News from the Gardens
The deadline for our supporters to avail of their free seeds and tubers has now passed (but we’ll continue to process them if you can get them into us quickly), so this has freed up some time to get out into the gardens. We’ve started sowing our spring crops our leaves and greens etc. We are pricking out and transplanting our onions and tomatoes. We have planted first and second early potatoes, and are in the process of turning over all beds that had been planted with green manure, in preparation for our outdoor spring/summer crops. We are planting main crop potatoes at the moment, while indoors we are planting cucumber, courgettes, pumpkins, squash, French beans and runner beans. Outdoors we are planting beetroot, chard, turnips; plus peas, mangetout, and broad beans (having soaked the seed for 24 hours in water).
News from the Orchards & Nursery
In the orchards we’ve finished up our winter pruning and properly disposing of the cuttings by burning them. The second batch of DNA results (yes we DNA test our apple trees) have come back. From these results we can assess whether we have duplication and we know that our trees are crossed referenced ensuring they are Irish heritage varieties. Our grafting has finished for the season and these have now been potted on, as with all our trees we will continue to keep a close eye on them for any diseases. We will be attaching bud clips to our thousands of budded trees, this will ensure that the growth will be straight. As always when dealing with nature you must plan for the future so we are already clearing ground, tilling, removing stones etc for 2017. A lot of new fencing will be put in place this year for the coming growing season as we prepare for the annual battle with hares that just love to gnaw on fresh growth.
Big Workshop Weekend
Members pay €63:00
Members pay €63:00
‘The Year Round Organic School Garden‘
- Garden plan and design
- Seed sowing and plant care
- Soil care and, natural fertilisers
- Natural pest and diseases control
- Making raised beds
- Plant identification
This course will benefit any school wishing to attain their biodiversity green flag.
Date: 4th to 8th July 2016
Time: 9.30am-2.00pm
Fee: €80
Booking: Book through The Clare Education Centre
Tel: 065 684 5500
Website: www.clareed.ie
Venue: Irish Seed Savers Association, Capparoe, Scariff, Co. Clare
Tel: 061 921866/856
Website : www.irishseedsavers.ie
education@irishseedsavers.ie
