Dia duit!
September is here which means autumn is on its way. As the weather gets colder, and the days get shorter, here’s what's happening in the Limerick Enable Ireland Garden Centre.
In the Polytunnel
This is a great time of year to start sewing lettuce seeds. Lettuce is generally a cool-temperature crop so we like to get them planted at this time of year. We recommend sewing them in shallow trays which allow them to be watered properly. Avoid using deeper trays for seeds as the water will go down too far and your seeds will struggle to hydrate and grow. Then make sure to water them every second or third day. The key is to keep the seedlings moist!
In our garden centre, we use peat-free soil which our seeds love as it’s high in nutrients. They are typically made from a mix of sustainable organic materials like bark, wood, or coconut fibre. Peat-free soil tends to be better for the environment too.
Our tomatoes and peppers continue to be grown in the polytunnel. Like tomatoes, peppers also love the seaweed feed. It’s a fantastic feed for most plants and vegetables. If you missed our last blog, make sure to check it out for more information on the benefits of seaweed feed and tips on growing your tomatoes.
In the Garden
We’ve welcomed lots of new stock in our garden including bedding plants like Pansies, Violas, Cyclamen, and Ivy. If you’re looking for perennials, we have a variety of plants that will keep your garden vibrant in the later seasons.
We have many different types of Helleborus available. They are excellent plants that bring flowers, colour, and variety through the autumn, winter, and even into spring! Two of our favourite types are Winterbells and Victoria. You can buy both in the Enable Ireland Limerick Garden Centre. Winterbells has pink flowers and leathery foliage while Victoria has bold purple flowers. They are hardy plants but will need protection from cold winds. Helleborus are best planted in containers, beds, and borders. Given their durability and bold colours, they're often bought as Christmas presents!
Another favourite in our garden centre this month is Hydrangeas. They are traditional garden flowering shrubs. You should plant Hydrangeas in autumn or spring as they love the wetter weather. Hydrangeas can provide some late summer colour if you plant them this month.
To finish, here are some tips for getting the most out of your Hydrangeas:
1. Remember, Hydra=water, which means these plants need lots of water!
2. Let flower heads stay on your Hydrangeas until spring. This protects buds emerging.
3. They are easy to propagate – choose a non-flowering stem and remove lower leaves. Plant in pot and water well.
4. To dry flower heads... Cut fresh flowers, remove leaves, and put in a vase with water to allow flower heads to dry gradually. This will help to preserve the colour
5. Want to change the colour of your Hydrangea? Choose Hydrangea macrophylla or Hydrangea serrata. To make flowers pink, add garden lime to the soil before flowering. To make them blue, add aluminium sulphate.
At Enable Ireland Garden Centre we have all your gardening needs under one roof! Come and see us for help and tips to spruce up your garden and see our latest stock. Plus 100% of profits support Enable Ireland’s vital disability services. Visit us at Honan’s Quay, Prior’s-Land, Limerick. Email gardening@enableireland.ie or shop online.
Comments