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Tatranskas Gardening journey

  • 23-04-2019 5:42pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭


    I've decided to document my progress with my garden for those of you who have nothing else better to be doing with your time.


    A bit of background.

    I've 4 1/2 acres and I got a half acre ploughed over yesterday with s view to keeping a garden.
    Ground was in fairly poor condition so I got some fertiliser,urea and granular lime spread a few weeks ago.
    I've 4 tonnes of horse manure waiting to be used.

    Currently a tractor with a harrow is working the ground and I'll get drills put in my machine during the week.

    There are currently 8 apple trees and 3 cherry planted. Some are in flower their first year.

    The plan is to put down more trees when the barefoot season is open again.
    I've to put in a chicken coop and build a greenhouse.

    I'll try post photos as I go but I missed the weekends events.

    I've not had a vegetable garden in nearly 40 years so it's a steep learning curve.

    The other 3 1/2 acres had cattle over winter to eat down the grass. Fertilizer etc spread and after a cut of silage next month will have a load of slurry spread on it. Lime will be applied in the autumn. It needs 5 tonnes per acre over a few years.

    I'll try find the soil results from last October and post them later.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Have you considered fencing off the fruit trees with electric netting and then putting the coop inside?

    Kilruddery gardens use this approach (but with conventional fencing).

    image.jpg


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Would you consider putting in some bees?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Interesting suggestion on the coop. The problem would be foxes in the area.
    I planned on a frame with wire on it.
    I was going to dig a trench, put chicken wire across and fill trench with cement to stop them digging up.


    I was in touch with the local bee association but heard no more from them.

    Some photos
    jGPGiPt.jpg

    DBcayx0.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Interesting suggestion on the coop. The problem would be foxes in the area.
    I planned on a frame with wire on it.
    I was going to dig a trench, put chicken wire across and fill trench with cement to stop them digging up.
    You don't need to dig, you just need a horizontal weldmesh skirt. The foxes will attempt to dig at the base of the fence, hit mesh, and give up. They won't retreat a couple of feet and start again, it's not like Fantastic Mr Fox.

    I chose electric netting whose posts are attached to the ends of untreated oak sleepers using galvoband and sections of copper pipe. I had to do this because it was impossible to enclose the roof of a fence because the chicken run has a load of trees in it. This approach has the advantage of being portable, in theory, although I don't expect to ever move it. The circumference of the run is about 40m.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    I have something like this for the chickens

    https://images.app.goo.gl/miDeSVncAzBdY3RC6

    I'm expecting drills to be put in tomorrow depending on the weather.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Here's an example of the skirt approach, easier than digging trenches!

    https://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/No-_Dig_Skirts_for_Chicken_Runs.html

    I used PVC coated weldmesh so it's basically invisible, but not sure it makes much difference.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Lumen wrote: »
    Here's an example of the skirt approach, easier than digging trenches!

    https://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/No-_Dig_Skirts_for_Chicken_Runs.html

    I used PVC coated weldmesh so it's basically invisible, but not sure it makes much difference.

    Definitely an easier way of doing it
    Ive an area of rough ground which would do. It was too stoney for the harrow to work on.perfect spot for chickens


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Had hoped to have my drills done today. Farmer called me to say ground was too wet and he couldn't even do his own.
    Will be mid week now.weather permitting.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Been out in the garden all afternoon today planting spuds.
    2 earlies,2 lates and I've some kerr pinks to try out as well thanks to a local spud farmer who put in the drills for me
    I've Orla, Isle of Jura, Carra and some Kestrel.

    He also gave me some potato fertiliser and recommend boron.

    Also put down a load of blackcurrant, redcurrants, raspberry, rhubarb and 2 plum trees .
    I'll post photos later

    Loads more to do. I need to prep the ground for seeds. I got away with digging with the spuds.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Some photos

    MjygjXe.jpg

    kLMcwdh.jpg
    Horse manure
    pNBGkcz.jpg
    8zvCm3O.jpg[IMG][/img]B4YtomA.jpg

    Sunset from my sitting room


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Been a busy weekend.
    7 drills of potatoes, 14 blackcurrant, 14 redcurrants, 24 raspberries, 2 plum trees. Cabbage, rhubarb,onions,carrots, chives, lettuce and peas.
    And of course, 2 tonnes of horse manure.
    Lots more to go but getting the ploughed up grass out of the soil is slow.
    I'm glad I got the furrows put in. Took a tractor 45 minutes. Would have taken me forever.

