Midwest Radio Gardening Show

It's been a week where everyone has been in the garden and this edition of the programme continued the thread of how people can use their garden and gardening to occupy time while getting some exercise amid the Covid-19 restrictions. Paraic focused on some of the essential tasks which can be done at the moment such as pruning fruit trees, lawn care and general weed control. While retail outlets are closed to the public many garden centres are providing an on line offering so the sowing of flowers and vegetables from seeds was a popular point of discussion this week. Paraic discussed seed potatoes in addition to cabbage and carrotts from seed. There was information on pruning traditional mop head varities of hydangea and the different requirements when pruining penniculata varities such as Annabelle. Magnolia Solangeana, Alstromeria and Daffodils were all under the spolight and there was information on setting up a greenhouse. Listeners questions included planting in ericaceous compost and in poly tunnels, t

As the impact of Covid-19 took hold nationally this week's programme looked at how gardening can positively contribute to those who are home more than normal at this time. Paraic discussed the effect restrictive socialisation measures are having on the world of gardening and garden retailers, how on-line offerings are being used as a retail alternative and how that works in respect of getting product delivered to customers. There was lots of advice as to how extra time can be used in the garden, from pruning and splitting plants to growing from seed. There was information on lawn care as spring finally peeps through and Paraic looked at some vegetables suitable for planting now such as seed potatoes, cabbage, shallots and peas. Listeners questions featured hyndrageas and whitethorn as hedgerows, trimming ivy, pruning roses and planting cherry trees, sweet peas and hostas.

This week's programme featured an in-depth discussion on Grow Your Own with huge interest in people growing their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and salads at home. Paraic gave an overview of Vegepods and Vegebags which make growing your own even easier, and looked at some of the plants and seeds that can be sown now, including Chard and Beetroot. There was a focus on planting potatoes with advice on wire worm and other potato related pests and suggestions for varieties of scented roses in time for Mother's Day. Other topics included poorly performing Daffodils, sowing hedging in general and treating lawns for moss. Listeners questions included growing pears from seeds, sowing strawberries for younger gardeners, options for early hanging baskets, yellow raspberries and problems with Jasmine plants outdoors.

The Garden Programme returned for the 2020 season on the week that the Corona Virus took hold and Paraic started by looking at how this global challenge is impacting the gardening world. There was information in how gardening can serve to be advantageous at this time and how it can positively influence our physical and mental health. With Mother's Day just around the corner Paraic featured Daphne and Fujian Cherry for those looking to mark the occassion with a flowering plant. There was lots of advice on treating moss which has been agressive over the winter period and Paraic discussed pruning roses and hyndrangeas now. Listeners questions included slug resistant varieties of potatoes, feeding rhubarb, perennials for windy coastal gardens and pruning Cherry Blossoms.

In the final programme of the current series Paraic suggested a list of things to do in the garden over the Halloween weekend and suggested some Autumnal projects for the garden. The programme looked at planting indoor Hyacinths and Amaryllis and for Christmas colour and storing bulbs over winter. There was information on how to keep Hyndrageas blue, moss treatments for hard and grass surfaces, sowing lillies for net year and planting with children over Halloween. Listeners questions included wire worm in potatoes, taking cuttings from geraniums, planting garlicand Japanese Onion sets, covering Camelias over winter and seeds for birds at this time of year.

October is bulb planting season and this week Paraic looked at a variety of flowering bulbs that are easy to grow and perfect for adding colour to patios, pots and the garden in general. Tulips, Daffodils, Narcissus, Freesias, Camassia and Alliums were all featured with hints and tips on planting up. There was advice on cutting back apple trees and treating with winter wash and also tips on growing apple trees in containers. Listeners questions included dividing herbaceous plants, transplanting Daffodils, cutting back White Beam and Cherry Blossom, propogating roses and options for natural coloured Heathers.

