GIY Know-How
The Basics by Michael Kelly - Harvesting Garlic
Knowing when to lift garlic can be a tricky proposition - harvest them too early and the bulbs will be too small, but harvest too late and the bulbs will begin to loose their quality.
How To Cut Your Carbon Footprint By Growing Your Own Food
With COP26 highlighting the urgency of the Climate Crisis and a target set to cut greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, the time for climate action, even on an individual level, is now. However, many of...
December Grower's Calendar
Preparation Continue digging over cleared vegetable beds and adding well rotted compost or manure. Get Educated – book yourself on a course over the winter! Start a Gardening Diary (gardeners...
The Hows And Whys Of Autumn Onions And Garlic
A shortage of garlic means prices are likely to rise next year, so why not grow your own? DRIP, DRIP, drip fell the raindrops last week, in what felt like...
Richard's Ramblings August 10th - Pests and Diseases
Everything seems a little more normal now, the soil is moist and the cooler temperatures suit both gardeners and our common crop plants.
Richard's Ramblings July 20th - What do non gardeners find entertaining?
In order to keep the GROW HQ garden entertaining for visitors I have decided that I need to find out what sort of things non-gardeners find interesting and exciting and did some research.
Richard's Ramblings July 13th - Growing is not usually this difficult!
Richard thought it was about time he resumed rambling again after a few weeks of inactivity. The heat and drought has created lots of extra work...
Mental Well Being in an Open Prison by Caitriona Kelly
Last week, back when the memory of rain-sodden fields and water-rich clay soil was still fresh, the 16-week programme in therapeutic horticulture at Loughan House Open Prison in Cavan came to a close.
The Basics by Michael Kelly Tips for Conserving Water
Generally speaking, we don’t need to water much if at all outside in the veg patch in a typical Irish summer. But in these heatwave conditions, watering is indeed necessary and conserving water becomes a significant challenge.
Richard's Ramblings June 22nd - Fertilisers, Mohicans and More
The rough grass between my tunnels needed its’ annual strim this week and as ever large quantities of the macerated vegetation ended up in my hair.
The Basics by Michael Kelly Growing Cucumbers
I grow cucumbers exactly like tomatoes, planting them in the polytunnel and allowing them to climb (they can grow up to 2m high