    Photos to follow later on the week


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,412 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    I've 4 tonnes of horse manure waiting to be used.
    Paid a trip in to the Dáil with a trailer? Good to see somebody making use of it!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    endacl wrote: »
    Paid a trip in to the Dáil with a trailer? Good to see somebody making use of it!

    It would be faster for me to drive over to kilgarvan :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,412 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    It would be faster for me to drive over to kilgarvan :D

    Jaysus, you’d hardly need that much!?!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    2 weeks and 4 tons of sh!te later.

    It's slow going and plans for a half acre veg plot are being rethought.

    I'm planning on giving half over to trees and fruit bushes and keeping the rest for veg.

    With enough spuds to feed the nation in the event of another famine I moved on to other stuff.

    Peas are coming up as are onions, carrots , and radish.
    I've also got sprouts , cabbage and corn .
    Not sure what happened the rhubarb I planted, seems to have died back.

    I've replanned the greenhouse and decided time was against me. So got a 6*3m polytunnel from vidxl on eBay for 120 euro. It will do for this year.


    I prepped another bed this evening for more of something.

    It will be a slow job as I need to clear the old grass out as I go.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    2 weeks and 4 tons of sh!te later.

    It's slow going and plans for a half acre veg plot are being rethought.

    I'm planning on giving half over to trees and fruit bushes and keeping the rest for veg.

    With enough spuds to feed the nation in the event of another famine I moved on to other stuff.

    Peas are coming up as are onions, carrots , and radish.
    I've also got sprouts , cabbage and corn .
    Not sure what happened the rhubarb I planted, seems to have died back.

    I've replanned the greenhouse and decided time was against me. So got a 6*3m polytunnel from vidxl on eBay for 120 euro. It will do for this year.


    I prepped another bed this evening for more of something.

    It will be a slow job as I need to clear the old grass out as I go.


    Even quarter of an acre vegetable plot is big in my opinion. I can understand scaling yours down as I did something similar a few years ago. Was selling some vegetables to restaurants when I scaled up to planting quarter of an acre. Even though it took little work to grow my main crop Jerusalem artichoke, just digging them up and cleaning them up to sell to a few restaurants took hours and in a similar way I have left it mostly go over to growing some fruit and trees since just working in normal PAYE jobs has proved more productive financially. Cleared just over 30 square metres this year to grow some beetroot and that probably will be more than half of the area I use to grow normal vegetables this year with the amount of free time required to cultivate more.



    I hope your project goes well and you get lots of enjoyment out of it. On looking at the photos the ground does look fairly high up so planting a few trees and fruit bushes will probably be good to give some of the vegetables a bit more shelter from strong winds.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    macraignil wrote: »
    Even quarter of an acre vegetable plot is big in my opinion. I can understand scaling yours down as I did something similar a few years ago. Was selling some vegetables to restaurants when I scaled up to planting quarter of an acre. Even though it took little work to grow my main crop Jerusalem artichoke, just digging them up and cleaning them up to sell to a few restaurants took hours and in a similar way I have left it mostly go over to growing some fruit and trees since just working in normal PAYE jobs has proved more productive financially. Cleared just over 30 square metres this year to grow some beetroot and that probably will be more than half of the area I use to grow normal vegetables this year with the amount of free time required to cultivate more.



    I hope your project goes well and you get lots of enjoyment out of it. On looking at the photos the ground does look fairly high up so planting a few trees and fruit bushes will probably be good to give some of the vegetables a bit more shelter from strong winds.

    Thanks. We are high. Have a 30 foot hedge above the house (was 40 until the Wife got out with the Jigsaw. ...I kid you not)

    Garden is below the house and has another hedge around 3 sides so well protected.

    Can't do much more with trees till later in the year. Getting another mix off seeds. Planted in my latest bed.
    A bit of everything that this year will be the way to go with a lot of the work done for next year.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    An update on the garden.

    https://imgur.com/a/FZ3aJrF

    https://imgur.com/a/k0ViyD5

    I threw up the drone last night to get a view.
    Garden is coming together.
    I've about 40 bales of silage from 3.5 acres and the veg is starting to come up.

    I need to earth up the potatoes tomorrow and do some weeding/thinning.

    I've bought a chicken coop which I need it build and get the run sorted out.
    I had bought a polytunnel but sent it back due to the poor quality of the poles.

