tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318315573443906562024-03-13T20:58:45.760-07:00Nurseries Ireland, Nursery Plants, Trees, Shrubs, Garden Nurseries - MyPlantWe produce and breed outstanding patio and balcony plants. This blog will keep you up to date on our activities.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-83656298285044327022017-03-07T13:29:00.000-08:002017-03-07T13:31:50.750-08:00Oca a lost Crop of the Inca.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 22.5pt;">Oca. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">(Oxalis tuberosa)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What is Oca?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Oca
belongs to the family of plants our native Irish wood sorrel belongs to, known in
Irish Gaelic as Seamsóg. This plant
cousin comes from the mid level, wet, cool regions of the Andes Mountains which
share a similar climate to the Irish climate. Our wood sorrel is botanically
known as Oxalis acetosella whereas Oca is Oxalis tuberosa they are relatively
closely related. But for the vagaries of
history should have been introduced as one of the Andean crops brought to
Ireland by the explorers, for various reasons this wonderful tuber got left
behind. Oca is the second most important tuber crop of the Andean people only
second to potato but historically was always planted in addition to potato and
on higher poorer soils. This strategic use of Oca is an interesting lesson in
food safety strategy developed over thousands of years. Another question for another day is if indeed
it is a coincidence that our national plant the original Shamrock could
possibly have been related to this plant but we leave this to the historians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This reference from the International
Potato Centre in Peru puts the importance of Oca succinctly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Oca
produces the second most widely cultivated tuber after potato. It is hardy and
frost resistant, with long, cylindrical tubers from white to deep grayish
purple. High in protein, with a good balance of amino acids, it is also a good
source of fiber, and high in antioxidants.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Figure <![if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
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ARABIC <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'>1</span><![if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]> Oca growing in Kilkenny,
Ireland.<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Described in the
chronicles of the Spanish conquest, ceramic representations indicate that Oca
was a highly revered staple dating back to pre-Colombian times. Its high yield
and pleasant taste make it very popular in rural Andean cuisine where it is
traditionally boiled in soups or stews. Tubers are also baked or roasted and
often left in the sun to sweeten before cooking. Most production is still for home consumption
but CIP’s<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>ALTAGRO<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>project is helping smallholders
produce Oca marmalades in a variety of colours. Repositioning the crop for new
markets encourages the conservation of the crop’s diversity, and helps to
overcome its reputation as a poor man’s tuber.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">CIP,
International Potato Centre, Peru.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Five hundred
years later we at Beotanics and the The Chefs Farm based at FitzGerald
Nurersies in County Kilkenny have selected from 38 different varieties a small
number of varieties that suit our farm environment and our palates. Who knows
what might have happened in Irish history had this wonderful nutritious tuber
been adopted alongside the potato all those years ago? Meanwhile however as the mid 1850’s Ireland
suffered famine and collapse of our only subsistence carbohydrate New
Zealanders adopted this tuber with great vigour and today it is even called New
Zealand Yam in that country and is a favourite niche carbohydrate tuber which
is even eaten raw there as a snack. Unlike our potato you can eat Oca raw! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc9tw-VJRdc/WL8ljSow3mI/AAAAAAAAAw8/1cqYDAQGVk0RZuz41cR_2x6QvlOY_6CtgCLcB/s1600/tubers%2Boca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc9tw-VJRdc/WL8ljSow3mI/AAAAAAAAAw8/1cqYDAQGVk0RZuz41cR_2x6QvlOY_6CtgCLcB/s320/tubers%2Boca.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Oca comes in many colours from whites to
almost black and colours in between. The main colours of culinary interest are
Yellow, Pink and Red, the more red the more acid they tend to taste and the
more Yellow the more sweet. Some commercial breeding has taken place in New
Zealand and in recent years Americans and Europeans including ourselves have
been dabbling in saving seeds and making own selections. One of the draw backs
in producing Oca is that it’s a short day tuberising plant. This means that the
tubers can only begin to form when the days shorten to under 12 hours and of
course this leaves them a very short window to develop size and weight.
Breeding of lines that are day length neutral is being attempted but this
requires breaking habits of thousands of years for this plant. In the meantime
we work with the best selected lines we have based on taste and yield and we
try to adapt our climatic conditions by protecting from early frosts to keep
foliage into December which is a challenge and makes this an expensive crop to
grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Why eat Oca?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<p class=MsoCaption>
Figure <![if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-begin'></span><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>SEQ Figure \*
ARABIC <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'>2</span><![if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]>Various Oca varieties
lightly boiled then roasted. Similar to roasting potato.<span
style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Oca provides us with some interesting flavour,
colour, nutritional and variety options for our carbohydrate intake and
everyone and their mother is talking carbs these days! Me I am just a humble
farmer / plantsman but I eat too and I’ve had some big challenges recently with
maintaining my sugar levels to keep out of Type2 Diabetes territory. I am not
recommending that any of the crops I grow will achieve my goals but I believe
variety is important in diet and this little tuber is one of my carbs of choice
purely based on taste. It however is deemed to be lower in Glycemic index than
potato and has definite flavour difference. I have used it in sheperds pie,
fish pie, roasted, deep fried as chips, raw, grated on salads, soups and simple
mashed on plate like potato and mixed with potato and sweet potato mash. One of the very interesting thoughts is that
it can be used instead of baby potatoes as starters if you are having potato
with main course and it’s a great conversation piece now that you are so well
educated on Oca! I have provided some recipes
below. As you can see from the chart below Oca is low in Carbs just 10.4g per
100g serving and high in some important vitamins not commonly high in other
vegetables, great source of fibre and put simply adds variety into your diet
for that part of your meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: #CFF1A6; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background: #B9E18A; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Nutrient<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #B9E18A; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Amount per 100 g<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #B9E18A; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">% Daily Value<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #B9E18A; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Comment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">87 g<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">NA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Very high water content<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Protein<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">0.8 g<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">1.5 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Fat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">NA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">NA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Contains practically no fat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Carbohydrates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">10.4 g<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">3.5 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Fiber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">8 g<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">32 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Excellent source of dietary fiber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">0.05 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">3.3 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">0.94 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">55 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Better source of riboflavin than
most root vegetables<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Vitamin B3 (Niacin)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">1.09 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">5.5 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">39.7 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">66 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Calcium (Ca)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">17.2 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">1.7 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Iron (Fe)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">12.5 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">70 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Only some oca varieties provide
this much iron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Phosphorus (P)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">28.2 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">2.8 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Zinc (Zn)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">1.8 mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt;"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">11.9 %<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 7.5pt 6.0pt 7.5pt 6.0pt; width: 127.5pt;" width="170"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">The <b>absolute amounts</b> in
the nutrition facts table above are provided by two primary sources: 1) Marrou,
Gonzalez, and Flores (2011). Composición química de "oca" (Oxalis
tuberosa), "arracacha" (Arracaccia xanthorriza) y "tarwi"
(Lupinus mutabilis) — Formulación de una mezcla base para productos
alimenticios. Asociación RVCTA. 2) Tablas Peruanas de Composición de Alimentos,
Centro Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Salud.<br />
The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="dailyvalue"><b>percent daily values</b></a> or %DV above
have been calculated by healwithfood.org and are based on recommendations for a
2,000 calorie reference diet. Your daily values may be different depending on
your individual needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Other sources:</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
Penarrieta (2009). Antioxidants in Bolivian Plant Foods. Antioxidant Capacity,
Flavonoids and other Phenolic Compounds. <i>Department of Chemistry, Lund
University</i>.<br />
Albihn and Savage (2001). The effect of cooking on the location and
concentration of oxalate in three cultivars of New Zealand-grown oca (Oxalis
tuberosa Mol). <i>Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 81</i> (10),
1027-33.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
Source: </span><a href="http://www.healwithfood.org/nutrition-facts/oca-oxalis-tuberosa.php#ixzz4VaEojCei"><span style="color: #003399; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">http://www.healwithfood.org/nutrition-facts/oca-oxalis-tuberosa.php#ixzz4VaEojCei</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 22.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">How to eat Oca.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBX3hyi9yC8/WL8l7d-K5lI/AAAAAAAAAxE/8BtwIBNt5Y4u5RabHFM-VhvY28PnmBNHQCLcB/s1600/cooked%2Boca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBX3hyi9yC8/WL8l7d-K5lI/AAAAAAAAAxE/8BtwIBNt5Y4u5RabHFM-VhvY28PnmBNHQCLcB/s320/cooked%2Boca.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 22.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">As mentioned earlier there are as many ways to eat Oca as there are
potato. One thing to be aware of with Oca is that its higher than potato in
Oxalates which are found in Spinach, Rhubarb and some other vegetables. More
modern varieties in fact are lower in Oxalates especially the yellow forms. If
you are prone to kidney or gallstones foods with Oxalic acid should not be
taken in excess so consulting your dietician or doctor on this is a good idea.
