The nation is split on parsnips. On one side you have, let’s call them the parsnip-phobes, the group who believe this vegetable to be nothing but the basis for a bland soggy mash. Then on the other side you have the parsnip-philes who view them as a easy grow vegetable, one which will add a warm nutty flavour to stews or conversely bring forth sweetness when roasted.

Where do you stand on the issue? Well, to truly test yourself you should try you hand at growing your own. Once you bring them fresh from garden to table you may see a whole different side to humble parsnip.

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Summer cabbage…. With its peak harvest in August and September this vegetable provides an excellent source of Vitamin C leading up and through autumn. All health benefits aside summer cabbage has had its image tarnished by the soggy mush that’s served up by school and work canteens. In this guide I hope banish the soggy cabbage blues as I show you how to cook cabbage correctly, but first let’s look at how to grow summer cabbage at home.

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Beetroots…round, cylindrical or tapered swollen roots that are way more versatile than many give them credit for. Fairly pest free, they are also a good crop for the organic gardener. Find out for yourself as we detail amongst other things the varieties suitable to grow in Ireland, and how to plant or sow them.

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Here’s a handy list that I compiled in response to that eternal vegetable growing query that crops up as soon as spring arrives, “Am I too late to sow… (Insert vegetable of choice here)? (more…)

Last week I wrote about a solution to lack of space for growing salad vegetables faced by balcony and patio gardeners.
That was the window box vegetable garden.
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Have you seen this yet…. The Ideas Campaign ?

The co-founder of the Sunday Business Post, Aileen O’Toole is behind this initiative which aims to harness the minds of the country.

The blurb goes: “the Ideas Campaign is an independent initiative by citizens for citizens, designed to capture people’s ideas for stimulating Ireland ’s economy.”

“This grassroots campaign is about the positive aspects of economic activity that often receive little media attention, and the need to focus on solutions instead of the problems,” she says. “It is about setting a challenge to people to be innovative and creative.”

So basically the Ideas Campaign is about asking people for ideas to stimulate economic activity, and one of those sections is “Agriculture and Food”

Some of the ideas submitted so far relating to allotments and fruit/vegetable growing include……..

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1. My policy idea is to introduce small half acre ‘plots’ for the general population to produce their own produce - after all we are in a monetary “wartime” situation.

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2. Every town in the country should start a community garden whereby a piece of land is given by the county council to a community group who will develop the land and grow fruit and veg and subsequently have a low cost weekly market.

There is a lot of land lying idle at the moment which, if worked, could yield good food. We would be a happier nation out working in the garden in tune with one another and with nature. A community cafe could be built on the land - a simple ‘Seomra House’ where everyone could congregate for soup and eat produce from the community.

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These are not my ideas I swear , but those of others that are interested.

Although some of the ideas are a bit “happy-clappy”, I’m sure there is a basis for something substantial there.

Have a look at the site and see what you think yourself.

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It all kicks off this month in the vegetable garden.

So have you got your gloves ready, your spade sharpened, and your special slug detecting goggles on?
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With the vegetable growing season almost upon us, I decided in this post to provide you with the three most important questions all prospective growers should ask themselves before starting vegetable growing.
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