Plant Care & Protection

A weed is defined as a wild or uncultivated plant growing in an undesired location. Weeds are particularly difficult for organic farmers to deal with as chemical herbicides are, of course, strictly prohibited. The three main ways to deal with weeds organically are:-Manual/Mechanical Weeding-Mulching-Thermal Weed Control Manual/Mechanical Weeding Perhaps the most obvious (and most off-putting) method is the hand pulling...

The carrot root fly (Psila rosae) is responsible for much grief amongst home gardeners and commercial growers alike.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, mastering the art of growing tomatoes can be incredibly rewarding. To help you achieve success, here are some essential tips covering everything from sowing to troubleshooting common problems.

Cover & Protect With Netting Birds, rabbits and insects are unfortunately very efficient pests and will polish off a crop of strawberries or cabbages before you can blink.  Netting is the answer - but the trick is to get the right netting for the job. It is important to consider the size of the net mesh and the strength. You...

What could be nicer than digging up your own potatoes from the garden? They are a relatively easy crop to grow and will give you a high yield. One plant can produce a crop of about 10-15 potatoes.

Cleaning Your Polytunnel It's best to clean your polytunnel at least once a year. Over the winter months algae can build up on polytunnel plastic so it's a good idea to clean and organise your polytunnel now before the start of the growing season. Cleaning your polytunnel will not only prolong it's life, it will also reduce the incidence of...

January is a good time to think about your crop rotation and what quantities you will be growing.  What was a success last year, what did you have a glut of – and what did no one like?

Keep it cosy in the garden and protect sensitive plants from Jack Frost. What is frost and how does it damage plants? Frost is a thin layer of ice that forms when water vapour changes from a gas to a solid as it is exposed to temperatures below freezing. Frost injures plants when water in the plant cells turn into...

Potatoes are one of those staples that can keep us fed all year round Ireland. Maincrop potatoes are used for stashing away and eating through Winter and Spring when little else is available in the garden. These potatoes generally produce thicker skins and have longer dormancy periods which inhibits them from sprouting too soon. However, to keep your maincrop potatoes...

1. Clean Up There’s more to a tidy up in the garden than just making it look neat and tidy – old plants can harbour diseases and pests so it’s wise to remove and dispose of any spent or rotting plants from your plot. You can also bury any disease & pest free finished plants into the ground which will...