. Today it’s nearly the end of July and both sets are cropping out with spectacular success. There’s giant cabbages in Wales and massive cauliflowers in London plus beautiful blooms on both sites.
9. Today it’s the beginning of August and there’s the secret of bumper carrot crops, how to thwart cabbage butterflies and pea moth plus shed building.
10. Today it’s the end of August and the growing season is nearly finished as the allotmenteers on both sites meet to compare their produce. There’s a winner in the giant pumpkin competition and the world’s most expensive potatoes are unearthed.