    Fruit bushes are getting established but I found that those planted late didn't do as well.

    My main problem is birds. I might stick one of the kids on a pole to deal with the issue :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    "garden" :pac:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Lumen wrote: »
    "garden" :pac:

    Yup.....a big garden...... well.....very big :)

    Got my first radishes yesterday


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    To update.

    Garden proved to big to manage effectively so I need to rethink next year.

    Got our first early spuds this week along with kale.

    Other veg is growing nicely. We also have a few apples on the bigger trees.

    A lot of the fruit bushes I got this year died. Probably too late for bare roots as it was may before they went down.


    Chickens are in place but only 1 is laying so far. It may take a few weeks more for the others.

    I also got 42 bales of silage and just hope I can sell it

    I'm going to halve the garden and resow the grass. I'm also looking to get done more fruit and nut trees.

    It was a rush job this year to get it going and hindsight is a great thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,648 ✭✭✭honeybear


    Thanks for sharing your gardening journey. Very interesting!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Last post of the year.
    Currently harvesting a load of veg .
    Potatoes didnt do great but we have enough till Christmas at least.

    Have a freezer full of swede, carrot and greens and kohl rabi with more in the garden for immediate use.
    Wife jarred up some beetroots today. There wasn't much planted.

    We also have a freezer full of beef thanks to the silage. We did a swap for a heifer and kept half.

    I'm waiting on delivery of a lamb which will join the beef.

    The chickens are now giving us our 5 a day.
    I need to roof the run with perspex sheets to keep out the rain. Ground is getting muddy. It's been a learning curve.

    Plan on moving the fruit bushes up to the far end of the veggie plot and considering reducing the area to half. That's still up in the air.
    We found a half acre of veg to much to control but will consider using weed control sheets instead next year.

    I'm moving the location of the orchard to the back field in case we ever sell the side where the veggie garden is in the future. I don't want to loose my orchard.
    I was talking to the local garden center and he's getting this bare root trees in November. Planning on more trees including nuts. I also want to plant the hedgerow with the likes of elder and other edible trees.

    Will be a busy few weeks ahead:D
    Thanks for reading.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Keep the pics coming, loving this thread :)
    Whats it like to live in heaven?, I'd kill to live somewhere so beautiful like that, alas herself is a city girl.
    FWIW, i'd be putting more apple trees in with the long term aim of brewing my own cider..ahem

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,362 ✭✭✭rolion


    Last post of the year.


    Will be a busy few weeks ahead:D
    Thanks for reading.

    Hello,

    Nice adventure,i am sure.

    Can i share a small secret,please.
    You have to design the farm with self sustainability in mind.
    I have lots of videos teaching "permaculture",the system that helps you understand all of the above described by you,giving a decent balance of inputs versus outputs,working versus slavery.

    The pleasure and satisfaction ends when you become a slave,when you work with your bare hands and see no end or keep changing things around based on the season,on the posibility, on the cant do it / cant take it anymore.

    You have to learn to love what you doing and to keep doing it.

    I know that is a mouthfull advice but you will know next year from the lessons learned this year.

    Good luck.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    rolion wrote: »
    Hello,

    Nice adventure,i am sure.

    Can i share a small secret,please.
    You have to design the farm with self sustainability in mind.
    I have lots of videos teaching "permaculture",the system that helps you understand all of the above described by you,giving a decent balance of inputs versus outputs,working versus slavery.

    The pleasure and satisfaction ends when you become a slave,when you work with your bare hands and see no end or keep changing things around based on the season,on the posibility, on the cant do it / cant take it anymore.

    You have to learn to love what you doing and to keep doing it.

    I know that is a mouthfull advice but you will know next year from the lessons learned this year.

    Good luck.




    Have you a link to the videos Rollion.


    Anything for less work and more productivity works for me:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,362 ✭✭✭rolion


    Cant find the courses online,sorry !
    Looks like they were removed by the Faculty or the teacher !??
    I have downloaded them on the USB backup.
    I can send them via post in a USB key, if you can send me private an anonymous address,such as Parcel Motel.
    If you send me your real address,i may be tempted to deliver myself... ;)

    Basically,what you need is called permaculture, this is the name of the game.
    If you have time this winter,search online for the name !

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=permaculture+in+ireland

    A quick search on YouTube found this playlist here:
    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxc4SnlOGvcuMivzyoAHESxzV-GvgVTzW
    Looks boring but if a lot of info on how to design a garden with the corect approach.
    How to get the elements to talk and work together while you are enjoying life.

