Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

  Parsnip Earthy and homely, parsnips really do provide the quintessential taste of winter. Unlike carrots, they are relatively easy to grow (once you have persuaded them to germinate) and need very little attention. They will also stay in the ground quite happily – through even the worst winter weather – until you’re ready to eat them. SOWING Parsnips grow best in a well prepared, deep, fertile soil. Addition of well-rotted compost and a general fertiliser one or two weeks before sowing gives best results. Sow parsnips direct into the soil in April or early May. For large parsnips sow in rows 30cm apart, and for smaller roots 20cm apart. Seeds can either be sown thinly along the row 1cm deep or can be “stationed sown”, where three seeds are sown at the point you want each plant – these are then thinned to one plant after emergence (germination). Final spacing for large parsnips is 15cm apart, and smaller roots 10cm apart. GROWING Weed carefully until established. Watering shouldn’...

  Spring Onions (Scallions) Easy to grow, useful and deliciously mild, spring onions (also known as scallions) are the quintessential salad crop. They can be grown in containers or anywhere you have some space. They are also relatively problem free so they are an ideal veg for beginner growers. SOWING Spring onions can be sown direct or in modules. If sowing direct, sow from March to June thinly, 1cm deep, in rows 15cm apart. If sowing in modules you can also sow around 10 seeds, 1cm deep per module from March to June. Transplant modules 15cm apart in 15cm rows, when the plants are around 10cm tall. GROWING Weed control is very important. Hoe between the rows to keep weeds down and hand weed along the rows. For the direct sown crop, it can be difficult to control grass weeds as they look very similar to the young onion seedlings. HARVESTING Harvest by carefully removing the largest onions and leaving the remainder to grow on. TIPS Spring onions are great raw in salads, but they are...

  Swede & Turnip Swedes (or yellow turnips) grow well in Ireland. They are not particularly fussy about the soil they grow in, though they will fare better if the soil is manured. White turnips are a quick growing crop – in contrast with the swede turnip, which is a long season crop. Turnips can be sown from March until August. The early sown crop is susceptible to bolting and they are more commonly sown in July and August for an autumn crop. Sow direct, thinly at 1cm deep in rows 25cm apart. SOWING Swedes and turnips will grow in most reasonably fertile soil, but best results will be obtained from soil that has had compost and general fertiliser added a week or two before. Swedes can be sown direct or in modules for later transplanting. If sowing direct, sow in late May or June, very thinly 1- 2cm deep in rows 40cm apart. If sowing in modules sow 1 seed per module in May. Turnips usually grow better when sown direct, but they can also be sown in module trays. Sow one or two se...

  Kohlrabi Kohlrabi is gaining in popularity and little wonder – it’s quick-growing, relatively easy to grow and tastes great (like a very mild turnip), cooked or raw. Not to mention they are beautiful looking plants. Available as green, white or purple varieties, kohlrabi stems grow above the ground. It’s a brassica, so include it in your crop rotation. SOWING Kohlrabi will grow in most reasonably fertile soil, but grows best in a fertile soil with compost and a general fertiliser added. Try adding some a week or two before sowing/transplanting. Do not grow kohlrabi anywhere that you have grown any member of the cabbage family the previous year (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, collards and kale). The best way to manage all these veg is to create a crop rotation scheme prior to growing. Find out how to create your own plan here. Kohlrabi can be sown in modules at 1cm depth for later transplanting. But the easiest way to grow them is directly into the soi...

  Peas Peas produce a small yield from the space they occupy – so why grow them? Well, they are almost never available in the shops fresh, always frozen. As soon as a pea is picked from the plant the sugars inside it start to turn to starch, which means the flavour starts to deteriorate immediately. So, peas that are cooked immediately after picking will always taste nicer than the frozen alternative. Peas are also a fantastic veg to grow with kids, as it gives them the chance to eat peas raw – which, in our experience, they absolutely love. SOWING Peas will grow in most reasonable soil. They don’t require any nitrogen fertiliser, as they take in nitrogen from the air via bacteria in their roots. If adding a general fertiliser use one that is low in nitrogen. Peas are usually sown direct into the soil, but can be transplanted from modules. If sowing in modules sow 1-3 seeds per module. Seeds can be sown from March and can continue until mid-June. Earlier sowings usually give the be...