Derek Hanley

I’m very interested in your equipment as I’ve been making cider for a few years now. I could make a lot more but it’s hard work. I don’t make it for sale, I share it with friends. Any info on the equipment would be appreciated.

Are they ‘Beauty of Bath’? They don’t store well but should last more than a few hours. I juice most of my early apples, then either freeze or pasteurise the juice. Lasts much longer that way.

I noticed that today, they’re everywhere!

Sundew: My fungus gnat control in my glasshouse & propagation areas. I don’t remember seeing this method anywhere before but I’m probably not the first to use it. No beneficial insects trapped yet! @stephaniehafferty.bsky.social @gardeningwell.ie @margaretleahy.bsky.social @tomdoorley.bsky.social

Warm and dry for the match!

Look who’s given the word!!

But is white chocolate really chocolate???

It’s one plant I’ve never grown. It seems to take up quite a lot of space for a relatively small return. I must see if I can find a spot for some.

Plants covered by horticultural fleece in glasshouse.

30 litre pots of potatoes covered with newspaper to protect against cold nighttime temperatures.

Photo taken in late evening light of glasshouse and polytunnel with clear blue skies and moon above glasshouse. Frost protection in glasshouse visible.

It’s 9th May! Last frost date in my area is around 25th Apr… I’m not taking any chances with tomatoes, aubergines and chillies, forecast temperatures close to zero again tonight. @stephaniehafferty.bsky.social @bobflowerdew.bsky.social #garden

Fair point!

Like a Session IPA? O’Hara’s (my local brewery) do a lovely version, a perfect tipple for a summer BBQ with friends. Rye River also have a very good one, as I am sure many other breweries do.

Photo of one medium size and one small egg on a black background.

Back in production! There’s nothing like fresh eggs from your own hens 😁😎🥚 #garden

Lovely to see these posts again! One of the things I missed from the other place. Your drinks collection must be enormous, I’d love to see a list of what you’d consider essential for a cocktail cabinet 🤞

I sort them when the true leaves are beginning to show. I discard any with deformed leaves then pick the biggest of what’s left. Be ruthless (not rootless!!).

I’ve never had any problems with cross pollination, I have had problems with one F1 variety (Sungold) that never grows well for me. Many years ago it was lovely, but recently it’s been a disappointment 🙁 Saved seed generally does very well for me, so far always true to type.

Start small. One raised vegetable bed about 2.5m long by 1m wide. Start by buying salad veg (lettuce, rocket, scallions) in a garden centre. That will build your confidence. Progress to starting veg from seed, then a second raised bed. Don’t start with too much, progress slowly. 🪴👩‍🌾😎

Black module tray filled with compost with two rows of eight cells filled with seedlings. Green quarter size tray sitting on it showing the process of pricking out seedlings into individual modules. Seedling planted much deeper in modules to encourage root development.

Pricking out tomato seedlings this afternoon. Growing 16 varieties this year. I sow about ten of each variety, prick out six or eight of each to grow on, and pick two of the best to plant in tunnel or in glasshouse. I always have spares at the end of the process, DM if near Carlow and want some.

I only know of you from here and the other place, and from what I’ve seen you’re above average at posting. Also remember that by definition most of us are average. Average is good!

Plenty of Spring Onions or “Scallions” sown. Well I am from Carlow! If ya know…

Sowing some more seeds. Little and often for salad leaf and salad onion.

I genuinely laughed out loud!

Irish businesses will struggle to compete with Amazon ie, both online and in the high street.

Shop direct with your Irish retailers, who already exist.

Support local, not the billionaires.

I really miss eggs from our hens. Unfortunately we’ve been completely wiped out on the hen front a few times over the past year by foxes. I have a big job to do to make our large hen run fox proof. Too busy sowing seeds and preparing the ground for planting now. Bought eggs not the same 😕

Dug up dandelion on bare soil background with root approx 30cm long alongside digging trowel for perspective.

For some things you just gotta dig!! #NoDig

Quarter sized seed tray with 13 seedlings in a heated propagator.

Saved Maskotka tomato, 100% germination. It’s the only tomato seed I’ve sown so far, remainder of my tomatoes will be sown mid March. I wonder will the #TotallyTerrificTomatoFestival be happening this year? @powersflowers.bsky.social #tomato #garden

We missed the Seville oranges this year, couldn’t find them in any of the usual places. Resorted to a three fruit version we made years ago. Turned out very well although it didn’t set as well as the Seville orange marmalade usually does.

Photo of potatoes chatting on cardboard egg trays

Photo of shallot bulbs planted in pots

Photo of heated plant propagator with grow lights in operation.

Photo of seed trays on heated sand bench in greenhouse.

Springtime means seed sowing and propagation. My favourite gardening time of year!

I have my chilli, aubergine sweet pepper and onion seed sown but won’t sow the tomatoes for another couple of weeks. Sowing is perhaps my favourite gardening activity, it’s the hope and anticipation I feel when sowing.

Somebody at #TaylorsBulbs not great at counting 🙁

Five trays of potatoes set out to chit on egg cartons.

This year’s potatoes from Fruithill Farm set out to chit in the glasshouse 🤞 Kelly, Alouette, Charlotte, Sevilla and Vitanoire. All except Charlotte new to me, here’s hoping…