    Another practical approach here:



    On my past journey,found a very sweet nice lady from Ireland that embraced the permaculture principles.
    See her video here:



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,362 ✭✭✭rolion


    Principles that i work under it:



    This here below is my work in progress baby project.
    It will take me around 5 years to bring it to a full 360 degrees colaboration nature-earth-living_creatures-myself .
    Hope to steal some info from your experience ! ;)

    Keep up the good work !

    492031.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Have you a link to the videos Rollion.


    Anything for less work and more productivity works for me:D




    I read this book I got as a present from my aunt when I was younger and found it a great source of information on the whole self sufficiency area. Lots of good information on how to approach producing all you need off an acre or five acre plot. The author reckoned keeping some farm animals especially pigs made the whole system work better. Getting pigs to turn over the ground removing weeds and manuring it for your vegetable crop to keeping some ducks to eat some of your slugs and snails, etc...


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Rollin, thanks for the pointers to permaculture. I'll take you up on your offer of the USB key :).
    Looks a great field..where is it?

    Plans for the coming year are to make raised beds over the winter and move to permaculture. I think I can keep the existing garden in full and make it manageable.

    My local sheep farmer has told me where to get pallets and he'll bring them up to me.

    I'll lay silage wrap over the ground for the winter. I've sourced some from a very nice moderator ....thanks Nice Moderator ( if you see this) and my sheep farmer friend will turn over the ground in the spring for me before the beds go into place.

    He also offered to rent my field next year and take hay off it. He'll fertilise and lime it before cutting an baling.
    He's a contractor so has all the equipment. The choice now is to take the cash or a few lambs for the freezer. (Will need a third freezer at this rate) :)

    Calves are gone off the field and the fence taken down today. A handy few quid for no work and it leaves it in good shape for the winter.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Photo of my chicken run.
    Cost me a fortune to roof but at least the chucks are dry.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    He also offered to rent my field next year and take hay off it. He'll fertilise and lime it before cutting an baling.
    He's a contractor so has all the equipment. The choice now is to take the cash or a few lambs for the freezer. (Will need a third freezer at this rate) :)

    My father had a place in Mayo some years back where we did this, worked out really well for all concerned. My choice would be the lamb, freezes well and nothing nicer than having some local meat to put on the table.


  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 23,210 ✭✭✭✭beertons


    I'll take a lamb off you if you've no room.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    beertons wrote: »
    I'll take a lamb off you if you've no room.

    Been asking in the sheep forum (yes there is one on boards) . They reckon it's only about 20€ saving on rearing my own against buying one butchered.
    Got a lamb last month for €150.

    Might just stick with buying it in the bag :)
    Renting out the field next year so we've a ways to go on getting a few lambs for the freezer. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil



    Plans for the coming year are to make raised beds over the winter and move to permaculture. I think I can keep the existing garden in full and make it manageable.




    Just saw this video during the week about the permaculture idea and thought it was fairly informative. I think they are based in New Zealand so probably a similar climate to Ireland.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    macraignil wrote: »
    Just saw this video during the week about the permaculture idea and thought it was fairly informative. I think they are based in New Zealand so probably a similar climate to Ireland.

    That's an amazing video. I'm doing it all wrong, way too little density.

    I love the bit on trampling.

    Maybe we should start a thread on Irish permaculture and forest gardening?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Lumen wrote: »
    That's an amazing video. I'm doing it all wrong, way too little density.

    I love the bit on trampling.

    Maybe we should start a thread on Irish permaculture and forest gardening?


    Sounds like a good idea to me. It's amazing how much that couple in the video are able to fit in their own garden area and I would be no where near the density they have growing. They are a good few more years down the line with this than I am so the good thing about the video I think is just to see how the idea can develop over a longer period of time. Just put some aronia cuttings in the ground last week (experimenting to see if this works)and also spread out some amelanchier suckers I took off an older tree so working towards more density myself as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    macraignil wrote: »
    Just put some aronia cuttings in the ground last week (experimenting to see if this works)
    My experience so far with aronia is that it won't fruit without all day sun.

    I have 18 planted along one boundary and the ones that are partially shaded are growing fine but not fruiting.

    Maybe that'll change as they mature.

    Riverton NZ (where that video is from) is 46 degrees south, we're at 53 north. I'm not sure what difference that makes, here is solar radiation at summer solstice in both places.

