This time four years ago, I planted my first perennial plant on the allotment, asparagus. Asparagus is notoriously tough for vegetable growers, not because it’s difficult to grow – it is in fact an excellent cropper once established – but because it takes three full years until you can harvest it and it requires the …
This week was a big week for me, not only was it my birthday (I’m crazy old now guys), it was also the birthday of my allotment on the same day. I’ve come a long way in three years, I’ve had some highs, many lows, blight, mildew, bumblebees and butterflies. I’ve had successful crops, disastrous …
Have you ever had a weekend, so exhilarating, so exciting, so very, very dirty that you wake up on Monday with a smile on your face, your back muscles aching and a deep burn in your thighs? Well I have just had that weekend. Now, before you think I’ve gone all raunchy on you, I …
Peas are one of my absolute favourite crops to grow in the summer garden. They are easy to grow, quick to germinate always look beautiful in a garden. There’s not much better than picking peas straight from the vine and eating them fresh. They’re like nature’s candy! Since I’m talking about summer planting this …
It’s the height of summer here in Ireland, the sun is shining, the world cup is on, beer gardens are jam packed and I’ve seen more inappropriate short shorts than I care to remember. I even have a tan (i.e.. I have new freckles that are just merging together to look like a tan). Most …
Beetroot is, without a doubt, my favourite crop to grow in the garden. have more success with beetroot than any other crop in my garden to date. It’s easy to grow, looks pretty and it is extremely tasty and beneficial. As a food source, beetroot is extremely versatile, with many ways to enjoy this lovely …
I am accident prone. Just putting it out there. I have a serious propensity for injuring myself in ridiculous and often embarrassing accidents. Never before though, has an injury annoyed me as much as this broken toe. Now I’ve broken toes before, and of course it’s painful and debilitating, and a little embarrassing. This one …
It has been a number of months since my last blog post. Summer has been and gone, the weather has changed and my life has changed along with it. It has been the hottest summer here in Ireland for over a decade. The days have been long hot and the nights humid and sleepless. I’ve …
I am often asked what it is I love about gardening. Why I spend my spare time ankle-deep in nettles, (don’t get me started on all the nettle stings I’ve had in the past week), why I go out in the rain and wind to pull weeds or plant seeds. I never quite know how …
This morning, I went out to the plot with the intentions to plant and dig and weed and do those things which we as gardeners are meant to do, but I took one look at the plot and decided before I could reasonably do any of that, I needed to clean up my act. Amongst all my …
