DUBLIN VISIT

No photo's please!

We were in Dublin last week. I decided to take my two lads and their two cousins to the National art gallery, to introduce them to a bit of culture. (A run around in a big building) We had a great time. The kids found the lifts fascinating and setting off the alarm when I touched a 500 year old painting was very exciting. (How was I to know that invisible infa-red beams shining down from the ceiling protect the pictures)? The security guards certainly earned their money that afternoon and of course the children got the blame…. Kids eh?


After we were asked to leave we decided to check out the new computer section that has opened. Here you can do a virtual tour of the gallery without being shouted at. The kids loved it and probably spent more time on the computers than they did in the gallery. Some people might think it strange to be looking at a picture on a screen when the real thing was upstairs. It became obvious to me that the gang had taken in more than I imagined. They toured around until they found their favourite pictures and zoomed in to get the details.


This gave me a great idea for the armchair gardener for Christmas…. a virtual garden. Just think you could use one finger to dig the plot, sow the seeds, and weed. When all this gets too much you can switch the computer off and you wouldn’t even have mucky boots or tools to clean. You could watch the plants grow in the comfort of your armchair. There are drawbacks of course. Your own garden would become a wilderness, you wouldn’t get any fresh air, your skin would go transparent because you wont get any sun and unless you went to the gym for some exercise you would loose the sight of your feet. Maybe it’s not such a good idea after all.

PESTS

Paddy McCartney from Greencastle inspecting his crops

PESTS AND DISEASES

Brussels: Keep an eye on Brussels sprouts, removing yellowing leaves to prevent fluffy grey moulds from becoming troublesome.

Debris: Remove (or dig in) all plant debris from the vegetable patch or allotment, to reduce the spread and the overwintering of disease and pests.

Disease free: Refrain from composting diseased material, as the temperatures in domestic heaps may not be sufficient to kill pests and diseases. Burning the waste, burying it deeply, or placing it in the domestic rubbish, are alternatives.

Pesky mice: Place mouse controls near your stored vegetables.

DIVIDING

DIVIDE PERENNIAL HERBS
Lift and divide perennial herbs such as mint, lemon balm and chives. Be careful where you plant the mint though as it can be very invasive Basil will not survive outside during the winter, so bring it into the greenhouse, or to a heated conservatory, to protect it from the cold.

CLOCHES
Cloches will protect a variety of winter crops. Including lettuce, spring cabbage, carrots, and broad beans.

GREEN MANURES
Where land is cleared of crops sow a quick growing green manure such as mustard, and dig in before it flowers, this builds up humus in the soil and stops excess fertilisers not used by crops from leaching away with the winter rains.

IN THE VEGGIE PATCH

CLOVES
Cloves really like light, warm soils and to be in a sunny spot. Push individual cloves into the ground, 3in-4in apart, just covering the tips with soil. For good cropping it is important to establish the plants in the autumn. If you have cold, heavy soils, plant them in pots in a cold greenhouse or cloche for planting out in spring. Try the shop bought cloves by all means but you will probably get a better result by choosing the types that grow in our climate. The Organic Centre in Rossinver have some in their catalogue.


Jerusalem artichokes: The dying tops of Jerusalem artichokes can be cut back to ground level. Tubers can be cleared from an area of ground if the plant is becoming invasive, as they will re-grow readily.

Asparagus: Cut back asparagus foliage too, if not already done last month. Now is a good time to get ahead and prepare new asparagus beds for planting in the spring. Plenty of organic matter and grit will help to improve drainage to the level required by asparagus. A raised bed could be a good investment on heavy clay soil, to make it more asparagus friendly.

Horticultural.

CARING FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS CACTI

I have seen some lovely Christmas Cacti in the shops. I have one that never flowers until February. How can I get it to flower for Christmas? Is there anything else I should know when it comes to the plants needs? Thanks T.N.

The Christmas cactus has been a favourite houseplant for years. There are loads of different types in the shops and you won’t be short of colours to choose from if you decide to increase your stock. It's not unusual for a single plant to be passed down from generation to generation because they're long-lived, rather easy plants to grow. But if you want to get them in bloom for the upcoming holiday season, they will need a little special care during the coming weeks.

Both Christmas and Easter cacti are native to Central and South America. Although these plants are called cacti, they are truly different in all aspects from the common desert cactus. These plants, called epiphytes are found in the same environments as orchids, which you will also find in glorious colour in the shops at the moment. They are most often found in the forks of tree limbs where they grow in decayed leaves and other natural debris that accumulates there. Since they are tropical cacti, their cultural requirements are totally different from true cacti.

Christmas cactus plants should be kept in a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50 degrees from September. Be sure not to expose them to freezing temperatures. It's also very important they be kept in a room where no artificial light will be turned on at night.

The key to getting Christmas cactus to flower during the holiday season is the proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering. So during autumn and early winter the Christmas cactus should be placed in a spot where it receives indoor indirect bright light during the daylight hours but total darkness at night. (Much the same exposure you would give a poinsettia except a Christmas poinsettia requires warm temperatures whereas the Christmas cactus needs a spot where the temperatures are cool during the autumn months.)

Since the Christmas cactus is a tropical plant it will require watering on much the same basis as any other type of tropical plant. A good procedure to follow is to water the plants thoroughly and then allow about the top inch of soil to dry before watering again. Watering less in winter helps the plants flower and stops any rotting of the stems.

Christmas cacti like humidity. Place a glass, vase or tray of water near the plant or support the pot on gravel inside the saucer. As the water evaporates it will provide the humidity the cactus needs.

The Christmas cactus should never be placed near a door that opens and closes to the outside. Likewise, keep it away from radiators, fireplaces or drafty areas.

Apply a 0-10-10 type liquid fertilizer. This has no nitrogen to promote leaf growth, so the plant can concentrate on producing flowers. A second application of this fertilizer can be made in February. During the growing season from April to September, use an all purpose liquid houseplant type fertilizer.

One of the most frustrating things that can happen to Christmas cactus is after the flower buds have developed they drop off the plant. Bud drop can be caused by anyone of several different conditions. Usually it's because of over-watering, lack of humidity or insufficient light or air circulation.

This is not the time to pinch, prune or shape a Christmas cactus. The best time is when the new growth begins in March or early April. Likewise, the best time for repotting a cactus is in February, March or April. However, keep in mind the plant will flower best if it's kept in a container where it's pot-bound, the same as spider plants. If your Christmas cactus is given proper care and is placed in the right location, it's not unusual for it to flower several times throughout the year.

If you want to increase your stock, simply twist off a mature leaf in the spring and push it lightly into the soil at the edge of a pot. It will be rooted by the summer.


Horticultural.

TOP TIPS

Our last remaining sunflower still hanging on after the frosts this week

Time Saving Tip. Set the cutters of the lawn mower high and use it to collect leaves off the lawn. It’s quicker than brushing them up.

Bedding plants: Remove annual bedding plants and add them to the compost heap. Tidy up raking off all the debris and weeds. Fork the ground over and either plant for a winter show or leave the soil rough to allow the frost to kill pests in the soil.

Keep it clean: Remember garden hygiene at this time of year - regular clearance of fallen leaves and debris will do much to prevent the spread of disease and the overwintering of pests, so reducing problems the following year.

Peas and beans: When clearing old pea and bean plants, simply cut the tops off for the compost heap, and dig the roots into the soil. They return valuable nitrogen to the earth, acting as a natural fertiliser.

NOELINE'S ARTICLE IN OUR SHOUT MAGAZINE

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For more information call Noeline Haylett on 098 41484