    Looks like we have a longer day in midsummer but they have higher peak radiation, which is fairly obvious.

    Calculator:
    https://www.cableizer.com/tools/solar_radiation/

    Dublin
    image.png

    Riverton
    image.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Lumen wrote: »
    My experience so far with aronia is that it won't fruit without all day sun.

    I have 18 planted along one boundary and the ones that are partially shaded are growing fine but not fruiting.

    Maybe that'll change as they mature.

    Riverton NZ (where that video is from) is 46 degrees south, we're at 53 north. I'm not sure what difference that makes, here is solar radiation at summer solstice in both places.


    Only have the one aronia myself. Here is a short clip of it flowering last year and it has fruited now most years since I planted it about five years back. It is the Aronia melanocarpa variety so maybe it is a different version than you have. I also got it when fairly mature so that could be the reason for it fruiting well. It is shaded for the first half of the day where I have it planted and seems to be doing fine. The birds always seem to get to the berries before I eat that many and that's the reason I have it planted more than getting food for myself. I really like the bright red leaf colour that starts at the end of the summer and goes on through autumn. The experiment I mentioned is just to see if it will grow from hardwood cuttings which I have not tried before. I do this regularly with gooseberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant and also bought a white currant this year that has provided a couple of cuttings when I was tidying it up recently so hopefully these grow into new plants as easily as the other currants.


    Thanks for letting me know where the New Zealand video was made. I think as well as solar radiation the influence of warm offshore water we get from the gulf stream would be important. There is bound to be some variation between what happens here in Ireland and other countries so I'm going to start a thread on the topic of permaculture/forest gardening as you suggested to see if it is something people in this forum want to contribute to.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    macraignil wrote: »
    Sounds like a good idea to me. It's amazing how much that couple in the video are able to fit in their own garden area and I would be no where near the density they have growing. They are a good few more years down the line with this than I am so the good thing about the video I think is just to see how the idea can develop over a longer period of time. Just put some aronia cuttings in the ground last week (experimenting to see if this works)and also spread out some amelanchier suckers I took off an older tree so working towards more density myself as well.

    Do you know where aronia can be bought at s reasonable price?

    A permaculture thread would be a great idea.
    Check out Liz zorab of byther farm on utube.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Do you know where aronia can be bought at s reasonable price?

    A permaculture thread would be a great idea.
    Check out Liz zorab of byther farm on utube.


    I got the one I have from this company in West Cork. Long drive from where I am in North Cork to get there but got a bunch of plants at the same time so was definitely worth the trip. They also do mail order but not sure on how much that costs. Will check out that youtube name. Thanks for the recommendation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    macraignil wrote: »
    I got the one I have from this company in West Cork. Long drive from where I am in North Cork to get there but got a bunch of plants at the same time so was definitely worth the trip. They also do mail order but not sure on how much that costs. Will check out that youtube name. Thanks for the recommendation.

    Future forests. I've used them before.
    Might try my local GC. I priced them against online and they are coming in cheaper than online for a lot of bareroot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Future forests. I've used them before.
    Might try my local GC. I priced them against online and they are coming in cheaper than online for a lot of bareroot.


    I think I saw aronia for sale in the local Glanbia Co-Op garden centre near here as well but they were smaller than the one from future forests I got. Not sure if they are still in stock now but go for getting them locally if you can. If they are smaller they probably will take longer to provide fruit. Not a fan of making jam myself and I think the birds like the taste of the fresh berries more than I do.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    I picked up some bareroot aronia, gooseberry and black/red currants on Christmas eve
    Also got guilder rose, Euronymous and mountain ask for the hedgerow.

    Was away for 4 weeks and the storm took 10 perspex sheets of my chicken run which I replaced last week. It's really not working using a metal frame.
    I'm planning on building a new coop and wooden frame run over the next few months a wooden frame greenhouse us also on the agenda.
    Had a sick chicken and despatched it today.

    Picking up some pallets tomorrow to start building raised beds for the spring.

    Edit:just ordered elder flowers, blackthorn and Holly.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    A new year and lots planned. I bought my seeds last night from seed parade in the UK. They do flash sales so watch out for them.
    Postage is £3.49 to ROI so not bad. Spent €65 :)

    I've also got some seeds I bought in India just for the fun of it to see if they'll grow.

    All the hedgerow is planted and garlic is starting to come up. Need to put a net over it to keep the birds off.