However research done in New Zealand on this topic has clearly shown that by
boiling or half boiling Oca much of the oxalates are removed and most are
removes when Oca is peeled as the skin holds the highest amounts of these
Oxalates. So as a general note all vegetables that are high in Oxalates just
require consumption levels to take this into account. The method of cooking
will greatly determine the Oxalate level you ingest. Another thing to remember
with Oca is that the beautiful colours you see on the Tubers when raw quickly
fade when cooked <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
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margin-left:0;margin-top:26.5pt;width:236.1pt;height:236.1pt;z-index:-251644928;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;
mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;
mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;
mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/pat/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="IMG_0043 (002)"/>
<w:wrap type="tight" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 22.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Some Oca Recipes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">10 things
to do with Oca</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Ocas are a yummy addition to a roast.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Try Oca mash; it's nice with grilled meat like lamb cutlets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">A Oca cooked for 40-50 seconds in the microwave makes a good snack for
toddlers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Sliced Ocas are great in stir-fries, especially if still slightly crisp.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Lightly cooked and sliced with a lemon or lime vinaigrette, Ocas make a
great salad base<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Ocas have a natural sweetness which works well with ginger, orange or
sweet and sour type sauces.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Ocas are delicious drizzled with honey and roasted in the oven until soft
and caramelized.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Roast Ocas with red onions and pumpkin and toss through pasta for a
quick delicious dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">9.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Grate Ocas and use raw in salads
- try Oca and carrot with a lemony dressing.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">10.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Lightly cook Ocas in the
microwave, then stir-fry with sliced almonds and freshly grated ginger.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 22.5pt;">Oca, cashew & coconut
curry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1029"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://www.halfords.co.nz/shop_image/article/788b3901849205b7762a22c5aa94abf4.jpg"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:-27.2pt;margin-top:0;width:24pt;height:24pt;
z-index:251659264;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;
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o:title="788b3901849205b7762a22c5aa94abf4"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Sauté 1 diced onion and 1 garlic clove. <br />
Add green curry paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes. <br />
Add 500g whole mellow yellow or apricot Ocas and 1 tin of coconut milk. <br />
Simmer until Ocas are cooked, approximately 30-40 minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Other options - green banana, prawns, pumpkin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ingredients:</span></strong><br />
500g grated Ocas <br />
1 cup plain flour <br />
1 cup wholemeal flour<br />
1/2tp baking powder <br />
1/2tp baking soda <br />
1/2tp salt<br />
1/2cup brown sugar <br />
1/2tp nutmeg<br />
1/2tp cinnamon<br />
1/2cup raisins/chopped dried apricots <br />
4 eggs<br />
1 cup vegetable oil<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Method: </span></strong><br />
Mix dry ingredients and fold in Ocas, dried fruit, beaten eggs and oil. <br />
Pour into muffin tins and bake at 180ºC for approximately 30 minutes. Top with
your favourite icing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 22.5pt;">Winter Gratin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1028"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://www.halfords.co.nz/shop_image/article/74e76ee2c2ebb20743a915c482b5f0da.jpg"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:-27.2pt;margin-top:0;width:24pt;height:24pt;
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mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/pat/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image013.jpg"
o:title="74e76ee2c2ebb20743a915c482b5f0da"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Ocas sliced lengthways, sliced parsnip, pumpkin and kumara, layered in a
baking dish with dots of butter, mixed herbs and cheese (mozzarella and tasty
cheddar are good), and season each layer with salt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Bake in a
moderate oven covered for 45 minutes. Add a touch (1/4 cup) of stock, milk or
cream if it gets too dry. Uncover, add a final layer of cheese, and fresh
breadcrumbs and finish for 10 minutes or grill topping until golden brown <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Great for the family!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 22.5pt;">Honey glazed Oca<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://www.halfords.co.nz/shop_image/article/cc39d45b75bc3677e9dabccd9c2a3e90.jpg"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:-27.2pt;margin-top:0;width:24pt;height:24pt;
z-index:251663360;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
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mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;
mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
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o:title="cc39d45b75bc3677e9dabccd9c2a3e90"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">In a roasting dish, place your Ocas and lightly cover with a mix of
honey and butter (30 seconds in a microwave to soften), and sprinkle with
cinnamon and salt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Roast for approx. 30-40 minutes in a moderate oven (the longer they are
cooked the sweeter the Oca gets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 22.5pt;">Roast Oca<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Put Ocas around a roast of meat about 30 minutes before the meat is
cooked or put into a baking dish with butter or dripping, sprinkle with salt
and pepper and bake in the oven at a moderate heat for 30 minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 22.5pt;">Peruvian Oca & Banana
Strudel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://www.halfords.co.nz/shop_image/article/d251f7860cbe1966bff19ed1a6f09649.jpg"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:-27.2pt;margin-top:0;width:24pt;height:24pt;
z-index:251665408;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
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mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;
mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/pat/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image017.jpg"
o:title="d251f7860cbe1966bff19ed1a6f09649"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Using left over honey-glazed Ocas, mix with bananas (overripe is
better), mash together with some dried fruit (apricots, sultanas, raisins) and
add some fresh breadcrumbs, mixed spice and a pinch of nutmeg. Set aside. (You
can use fresh grated Ocas but add more crumbs and a touch of honey.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Meanwhile
melt some butter and brush a sheet of filo pastry. Place another sheet on top
of this and repeat again. Place 2 heaped tablespoons of Oca mix on pastry and
fold sides over and brush with butter before rolling up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Place in
a moderate oven and bake. Strudel is cooked with it is brown and you can smell
it. Serve with bush honey yoghurt or vanilla ice cream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Delicious Winter Desert!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-65897997284380482532016-05-30T09:49:00.003-07:002016-05-30T09:49:33.649-07:00Chicago Park Department Bridging the Gap<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>30<sup>th</sup> May 2016<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>FitzGerald Nurseries are proud
to be the plant sponsor partners for the Chicago Bridge the Gap Garden project
at Bloom in the Park 2016. This year is the 10<sup>th</sup> Anniversary
of Bloom so an even more special occasion for this increasingly successful
national event. Like many Irish families, with cousins in Chicago, Pat
FitzGerald was delighted to be part of this very important tribute garden and
once asked got immediately into overdrive propagating two very relevant plants
to the theme. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLSOKMwDnSI/V0xujYvTXqI/AAAAAAAAAuY/_VG5I87qUg89PwqOT7zc1IwSR5m-fS28ACLcB/s1600/user_photo-56f978bcaae80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLSOKMwDnSI/V0xujYvTXqI/AAAAAAAAAuY/_VG5I87qUg89PwqOT7zc1IwSR5m-fS28ACLcB/s320/user_photo-56f978bcaae80.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>EverColor® Carex Everillo was
bred by FitzGerald and is now available nationwide in USA through various
garden centres, retail nurseries, box stores and even in Southern Living
Magazine and Sunset Magazine top garden plant branded promotions. Everillo is
part of FitzGeralds EverColor® range </i><a href="http://www.evercolorplants.com/"><i>www.evercolorplants.com</i></a><i>
which are Irelands most successful international ornamental plant export now
selling over 2 million plants per annum in 26 countries . Everillo
is a chartreuse coloured hardy sedge grass with full hardiness to -25C, shade
and sun tolerant great in containers living walls and many other garden
applications. FitzGerald visits USA on plant breeding and promotion
business several times a year. Please visit the evercolorplants.com where you
can download extensive high quality images of this wonderful new hardy foliage
range.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>The second plant bridging the
gap is Sunsparkler Sedum Dazzleberry from USA breeder Chris Hansen who
lives in Holland Michigan just across Lake Michigan facing the windy city
itself. This collaboration between two well known international nursery
plantsmen truly exemplifies the garden theme Bridging the Gap. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>All plants were grown here in
Ireland by FitzGerald Nurseries. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<i>End.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-69385871563199853092015-05-24T15:53:00.000-07:002015-05-24T16:02:29.807-07:00Sweet Potato Growing<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sweet Potato Growing</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">At FitzGerald Nurseries we have pioneered the introduction of a wide range of sweet potato varieties to Europe and brought sweet potato production in Europe to a new unprecedented level. We have been working on this crop in collaboration with breeders at Louisiana State University who are breeders of these wonderful varieties we promote. We are now selling sweet potato all across Europe and have developed virus free stock and expertise in the development of this crop in Europe for both gardeners and farm scale availability.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Climate:-</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) is a semi tropical plant that grows best between 20C and 30C
requiring a minimum of 120 days of frost free growing conditions. Plant growth
is restricted below 10C and plants physically damaged at 1C. Optimum growth
occurs between 20C and 30C, and optimum root swelling (they are not tubers) occurs during shortening days. In Northern Europe production is made much more possible through plug production as this method gives fast establishment and a head start to the plant. See section on Sweet Potato from Plugs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">N.B. Gardeners in Ireland and UK are strongly advised that best results are got in greenhouse conditions. While it is possible to get some positive results outdoors in warm sun trap locations this isn't usually the case.</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Soils:-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sweet
potatoes grow best on well drained sandy loam soils. Heavy soils should be avoided.
The pH of the soil is ideally 6 to 7 in saline free soils. Cultivate the soil
to provide 20-30 cm of well worked soil. Additional sub soiling will be needed
if soil compaction is present to improve drainage and root shape. Ridged beds
will aid harvesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3MKrQCHgybw/VWJXgQO33UI/AAAAAAAAAp0/COuP40v-698/s1600/ipomoea%2Bplug%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; direction: rtl; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3MKrQCHgybw/VWJXgQO33UI/AAAAAAAAAp0/COuP40v-698/s200/ipomoea%2Bplug%2B02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Planting Material:- </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sweet potato have been traditionally and are still propagated from
cuttings called slips. These slips should be well watered before planting and
kept at high humidity's to encourage rooting. In Northern European Climate this method has its challenges and pre-developed plug or pot production is evolving as a the best alternative.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Slips are planted by hand, with 5 cm to 7 cm of tip
exposed. It is best to plant the cuttings half horizontally to the ground
rather than vertical. Plug or Pot grown plants can be planted in a similar way but close attention to root spiraling should be observed as once roots start spiraling they will give distorted edible roots, however this is just a visual issue and these roots are perfectly fine for processing or chopping. Row sizes vary depending on climate and potential yield,
but in good cropping areas rows should be 100 cm apart and plant 30 cm apart in rows.
