Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

  Squash & Pumpkin We mainly associate pumpkins with Halloween – they are, of course, fun to carve faces into, but they are also very good to eat too. For the homegrower who is trying to produce crops to store over the winter, pumpkins are an attractive option since they store particularly well, thanks to their very tough skin. When it comes to squash, they can produce a high yield of fruits that will store well throughout the winter. Ideal for soups, stews or roasts. SOWING Make sure the soil where you are going to grow your pumpkins/squash has had a decent application of well-rotted manure or compost. Add a general fertiliser 1-2 weeks before transplanting out. Plants should be sown in 7cm pots for later transplanting. Sow seeds in May 2cm deep in pots. They will be ready to transplant after 3 or 4 weeks when the roots have filled out the compost in the pot. GROWING Squashes/pumpkins are frost sensitive, so don’t transplant them out till the danger of frost is passed – cover ...

  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.

  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...

  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’...