Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

  Why Grow It? For anyone who owns a greenhouse or polytunnel, aubergines can be a great addition to your patch. But, it is by no means an easy veg to master. Then again, that is what makes growing aubergines so worthwhile. The satisfaction in successfully growing aubergines make them all the more delicious, so there’s no harm in trying to give them a grow. Sowing Aubergines need to be grown in good fertile soil – the soil should be kept moist, but not too wet and ventilation should be good. For best results sow in March – the seeds need a temperature of 20°C to germinate, so sow on a heated mat or a warm sunny windowsill. Sow the seeds in small pots (around 7cm) or large modules. They should be ready for transplanting after 4 or 5 weeks when they are around 12-15cm tall. Growing Plant the aubergines out into the polytunnel or greenhouse in late April or May. Allow 50-60cm between plants (dwarf varieties can be planted 30cm apart). You could also try planting them in growbags or co...

  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.

  Why Grow It French beans are an easy to grow legume, and are arguably more tasty than some of their family members. There is a huge variety available – green, purple, flecked, cream – and they are quite versatile. Immature French bean pods are excellent to eat whole, while the beans inside larger pods (often called haricot beans) are also very tasty. Climbing French beans make a very attractive addition to the summer veggie patch. Sowing French beans grow best in a fertile soil with compost and a general fertiliser added one or two weeks before sowing/transplanting. There are two types of French bean: climbing and dwarf. Dwarf beans grow just 45cm tall. Climbing French beans grow up to 6-8ft tall. Seeds can be sown direct in the soil or in module trays for transplanting. Seeds are sown 5cm deep in modules from late April to July. Outdoor sowings can be made from late May until July. For dwarf varieties, sow 5cm deep every 10cm in rows 50cm apart. For climbing varieties, sow two b...