However in commercial field production if mechanical harvesting is planned bed spaces will vary- ridges 1.2 m
apart can be formed, with double rows 30 cm apart and 50 cm apart within the
row.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KqaHS3cATOk/VWJQJP3W8qI/AAAAAAAAApY/RuXLVrK2y6E/s1600/2014-08-07%2B19.28.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KqaHS3cATOk/VWJQJP3W8qI/AAAAAAAAApY/RuXLVrK2y6E/s320/2014-08-07%2B19.28.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Potato Burgundy grown up a tripod in <br />
greenhouse then used as an ornamental feature<br />
once sufficient foliage mass achieved.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">A method well worth trying in greenhouse conditions is to grow Sweet Potato vines in the same way as tomato i.e. up a string. Some fantastic yield results have been achieved in trials using this method. We have also grown them on tripods in containers or ground like beans. These methods maximize light exposure on the leaf surface and also prevent this rampant grower from being too invasive in the greenhouse. If growing like this in a container you will need at least 15 liters of substrate.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When planting in containers 2/3 fill the container and plant, once vine grows clear of the top of container by 10 - 15cm fill remainder of container with potting soil. This encourages maximum yield potential in good greenhouse conditions. In prefect growing conditions yields up to 5 Kg have been achieved on some varieties and typical yield using this method is 3.5 kg per plant assuming good culture maintained.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Irrigation:-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sweet potatoes do not like too wet conditions, however
at planting it is important the soil is kept moist to ensure good
establishment. Yields and quality are seriously affected if the crop is
stressed when the harvest roots develop. Over watering though will cause
rotting and skin cracking. Sweet potato can crack wide open and become corky in extremes of drying out and wetting dues to surges in growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6666660308838px;"><b>Fertilizer</b></span></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">:-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sweet potatoes require less fertilizer than other
vegetables. Individual recommendations will vary depending on previous cropping
and soil analysis before planting. In garden conditions it is important to avoid excessive nitrogen so a balanced feed with low nitrogen fertilizer is desirable. Sweet potato lend themselves to use of non chemical fertilizers but if using organic matter, such as grass clipping or other green waste it is essential it is well composted before working into soil and low in nitrogen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Weed Control:-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Sweet potatoes are ideally suited for mechanical
weeding assuming no serious perennial weeds are present. During early crop growth, shallow cultivation between rows and hand
weeding will control weeds. Once plants cover the ground, the crop tends to
smother further weed growth.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Pests and Diseases: - </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The sweet potato crop is relatively free of pest and
disease problems. Following a good rotation and hand weeding there should be no need for use of pesticides as many biological control methods are available. However Fusarium is the main cause of root rot, which
increases in cold wet soils. It can progress rapidly within the root, so early
harvest in warm condition should be encouraged. Planting material selection</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5U_1LJIbIFI/VWJNSy7SprI/AAAAAAAAApM/y4awNSQ4llI/s1600/June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5U_1LJIbIFI/VWJNSy7SprI/AAAAAAAAApM/y4awNSQ4llI/s320/June.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">is the key to controlling virus and disease. Our stock is all from our own elite stock maintenance program, maintained in our own laboratory. All our varieties are maintained virus and bacteria free and mother plants replaced each season. This control of parent material is key to achieving best yield of healthy foots for our customers. Care should be taken against rodents including field mice as in late Autumn they can do extreme damage especially in crops planted through plastic film as they will have perfect shelter and go undetected.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Harvesting: - </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Remove
vines before digging the potatoes. The sweet potato is very sensitive to
bruising. As such all harvesting and handling must take place with extreme
care. In dry sunny conditions sweet potato can be placed on surface of ground in a poly-tunnel similar to how onions are but this should only be done in warm conditions avoiding temps below 10C.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Storing Roots:-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Do not wash roots intended for storage. Sweet potatoes
must be cured by holding them at high temperatures (plus 25C) with a high
relative humidity (90%) for upto 2 weeks. This cures the roots by healing the
wounds, keeps shrinkage and weight loss at a minimum and improves the culinary
qualities of the tuber by converting starches to sugars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Bon Apetite </b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Varieties:-</b></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Evangline<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Skin Colour: light rose skin, fades in storage; slightly more red than Beauregard at harvest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Flesh Colour: Intense deep orange Flesh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Specialty: Evangeline produces 40% more Beta carotene than Beauregard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Susceptible/resistance to common diseases:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Soil rot: Intermediate – resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Root knot: highly resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium wilt: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Rhizopis soft wilt: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Sclerotial blight: Susceptible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium root rot: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Bonita</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Skin Colour: light tan skin with a pink cast at harvest, fades in storage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Flesh colour: white with a tinge of yellow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Speciality: Unique nutty flavor – ideal for baking. Uniform and good performer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Susceptible/resistance to common diseases:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Soil rot: Intermediate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Root knot: highly resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium wilt: intermediate - resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Rhizopis soft wilt: Susceptible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium root rot: Susceptible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Murasaki-29</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Skin Colour: dark purple skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Flesh Colour: white flesh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Speciality: Very well suited for boiling and not so sweet than the other varieties, but needs a longer growing time of 120-130 days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Susceptible/resistance to common diseases:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Soil rot: Intermediate - resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Root knot: highly resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium wilt: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Rhizopis soft wilt: highly resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium root rot: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Orleans</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Skin Colour: light rose skin <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Flesh Colour. Orange flesh with an intensity similar to Beauregard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Speciality: Highly uniform production of storage roots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Susceptible/resistance to common diseases:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Soil rot: Intermediate - resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Root knot: susceptible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium wilt: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Rhizopis soft rot: resistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Bacterial soft rot: Susceptible (same as Beauregard)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fusarium root rot: resistant</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Burgundy. New!</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">An outstanding flavoured variety full details soon this variety is wooing anyone who tastes it and is a very special flavour.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-84883830885422014182013-06-04T14:47:00.000-07:002013-08-27T04:35:48.113-07:00Irish Primrose at Bloom 2013 <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrllG-tZKOI/Ua5QAthshvI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/VRqmxYtWwLo/s1600/photo+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 299px;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrllG-tZKOI/Ua5QAthshvI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/VRqmxYtWwLo/s320/photo+(5).jpg" width="238" yya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Garden Writer Association member and regional <br />
director Ginger Aarons at Bloom receiving her Innisfree. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<strong>Bloom 2013 The Gathering of Gardeners.</strong></div>
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What a year for this show, one hundred and ten thousand visitors passed through and enjoyed Bloom this year in splendid sunshine. Despite years of recession, doom and gloom the show is blossoming into one of Irelands leading summer attractions. What a wonderful location for this national event for the people by the people and in the peoples park! Despite the tremendous crowds attending each day there was minimal disturbance and no more than expected traffic delays encountered. This is truly a wonderful public occasion and a combination of right time, right place right spirit, long may it continue. <br />
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Go mbeire muid beo ar an am seo aris!</div>
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This year it was my great honour to have grown thousands of Irish Primrose Innisfree as gifts to thousands of visitors who visited Bloom from outside of Ireland. The Gathering of Gardeners was promoted through various garden and media publications in Ireland and UK, such as Gardens Illustrated, BBC Gardeners World Magazine, Cara and other publications in print and online. Together with An Bord Bia and the Gathering we presented "A Gift from Ireland" at Bloom. <br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKlEUCEpzh8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKlEUCEpzh8</a><br />
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This unique Irish Primrose is part of our now well travelled dark leaved Kennedy Irish Primrose range which itself is part of our wider Irish Primrose collection. We were delighted with the reception this primrose and the other varieties in the range has got not just in Ireland but around the world. For more on that you can click here and see whats been happening during the year gone by. Just scroll trhough the dozens of pictures to get a real feel for these gems of the spring garden. I have loaded pictures of their progress through the early part of this year. <a href="http://www.irishprimrose.com/">www.irishprimrose.com</a> </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Georgia, Helvetica, Arial; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">Quote from opening of Bloom 2013 by President Michael D Higgins. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Georgia, Helvetica, Arial; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">Bloom 2013 has been dubbed ‘the gathering of gardeners’ and many additional international visitors are expected at the show. Working with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia has reached out to UK gardening families and the Irish online community of Bloom fans, which now amounts to 20,000 gardeners. They have been encouraged to use Bloom as the ideal event for a gathering of friends and family. To ensure that the international visitors have a memorable experience Bord Bia have commissioned an Irish plant breeder to supply a Bloom memento, a new Irish Primrose called ‘Innisfree’. All those who travel from abroad will receive this as a free gift. These unique plants will be accompanied by a book mark plant label printed with Yeats’ poem ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children from Thomastown Presenting gifts to <br />
President and Mrs Higgins.</td></tr>
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Earlier in the week on Wednesday just a day before the Bloom official opening we had the honour of having President and Mrs Higgins at our parish school in Thomastown Co Kilkenny. President Higgins unveiled a special work of art in the school grounds. We had the great honour of having one of our most recent and yet to be named Irish Primrose selections presented to Mrs Sabina Higgins and a glass decantor made by our neighbours Jerpoint Glass.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of our most recent Irish Primrose selection</td></tr>
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This new jack-in-the-green Primrose has yet to be named and flowers are green white and gold in keeping with our national colours. This new variety will be released in Spring 2014 with the Irish Primrose full Spring collection</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pat meeting President and Mrs Higgins</td></tr>
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So all in all its been another eventful week for our Irish Primroses which are gaining worldwide attention for their striking and unique flower / foliage colour contrasts combined with hardy and resiliant old world charm.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-87396847930896177922013-04-07T15:11:00.000-07:002013-08-26T01:10:01.225-07:00Irish Primrose TrialsIrish Primrose Garden Trials.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iGjL3QJyKo/UWHpI9KcXVI/AAAAAAAAAh4/TNO8saLCC08/s1600/DSC01268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iGjL3QJyKo/UWHpI9KcXVI/AAAAAAAAAh4/TNO8saLCC08/s320/DSC01268.JPG" height="240" mta="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Avondale</td></tr>
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Spring has come very late in 2013 and indeed not fully arrived even yet. Our new primroses have weathered this most unusual and unprecedented cold March. Having been hit by sleet, snow, frost and continuous dry cold winds they are looking very perky indeed. Leaf colour on the dark leaved forms in fact is far better in cold conditions like we have now. The most interesting thing evolving that really make these forms of Primrose of great value to the Spring garden is how the flowers are remaining fresh and vivid by comparison to many of the poylanthus and large flowered winter bedding forms.<br />
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These new varieties from very old lines dating back to at least early 1900's have been slowly bred totally in out door conditions over a period of 38 years. The methodology applied is resulting in very tough genetics which ultimately is good for gardeners everywhere. Reports coming in from all over the world are so far positive. Remember these primroses are not meant to be just show pieces to look good in a pot for a fancy picture these plants must be gardeners plants. These primula are intended to last as perennials and give value to gardeners and can be divided up every few years to spread around the garden or re potted to make great flowering containers or mixed combos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUgLHsWqW5A/UWHpNkDeTZI/AAAAAAAAAiI/11P-4YcXuP4/s1600/DSC01302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUgLHsWqW5A/UWHpNkDeTZI/AAAAAAAAAiI/11P-4YcXuP4/s320/DSC01302.JPG" height="320" mta="true" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Moneygall</td></tr>
