Green Fingers: Green gardening for green gardeners
Real understanding comes from getting down to basics, and handling and growing plants yourself.
Sometimes I have thought that it might be more pleasant to garden in warmer climates.
There are obvious benefits including the fact that it can be carried out all the year round but if you think it through there are also negatives and on reflection you have to balance one against the other, so perhaps our Irish climate is the best after all!
When we have a period of prolonged stormy weather I sometimes wish to be gardening further south where I can grow all those beautiful plants under more ideal conditions.
I do not want to head too far south like the Mediterranean as that is too hot and the choice of plants is more limited to those that like dry conditions.
I suppose half-way down the coast of France and an acid soil would be good for the type of plants I like, such as Azaleas, Camellias, magnolias, Pieris and Rhododendrons.
I do tell myself that it is not about me but about the plants, which prefer the generally mild Irish climate with its soft, refreshing rain.
I am limited in the amount of time I can spend in the garden as it clashes with regular work but at any opportunity and as conditions allow I am out there and encouraging others in the household to join me, even for a while and enjoy the fresh air.
In this way over a period of time much of the things that needed to be done are completed.
I do visit many gardens and landscapes both here and abroad and very often am envious of how beautiful and well-maintained their gardens are but they do spend a huge amount of time to achieve that standard.
In this capacity I do appreciate those brave people that open their gardens for viewing, as it is something I could not contemplate.
It is not that difficult to garden without the use of chemicals and it is well within the scope of gardeners to do that with a little know-how.
For non-edible crops if you are not that fussed that an insect has chewed a few leaves then there is no need to use chemicals as most plants will grow through any attack.
With some fruit and vegetables you might have to protect them from snails and slugs until established. A little washing up liquid in warm water to aid mixing and then top up with cold water provides an effective deterrent when poured over the foliage with a watering can.
We all know people who are good at gardening but more specifically good at growing plants and they are referred to as having ‘Green Fingers’. There are some people who are literally born to gardening, while others have to work at it, but anyone who is interested can be good at gardening and in time earn the coveted title of ‘Green Fingers’.
I do think that while you can learn much from the normal outlets, such as the media, the real understanding will only come from getting down to basics, and actually handling and growing plants yourself. From this you will be observing and learning as you go along.
Happy gardening!
We have started sowing the slow-germinating seeds. We do small batches of a number of varieties into single 8cm (2” pots).
We use the heated propagator as chillies, peppers, tomatoes and aubergines all like it warmer at around 18C but a warm window sill in the kitchen will work too.
If you have any queries or comments you are welcome to share them with me on 051-384273 or orchardstowngardencentre@hotmail.com and if of general interest I will include it in a future article.