This week Paraic looked ahead to the Westport Honeybee Festival taking place on Saturday 18th October which includes speakers on a variety of honeybee and honey related topics including gardening and biodiversity. As this is the time of year to take cutting Paraic gave a step by step guide on how to take cuttings, the best environment for bringing them on successfully and how to care for them over the winter period. Cyclamen were featured in detail with information on both bulb and patio varieties and tips on how to sow from seeds. Listeners questions included spring flowering bulbs for shaded areas, storing Dahlias over the winter, splitting and replanting hostas, care of apple trees post fruiting, slug control, harvesting Sea Buckthorn berries and treatment for Nostock which appears on hard surfaces at this time of year.

On the programme this week Paraic looked back at the recent Climate Fest event which featured various workshops and seminars on how can positively impact the issue of climate change at an individual level. One such way from the perspective of gardening is to plant more trees and the programme looked at a range of native Irish trees with that in mind such as Hazel, Willow, Poplar, Mallus and Lime. There was information on how to get Hazel trees to fruit, the different kinds of Mountain Ash, trees suitable for an elevated site and trees suitable for wet conditions. Listeners questions included varieties of blue roses, trimming back Dogwood, growing micro greens, cultivating kiwi fruit in tunnels, the planting and care of Helibores and the creation of green manure.

As September bows out this week's programme looked at some of the beautiful autumn leaf colour available at the moment with trees such as Liquid Amber, Autumn Blaze and Parrotia Persica all in the spotlight. The honey harvest has arrived and Paraic noted the benefits of honey avaialable locally compared to that mass produced elsewhere. There was information on building and cleaning out nesting boxes in preparation for spring and tips on what to do in the greenhouse now while the Ice Plant, Sunflowers and Nerines were all featured this week. Listeners questions ranged from cutting back Poplars and Hazelnut Trees to food for house plants and using coffee cups to sow seeds indoors.

On this week's programme Paraic looked at sowing for next year and tidying up the garden. There were tips for managing moss which is very prevalent after the moist conditions in August - Paraic advised on applying treatments before it takes hold. There was information on composting, sowing sweet peas and herbs for Christmas and a reminder to plant bulbs now for spring colour. Listeners questions featured moving deciduous trees, plants for a long slope, digging and dividing hostas, collecting and saving sunflower and other seeds, advice on the best apple trees to plant for cooking and eating and managing and feeding camelias.

On this week's programme Paraic focused on treating moss in lawns at this time of year and advised on how to keep moss under control coming into the winter months. There was also advice on watering and liquid feeding plants in tubs and containers to prolong flowering and a reminder to get on top of weeds as they come into seed. As fruit is harvested so is it sown and Paraic discussed the planting of rhubarb, logan berries, raspberries, tayberries and gooseberries and suggested some interesting varieties for listeners to try. Questions this week included reseeding a damaged lawn, platning ground covering and climbing roses, collecting and saving poppy seeds, pruning back apple trees, soil testing for mineral elements and plants for wet areas of the garden.

The garden show returned for the Autumn season with a feature on Autumn colour over the coming months from both foliage and flowering plants. Liquid Amber, Pittosporum and varieties of Peniculata all took centre stage while there was a look ahead to Winter and early Spring flowering bulbs such as Winter Achonites, Snowdrops, Tulips and Honey Lillies. There was information on vegetable planting in tunnels, Christmas potatoes, taking cuttings for next season and planting winter flowering heathers. Listeners questions included bulb planting between Patriot Hostas, Pyracantha affecte by apple scab, overwintering Angel Trumpets, hanging basket ideas for Winter and care and propogation of Coleus.

In the final programme before the summer break Paraic looked at forgaing events happening locally, the kinds of plants that can be found it the countryside at the moment and how they can be incorporated into dishes and recipes. Increased temperates has resulted in plants really coming into bloom and there was a timely reminder on feeding and general care over the Summer. Plants featured this week included Hornbeam and Foxglove, and there was information on summer cuttings, dealing with blight, feeding lawns and controlling caterpillars on cabbage. Questions to the programme included preventing the spread of Himalayan Balsam, good varieties of floury potatoes, plants suitable to grow for a science project, planting banks and slopes and controlling red spider mites.