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Reports are coming in from USA as far North as Alaska and South to Dallas, as far East as Tokyo Japan and in Southern Hemisphere Melbourne Australia and Auckland New Zealand. Drumcliff, Innisfree and now many others are being put through their paces in Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, UK and other countries. Of course here in Ireland we are putting them through their paces also. So gardeners, nurseries and garden centres can be assured these plants are being tested for endurance as well as for their eye catching attributes. Up to now reports coming in are very positive and garden writers and experts around the world seem to like the surprise element of these beauties. Myself and Joe Kennedy are very grateful for the positivity shown towards these Irish Primroses and as they say in show biz, we think, you ain't seen nothing yet!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_usHZdX_N0/UWHpMvjpoiI/AAAAAAAAAiA/gF1JGDWMXOo/s1600/DSC01304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_usHZdX_N0/UWHpMvjpoiI/AAAAAAAAAiA/gF1JGDWMXOo/s320/DSC01304.JPG" height="240" mta="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Drumcliff</td></tr>
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What counts for me is that these plants work for the gardener, give something special to horticulture and stand the test of time. Knee jerk reactions to how one perceive, good or bad are never of value, it can take over 5 years to really know if a group of plants like this are of value. The process of breeding selection and final testing before release can and has in the case of these beauties taken a lifetime. You can keep up to date with images and news about our Irish Primroses on <a href="http://www.irishprimnrose.com/">www.irishprimnrose.com</a> which links for now to Irish Primrose facebook page, in due course a new website will be launched. oDOnt forget you can check all the other Irish Primrose stories in previous posts below.<br />
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Enjoy the pictures! :) .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZoMnQTz0JY/UWHpOKTocjI/AAAAAAAAAiM/Am226BFsFao/s1600/Dunbeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZoMnQTz0JY/UWHpOKTocjI/AAAAAAAAAiM/Am226BFsFao/s320/Dunbeg.jpg" height="320" mta="true" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Dunbeg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCapaq4dwkk/UWHpQX_iBJI/AAAAAAAAAiY/WOjjm2ydWrY/s1600/DSC01312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCapaq4dwkk/UWHpQX_iBJI/AAAAAAAAAiY/WOjjm2ydWrY/s320/DSC01312.jpg" height="320" mta="true" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Drumcliff</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REM-d_Cvwu8/UWHxg9a4q6I/AAAAAAAAAio/h0M5oI2yE28/s1600/Primrose_Innisfree_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REM-d_Cvwu8/UWHxg9a4q6I/AAAAAAAAAio/h0M5oI2yE28/s320/Primrose_Innisfree_12.jpg" height="213" mta="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Innisfree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNOFP9wqpRY/UWHxxvEkjlI/AAAAAAAAAiw/IlKt7tsJlEg/s1600/Claddagh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNOFP9wqpRY/UWHxxvEkjlI/AAAAAAAAAiw/IlKt7tsJlEg/s320/Claddagh.jpg" height="280" mta="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Primula Claddagh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YFOzL7tl9c4/UWHyL5XM6wI/AAAAAAAAAi4/i1P4ctv30tg/s1600/Tara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YFOzL7tl9c4/UWHyL5XM6wI/AAAAAAAAAi4/i1P4ctv30tg/s320/Tara.jpg" height="244" mta="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Primula Tara</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_czji3Pq8Kg/UWHpRvIgjNI/AAAAAAAAAig/GFeYmY-UXHc/s1600/Dunbeg_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_czji3Pq8Kg/UWHpRvIgjNI/AAAAAAAAAig/GFeYmY-UXHc/s320/Dunbeg_02.jpg" height="194" mta="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Dunbeg</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-55340608210640006292013-03-17T07:25:00.001-07:002013-08-26T01:13:28.644-07:00St Patricks Day special on the President Obama Moneygall Irish Primrose<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmp9nPJKiTI/UUXRZBEeGII/AAAAAAAAAgk/NWycqfnqC_k/s1600/Moneygall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmp9nPJKiTI/UUXRZBEeGII/AAAAAAAAAgk/NWycqfnqC_k/s200/Moneygall.jpg" height="200" psa="true" width="192" /></a>This week to highlight the launch of our Primula Moneygall out national TV station RTE 1 came to visit our micro-propagation laboratory. You can see the link to this radio piece here <a href="http://www.rte.ie/radio1/countrywide/programmes/2013/0316/376967-countrywide-saturday-march-16-2013/?clipid=1032094">http://www.rte.ie/radio1/countrywide/programmes/2013/0316/376967-countrywide-saturday-march-16-2013/?clipid=1032094</a></div>
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I hope you enjoy learning a little about how these plants are produced.<br />
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You can see full story on the Moneygall Primrose going to USA White House here.<br />
<a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.ie/2013/02/a-new-irish-primrose-for-whitehouse.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.ie/2013/02/a-new-irish-primrose-for-whitehouse.html</a></div>
Pat.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-90509307132463020202013-02-25T14:20:00.001-08:002013-02-27T02:11:10.503-08:00A New Irish primrose for The Whitehouse garden.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primula Moneygall</td></tr>
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<span style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spring is in the air and some of the more brave wild Irish primroses are peeping through their winter foliage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On St.Patricks Day 2013 a new primrose will herald springtime in Washington. A special Irish primrose has been named in honour of the maternal ancestral village of USA President Barack Obama. The first plants of the primrose named Primula Moneygall are already growing locally in USA<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>and now waiting for their introduction to the Whitehouse garden. This new Irish primrose variety will be gifted to President and Mrs Obama during their state visit by An Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Mr Enda Kenny and Mrs Fionnuala Kenny on St.Patricks Day 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For millennia in Ireland flowering of the wild primrose has been one of the first natural signs of progression from winter to spring. The humble primrose has given rise to positive and varied primrose folklore. As my old secondary school motto says Hiems Transit (winter has passed) the native primrose gives natures silent testament to this fact.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_9zcVHbijA/USvNYc_V1fI/AAAAAAAAAgE/siK5TLWrEWQ/s320/picposterlowres.jpg" width="230" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Primula Moneygall has similar flower colour and habit as our native Irish primrose.‘Moneygall’ along with a number of new Irish primroses now available worldwide has been raised from old Irish varieties through many years of conservation, breeding and selection work by Joe Kennedy and Pat FitzGerald. Primula Moneygall with its natural simplicity and profuse combination of single, poly and hose-in-hose flower formations is a natural Spring treat in garden containers, borders or other planting situations. The Moneygall Primrose is ideal for mass planting in garden, park, village or town planting schemes. This new primrose variety can be planted in Autumn or Spring and will compliment spring flowering bulbs such as crocus and snowdrop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We hope this selected variety heralds a new spring for us all in 2013 and enhances the joys of spring in the Whitehouse garden for generations to come. Primula Moneygall will be available as an addition to the current range of Irish primroses from Autumn 2013. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kennedy Irish Primrose display at <br />
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Check for the Kennedy Primrose range in your local garden center now they are truly unique.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For further news keep up to date at </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/IrishPrimrose">www.facebook.com/IrishPrimrose</a> <a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-53646001676473871302013-01-27T13:57:00.002-08:002014-01-26T08:54:47.020-08:00Irish Primrose Claddagh wins international perennial award<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>IPM Essen 2013 January 22nd to 25th</strong></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPjGQRP_BIY/UQWctwfzrVI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Jx-_BtjYNQg/s1600/Primula+Claddagh+-+IPM+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPjGQRP_BIY/UQWctwfzrVI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Jx-_BtjYNQg/s1600/Primula+Claddagh+-+IPM+2013.jpg" height="238" oea="true" width="320" /></a>FitzGerald Nurseries exhibited at the international plant trade show IPM Essen for the eight year. The company entered its new introduction Primula Claddagh, part of the Kennedy Irish Primrose range, in the perennial category. IPM Essen is the worlds largest commercial ornamental horticulture show.</div>
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Primula Claddagh was awarded best new perennial at this years show. Below were the judges comments about Primula Claddagh. </div>
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"As IPM novelty 2013 in the perennial category a new Irish bred variety was awarded: The Primula hybrid 'Claddagh' from Fitzgerald Nurseries. The red leaved, fully winterhardy primrose has convinced the jury with its natural appearance. The wild character of the plant with the honey yellow flowers is ideally suited for natural garden designs."</div>
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<strong>Show visitors feedback</strong></div>
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Visitors to the show were very interested in the whole Irish Primrose range exhibited on our stand in Hall 2. Orders from various parts of the world were very strong. Modern Primrose breeding has taken the humble Primrose to dizzy heights of flower colour, size and form. All thisintensive breeding in the direction of more bedding type production brings the Primrose a long way from its original origin in European gardening. Possibly for this reason our collection of Irish hardy perennial Primroses will help to change focus for future consideration of the Primrose and bring it back into the perennial garden with more frequency. </div>
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<strong>General background to Irish Primroses </strong></div>
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Primroses were perhaps the first garden plants deliberately raised selected and named in Ireland. (Charles Nelson) There are records going back to 1735 of auricula and polyanthus types grown and selected in the Earl of Meath’s Garden in Kilruddery Co Wicklow. A list of these Primroses is collated in A Heritage of Beauty by Charles Nelson. </div>
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Nelson tells us that later in the 19th Century the image of the old garden tended by a ‘little old lady'. During this period around the late 1800’s these lady gardeners were the custodians of these old old cultivars preserving them by dividing them and passing them around their circle of friends. Who in turn passed them to theirs and this was mainly how cultivars, species crosses and re-crossed the Irish channel between England and Ireland. Around this time and into the early 1900’s saw the rise of small commercial nurseries in many cases attached to the estates of landed gentry. Nurseries like Lisadell, in County Sligo in Yeats country, Newry Nurseries, Daisy Hill, Slieve Donard,Rowallne Nursery Co Down, Ballawally Alpine Nursery Dublin, Ballyrogan Nursery, Annesgrove Nurseries etc . </div>
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Visitors to Ireland with the gardening or Primrose bug at this time were spoiled for choice and picked up many of these old fashioned cultivars preserved by what became known as the Little Old Primrose ladies of Ireland. Charles Nelson again in his book A Heritage of Beauty makes the point that modern society and other pastimes gave cause for a decline in these wonderful plant. I am inclined to agree with him in the opinion that this was an unfortunate trend and the gardening world is the poorer for it. However we have what we have and we must learn from this decline and make the best of what we have.</div>
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This was my greatest inspiration to embark on my Primrose path and try to conserve the old and develop the new cultivars bred by the stalwart of modern Irish Primrose cultivars Mr Joe Kennedy. Joe is one of the greatest remaining links between our Irish Primrose heritage and todays modern garden. My collaboration and friendship with Joe is deep rooted. </div>
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<strong>History of the dark leaved Irish Primrose</strong></div>
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Mr Whiteside Dane lived just outside Naas in County Kildare in a townland called Garryard at the end of the 1800’s. He is reputed to have produced a Primrose called Garryard Appleblossom. It is assumed that this may have been a mutation this plant resembled the wild primrose in habit, leaf and growing preferences. It had strong dark leaves over which was carried pink and white flowers. Cecil Monson a Primrose breeder from Co Roscommon documented the story of how his grandmother when moving house in 1898 brought all her treasured Primroses with her. He relayed that in this collection was the only Garryard in existence at that time. He recalled that in 1935 he first saw another Garryard variety called Guinevere in the garden of a Mrs Page-Croft and this variety was raised by another important Primrose lady Mrs Johnson of Kinlough he also records the names of another Primrose lady Miss W.F Wynne of Avoca Co Wicklow. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wk6Rx9Oh1VQ/UQWiYBAp6wI/AAAAAAAAAfc/vGnWEBtRdJk/s1600/Primrose_Drumcliffe_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wk6Rx9Oh1VQ/UQWiYBAp6wI/AAAAAAAAAfc/vGnWEBtRdJk/s1600/Primrose_Drumcliffe_web.jpg" height="213" oea="true" width="320" /></a>After WW2 when Cecil Monson returned to Ireland from England he records there were many more of these dark leaved Garryard forms about so the Primrose people had been busy breeding. He mentions many varieties but one of most note bred this time by a Mr Champernowne from England called Enchantress which he says was the closest to the original Garryard that he had seen. Since this time these true dark leaved beauties have been crossed with many cultivars of julianas and alticas. Like many stories of plant history this account of the first dark leaved Primrose known as Garryard is contradicted by the very eminent plant historian Dr Charles Nelson who suggests that the first true Garryard did not appear on the scene in Ireland until 1935. Which ever is the true time of origin it is accepted that Ireland was where the first of the dark foliage forms originated. The original Garryard Appleblossom is said to be a cross between P. Juliae and P. vulgaris. Thanks to Joe Kennedy these foliage traits have been preserved and crossed into various hose in hose and polyanthus type Primroses. This work has given rise to what is a new and exciting future range of Primroses originating from the work of the many amateur gardeners and breeders who took interest in this wonderful simple plant through the last 150 years of Irish gardening history. But for the wonderful book by Dr Charles Nelsons A Heritage of Beauty many of these old varieties and descriptions and stories of where these varieties originated may be long forgotten and was the source of my original interest in the story of the Irish Primrose. Like Joe my first encounter with native flowers was through the wild Irish Primrose. My work as an Irish nurseryman has been to try and bring these gems to the gardening world having been saved for posterity by Joes and previous Irish gardeners good work.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-44691543852537915332012-09-14T04:50:00.001-07:002012-09-22T02:58:58.640-07:00Kennedy Irish Primroses at National Ploughing Championships<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are delighted to announce that FitzGerald Nurseries and County Wexford Garden Centre, Beechdale Plantsplus Garden Centre two local South East nursery businesses have teamed up to bring to this years <a href="http://www.ica.ie/National-Ploughing-Championships.1027.1.aspx">National Ploughing Championships </a> a whole new range of Irish bred and Irish grown hardy perennial Primroses. <br />
