Seeds – a little information

Seeds-a little information.

Coco de Mer a species of Indian Ocean Palm

35-40cm size of the seed weighs  40 kg (88lbs) — the worlds largest seed — imagine that falling on your head!!!

Arctic lupin seeds were found to be viable after 10,000 years lying frozen in the tundra.Dandelion can travel 200 km in a storm, fern spores have been knowing to travel 200 km from their parent. Seeds such as cleavers are responsible for the invention of Velcro.

A seed holds the complete DNA of every cell, hair, vein, leaf, petal and root, is preprogrammed and waiting for germination.

Some seeds germinate immediately some can take years, Some need to be digested by animals, some need fire for a trigger ( many S. African and Australian plants) Some need periods of cold, winter before their seed coat will break open.Have you ever wondered how a Buddleia ends up growing out of a chimney pot?

Ferns are interesting as they don’t produce flowers and for a long time were not understood.There are 2 distinct stages in the life cycle of a fern.They produce spores from the underside of their leaves, which are dispersed from the fern and they germinate. After germination, they grow into small heart-shaped plants known as prothalli. male and female cells are produced on these plants and after fertilisation, the adult fern begins to develop.

Germination is triggered by water, heat and air found in soil/compost. As light levels rise you have less risk of seedlings becoming very leggy-sweet pea — don’t panic, pick out very leggy shoots and this will encourage a stronger stem.

Growing indoors allows us to cheat winter a little allowing a head start using best compost.I sow tomatoes seeds, your opportunity to grow unusual varieties.

My first workshop will be on how to Seed Sowing on February 10 from 10 -1 pm you can book

Have a look at

Irish Seed Savers, Brown Envelope Seeds, Green Vegetable Seed.

Seedaholic– great information with their packets.

Some seeds to sow now ( February) undercover — either in a greenhouse or a window sill.It is still too cold but as soon as temperatures begin to rise – March? You could begin to Harden them Off – which prepares them for the great outdoors.

Also when you sow seeds they are sown into a compost that has very little nutrition-they don’t need it as the seed comes with its own food supply. As soon as the true leaves appear the seed has become a plant and it now will require feeding — planting on. Overcrowded seed containers lead to poor growth, as there is not enough space for the young plants to thrive, therefore you have to “thin out” the seedlings, and plant on the stronger ones.

Some seeds to start now-February- seed packets will give you lots of information.

Kale

Tomatoes – like a bit of bottom heat to get going.

Sweet-pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

Lettuce Seeds

Antirrhinum majus

Celery,

Globe artichokes,

Celeriac,

Leeks,

Onions,

Aubergines,

Peppers/chilli-peppers.

Morning glory (Ipomoea),

Marigolds (Calendula and Tagetes species) and sunflowers (Helianthus cultivars) can be started off indoors to create flower displays for the summer.

Outside: Weather permitting you can try planting out broad beans, spinach, kohlrabi, onion and shallot sets, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnip and early pea varieties.

Always label your seed trays, Name of seed, Date.

Bare Rooted Plants

Deciduous trees and shrubs are about to “break bud”the garden is waking up, time to plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs, which are cheaper to buy now and easier to plant. The younger the whip the better it will settle well into its new home. Don’t forget to stake when planting the tree, when necessary.Don’t plant if the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Perennials and Bulbs in flower now

Hellebores are in full bloom, so its great time to buy them in garden centres. I consider them “Excellent Value Plants”.Remove all their leaves ( they will regrow ) this allows you to see and enjoy the flowers and also make it easier for pollinators (Bees) to get in to fertilise the flowers and make new seeds.

Snowdrops [Galanthus) are popping up, people who go nuts for these tiny flowers are called “Galanthophiles”.

Daffodils-Narcissi — remember the ones you planted in the autumn? Should be looking well now and going into March. Traditionally we planted potatoes on17 March –  St Patrick’s Day, which you can but sometimes the soil can be too cold or wet-quiet often it is best to wait until April.The optimum temperature for growth is between 5-7 degrees.There are hundreds of varieties and cultivars and 3 different types of potatoes.First earlies, earlies and main-crop.

Pest & Disease Mgmt

The seeds you planted earlier will need to be pricked out into cell-trays or modules, using a good quality seed compost with some nutrition.Divide clumps of ornamental grasses and bamboo now.

Jobs to do now

Comb through and Cut back spent ornamental grasses-such as Stipa tenuissima.

Divide ornamental grasses and bamboo.Tidy up and allow the new shoots to come through.

Feed Bamboo.

Divide large clumps of perennials that you didn’t get to in Autumn.Replant, pot up and keep until you decide where you wish to replant them, share them with friends, sell them at plant sales, compost the tattered bits.

Snowdrops (Galanthus spp)are now in full flower when they finish flowering, divide large clumps, and place them where you would like to see them next year. Share some with friends.

Check Dahlia Tubers and start to get pots ready-starting Dahlias in pots allows for strong early growth. You can take stem cuttings from the new plant, when in growth and have the cuttings producing blooms later on in the year. It also helps you to prevent slug attack as you can spot it earlier.If you have managed to attract hedgehogs, frogs to your garden they will help you with a slug problem, and also all the birds you looked after will now eat your snails. This I consider fare exchange and balance.

Start to prune roses-they produce their flowers generally on new growth.

Prune wisteria — the whippets which grew last year.

Cut back Cornus alba ( to encourage new growth)-that lovely red or yellow stemmed winter shrub. If it is not pruned you lose the young coloured shoots for next winter.

