Gardening Techniques:
If you would like information or instructions on a particular gardening technique - email me and if I can (I don't know everything!!) I will add a help guide. Sowing Seeds: If you have good easily managed soil you can sow seeds directly into the ground, however in most conditions you may be better growing most of your seeds into seed trays and transplanting them once they have grown into young plants. There are some seeds that must not be germinated and transplanted including carrots. The root of the carrot will be damaged in they are grown in this way. For more instructions on sowing seeds in trays click here Click here for related Literacy resources |
Pricking out seedlings:  Once seeds have germinated there will come a stage where they need pricking out before they are finally planted into the ground. Pricking out will give the young seedlings more space in which to grow and will also increase the amount of nutrients available to the seedlings. For more information and instructions for how to prick out seedlings click here |
Sowing seed directly into the ground. 
Sowing Parsnip seeds These seeds benefit from some extra care when sowing.
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Planting onion and shallot sets. 
Onions can be raised from seed but are more prone to problems and do not do as well on poor soil. Growing shallots from seed is fairly uncommon. Click here to read about how to go about planting. |
Planting potatoes. 
You don't need to struggle with digging trenches in order to grow potatoes successfully. Click here for an easier method. |
Sowing carrots 
Unfortunately carrot flies thrive in moist and mild climates – just like ours and our countryside provides many wild plants, such as cow parsley, which the carrot fly is attracted to. Problems with carrot fly larvae can discourage gardeners from even trying to grow carrots. Click here for one method of trying to limit the damage! |
Use of chemicals and manure. The Pesticide Safety Directorate has undergone reorganisation and from 1 April 2009 is known as the Chemicals Regulations Directorate. Click here for their website.
Click here for information about the 'new' directorate.
Click here for advice on use of chemicals by the home gardener
Following on from the contaminated manure problems of last year - the CRD have published a postcard giving advice on the use of manure. Click here to download. Remember that it is still very possible that contaminated manure is still in the supply chain so great care should be taken when obtaining manure.
If you are a member of an organisation and would like to obtain copies of the postcard for distribution , there is information on how to obtain a free supply of postcards click here. |