Kennedy Irish Primrose plants can be purchased exclusively as plug plants from the Beechdale stand all days through the Championships and are in easy to carry plug form just for this one time only exclusive offer. <br />
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Visitors to the show have plenty opportunity to buy a wider range of these wonderful traditional and dark leaved Primroses for the first time ever.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euqE6B4GNhg/T2puwSFSlVI/AAAAAAAAAX4/KCGy-fxw-B4/s1600/RebeccaSweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euqE6B4GNhg/T2puwSFSlVI/AAAAAAAAAX4/KCGy-fxw-B4/s1600/RebeccaSweet.png" /></a></div>
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These uniquely Irish Primroses have been setting gardeners heads turning around the world and have been featured in many international magazines and journals. </div>
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Beechdale Plantsplus Garden Centre will be in Block H Section 2 Stand 235 </div>
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You can visit this link to see news of other exciting happenings with these Old Irish gems </div>
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<a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.ie/2012/03/kennedy-irish-primroses-old-irish.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.ie/2012/03/kennedy-irish-primroses-old-irish.html</a></div>
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For your viewing you can see a clip from the recent BBC Gardeners World featuring Irish Primroses and Primrose breeder Joe Kennedy taken on our farm and in the local Irish Famine Memorial Garden. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyPtM8dpZB4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyPtM8dpZB4</a></div>
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If you would like more information please do not hesitate in contacting me directly.</div>
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<strong>Dark Foliage Varieties </strong><br />
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Primula Avoca First Release 2012 /13<br />
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Primula Claddagh Not available in numbers until 2013 </div>
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Primula Drumcliff 2011 Release </div>
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Primula Innisfree 2011 Release <br />
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Primula Dunbeg First Release 2012 /13<br />
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Primula Avondale First Release 2012 /13<br />
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Primula Carrigdale First Release 2012 /13<br />
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Primula Glengarrif First Release 2012 /13<br />
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Primula Tara First Release 2012 /13<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-4389060613928036222012-04-08T14:04:00.005-07:002012-04-16T00:57:06.773-07:00Todays Babylon<div align="justify"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Hanging Gardens of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon">Babylon</a> also known as Hanging Gardens of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiramis">Semiramis</a> and the walls of Babylon (near present-day Al Hillah in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq">Iraq</a>) are considered one of the original <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World">Seven Wonders of the World</a>. They were built by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II">Nebuchadnezzar II</a> around 600 BC. He is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his wife, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amytis_of_Media">Amytis</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amytis_of_Media"> of Media</a>, who longed for the trees and beautiful plants of her homeland. The gardens are reputed to have been destroyed in an earthquake after the 1st century BC. However this desire to have such a place and this longing for beautiful spaces has not changed through the passing of time.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/SlHDcHGwAJI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TzU1qLkprmE/s1600-h/Babylon2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 305px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355276319631343762" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/SlHDcHGwAJI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TzU1qLkprmE/s320/Babylon2.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/SlHDXvf5XuI/AAAAAAAAAHk/NmyA2L3AYKE/s1600-h/Babylon1.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 294px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355276244574887650" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/SlHDXvf5XuI/AAAAAAAAAHk/NmyA2L3AYKE/s320/Babylon1.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As Landscape design businesses, Magazines, Nurseries or Garden Centres we have developed a strategy to highlight and respond to this real need. Is there currently an increased trend towards people using their living spaces as places of refuge and comfort? Are people longing for the once familiar safe feeling provided by natures cocoon? No matter how streetwise, world hardened and sophisticated we have become for most is that longing still in our genetic makeup. If the answers to these questions are yes then the time may be right more than ever before to give people what they want and explain more clearly we are providing a unique service more than just the obivous physical goods. The collaboration between nurseries, architects, designers and landscape contractors come together to provide that place whether it be on the scale of Babylon or your own tiny urban / rural garden cocoon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Have governments understood this human need fully? This need is greater during times of trauma be they economically induced or simialr to the needs of Amytis of Media all those centuries ago.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/SmGimL-Lh9I/AAAAAAAAAH0/jFSwUJ0wN0o/s1600-h/AlnarpIndoorGarden.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359743808479922130" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/SmGimL-Lh9I/AAAAAAAAAH0/jFSwUJ0wN0o/s320/AlnarpIndoorGarden.JPG" border="0" /></a>We have been reading stories from all over the world where our wise leaders have been cutting back on spending on parks and public gardens. With tighter budgets large and small businesses may also underestimate or ignore the need for these spaces for staff to unwind before, during or after their working day.<br />Isn't there some economic formula which says supply should be dictated by demand and or need? There is enough research to show that investment in nature and creating natural spaces are always wise investments financially. Investment in the manufacture of buildings, cars, planes and other products such as financial packages have historically taken priority and I guess that is how the world is. Or was! It didnt work fully to our favour and maybe now is a good time to tweak towards natural solutions to old problems.<br />Can we ever look forward to a time when policy dictates the planted environment must be financed and planned to show buildings and steets can be accomodated within the plan rather than making nature fit our buldings and streets.<br />The environmental age has arrived, people want nature more part of the sustainability solution when they go home, or indeed go to work. Nature does not just provide us with a means to energy we use to power our appliances it also gives us the energy provided by well being. The good news for mankind is that there is an ample supply of skilled businesses that can supply such a services that will be able to harness renewable resources to provide both forms of energy.<br />Our business is to simply and effectively provide a diversity plants that will fit in your immediate environment and we take it seriously.<br /><a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-73115036866682243702012-03-21T16:59:00.021-07:002012-12-20T15:40:25.992-08:00Old Irish Primroses go international<div align="justify">
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<strong>Kennedy </strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k9G2PuUw2QY/T2pvNWX8ElI/AAAAAAAAAY0/ua9Q3DPKP_g/s1600/Basket.png"><strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722508551662604882" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k9G2PuUw2QY/T2pvNWX8ElI/AAAAAAAAAY0/ua9Q3DPKP_g/s320/Basket.png" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 191px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 108px;" /></strong></a><strong>Irish Primroses <span style="font-size: 85%;">Old Irish Primroses abroad.</span></strong><br />
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What a month of activity for a new Irish Plant introduction! Primula Drumcliff and Innisfree are now widely available in USA, Europe and Japan. These are the first two varieties of the Kennedy Irish Primrose range. Following last years St. Patrick’s Day Primrose presentation by Mrs. Fionnuala Kenny to Americas First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama word is spreading fast about these unique garden Primroses. Drumcliff and Innisfree are the first of many of these old Irish Primroses. </div>
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<strong>British Gardening greats</strong><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVRqjuNAaIs/T2pvAYET-xI/AAAAAAAAAYc/CwEagJSI5RI/s1600/Joe_Carol_Pat.png"><strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722508328778857234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVRqjuNAaIs/T2pvAYET-xI/AAAAAAAAAYc/CwEagJSI5RI/s320/Joe_Carol_Pat.png" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 238px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 317px;" /></strong></a><strong> feature Kennedy Irish Primroses.</strong><br />
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On Thursday of last week BBC Gardener’s World visited FitzGerald Nurseries to film a segment featuring the story behind the Kennedy Irish Primroses for Gardeners World programme presented by Carol Klein to air on March 30th. Carol’s piece was set at FitzGerald Nurseries and in the Irish Famine Garden Newmarket Co. Kilkenny where FitzGerald Nurseries has donated and planted a wider range of these old Irish Primroses. The program also focuses on the native Primroses in the Rath (Ringfort) on the family farm immediately beside the nursery where the inspiration for the general Primrose conservation work had been taken.<br />
On March 13th these unique hardy perennial Irish Primroses were written up by Mr. Graham Rice, Editor in Chief of the RHS Encyclopaedia of Perennials on his RHS blog. So high praise indeed coming from such a well respected source and recognition for bringing Primula into its proper standing amongst perennials. <a href="http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/blogs/graham_rice/archive/2012/03/13/irish-primroses-new-from-cotswold-garden-flowers.aspx">Click here to go to RHS Blog piece</a></div>
<strong>American TV and New</strong><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgYnu2CJE98/T2pu6ze5VfI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/Q8Hj-gMH8Sw/s1600/Martha.png"><strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722508233058899442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgYnu2CJE98/T2pu6ze5VfI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/Q8Hj-gMH8Sw/s320/Martha.png" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 193px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></strong></a><strong>spapers feature Kennedy Irish Primroses.</strong><br />
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<strong>New York</strong><br />
Last week Kennedy Irish Primroses have featured on Martha Stewart Living TV programme on the Hallmark Channel in USA. Plants were included in handout gifts on the show and presented by Lloyd Traven of Peacetree Farm ( in picture on left) as a gift for Martha’s Garden. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z90aI1LV7Is/T2pvG6A5-NI/AAAAAAAAAYo/2M8n1af8cfQ/s1600/GardenTimeTV.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722508440970590418" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z90aI1LV7Is/T2pvG6A5-NI/AAAAAAAAAYo/2M8n1af8cfQ/s320/GardenTimeTV.bmp" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 170px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 243px;" /></a> <strong>Oregon</strong><br />
In Oregon State, Kennedy Irish Primroses have been featured on Gardentime TV as plant pick of the week and plants were supplied by Skagit Gardens of Mount Vernon Washington .<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hm0ZS1fSw_U">Click here to see video</a> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE6EZSzC7PI/T2pu1eBsxPI/AAAAAAAAAYE/A4tSnYXZv-0/s1600/McRorys.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722508141399950578" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE6EZSzC7PI/T2pu1eBsxPI/AAAAAAAAAYE/A4tSnYXZv-0/s320/McRorys.png" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 183px;" /></a><strong>Washington State</strong><br />
Both Drumcliff and Innisfree were planted alongside our Carex Everest, which is now a top selling plant in USA, outside the famous Irish Landmark pub and streak house in Seattle, FX McRory’s. On Friday this week Pat FitzGerald presents the Kennedy Irish Primrose story to a group at a specially organised Primrose Party in Seattle and meets with Mick McHugh owner of FX McRory’s. Seattle Times columnist Ciscoe Morris has Featured Primula Drumcliff as one of his buys of the week for gardeners in Washington</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euqE6B4GNhg/T2puwSFSlVI/AAAAAAAAAX4/KCGy-fxw-B4/s1600/RebeccaSweet.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722508052294440274" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euqE6B4GNhg/T2puwSFSlVI/AAAAAAAAAX4/KCGy-fxw-B4/s320/RebeccaSweet.png" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 226px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 326px;" /></a><br />
<strong>California</strong><br />
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On Tuesday the Primroses feature as a centre piece for a pre show party hosted by gardening author and garden designer Rebecca Sweet during the San Francisco Garden Show week. Kennedy Irish Primroses will be featured at the SFGS by Skagit Gardens of Mount Vernon Washington.<br />
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During the following week Kennedy Irish Primroses will be displayed by Pacific Plug and Liner and Skagit Gardens at the California Spring Trials one of the biggest events in the US professional ornamental horticulture industry.<br />
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Other Primrose Kennedy Primroses blog pieces </div>
<a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/03/gifting-of-kennedy-irish-primrose.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/03/gifting-of-kennedy-irish-primrose.html</a><br />
<a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-kennedy-irish-primrose.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-kennedy-irish-primrose.html</a><br />
<a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/10/famine-garden-at-newmarket-co-kilkenny.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/10/famine-garden-at-newmarket-co-kilkenny.html</a><br />
<a href="http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/blogs/graham_rice/archive/2012/03/13/irish-primroses-new-from-cotswold-garden-flowers.aspx">http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/blogs/graham_rice/archive/2012/03/13/irish-primroses-new-from-cotswold-garden-flowers.aspx</a><br />
<a href="http://onebeanrow.com/2012/03/16/move-over-shamrocks-here-come-the-irish-primroses/">http://onebeanrow.com/2012/03/16/move-over-shamrocks-here-come-the-irish-primroses/</a><br />
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End.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-22770712836809282092011-09-06T04:18:00.000-07:002013-08-26T01:14:59.574-07:00Is Gardening again becoming a necessary life skill?<a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-gardening-becoming-necessary-life.html#links">Is Gardening again becoming a necessary life skill?</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-72484798058678280542011-08-31T13:57:00.000-07:002011-09-01T04:09:21.093-07:00Plantarium 2011 and stuff<div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ckc9WrpmQI/Tl6kn0osFwI/AAAAAAAAAXw/CSF5E_iiFmI/s1600/EverColor_series%2B%2528web%2529.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 226px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647131986820339458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ckc9WrpmQI/Tl6kn0osFwI/AAAAAAAAAXw/CSF5E_iiFmI/s320/EverColor_series%2B%2528web%2529.jpg" /></a>
<br />Things have been hectic over the summer months, difficult to dicipline time aside to write any blog posts. We have just completed another Plantarium show in Netherlands.