Autumn fruiting raspberries should be cut back to the base, as fruit will be produced on new growth.Again, hoe gravel paths, vegetable and flower beds, keeping weeds at bay will be very rewarding later on.Hopefully, you did get your mulch onto your beds in the autumn, now with lots of rain, if the soil is not covered try to cover it now either with a mulch or even leaves, protecting it from erosion and damage. Remember as temperatures increase, slugs begin to surface and commence their eating, They don’t know the difference between your Dahlia and a weed. Be vigilant and pull back large clumps of compost from plants, so as dissuading a slug from an easy dinner.

Apply slow release fertiliser such as chicken pellets in areas where there are lots of bulbs.This is the time to feed bulbs, as they are emerging out of the soil.Having a mulch of FYM or Horse manure is an overall feed also for the emerging bulbs.

Cut back spent growth, again hedgehogs etc are still hibernating — not too much and be aware.

Feed birds-much of their habitats have been removed, for nesting as well as for feeding, therefore we need to give them a hand.Domestic gardens are of great benefit to all creatures besides us!! Make sure there is water available for all garden creatures, we are all 80% water.

Botanical Plaster Casts and Vouchers

Finally, we have some very unique and special products for my gardening friends.

Deirdre Crofts and Cera Doyle have come together producing a collection of Plaques using Plaster of Paris mounted on Mahagony and Walnut frames reflecting their love of nature.

I have a small selection in my shop, but if you wish to see more give me a call on 087 2256365

Sunday November 26 Christmas Wreath Making Workshop.

Create your own personalised Christmas wreath, using natural materials gathered and foraged in Co Wicklow. Learn how to do it, bring it home and continue making your own.Enjoy some Festive refreshments to kick start the season.

Sally Horn from The SallyGarden, will help guide you through the process in this 3 hour workshop.Sally is a florist, who sells Irish Organic grown flowers in Killruddery Farmers market every Saturday, throughout the year.

Her style is natural and informal, using country cottage flowers grown in her garden or sourced from The Irish flower Farmer from early spring until late autumn. During the winter,she forages locally and buys flowers in from mainland Europe.

Book Now    www.dalkeygardenschool.com

Christmas Wreath making workshop Sunday December 3

Christmas Wreath workshop

Create your own personalised Christmas wreath, using natural materials gathered and foraged in Co Wicklow.

Sally Horn from The SallyGarden, will help guide you through the process in this 3 hour workshop.Sally is a florist, who sells Irish Organic grown flowers in Killruddery Farmers market every Saturday, throughout the year.

Her style is natural and informal, using country cottage flowers grown in her garden or sourced from The Irish flower Farmer from early spring until late autumn. During the winter,she forages locally and buys flowers in from mainland Europe.

Workshop Full

Sunday 22nd October, 10am - 1pm Venue: Mornington, Saval Park Road, Dalkey Fionnuala Fallon

Fionnuala Fallon

Sunday 22nd October, 10am – 1pm

 

Dalkey Garden School,” Mornington,” Saval Park Road, Dalkey

as part of places are limited    book now on  www.dalkeycreates.com

Fionnuala Fallon

The Magic of Flowers

‘I can’t remember exactly when I first became a gardener but I know that it was a moment in my early childhood, soon after I sowed a handful of seeds from which nasturtiums quickly grew – an eruption of leaves and fiery orange flowers that seemed to me both astonishing and miraculous.’ read more

  Book now   as places are limited                  www.dalkeycreates,com 

Hard at work Propagating plants

Autumn/Winter Classes

Autumn/Winter classes Thursday 1 September

Come join us, as we focus on not only gardening but also all things gardening.

Meet fellow enthusiasts.

Autumn             September   Thursday  1,6,15 October 26 November 2 and 9.

Winter    2018  February       Thursday 1,8,15                   6 classes    €300

20% discount for early booking. Numbers are limited to 6

 

Tour to Carlow Garden Festival

Carlow Garden Festival Friday 28 July Book Now

Roy Lancaster CBE veteran Broad castor & Gardening Expert                                11 am

Paul Smith Crug Plants , Wales.                                                                                            12.15pm

Joe Swift UK & International Gardening Personality.  Walled Garden Altamont 3pm

Bus Departs Mornington Garden  at 9 pm € 70 including entry to events.

In order to travel I must have a minimum of 18 so tell your friends and booknow

Botanical Plaster Casting

Book now for this is the second time to run this very popular workshop.An exciting introduction for  beginners to the fundamental skills of plaster casting. Deirdre will take you through her unique process of capturing flowers and foliage in plaster.  Create your own fossils from Annmarie’s wonderful Mornington Garden full of specialist plants and flowers. You will take away at least  two marvellous unique works of art .  A maximum of 8 people, per workshop, this includes all flowers, materials, tools,refreshments and lunch are provided.Next workshop Saturday 22 July    10 – 4pm.

Botanical Art workshop Botanical Art workshop

Art in the Garden

Book now July 15 10-1pm Paint a scene within the garden with Mairead O’Byrne Plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing paintingand drawing in the garden.The practice goes back for centuries but was truly made into an art form by the French Impressionists.

Mairead Byrne started teaching 1980 as a  full time art teacher after a degree in fine art and then the H.dip from  National College of Art Dublin.  Mairead was hugely involved in portfolio preparation with students, both at Sancta Maria College and schools all over Dublin. Now retired, is presently preparing for a solo exhibition in October. After an accident in 2013, she has had to redefine her technique and works now in oils taking inspiration from the landscape with a live of colour and texture. A history of textile work influences, a mark making technique, with the brush.

Refreshments will be provided and materials Book now   through the Dalkey Garden School  online  Shop