Open Weekend up at Amberley Allotments in Rochestown this week end so
anyone who is thinking of dipping their toe into the whole realm of
‘growing your own’ is welcome to go up and have a look and talk to Brian
about getting your own allotment patch.
For all you need in plants ‘grow your own’ and gardening in Ireland go to gardeningonline.ie
Hi John
Soil can be checked for a few different characteristics, namely texture, structure and pH. Texture and structure can be checked by simply rubbing the soil in your hand. If it sticks together in a ball or sticks to your hand then it is a clay type soil which isn’t excellent for all types of fruit and veg growing and will need some organic matter and humus added. A heavy clay soil will often be orange in colour as due to poor drainage it retains too much iron.
Ideally you want a dark brown crumbly texture which will be a loamy type soil. This is ideal as it will enable a certain amount of water retention however also allowing good drainage so the roots don’t sit in water. A ‘good’ soil will be loamy in texture with a good proportion of humus, organic matter and grit.
pH which is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of the soil can easily be checked with a pH Tester kit or even more easily with a pH probe. Simply insert the probe anywhere you are planting and the guage will tell you the pH. These kits and probes will be available from Dunsland Garden Centre during March or if you prefer you can buy them delivered direct to your door through http://gardeningonline.ie again during March. Perhaps Carbon Chemicals or some similar company may have same
Regards
Peter
Hi Marie,
I will certainly tell anyone who is asking and put a post up here on the blog. I think it may be you who sent a poster for same to Dunsland and if so we have it up already.
Regards
Peter
Hi we have just set up East Cork Allotmetns.
Only 15 minutes from Midleton, grow your own vegetables and potatoes with plenty of sea air. Located between two beaches Ballycroneen and Ballybrannigan, free manure if requested. For more informaton contact Marie @0868395570
Can the soil in allotment spaces be easily verified/checked as ‘good’ soil?
Hi Matti,
You do pay for an allotment here however community gardens are different and not huge here yet. A different gardening world to that of California. Checked out your blog, very impressive
I love the community gardens. Do you have to pay a fee to get yours in Cork? There is one across the street from us. Few edibles, but there are great places to sit amongst succulents, and California natives.
Matti