<br />Plantarium seemed a quieter show this year yet quality and quantity of serious enquires were up on last year. This years show again attracted a lot of visitors from USA and our business there continues to progress despite the general economic downturn and uncertain year this year. Of course if we were fortunate enough to live in better times I am sure we like everyone would be a lot happier but possibly slow growth will make us stronger.
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<br />We have been holding back a little from announcing some of our newest plants for 2012 but I assure you all that will change in the coming months and we will feature some of our new key plants for 2012 as we build towards IPM 2012 which takes place at the end of January and this will be our 6th year exhibiting at this great show. I have loaded some pictures from Plantarium 2011 to my facebook page.</div>
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<br />Plantarium 2011 had a stronger focus this year on hardy woody plants and our Nandina got great attention. Our Carex range continues to attract great interest and our newest addition Carex Everillo is off to a fantastic start. Everillo amongst plenty of our other Carex was on two growers stands at Plantarium and they report great interest in this plant. While hardy and woody plants are making a resurgence Cordyline and spot colour is also forging ahead so long as its not too expensive the public hunger for colour is unstoppable. Sometimes we may forget we are not only growing plants but also providing colour in peoples environment and this is one important function of plants. If you look closely at peoples expressions when they look at plants you will son learn plants can be responsible for positive mood swings and this i s due in no small part to the influence of colour, at least I believe so. I did a post a while back on my blog on some plants that bring such colour. I need to update this urgently as so many additional colours are now coming in very hardy easy care plants.
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<br /><a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/08/plants-for-autumn-balcony-and-patio.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/08/plants-for-autumn-balcony-and-patio.html</a> </div>
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<br />In the meantime I hope you enjoy the fading light of summer and hopefully we can have one of those beautiful Septembers we sometimes get in this part of the world. </div>
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<br /><div align="justify"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-90988111470184637512011-03-20T16:30:00.001-07:002013-08-26T01:15:57.978-07:00Is Gardening again becoming a necessary life skill?<div align="justify">
<strong>The co-incidence.</strong></div>
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In this blog post I am re-posting a piece I first posted on <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> back in May 2009. A few weeks after I first posted this the article was hacked and my website brought down by a virus planted on the site by hackers. My site hosting and maintenance guys said the attacks were targeted at this article possibly due to the mention of the White House. They fixed my website as luckily we got the attack early. Sometimes its very hard to get away from the feeling some things are predestined. As you will see on my last blog piece this week our primroses landed in the very place I was highlighting in the article below. <a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/03/gifting-of-kennedy-irish-primrose.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/03/gifting-of-kennedy-irish-primrose.html</a></div>
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Due to this amazing coincidence and the fact that the White House Garden project or the trend towards people growing their own vegetables <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wasn't</span> just a passing fad I decided to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">re post</span> this piece. I would also like your opinion on the questions posed at the end.</div>
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<strong>Is Gardening becoming a necessary life skill?</strong></div>
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Original post.</div>
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This is probably not so hard to believe from some of us who have been around the block before. One of the silver linings for us as Horticulturists in somewhat depressing times like these is that people have more time to spend reassessing their interests, what is important and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">un</span>-important. So far it looks like the signs so far are telling us that nature, growing your own and generally appreciating the garden, parks and the free or not so expensive things in life are coming out as important. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUSeHO3EhPo/TYaOqU_6smI/AAAAAAAAAXE/HWiK50Oo3ZQ/s1600/Whitehouse.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUSeHO3EhPo/TYaOqU_6smI/AAAAAAAAAXE/HWiK50Oo3ZQ/s320/Whitehouse.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586309245642125922" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 147px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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In the USA there has been a very encouraging and dedicated lobby since last November to have a vegetable garden planted in the grounds of the White House and from the picture here you can see this has been successful and has begun. Congratulations are due to the idea instigator to the people who worked on and supported this project and for achieving such success. Have a look at the official White House Farmer website WWW.WHITEHOUSEFARMER.COM .<br />
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With the eyes of the world on the new American first family this image on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">White House</span> farmer website has to be one of the most interesting garden images this month and many of us in the Horticulture world could not have imagined such an image emanating from such a prestigious and austere location until now.<br />
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A number of months ago I came across a saying from a contemporary American writer called Orson Scott Card which goes <strong>'Unemployment is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">capitalism's</span> way of getting you to plant a garden'.</strong><br />
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We have to hope that mass unemployment is not what it will take to get many of us to plant a garden. It's an unfortunate and interesting fact that sometimes it takes shocks of great magnitude to make some of us realize what's important and what's not. We can only hope now that when the world economy does eventually recover some lessons will have been learned and children will remember the folly of some of their elders in neglecting a few basic life skills and considerations that are the essence of our existence. Whether it be for food or for pleasure plant life is beneficial to mankind even the humblest apparently undesirable weed gives benefit to the planet and our immediate environment. For those of us who depend on gardening for a living let's hope that the many skills in the industry the great plants, fruit and vegetables that are produced by our sector will be valued and appreciated much more, by a greater amount of people and a new kind of consumer and gardener.<br />
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Lets hope our time in the sun has come.</div>
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Now almost two years on what do you think? Have we seen a change of mindset towards people in our profession or trade? Will the young people all over the world who have been exposed to the many projects like the White House Garden be better off for this new trend? Is it too early to say it has changed anything in the longer 25 year perspective when these children will be adults with children of their own? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-76856652947022583122011-03-18T12:57:00.002-07:002012-03-13T12:29:24.310-07:00The gifting of a Kennedy Irish Primrose<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jffnL2bHpGE/TYO5RaxYYeI/AAAAAAAAAW0/yasTxIBqFjc/s1600/Logo%2BPrimula%2Bv5.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 176px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585511671764902370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jffnL2bHpGE/TYO5RaxYYeI/AAAAAAAAAW0/yasTxIBqFjc/s320/Logo%2BPrimula%2Bv5.png" /></a> It isnt often one of our plants gets such a wonderful first outing that they are given as a gift from our country to the first Lady of the United States of America. So I felt I must share this news with everyone.</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">I am honoured to announce that on 17th of March, St Patricks Day, a special basket of our new Kennedy Irish Primrose variety Drumcliff was chosen as a gift to Mrs Obama. The Primrose basket was given to Mrs Obama during the recent visit of An Taoiseach Mr Enda Kenny T.D and his wife Mrs Fionnuala Kenny to the White House, Washington D.C. This is the first time these Primroses have been seen in full flower in the USA and we at FitzGerald Nurseries are delighted that they were chosen for such an auspicious occasion. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-fhn671TlY/TYO5YK9O-BI/AAAAAAAAAW8/DoaWCTbNSpQ/s1600/Mrs%2BObama%2BPrimroseBasket.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585511787778734098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-fhn671TlY/TYO5YK9O-BI/AAAAAAAAAW8/DoaWCTbNSpQ/s320/Mrs%2BObama%2BPrimroseBasket.JPG" /></a> The Primroses were propagated in County Wexford, Ireland and grown to flowering size in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Plants were inspected and certified in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture import regulations and shipped to special facilities of Herronswood Nurseries in Pennsylvania USA where plants were acclimatized and prepared for the final presentation. </div><br /><br /><div align="justify">The Kennedy Irish Primroses were launched this January coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the inauguration of John F Kennedy as President of United States of America. Primula Drumcliffe is named after the final resting place of the famous Irish poet W.B Yeats. The second variety released in 2011 is named Innisfree after the poem Lake Isle of Innisfree. Further varieties will be released over the coming years. </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">Pat FitzGerald.</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">Plants are now currently available to the public in Ireland from most good Garden Centres and in USA by mail order<a href="http://www.heronswood.com/perennials_perennials-p-to-r_primula/">http://www.heronswood.com/perennials_perennials-p-to-r_primula/</a> . </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">You can find more information on the Kennedy Irish Primroses by clicking <a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-kennedy-irish-primrose.html">here</a>. </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">- FitzGerald Nurseries was founded in 1990. Ever since a child Pat has been involved in the growing of vegetable and garden plants. From the age of 17 Pat started studying Horticulture then proceeded after leaving college to work in the gardening industry. - Pat FitzGerald selects, breeds and cultivates new plant varieties and in his own right is responsible for many new garden plant varieties now available to gardeners worldwide. - Joseph Kennedy breeder of the Kennedy Irish Primroses has been breeding old Irish Primroses from old Irish cultivars dating back to the 1800’s. After retiring early from dentistry almost 30 years ago Joe took up his breeding passion full time but never released any of his work to the public until now. - About the same time as Pat was leaving his formal Horticulture studies Joe began his serious collecting of the old Irish Primrose varieties. Twenty five years later their paths crossed, they combined their mutual talents and the Kennedy Irish Primrose range was born. After five more years of selecting and propagation in Ireland the first two varieties of these plants are now available to the public. Much more to come so watch this space. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">In USA you can check availability of Kennedy Irish Primroses at the following.</div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.peacetreefarm.com/">http://www.peacetreefarm.com/</a></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.skagitgardens.com/">http://www.skagitgardens.com/</a></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.ppandl.com/">http://www.ppandl.com/</a></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">For mail order </div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.heronswood.com/">http://www.heronswood.com/</a></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyPmQkVi5Oo/TZthcd8ETJI/AAAAAAAAAXM/RHpOe5GjjrU/s1600/WhiteHousePic.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592170504011402386" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyPmQkVi5Oo/TZthcd8ETJI/AAAAAAAAAXM/RHpOe5GjjrU/s320/WhiteHousePic.