Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

 

  Kale is not only delicious and nutritious, but it’s an incredibly prolific ‘cut and come again’ cropper. It can also be a very attractive feature in the winter veg patch, particularly the red-leafed varieties. This superfood has become an extremely popular veg in the last few years and regularly makes an appearance as out Hero Veg in GROW HQ. It’s is a hardy crop and will survive the worst of winter weather, giving you fresh greens in the crucial hungry gap months from February to April. Sowing Kale will grow in most reasonable soil though will grow better if the soil has compost and fertiliser added. Do not grow kale anywhere that you have grown any member of the cabbage family the previous three years (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. Kale can either be sown in modules or direct into the soil. If sowing in modules, sow 1cm deep in modules fro...

  Why Grow It? There are two major types of broccoli: calabrese and sprouting. If you are looking to grow the standard broccoli that we buy in shops with the big green tightly-packed head, then calabrese is the broccoli for you. While it is not the easiest veg to master, it is relatively handy to grow and can be succession sown (i.e. sown little and often for a continuous supply), so that you can crop almost all summer and autumn long. Sowing Calabrese should be planted in a soil that has been well-manured the previous autumn. Alternatively, you can add compost or manure and/or a general fertiliser one week before sowing/planting. Do not grow calabrese anywhere that you have grown any member of the cabbage family the last three years (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. We recommend starting seeds off in module trays indoors for later transplanting....

  When it comes to asparagus, patience really is a virtue. Once sown, asparagus will take at least three years to produce any crop worth eating or talking about. You’re probably reading this now thinking ‘why bother?’ But once you get your asparagus crop going it will produce for twenty years and it is undeniably delicious. So, if you have the space (and the patience) then give it a try. Sowing Choose your site carefully – asparagus will need good fertile, alkaline, free draining soil, in full sun, with wind protection. And make sure the plot/bed is free of perennial weeds before you start. You can sow asparagus from seed, but honestly, why would you bother? A plant that will crop for two decades is worth investing some money in. We recommend you buy young asparagus plants which are called ‘crowns’ – these can be found in garden centres or seed nurseries. Make a trench 30cm wide and 20cm deep (if you have more than one row, leave 50cm between rows). Add a thin layer of well-rotted ...

 Cork County Muintir na Tíre is recruiting a Part ‑ Time Community Development Worker / Office Administrator. If you’re passionate about community work, have strong organisational and bookkeeping skills, and enjoy supporting local groups across Cork City & County — we’d love to hear from you. 📍  Based in Cork City 🚗  Travel across Cork City & County required 📅  Closing Date: March 25th, 2026 📨  Apply by sending your Cover Letter & CV to: deniskelly@muintircork.com Help us strengthen and support communities across Cork! For full details of vacancy please click here  ActiveLink

  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...