I have just finished making a DVD (with friends from Glasnevin, Balbriggan and Lusk Tidy Towns Association,) called ‘The Wildflowers of Fingal’. As a result I have a new perspective on what we gardeners call ‘weeds’. The dandelion flower for example is an important food source for bees. Humans need bees not just for honey but more critically to [...]
Posts Tagged ‘May’
17 May
TIME TO PLANT UP WINDOW BOX AND POTS, THUS CLEARING GREENHOUSE OF SEEDTRAYS TO GIVE TOMATOES SPACE TO GROW – THIRD WEEK IN MAY 2010
The growing season is moving up a gear, temperatures are rising, daylight hours are stretching and growing rates are accelerating. The seedtrays have done their job. Now is the time to plant out those seedlings in their potting compost modules. This means the least possible disturbance of the young root balls. The seedlings have been [...]
11 May
DRY COLD WEATHER REQUIRES WATERING CANS AT DAWN PLUS PROTECTING SEEDTRAYS AT NIGHT – SECOND WEEK IN MAY 2010
With more legumes and brassicas planted and the alliums looking a bit dry, there is a need for a watering schedule. With below normal rainfall, I’m watering before breakfast each morning this week. I find a ‘scuaine’ of six watering cans lined up under a garden bench works in my 20′ by 40′ garden. No [...]
5 May
LIFT REMAINING LEEKS TO CLEAR SPACE FOR YOUNG PEA PLANTS – FIRST WEEK IN MAY 2010
Had a visit from Síle and the TG4 ‘criú’ to record an item for the new series of ‘Garraí Glas’. The garden was like a moulting bird with some summer plumage but a lot of older feathers still showing. The remaining 2009 leeks, 2009 cabbage etc. were still visible but some 2010 young pretenders will now [...]
26 May
FOURTH WEEK IN MAY – LEAF BEET AND BEETROOT PLANTED OUT
Warmest day of 2009 so far on Sunday 24th with 18c in Balbriggan. Planted out beetroot and leaf beet seedlings in the final plot of the four to be set with this years crop. With the bright dawn so early now, it is a real pleasure to get up and out before breakfast to hand [...]
17 May
THIRD WEEK IN MAY – NEW PEAR TREE
Biodiversity Week from 17 – 24 May 2009 is feeling more like brrr-diversity week in the garden. My advisor in the Department of Agriculture keeps my spirits up however telling me, ‘Wet and windy month of May fills the barns with corn and hay’! To be honest, I’m too busy canvassing and attending to the [...]
10 May
HOEING AND SLUG PATROLS – SECOND WEEK OF MAY
All parts of the garden are now planted. The soil temperature is still cool and showers are keeping it that way. Growth is therefore still slow but peas, beans, Brussel sprouts, kale and all the rest are happy to sit and wait for the expected warmer weather ahead. However the more robust plants (commonly known [...]
6 May
RUNNER BEANS – FIRST WEEK OF MAY
Cloudy weather in Balbriggan but average temperature. Taking a chance to plant out runner beans. Seeds were sown 14 April and germinated on sunny windowsill. The variety is ‘Enorma’ bought by mail-order from The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim. As the name suggests, these beans grow tall. Before planting, I therefore constructed a support wigwam using [...]
