Grow It Yourself - March

 There’s a wise old GIYer I know who says that the “sap starts to rise” in gardeners in March. It’s an odd expression and I yet I completely get what he means by it. The sap is of course starting to rise in plants, but it feels like something is stirring inside us GIYers too – spring is in the air everywhere we look and the desire to get out there and stick your hands in the soil is palpable.




They say that when soil is broken by a spade or fork it releases endorphins – this might explain why GIYers are such a happy bunch, we’re basically high on soil all the time. True or not, there is something that I’ve noticed over six seasons of GIYing – I have started to be more in tune with the seasons. When you grow your own vegetables you sort of have to be.

Mother Nature has her own pace and it’s a (sometimes maddeningly) slow, methodical, inexorable one – she refuses to be rushed. Every year my excitement gets the better of me and I sow seeds in January and February but it is only now in March that they will germinate and sprout in to action. It’s GIY time folks. The sap is rising!

GIY IrelandGIY Week takes place March 12th to 19th and there will be events happening all over Ireland – for more information visit www.giyireland.com.


Things to do this month

To Do

Continue to prepare ground – there is still time to prepare a plot to grow veg this year. Fork or rake over existing beds, breaking up large clods of earth. Cover new seedlings with fleece if a frost is due. Start your daily slug patrols and lay beer traps. Don’t let new-season weeds take over – get on top of them with weekly hoeing.

Sow

Indoors: lettuce, aubergine, peppers, cucumbers, celery, celeriac, sweet corn, basil, leeks, summer cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, parsley, courgette, French beans.

Sow outdoors or under cover:
 broad beans, red cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, onions, leeks, turnip, peas, radishes, early lettuce, asparagus. Plant your first early seed potatoes, as soon as weather conditions allow.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Focus on Rusheen N.S

Image
This week we focus on Rusheen N.S who were Gold Medal Winners.  The judges were very impressed   that the  garden is of a consistently high standard. The garden is maturing nicely. There is a good emphasis on food production and biodiversity. The garden is well planned and cared for. Labeling and use of Irish was excellent. Very good use of upcycling colour and art and we loved the links with local history/heritage, the outdoor classroom and the Glasshouse which is a great asset. Great overall Garden.     Keep up the good work Rusheen N.S     Congratulations to all involved at Rusheen N.S For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here  Enter for 2024  eniRw7MbRoUdmjYe7 here    https://forms.gle/
Read more

Focus on Rusheen N.S

Image
  This week we focus  on Rusheen  N.S  who received a Gold Medal for their School Garden. This is and continues to be a wonderful garden. The garden covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed links to local heritage. Consider more use of the Irish language and keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Rusheen National School.   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here
Read more

Cork School Garden 2023 focus on Castlelyons N.S

Image
  Cork School Garden 2023 focus on Castlelyons N.S This week we focus on Castlelyons N.S who were Best in Category Winners.  The judges were very impressed that  t he garden is developing and maturing nicely." The enthusiasm and knowledge of the children was amazing. Labeling and use of Irish was excellent. Very good use of upcycling colour and art and we loved the wildflower area and the wildflower meadow.   Great overall Garden.  The soil could benefit from some conditioning mulching and maturing in some places and we look forward to seeing your plans for a nature trail come to fruition. Also consider more water harvesting near your beds. Keep up great work."   Congratulations to all involved at Castlelyons N.S For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here   Enter for 2024 here    https://forms.gle/ eniRw7MbRoUdmjYe7
Read more