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JJE_th2C3CQ/TZtkLK781pI/AAAAAAAAAXU/R0mIDh4yxcs/s1600/CCF04042011_00000.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 226px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592173505387746962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JJE_th2C3CQ/TZtkLK781pI/AAAAAAAAAXU/R0mIDh4yxcs/s320/CCF04042011_00000.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-38701128748179354862011-03-04T15:28:00.001-08:002011-03-04T15:47:10.664-08:00FitzGerald Nurseries wins Innovation Award<div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Irish Times InterTradeIreland All-island Innovation Awards. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_5zOqUUh8Lw/TXF1wuHcMpI/AAAAAAAAAWk/uPUAWBUE6b8/s1600/small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580370893162164882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 118px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_5zOqUUh8Lw/TXF1wuHcMpI/AAAAAAAAAWk/uPUAWBUE6b8/s320/small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Leaders in their field, FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd have been nominated for their system, which have been designed to develop plants, marketing, micro-propagation production systems and routes to international markets for their plant ranges developed.<br /><br />Mr Pat FitzGerald from FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd said: We were delighted to be even shortlisted originally but to win this award in the prescence of such fantastic high tech companies is indeed an honour. It is especially wonderful to be recognized and awarded for innovation. We work hard to be the best at what we do and to come up with new products for the our customers and the international marketplace.” In the field of Horticulture this is not an easy task where mainstream industrial support and thinking is not always supported in the same manner as in other industries. FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd can be proud of this achievement and look forward to developing increased exports and business development over the coming years.<br />“Our products have proven to be of world class standards and we have proven this through market entry success in 18 countries worldwide. You can see these products in more detail on <a href="http://www.fitzgerald-nurseries.com/">http://www.fitzgerald-nurseries.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> and judge for yourself.”<br />Now in its second year, the Irish Times InterTradeIreland All-island Innovation Awards aim to recognise and promote the best service, product or operational innovations throughout the island. Over 120 companies entered the seven categories of the competition. Twenty one of these were then shortlisted for the awards by a judging panel, before the final winners were selected.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eEzzold5AtY/TXF2TbhSQTI/AAAAAAAAAWs/Ujp12e53uo4/s1600/FitzGerald%2B2%2Bwith%2BDeirdre%2BTerrins%2BInvestment%2BManager%2BCrescent%2BCapital.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580371489465712946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eEzzold5AtY/TXF2TbhSQTI/AAAAAAAAAWs/Ujp12e53uo4/s320/FitzGerald%2B2%2Bwith%2BDeirdre%2BTerrins%2BInvestment%2BManager%2BCrescent%2BCapital.jpg" border="0" /></a>Commenting on the awards, Liam Nellis, Chief Executive of InterTradeIreland and Chair of the Innovation awards final judging panel said “Despite the economic situation, we have been extremely encouraged by the level and diversity of innovations represented by our finalists and winners. Not only do they have strong ideas and innovative processes, crucially, they are market-led and market-focused. I’m delighted that these awards have managed to achieve exactly what they set out to do, which is to showcase the best examples of innovation on the island.”<br /><br />The final judging panel for the event included Colm Long, Facebook, Liam Nellis InterTradeIreland, Peter Callan, The Irish Times Group, Michael Carey, Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, Tim Cody, Accenture, Ivan Coulter, Sigmoid Pharma and Deirde Terrins, Crescent Capital.<br />Liam Kavanagh, Managing Director of the Irish Times added, “We sometimes get caught up in the finer points of policies and strategies at a national level without appreciating the people who are putting all the fine words into practice. That’s what this event tonight – and indeed our monthly Innovation magazine – is all about.<br />-ends-<br /><br /><br />- FitzGerald Nurseries was founded in 1990. The company set up Gadera Ltd its micro-propagation production facility in Enniscorthy Co Wexford in 2005. FitzGerald Nurseries employs 20 people and its sister company Gadera Ltd 15 people.<br />- Pat FitzGerald selects and breeds new plant varieties and is responsible for many new patent and breeders rights protected varieties worldwide. The company also offeres separate services to breeders around the world.<br />- For further information about the awards please visit <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/innovationawards">www.irishtimes.com/innovationawards</a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-89402557240455351242011-01-31T03:56:00.000-08:002011-01-31T05:03:27.234-08:00National Innovation Award shortlisting<div align="justify">FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd has been shortlisted for a National Innovation Award from a nationwide and Island wide group of small, medium and large multi-national companies.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TUajvub09jI/AAAAAAAAAWE/zUgUcXlOlMw/s1600/SL.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568318029604124210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 204px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TUajvub09jI/AAAAAAAAAWE/zUgUcXlOlMw/s320/SL.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br />This is great honour for us. Especially as small family farm based rural business to be included with mainstream high tech multi-national companies with specific dedicated R&D companies. I believe this shows that Ireland is now more serious about building its economy to include a second tier of indigenous and niche developed small export focused businesses. As a small enterprise owners operating in an international marketplace dependent on 90% of our sales from exports it is essential that we develop products specific to our company but profitable and fit for our customers purposes. Therefore we must have systems and strategies to ensure this happens at all levels of our economy not just for the large corporate. This is just as essential for a small rural business as it is for multi-national. </div><div align="justify">FitzGerald Nurseries are proud to be the recipient of this recognition if only to establish a basic principal that Ireland must develop enterprise brick by brick and not in large loose insecure towers of Babel. This innovation must come from the companies on the ground and cannot come from state services but can be supported by them through policy and reform of business categorization.. I would like to thank the Irish Times and Inter Trade Ireland Innovation Awards judging panel for looking deeper into what we do by way of product development.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I would like to thank all who have believed in and supported our efforts over the last few years to develop such a business model and hope this shortlisting gives some recognition to this trust in us.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">End.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TUakFbKPZHI/AAAAAAAAAWU/4L6kJ76GRPs/s1600/photo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568318402387207282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 591px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 437px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TUakFbKPZHI/AAAAAAAAAWU/4L6kJ76GRPs/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-58201515805648836342011-01-03T15:23:00.001-08:002012-03-13T12:30:29.545-07:00Kennedy Irish Primrose Collection<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJclqZrkGI/AAAAAAAAAVE/UjbmZIQW2rQ/s1600/Painting_of_Joe_Kennedy.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 223px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558106692235530338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJclqZrkGI/AAAAAAAAAVE/UjbmZIQW2rQ/s320/Painting_of_Joe_Kennedy.jpg" /></a>Announcing the Kennedy Irish Primrose collection.<br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">A unique collection of Primroses bred over 35 years from old Irish varieties.</div><br /><div align="justify">I am pleased to reveal the hard work and dedication one of Ireland’s leading amateur primrose breeders, Joe Kennedy, has been acknowledged with the help of FitzGerald Nurseries. We will release several new varieties of “Kennedy Irish Primroses” over the coming three years starting in Spring 2011. In the meantime Joe continues to work on future exciting lines to add to this uniquely Irish range of varieties.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Our ancestors believed that the primrose deterred evil fairies and a scatter of primroses outside the door would keep witches away. My own first contact with primroses came as a child seeing drifts of them growing in the 2000 year old Rath (Celtic Ringfort) on our farm here in County Kilkenny.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Portrait painting of Primrose breeder Joseph Kennedy.</div><br /><br /><div align="justify">Since then I have had a soft spot for Primroses and now another reason for this is the wonderful work of Joe Kennedy, who hails from Carlow but now lives near Ballycastle, County Antrim. A modest man with exceptional ability as an amateur breeder, his professional training as a dentist has given him a precision and attention-to-detail perfectly suited to the finer points of breeding.<br /><br />I first met Joe in 2006 having contacted him after reading an article he wrote in an Irish Garden Plant Society (IGPS) Newsletter. We got in touch over the phone and he was soon educating me on the history and breeding of this beautiful plant in Ireland going back to the late 1800's. From that moment on I was hooked on bringing these wonderful plants to the world. Since then I have selected some of Joes best work and we have developed micropropagation protocols so that we can produce sufficient numbers to launch to gardeners in USA and Euope.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">A new creation from good stock<br /><br />With this launch, I hope we can do Joes work some justice by bringing to a much wider audience these wonderful old-style “Kennedy Irish Primroses”. After 35 dedicated years of breeding, we hope it’s a proud moment for Joe also as it certainly is for us.<br /><br />The first plant launch to start the program coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the inauguration of John F Kennedy as President of USA in January 1961. New additional varieties in this first series will be released through to the 50th Anniversary of his visit to Ireland and death in 1963. This collaboration between a Fitzgerald and a Kennedy to bring old Irish Primroses, all the way from County Wexford, near the old Kennedy homestead, is a typically Irish coincidence. All of the plants are being produced in Co Wexford. We are currently working on 36 more selections. Plants of the first two selections will be available this Spring. Innisfree is a vivid red with yellow eye on dark foliage and Drumcliff another dark foliage variety but this time with larger white flowers tinted with lilac hue when opening. More varieties will follow with yellow, white, peach and pink flowers all on the most intensely dark purple foliage ever seen on Primroses.<br /><br />All this development will secure local employment in Co Wexford and Co Kilkenny only a stonesthrow from another Irish Kennedy story. </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">In addition to unique foliage characteristics we are working on other exciting traits all bred by Joe from the old Irish varieties dating back to the late 19th century. I hope gardeners will agree a new direction in the beauty of the Primrose has been born out of these old robust perrenial Irish selections. Many of the later varieties will introduce some of the old “Hose-in-Hose”, “Jack-in-the-Greens” and various matt-forming stoloniferous types. Unique characteristics , just like Joe himself.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">In USA you can check availability of Kennedy Irish Primroses at the following.<br /><a href="http://www.peacetreefarm.com/">http://www.peacetreefarm.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.skagitgardens.com/">http://www.skagitgardens.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.ppandl.com/">http://www.ppandl.com/</a><br />For mail order<br /><a href="http://www.heronswood.com/">http://www.heronswood.com/</a></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJcwNSDQRI/AAAAAAAAAVM/XIVvZbzEJGY/s1600/Inisfree2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558106873397461266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJcwNSDQRI/AAAAAAAAAVM/XIVvZbzEJGY/s320/Inisfree2.JPG" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJpToB_slI/AAAAAAAAAVs/wmpThfysd_M/s1600/Inisfree.