Weather conditions this week are favourable for blight and Paraic gave a timely reminder on the different methods and proprietary options available to reduce damage to crops. The programme profiled some instant flowering plants for colour from mid-June to October including Dahlias and Petunias. There were features on Berberis Hammond Piller, Agyranthemums and Hemerocallis and information on how the steps to take when creating a new border from scratch. Listerners questions included taking cuttings from Escalonia, saving and sowing Lupin seeds,using garlic as a means of pest control, splitting and transplanting Calla Lillies and ways to prevent Gooseberry Saw Fly and Red Lily Beetle.

Colour for June and throughout the summer featured on the programme this week with Dahlias, Dianthus, Hydrangea and Grazinia all in the spotlight. Paraic discussed how some councils are using wildflower seeds along major roadways to reduce grass maintenance and promote biodiversity and there was advice on rose care during the summer months with recommendations to dead head, feed and control pests on this flowering favourite. Listeners questions included treating millipedes, compost suitable for a medium sized Vegepod, moving Lupins, pinholes in Hostas, plating seeds in tunnels, pruning back camelias, taking cuttings from scented Geraniums and wildflowers for shady areas.

On this week's programme Paraic reviewed some of the highlights of Bloom 2019 and where one of the biggest trends was an interest in biodiversiy and how individuals can take small steps to promote this in the way they approach their gardens. There was a look at bee friendly plants that can be sown now from seed for next year and enivornmentally friendly methods of controlling weeds. Paraic gave an advisory warning on blight with tips on how to prevent it not just on potatoes but on other fruits and vegetables as well. There was information on feeding lawns, moving hostas, taking cuttings from fushia and controlling mare's tail. Listeners questions this week featured hedging for rural areas, pruning back rhodedendrons, the best soil type for sowing calla lillies and putting straw on strawberries.

With Bloom 2019 in full swing this week the programme featured an in-depth look at some of the show gardens on display; Paraic talked about current green gardening trends and bee friendly initiatives with special reports on the dementia friendly and crumlin hosptial gardens. Plants featured included the Runaway Bridge Hydrangea and flowers for summer colour in June and July. Listeners questions ranged from Thuja blight and grey mould on roses to tackling wild grass in lawns, how to care for growing sunflowers, holes in rhubarb and preparing soil for next year's potatoe crop.

Frost has made its presence felt on young tender plants and this week the programme looked at how to repair some of the damage caused in recent days - hydrangea, laurel, beech, forest flame and many other plants have been affected and Paraic advised on what to do to minimise any damage and help plants get back into growth. Lilacs are a great favourite at this time of year with many varieties to choose from while Nemecia was also featured as a plant that is highly scented and flowers for a long period. There was a reminder about sowing perennials from seeds and Salvia Purple Fairytale was recommended as being particularly bee friendly. Listeners questions featured Autumn flowering bulbs, sowing marrows, information on Ash Dieback, options for instant colour in pots, growing carrots in coastal areas, camelias that have been eaten by sheep and cherry roots coming through a lawn.

Nighttime temperatures remain low at the moment so this week Paraic reminded listeners of the importance of covering half hardy annuals at night in order to avoid frost damage. The programme discussed organic slug control, feeding and pruning roses, trimming back plants that have finished flowering, planting nerines and cyclamen and how to prevent "rose sickness" when planting new roses with old. Listeners questions included rosemary and lavender in a seaside garden, information on Philadelphus Coronoreus, wind damaged alstromerias and rhodedenrons, transplanting sunflower seedlings from pots and complementary trees for laburnum.

The trend of growing your own continues to gain momentum and this week's programme looked at how families are using different spaces to try out different kinds of vegetables with kale, baby carrotts, peas and salad crops all great options that can be sown from seed now. The programme also featured a new variety of blueberry called Pink Lemonade which has a high yeild, a sweet flavour, is self pollinating and remains compact. There was advice on materials for covering tunnels, protecting lawns from damage by badgers and the prevalence of Saint Marks flies that are visible at the moment. Listeners questions included cutting back daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs, planting on apple trees in pots, scab resistant varieties of potato, sowing parsnips and the canker free varieties available and systemic treatments for mare's tail weeds.