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Dear Fellow Gardeners,

Apologies for not sending a gardening newsletter for the last few months. We had quite a busy and chaotic year, moving from Leitrim to Newport, Co. Mayo.  We are finally in our new house and are absolutely loving it.  It’s right next to the Blackoak River, a tidal river which flows into the sea just round the corner.

I lived in Co. Leitrim for the last 24 years and had such a wonderful time there and now I’m looking forward to a new chapter.

This summer we spent a couple of months on the road travelling from Ireland to Greece and back again trying to find new vegetables.  We were also in between selling and restoring our house. 

I tried to get as many vegetable experiences as I could.  I went to farmer’s markets, visited some organic farms and obviously tasted plenty of meals trying to find something local or unusual.

The sad thing is that it seems that the world has completely limited itself to just a few brands and just a few vegetables.  Where is the diversity, the local specialty, the local variety of a particular vegetable or fruit? These things are disappearing in front of our eyes.  I did my annual visit to meet Eleni in the mountain village of Paleochori in the Peloponnese who grows and preserves the most amazing juicy beef tomatoes – the real Greek tomatoes.  She was no longer there and so her tomatoes disappeared as well – a variety that was passed down through many Greek generations in this village.  I know quite a few of you may grow this variety, so please save some seeds.

Italy was definitely the best country in terms of food and food ingredients but still – most meals were the most delicious creamy pasta dish and if we were lucky it was served with some globe artichoke or a delicious chicory.  I did find some amazing tomatoes varieties from Mount Vesuvius and some local chicory varieties I found in the south of Italy.  I managed to collect some seeds from the Vesuvius tomato and it will be available soon.

I think it’s sad how we are limiting ourselves to such a small diversity of food that we eat and grow.  Everything seems to be a monoculture with endless stretches of wheat or maize grown in every country.  There is really no need for it.  We could grow hundreds of edible food plants.  This would certainly enrich our lives.

Even more important – should we not explore the potential of new food crops in a changing climate.  The more diversity we have, the more resilient a food system will be. 

What to do in September?

Sowing

The best crops you can still sow in September/October are the hardy winter salads. There is a large range of them available. My favourites ones are rocket, mizuna, mustard ‘Red Frills’ and ‘Green Frills, pak choy, claytonia, tatsoi and corn salad.  If you have a polytunnel or greenhouse you can still sow perpetual spinach, Swiss chard, rainbow chard, kale, coriander, dill and chervil.

From now on you can plant autumn garlic and autumn onions either outdoors or in a polytunnel for an early crop. 

Garlic bulbs and onion sets for sale

We managed to source some excellent Irish grown garlic bulbs which are tried and tested.

These will be available on our website next Monday (2nd October).  You can check our website www.greenvegetableseeds.com then.

Onion Sets (Autumn) – Shakespeare

Shakespeare onions are probably the best autumn planted onion varieties available. The sets can be planted in a polytunnel or outdoors.  The indoor crop should be ready in May while the outdoor crop is ready in June – about a month earlier before the spring planted types. 

Spacing: 10cm in the row

            25-30cm between rows

Plant in firm ground with tops sticking out.  You may need to protect the sets from crows or jackdaws with a cloche or netting until they have rooted.  In the last year – I have seen two gardeners who buried the onion sets just below ground level to keep them save from birds.  Initially I thought the bulbs would rot, but both produced excellent onions.  There is always something new to learn!

Garlic Bulbs – Sabagold  (white softneck)

An excellent French Softneck variety.  It is very reliable and perfectly suited to Irish growing conditions.  It has an excellent flavour and produces large bulbs with around 6-8 cloves per bulb.

Plant individual garlic cloves about twice their depth into well prepared soil.  Cloves can be planted in a polytunnel or outdoors.

Spacing: 20cm in the row

            25cm between rows

Harvest garlic when it is still standing (around June/ July next year).  Keep the best bulbs for re-planting the following year.

Garlic Bulbs – Music (hardneck variety)

“Music” is a hardneck garlic variety which produces large pink/purple bulbs with a full and spicy flavour.  Music is an Italian variety which is now grown all over the world and is known for its cold weather tolerance and high yield of large bulbs.  There are around 6 large cloves per bulb.

Plant garlic cloves about twice their depth into well prepared soil. 

Spacing: 20cm in the row

            25cm between rows

Harvest garlic when it is still standing (around June/ July next year).  Keep the best bulbs for re-planting the following year.

Garlic Bulbs – Georgian Purple (hardneck variety)

A hardneck type with purple striped skin and known for its excellent robust flavor and vigour.  It originates from the Republic of Georgia.  An immensely delicious gourmet variety.

Plant garlic cloves about twice their depth into well prepared soil. 

Spacing: 20cm in the row

            25cm between rows

Harvest garlic when it is still standing (around June/ July next year).  Keep the best bulbs for re-planting the following year.

Upcoming courses and talks

Saturday 30th September

I’m sorry about the short notice for this talk/course.  This event will take place in Togher, Cork at the wonderful L’Arche community garden this Saturday 30th September from11am to 1pm.  I have been involved in this project for the last year and together with a great team we transformed a very large lawn that was mowed every week into an amazing food and sensory garden for people with special needs.  Come and have a look if you get the chance.  You will need to book a space as numbers are limited.  Please contact Meadhbh on [email protected].  The cost is €25 and it includes refreshments after the course.

Saturday 14th October 2023

Organic Gardening Course at the beautiful no-dig garden “Edible Flower” run by Jo and Erin in Saintfield, Northern Ireland.  There are only a few places left. The course runs from 10.30 – 16.00 and the cost is £65.00.   The course is organized by Sharon McMaster from New Leaf compost and Kindergarden Cooks.  To book the course click on the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co,uk/e/gardening-day-with-klaus-laitenberger-tickets-721073729937

Thursday 26th October 2023

Course Title: Growing and Propagating Herbs

Venue:  Mayo Abbey, Co. Mayo

Contact: Nicola on [email protected] or 094 9365987

Saturday 4th November 2023

Course Title: Autumn/Winter in the Polytunnel

Venue:  Mayo Abbey, Co. Mayo

Contact: Nicola on [email protected] or 094 9365987

Thursday 16th November 2023

Course: Grow your own food

Venue: Ballymaloe Cookery School

Contact: Karen on [email protected]

Weekend Course in Renvyle House Hotel

The following is a course that is quickly booked out.  A gardening weekend at Renvyle House Hotel in Connemara with myself and Anja Gohlke – the Head Gardener at Kylemore Abbey.  I’m so looking forward to it. Early booking is recommended.  The course takes place next March Friday 8th March to Sunday 10th March 2024. 

Happy Gardening

Klaus