First Spring Sowing

While my students in METNS are ahead of the curve, I'm only getting my first plantings in today.

The students already have germinated tomatoes, wheat, chamomile and a kind of furry grass. There's echinicea on the way, hope it works out too. The only problem is where to put them now that they need light - the classrooms are not great - so hopefully the Lidl small greenhouse will work.

Today for my home garden, I planted lettuce, wild rocket, beet, spinach. Also planted wildflowers, teasel (still have hopes for the front lawn becoming a wild flower meadow) and hollyhock.

I have a chip ready for some peas (Sugar Ann), but I'm saving that for little hands, could probably soak them first.

My seeds are in seed trays, and vegetable chips on a metal bakers shelf in front of an east facing glass door. It will be exciting for all of us to check for germination and growth first thing in the morning.

Perennial fruit and vegetables

This year I'm planning to put in some asparagus, so I have ordered 10 crowns. LAst summer the artichokes did great at the front of the house, so this year, I'm moving them to for a kind of ersatz fenze aqt the fromt, and moving the asparagus to the bed at the side where the artichokes were.

I have divided the artichokes, and now have about 30, so I'll have to give some away! We have repurposed the fence that blew down last winter, and have made the surrounds for some raised beds in which to plant the asparagus and artichokes.

The asparagus prefer the opposite soil to what we have here, so I'm hoping we can improve it sufficiently to make them happy here. Will have to try to find some sand suitable for the garden - don't think the play sand from the sand pit will work , but then again, perhaps it would do...

We continue to collect coffee grounds for muclhing the blueberries - keeping things a bit acid, in addition to using some acidic compost when planting.

Additionally we ordered raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, josterberries, Japanese wineberry, redcurrents, and they are going in against the north facing wall. Some of these will also go to the school, along with an apple tree that will grow in a planter until we have permanent quarters.

Fruit and asparagus were ordered from English’s Nurseries Raheenduff, Adamstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford 054-40504/40984 - great prices, delivered to the door, and very healthy plants.

Update Spring '09 - the new number is 053 9240504. Paddy and Brigid delighted to hear from you at any time.