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 Dear Fellow Gardeners, I hope you weren’t too badly affected by the storm. I’ve heard devastating stories and seen photos from gardeners with terrible storm damage on polytunnels, greenhouses and trees. Also Assumpta’s beautiful tomato greenhouse in Bundoran got completely destroyed and flattened.We lost a lot of beautiful tall Scot’s Pine trees but we were lucky that none of them fell onto any buildings or into the garden. Also our greenhouse survived. We will certainly have enough firewood for a number of years. I could never understand why spring officially starts in February in Ireland. In Germany we are still in the depth of winter as it is the coldest month in the year. In Ireland it’s different – we can have beautiful days in February and the birds are waking up serenading the beginnings of spring. February is generally the month when I get out of my gardening hibernation. Finally there is work to be done. In this newsletter you’ll find:The miracle of seedsGetting started in 2025Gardening course in Ballymaloe Cookery School starting this weekOrganic herbal medicine growing course starting this weekOther gardening courses with KlausThe common gorse The miracle of seedsI often think a seed is the most symbolic and miraculous being. If you think of an annual plant, a seed is the end of its lifecycle and at the same time the beginning of its new life. No scientist has ever managed to create a new seed in a laboratory. They can tamper with existing seeds and add or delete some information but they have never managed to create a seed from scratch. Isn’t it great that there are still some miracles on earth? Getting startedKeen gardeners can make a great start in February especially if they have a polytunnel or greenhouse. In a tunnel or greenhouse you can now plant your first early ‘chitted’ potatoes, sow early carrots and beetroot directly into the ground. Outdoors you can plant garlic and Jerusalem artichokes and sow broad beans directly into the ground as soon as the soil is workable (when it doesn’t stick to your boots). If you have a heating bench (or a large south-facing windowsill in your house) you can start off a lot of crops that will later be planted outside or into the tunnel. Crops that will be planted outside later include leeks and early cabbage. Crops that will be planted in a tunnel include tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines and these ones you’ll need to spoil them with warmth.You can also sow lettuce, scallions, dill, coriander, chervil, oriental salads, kohlrabi, early cabbage, spinach for planting in a tunnel about 4-5 weeks after sowing. Oca Tubers for sale:Oca is the second most widely grown food crop in Peru after the potato and it is one of the most delicious vegetables. We have a very high-yielding red variety. The tubers can be planted in pots on arrival and placed in a greenhouse or windowsill and planted outdoors in early May. Let the plants grow until the frost has killed of all the leaves and only harvest two weeks after that. It will help to mulch the plants late in the year to cover any tubers that are touching the surface of the soil in order to protect them from the frost.Oca – Green Vegetable Seeds Gardening Course in Ballymaloe Cookery School with KlausThis course is subsidised by the Rural Food Skillnet – starts this Wednesday!I’m really excited about this monthly course in Ballymaloe. The title is “How to grow your own produce”. The course runs throughout the entire growing season starting in February until October and covers everything you need to know about growing your own food. The course participants come to Ballymaloe every month and can replicate what they learned in their own gardens and ask any questions that are relevant to their own set up. Obviously – one of the highlights of the course is the most delicious lunch on every course day. Also we can experience the beautiful and productive gardens at the cookery school. There are still a few places left for this course. Have a look at the link below for more details. If you book directly with the Rural Food Skillnet you can avail of a 25% discount.https://ruralfoodskillnet.com/programmes/introduction-to-growing-your-own-organic-produce/ Organic Medicinal Herb Growing CourseThis course is subsidised by the National Organic Training SkillnetThis is another amazing project I’m involved in – The Irish Herbal Medical College – Core College. Helen and David who run the college bought an old convent in Castlecomer in Co. Kilkenny and I joined them two days per month to teach their herbal medicine students (from all over the world) about soil, composting, vegetable and herb growing etc. They have just launched an amazing course – a Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing. It’s a one year online course with a practical element every month. The course starts on 17th February 2025.Heiko Klee and myself will facilitate the practical days which are on Thursday and Friday approximately once a month.Students living and working in Ireland can avail of a 30% grant through the National Organic Training Skillnet. Link: https://www.corecollege.com/courses/medicinal-herb-growingThis is the first pioneering year of this course and these pioneering years are very often the most memorable. Upcoming courses and talks in 2025 Date: Tuesday 11th February 2025Talk : Grow Your Own Organic FoodVenue: Carrigtwohill Gardening Club (evening)Contact: Caroline HorganEmail: [email protected] Date: Saturday 15th February 2025Course: Grow Your Own Organic FoodVenue: Coolamber House, Co. WestmeathClick the following link for more information:Grow your own food| Coolamber Garden WorkshopsContact: Ann-Marie DurkinEmail: [email protected]Tel: 0871436292 Date: Thursday 27th February 2025Talk: Growing food in healthy soilVenue: Kilkenny (evening)Contact: LucyEmail: [email protected] Date: Saturday 1st March 2025Course: Spring in the PolytunnelVenue: The Organic Centre, Co. LeitrimEmail: [email protected]www.theorganiccentre.ieTel: 071 9854338 Date: Thursday 6th March 2025 Talk: Grow your own healthy foodMacroom Flower and Garden ClubContact: Nora GallagherEmail: [email protected] Date: Saturday 22nd March 2025 Course: Growing in polytunnels or greenhousesVenue: Irish Seed Savers AssociationEmail: [email protected]www.irishseedsavers.ieTel: 061 921856 Date: Wednesday 26th March 2025 (evening)Talk: Grow your own healthy foodLimerick Garden Plant GroupContact: Joanne DugganEmail: [email protected] Date: Sunday 27th April 2025Talk at the Clare Garden FestivalVenue: EnnisContact: Carmen CroninEmail: [email protected] Date: Saturday 10th May 2025Course: Summer in the PolytunnelVenue: The Organic Centre, Co. LeitrimEmail: [email protected]www.theorganiccentre.ieTel: 071 9854338 Date: Saturday 30th August 2025Course: Autumn in the PolytunnelVenue: The Organic Centre, Co. LeitrimEmail: [email protected]www.theorganiccentre.ieTel: 071 9854338 The Common Gorse There is already one flower out throughout the country. Most people are not too fond of this wild plant, but I really think we need to appreciate it a lot more. The name gorse comes from Old English “gors”, meaning a rough or wasteland plant. It is also called Furze or Whin. The Irish name for gorse is “Aiteann”In Irish folklore, gorse is associated with protection and endurance, as it thrives in poor soils and harsh conditions.In the past, gorse was crushed and fed to animals, particularly cattle and horses. It also made great kindling wood due to its high oil content.Gorse flowers were sometimes used in herbal remedies for skin conditions and depression. Ecologically it is one of most important plants for wildlife. It flowers nearly throughout the year providing nectar for bees and other insects and excellent shelter for wildlife. It also belongs to the legume family and is related to peas, beans, lentils, clovers and vetches. Who would have thought? Like beans, it fixes large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen with the help of Rhizobium bacteria. Happy Gardening Klaus |