    Had to despatch a chicken last week as it was sick. I didn't feel a thing :D.. chicken hopefully didn't either.;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,595 ✭✭✭macraignil


    I picked up some bareroot aronia, gooseberry and black/red currants on Christmas eve
    Also got guilder rose, Euronymous and mountain ask for the hedgerow.

    Was away for 4 weeks and the storm took 10 perspex sheets of my chicken run which I replaced last week. It's really not working using a metal frame.
    I'm planning on building a new coop and wooden frame run over the next few months a wooden frame greenhouse us also on the agenda.
    Had a sick chicken and despatched it today.

    Picking up some pallets tomorrow to start building raised beds for the spring.

    Edit:just ordered elder flowers, blackthorn and Holly.


    Blackthorn are very nice hardy trees and I particularly like them when they produce their flowers early in the year. The thorns however are dangerous so be careful around them when they mature. I was sloppy leaving some pruning branches on the ground and when I later stepped on them one of the thorns went straight through the sole of my boot. I was lucky I noticed it before it went into my foot. I think there is also some superstition about cuts from the blackthorn never healing and I have noticed the odd time getting a cut off one finding it took longer to heal than the usual scratches you might get when tidying up a hedge.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    macraignil wrote: »
    Blackthorn are very nice hardy trees and I particularly like them when they produce their flowers early in the year. The thorns however are dangerous so be careful around them when they mature. I was sloppy leaving some pruning branches on the ground and when I later stepped on them one of the thorns went straight through the sole of my boot. I was lucky I noticed it before it went into my foot. I think there is also some superstition about cuts from the blackthorn never healing and I have noticed the odd time getting a cut off one finding it took longer to heal than the usual scratches you might get when tidying up a hedge.

    I have them at the end of the field out of harm's way. Plan is to let them just grow without a lot of intervention.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Starting to make plans now.
    Rented out the field to a local for silage. He'll do the work and bear the cost.

    Seeds arrived second time around. I contacted seed parade and they resent them. No quibble so a recommendation from me :)
    Ordered seeds from Sutton. I put a Code up elsewhere and they're despatched today.
    I also ordered oca and Jerusalem Artichoke from gardens for living in Roscommon.
    I'm planning on Yacon as well and have found patch in NI for spuds. £22 for 25kg bags.i can use parcel wizard for delivery to cut postage costs.

    Going to get the garden ploughed and harrowed in march depending on the weather.
    Garlic is doing well.

    Lidl are doing fruit trees tomorrow 3for 15 so I plan on getting some plums.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,362 ✭✭✭rolion


    Starting to make plans now.
    Rented out the field to a local for silage. He'll do the work and bear the cost.

    Seeds arrived second time around. I contacted seed parade and they resent them. No quibble so a recommendation from me :)
    Ordered seeds from Sutton. I put a Code up elsewhere and they're despatched today.
    I also ordered oca and Jerusalem Artichoke from gardens for living in Roscommon.
    I'm planning on Yacon as well and have found patch in NI for spuds. £22 for 25kg bags.i can use parcel wizard for delivery to cut postage costs.

    Going to get the garden ploughed and harrowed in march depending on the weather.
    Garlic is doing well.

    Lidl are doing fruit trees tomorrow 3for 15 so I plan on getting some plums.

    Good luck !!!

    Porbable the trees are not "built" for Irish climate and i will like to be careful of the source before comitting.
    A local grown tree is about 20ish upwards.
    Also,make sure you buy at least 2-3 of each so polenisation works its magic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 159 ✭✭dubbrin


    rolion wrote: »
    Good luck !!!

    Porbable the trees are not "built" for Irish climate and i will like to be careful of the source before comitting.
    A local grown tree is about 20ish upwards.
    Also,make sure you buy at least 2-3 of each so polenisation works its magic.

    I've wondered about the origins of these trees alright, planted 2x apple and pear 2 years ago and can't say they've taken to Irish soil (yet). One was diseased soon after planting but a good prune seems to have removed the problem branches. I think I'll spend the money on Irish reared trees in the future

    Interested to hear how anyone else is getting on
    rolion wrote: »
    Good luck !!!

    This is where i got all my fruit trees.
    All of them went fine except 2 which died of root worms from the organic manure.You can buy the trees based on their polenisation groups and make sure they will fruit nice.

    https://futureforests.ie/collections/fruit

    I've heard good things about these people from more than one source


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