SCHOOL EDITION 22 MARCH 2023 - Flipbook - Page 27
FARMFAMILY
ABOVE: Ardress House, Portadown, County Armagh.
ABOVE: The Argory, Moy, County Armagh.
FARMWEEK
JANUARY 28 2021
27
ABOVE: Belfast’s Botanic Gardens.
There are good thymes ahead
for green-ngered enthusiasts
T
HERE’S a stretch in the
evenings with this week
heralding an extra hour
of sunlight per day since
December’s Winter Solstice,
which means some gardeners
are starting to think about
preparations for spring.
For those who are green ngered
or indeed for anyone who simply
wants to nd a new hobby, there
are a number of jobs you can be
getting on with both indoors and
outdoors to ensure your pot plants,
shrubs and herbs continue to
thrive.
Winter usually has a sting in its
tail and the recent icy blasts have
led to more of us cranking up the
home heating. But is this extra
heat a good thing for indoor plants
and is now really a good time to
be venturing outside for gardening
again?
Discover Northern Ireland has
teamed up with two experts who
tend to gardens which attract
thousands of visitors each year to
bring you some top tips for winter
gardening, indoors and out.
Colin Agnew, Community Parks
Supervisor at Belfast Botanic
Gardens, has compiled the
following advice to help your plants
Colin Agnew has revealed his two pot plants of choice for all yearround attractive foliage:
AGLAONEMA ‘SILVER QUEEN’
n Silver or white variegated leaves are great. One of the few house
plants that will thrive under poor light conditions. It has an upright
growth habit making it suitable for most household positions where
you want to add a touch of greenery.
SYNGONIUM PODOPHYLLUM
n This plant is very decorative. It has shining green arrow shaped
leaves with a lighter pattern in the juvenile stage of growth. It has a
trailing growth habit, making it suitable for small pots and trellises.
ourish inside:
WATER SPARINGLY
n Only water when the soil
surface is dry at this time of the
year. Avoid the temptation to
overfeed. A plant may wilt and lose
its turgidity if overwatered. They
seldom recover when sodden. It is a
good idea to add a weak solution of
Phostrogen or seaweed feed. Both
are nicely balanced with essential
nutrients.
CONSIDER LOCATION
n Houseplants can be fussy and
temperamental, just like ourselves
sometimes. They don’t appreciate a
cold draft and although they don’t
all require direct sunlight, they will
perform better if light levels are
good. Natural light is always best,
so use the porch or windowsill
when you can.
POTTING UP
n The growth in most species
of popular house plants is limited
during the winter months. It tends
to be a dormant period. Don’t
LEFT: Mount Stewart, Strangford
Lough.
consider repotting until spring
when daylight is longer, root
growth is better, and a regular
feeding programme can be
resumed.
DRAINAGE
n A free draining compost is
essential in order to guarantee
happy plants. Replenish dry plants
with water then leave them until
they dry out again before repeating
the process.
Claire McNally, Head Gardener
at the National Trust’s Rowallane
Garden at Sainteld, County Down,
offers the following advice for
preparing your garden for spring:
DIY PROJECTS
n Winter is a great time to do
some DIY projects such as xing a
dodgy fence panel. If you started
a compost heap last year but it’s
just not big enough, or in the wrong
place, now is the perfect time to
move or expand it. Loved growing
plants from seed last year? How
about a glasshouse or cold-frame
to give you some protected growing
space?
PRUNING
n It’s an ideal time to prune
climbing and shrub roses. Wisteria
ABOVE: The Palm House, Botanic Gardens, Belfast.
will be getting its long extension
growth snipped back to two buds.
Trees like apples and pears,
gooseberries and red currants,
can all be pruned now. The Royal
Horticultural Society also has
a huge amount of advice on its
website to guide you through the
steps.
PLANTING BEDS
• Now is a great time to expand or
make new planting beds. You can
prepare them by digging over and
adding organic matter or by using
no-dig mulching methods (much
easier on the back and great for the
soil microbiology). This is the least
glamorous part of gardening but it’s
a great investment. Generally, the
more care you put into your soil,
the healthier your plants will be.
ENJOY NATURE
• Find time to enjoy nature in
whatever garden you have. Keep
an eye on the robins that will
inevitably accompany you if you
disturb the soil. Listen to the birds
and watch the drama at feeders
and baths. Get your hands in the
dirt when you can, and see the life
teeming under the surface.
n For more information about
Belfast Botanic Gardens, Rowallane
Garden and other great places to
visit when government guidance
permits travel again, visit www.
discovernorthernireland.com
Northern Ireland’s giant welcome
will be here for you when the time
is right.
n For the latest government
guidelines on COVID restrictions,
visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/
campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19
Antrim woman reaches final of national competition
A
WOMAN from Antrim has reached the
nal in a national competition to nd
young adults who have helped in their
communities during the 2020 pandemic.
Victoria McClements, 20, was nominated for
the Urban Jungle’s Heroes 2020 competition
by her mother Audrey McClements, also from
Antrim.
She said: “My daughter Victoria suffers from a
rare, life-threatening illness and had no option
to shield for 12 weeks with her boyfriend Conor
and her Granny and Grandad as I’m a key
worker.
“Being singers, Victoria and Conor set up their
sound system in the garden every Thursday
evening and entertained the neighbours, as well
as their Facebook followers, while dedicating
their songs to the NHS and frontline workers.
“A special moment occurred when one of the
nurses who saved Victoria’s life back in 2012
made contact and thanked Victoria for her
seless act every Thursday evening.
“Her songs were reaching those who were
helping save lives.
“With no income since March, Victoria and
Conor have recently created their own duet –
Bello Duo – and have released their rst album,
‘Out of the Darkness’.
“Victoria has never allowed her illness to
dictate what she can and can’t do with her life,
despite the daily struggles she goes through,
and she will always be my hero!”
Jimmy Williams, CEO of Urban Jungle, the
company which is running the competition, said:
“We think young adults have had to endure a lot
in 2020 and want to do our bit to say ‘thank you’.
“We wanted to meet the people, hear the
stories and give thanks and recognition to those
who have helped us all through.
“Whether they went shopping for an ill
neighbour, took up the slack at work when
others couldn’t or have been on the front line,
we wanted to nd those young adults and share
their inspiring stories.”
The winner of the competition will receive
a £250 Amazon voucher and become Urban
Jungle’s 2020 Hero. Four nalists will also win
£50 Amazon vouchers.
n To nd out the winner on February 1, and to
see the full list of nalists, visit https://explore.
myurbanjungle.com/blog/urban-junglesheroes-2020/
RIGHT: Victoria McClements.