Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

  Sweetcorn Sweetcorn takes up a good deal of space and gives a relatively low return – just two cobs per plant. It can also be difficult to grow well in Ireland given our relative lack of sun. But the sheer pleasure of harvesting a fresh cob of corn and the incredible sweet taste make it worth a try. They say you should run from the veggie patch to the kitchen when you harvest sweetcorn to cook it immediately – this is because as soon as you pick it the sugars in the corn immediately start to turn to starch and so the flavour is degrading literally by the hour. So, in other words, you will never taste anything like homegrown sweetcorn. SOWING Sweetcorn grows best in soil that has had compost and a general fertiliser added, so we suggest adding some fertiliser a week or two before sowing/transplanting. Sow seeds in May indoors in pots for later transplanting. Sow small pots about 2-3cm deep – one seed per pot. Sweetcorn will need temperatures of 20°C so a warm sunny windowsill or a...

  Florence Fennel A delicious, white, aniseed-flavoured bulb that will be ready to eat in four months. Worth growing for its pretty foliage alone. It’s a little tricky to grow, but definitely worth a try. SOWING Florence fennel is a Mediterranean crop that needs warm growing conditions, so it should be grown in the summer. If exposed to fluctuating or low temperatures it will be at risk of bolting. Florence fennel can be sown in modules for later transplanting or directly into soil. If sowing in modules, sow one seed per module from late April to July. If sowing direct, sow from late May till July, 1cm deep, thinly, in rows 30cm apart. GROWING Plants will be ready for transplanting when they around 10-15cm high. Space 30cm apart in rows 30cm apart and thin direct sown crops to the same spacing. Don’t allow the soil to dry out as this can encourage bolting Florence fennel will grow in any reasonably fertile soil. HARVESTING Expect bulbs to be ready 14-16 weeks after sowing (the bulb...

  Squash & Pumpkin We mainly associate pumpkins with Halloween – they are, of course, fun to carve faces into, but they are also very good to eat too. For the homegrower who is trying to produce crops to store over the winter, pumpkins are an attractive option since they store particularly well, thanks to their very tough skin. When it comes to squash, they can produce a high yield of fruits that will store well throughout the winter. Ideal for soups, stews or roasts. SOWING Make sure the soil where you are going to grow your pumpkins/squash has had a decent application of well-rotted manure or compost. Add a general fertiliser 1-2 weeks before transplanting out. Plants should be sown in 7cm pots for later transplanting. Sow seeds in May 2cm deep in pots. They will be ready to transplant after 3 or 4 weeks when the roots have filled out the compost in the pot. GROWING Squashes/pumpkins are frost sensitive, so don’t transplant them out till the danger of frost is passed – cover ...

  Basil is one of the most popular plants to grow at home. This compact herb can grow from seed to harvest on a windowsill indoors, making it ideal for any urban GIYer. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t love some fresh basil to add to a summer tomato dish or some homemade pesto – the smell alone can brighten up any kitchen. Sowing Sow seeds anytime from April to June. Sow one seed in a module tray or small pot. Basil likes a Mediterranean climate, so either grow it indoors in a pot, in a glasshouse or a polytunnel, or on a sunny windowsill. Basil will germinate in about two weeks. Growing Transplant into a larger pot or the ground when it is about 7–10cm high. If planting in the garden, allow 30cm between plants. If growing indoors, fertilise compost once a month with a liquid feed. Basil plants can be killed by frost, so don’t put outside until June. Make sure to water often in hot weather. Harvesting Start picking the leaves of basil as soon as the plants are around 25cm high. Cu...

  Borage is an easily-grown herb used in informal areas such as cottage gardens, wildlife areas and vegetable patches. The usually sky blue flowers are edible and can  garnish summer drinks and salads. Borage is an annual so will need to be raised from seeds or young plants each year. Sowing Borage grows best in full sun but will still perform well in lightly shaded areas provided they are warm enough. It will grow fine in most soil types as long as they are mulched and kept moist. Growing Barely cover borage seeds with soil and keep well watered, take care not to over water. Keep approx. 60cm between plants. Harvesting Pick the flowers when they have just fully opened. TIPS Borage makes a great companion plant for strawberries and tomatoes. If the soil is particularily poor, a good fertilizer may be needed, use one that is safe for use with edible plants. Borage self seeds so doesn't need to be replanted.