Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

  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...

  Chard Incredibly useful in the winter veg patch, when its wonderful colours are most welcome, chard is incredibly good for you and is cooked like spinach. It is in effect two vegetables in one – you can enjoy both the leaves and the coloured stems. It is also easy to grow. SOWING Chard will grow in most reasonable soil, but will grow better and produce more in soil that has had some compost and general fertiliser added. Try adding a general fertiliser 1-2 weeks before sowing/transplanting. Chard and perpetual spinach are both types of beetroot grown for their leaves. There are two options when growing chard: growing for baby leaf ‘cut-and-come-again’ crops or growing for large plants. Sowings can be made from April to July. Baby leaf crops should be sown direct, thinly, at 2-3cm deep in rows 20cm apart. If you’re after large plants, then you should sow in module trays for later transplanting. Sow one seed per module. Transplant when 10-15cm tall, 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart. Al...

  Salad Leaves - Oriental Greens Salad leaves are one of the most popular veg to grow in your garden. Leaf greens are always at their tastiest when just harvested from the ground, so you can enjoy salad leaves at their peak if you grow at home rather than buying from a local supermarket. Salad leaves come in a huge variety, from classic rocket to oriental greens, such as mizuna and oriental mustard. They are also some of the easiest veg to grow, so are an ideal veg for children to grow. SOWING Salad leaves can be sown outside from April to August and in a polytunnel or glasshouse from January to October. For best results we recommend sowing direct into the soil – they can be sown in modules and transplanted, but this often results in them flowering (bolting). Sow the seed thinly 1cm deep in rows 15cm apart. You will need to sow regularly if you want a continuous supply of salad – every 2 or 3 weeks – as they often bolt after 2 or 3 harvests. If you have decided to transplant, plant...

  Radish Try eating a raw radish with a bit of butter and some seasoning and you have all the reasons you need to grow them. Crunchy, peppery and delicious. They are tremendously easy to grow and mature quickly, so there’s a quick return – ideal if you are just starting out. Don’t dismiss them as a one-trick veg though – there are dozens of varieties, including turnip-sized winter radishes that can be stored over the winter. SOWING Radishes should be sown directly into soil, beds or containers from March to August. Sow thinly 1cm deep in rows 15cm apart. Thin to 3cm apart after emergence/germination. GROWING Radish will grow in any reasonable soil. Water if soil dries out, but do not over water as this will encourage too much leafy growth. HARVESTING Radish plants will be ready to eat within a month, which is one of the fastest growing times of all vegetables. To test if your radish is ready pull one out and test it before harvesting the rest. Don’t let them get too big as they bec...