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558120676012831314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJpToB_slI/AAAAAAAAAVs/wmpThfysd_M/s320/Inisfree.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Primula Innisfree release in March 2011, must be the darkest foliage Primrose ever!</div><br /><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJd91_-04I/AAAAAAAAAVU/tlZanxwL4BU/s1600/joe14.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 223px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558108207177454466" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJd91_-04I/AAAAAAAAAVU/tlZanxwL4BU/s320/joe14.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Seedling selections of future lines<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJe_mqh1mI/AAAAAAAAAVc/muDO7PSGwKw/s1600/Joe%2527s%2BPrimulas%2B020.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558109336932308578" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJe_mqh1mI/AAAAAAAAAVc/muDO7PSGwKw/s320/Joe%2527s%2BPrimulas%2B020.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">For release in 2012</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJnqtRgWFI/AAAAAAAAAVk/3cDpHieZ6ws/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 261px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558118873533798482" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TSJnqtRgWFI/AAAAAAAAAVk/3cDpHieZ6ws/s320/DSC_0297.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">For release in 2012</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">The Lake Isle of Innisfree. By William Butler Yeats.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I WILL arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,</div><br /><div align="justify">And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:</div><br /><div align="justify">Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,</div><br /><div align="justify">And live alone in the bee-loud glade.</div><br /><div align="justify">And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,</div><br /><div align="justify">Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;</div><br /><div align="justify">There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,</div><br /><div align="justify">And evening full of the linnet's wings.</div><br /><div align="justify">I will arise and go now, for always night and day</div><br /><div align="justify">I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;</div><br /><div align="justify">While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,</div><br /><div align="justify">I hear it in the deep heart's core. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-67028669264286818362010-07-26T15:54:00.003-07:002012-04-08T05:57:36.787-07:00Update on Sweet potato growing Trial in Ireland.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TOqye6buYzI/AAAAAAAAAU4/6qhNKTUxvjc/s1600/picking%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542438535584178994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TOqye6buYzI/AAAAAAAAAU4/6qhNKTUxvjc/s320/picking%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TOqyZFA5kJI/AAAAAAAAAUw/Soe5CIILYCo/s1600/PatPicking.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542438435345240210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TOqyZFA5kJI/AAAAAAAAAUw/Soe5CIILYCo/s320/PatPicking.JPG" /></a> <br /><div>Update</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Novemeber 2010.<br /><br /><div align="justify">We harvested the Sweet Potato in late October and yield per plant averaged 1.5 kg but on the good rows we got up to 2 Kg on some plants. As we planted on the flat we reduced yield per plant so next seasons plants will definitely go into drills. this season we were not able to drill the particular site. Next years trial has already been decided on and ill be 3 times bigger with a total of 4 very different varieties three of which are totally new to cultivation. These are pictures from from this years harvesting.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UWShxEoI/AAAAAAAAATk/4BDGCErg31k/s1600/early+June.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 219px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498354568229098114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UWShxEoI/AAAAAAAAATk/4BDGCErg31k/s320/early+June.jpg" /></a>Progress of our Sweet Potato Trial.</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Planted on 17th of May the first to my knowledge serious scaled production of Sweet Potato here in Ireland is making great progress. The purpose of the trial is to establish what yield and commercial value this crop can have for organic greenhouse production. As you see in this picture the crop was planted as very small two leaf cuttings. See earlier blog post.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2010/05/sweet-potato-planting-for-2010.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2010/05/sweet-potato-planting-for-2010.html</a><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><br />By early June this is how the crop looked.<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="justify">In mid June I then applied biological control for insects. All weeding was done by hand, flame burner and hoe until the crop fully covered the soil.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UuAQc-TI/AAAAAAAAAT8/0L4ICVECDWQ/s1600/aphipar_Ervipar.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498354975641499954" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UuAQc-TI/AAAAAAAAAT8/0L4ICVECDWQ/s320/aphipar_Ervipar.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UnNC205I/AAAAAAAAAT0/rY3NijQzf3M/s1600/spidex.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498354858815050642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UnNC205I/AAAAAAAAAT0/rY3NijQzf3M/s320/spidex.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UFx0QKlI/AAAAAAAAATU/wyTJuC1XE9M/s1600/June.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 305px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498354284570356306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UFx0QKlI/AAAAAAAAATU/wyTJuC1XE9M/s320/June.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UPUG8nbI/AAAAAAAAATc/hPFK0O-jeVw/s1600/July.jpg"></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UPUG8nbI/AAAAAAAAATc/hPFK0O-jeVw/s1600/July.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 251px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 384px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498354448394395058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TE4UPUG8nbI/AAAAAAAAATc/hPFK0O-jeVw/s320/July.jpg" /></a><br />This is a picture taken of the crop on 23rd of July, well on the way to being a bumper crop. The strong performance of the crop leads me to believe it should be possible to grow a successful crop in Ireland using "Spanish Tunnels" until end of July. Then leave uncovered until harvest. Already I am planning to make this the subject of a 2011 trial.<br /><br />More on this crop when we harvest in late September.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">We are ahead of the trend curve on this Check out these articles. </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119560675497599936.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119560675497599936.html</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704691304575254771704417714.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704691304575254771704417714.html</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/series/recipes_for_health/sweet_potatoes/index.html">http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/series/recipes_for_health/sweet_potatoes/index.html</a></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/us/25sweet.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/us/25sweet.html</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-90309198736155396702010-06-01T14:36:00.000-07:002010-06-01T15:13:30.997-07:00Urban Oasis at Bloom in the Park 2010Urban Oasis Garden at Bloom in the Park 2010<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> <a href="http://bloominthepark.com/engagingspaces/">http://bloominthepark.com/engagingspaces/</a> </div><div align="justify"><br />The Urban Oasis </div><div align="justify"><br />Choice and theme of plants form an integral part of all gardens from the most minimalist Japanese designs to the riotous flower colour of the Victorian perennial border. This year at Bloom in the Park 2010 three professionals from the gardening world from Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland have come together to pool their years of gardening, artistic and architectural talent into an Urban Oasis which I hope you will agree brings a new outlook on plants in the urban living space.<br />The plants of Urban Oasis were selected by Designer Dawn Aston predominantly with foliage as a major and crucial consideration. Over the last 10 years I have travelled all over the world both physically and virtually in seek of sustainable foliage colour for the garden and garden containers. Out of this search and foliage lust we have developed a business at FitzGerald Nurseries and MyPlant® which focuses singularly on foliage but should the plant have great seasonal flowering this is of course an important bonus. For what seems forever flower has dominated the visual reporting and public ohh and ahhh of garden shows while foliage sits in the background very evident and giving perfect foil, contrast and sustenance to flower. As a nurseryman it has been a fantastic opportunity to work with Dawn Aston and Crawford Leitch who just like the foliage to the flower give talented and inspired environment for human and plant to interact. I had always wanted to participate in such a project and thanks to Dawn and Crawford for coming up with this wonderful environment giving MyPlant’s this wonderful Urban Garden environment.</div><br /><div align="justify"><strong>The Plants of Urban Oasis.<br /></strong>In 2008 I launched MyPlant® as a brand to represent a range of easy to grow garden plants for small gardens, the concept of such a range was awarded Press Prize at one of the worlds most important professional nursery shows Plantarium. Plantarium is held in Boskoop Netherlands the heart of European garden plant production so this was a great honour. <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/news.php?n_id=33">http://www.myplant.ie/news.php?n_id=33</a> </div><div align="justify"><br />Now in 2010 thanks to this opportunity with Urban Oasis the plants can speak for themselves and show their value in this style of environment I first envisaged the collection would be used in. I hope this information gives you some idea to the background and people behind the introduction of each key plant and its origin. Behind most good garden plants lays a story of search, discovery or breeding. In addition to this work production development must be undertaken to bring this new life form to the world at large. Breeders and selectors must ensure any new plant introduction has some uniquely distinguishable attribute that makes it worth all the fuss. I feel we have chosen plants for this wonderful Urban Oasis which are just that. The following paragraphs will try to give a brief history of these wonderful plants. For more detailed information on the plants you can see <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> .<br /><br /><strong>Key feature plants.</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV_FscC63I/AAAAAAAAASA/sagVGuHaQJQ/s1600/CarexEvergreedCropped.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477924257570941810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV_FscC63I/AAAAAAAAASA/sagVGuHaQJQ/s320/CarexEvergreedCropped.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong>Carex oshimensis Evergreen</strong> is similar to the species form of the Oshima sedge from Japan with wonderful simple brown tipped abundances of flower in Spring. Later we will see more selections of the Oshima sedge which I have made over the last few years and are now FitzGerald Nurseries most popular exported plant. Almost 1 million Carex plants will be produced by us in 2010. Evergreen provides a simple natural and relaxing under planting or feature plant in containers and this from was selected for its more compact growth and depth of colour.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong>Libertia ixiodes Goldfinger</strong> selected at Naturally Native Nurseries in New Zealand and marketed in Europe by Plantipp Netherlands on behalf of New Zealand’s Lyndale Nurseries Kiwi Gold native New Zealand plant collection. When I first saw this new Libertia variety on a trip to New Zealand in 2003 I knew immediately it was a must have. Goldfinger sets the gold vein for Dawns artistic theme in Urban Oasis and Crawford in his design catches this with some well positioned gold and mineral finishes in the structure of the garden. Libertia Goldfinger is one of my favourite introductions and is ideal for containers in the colder regions and mass planting in coastal and m<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV_2qO_2xI/AAAAAAAAASQ/6EcOHa25g1U/s1600/Libertia+Goldfinger.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477925098792934162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV_2qO_2xI/AAAAAAAAASQ/6EcOHa25g1U/s320/Libertia+Goldfinger.JPG" border="0" /></a>ilder parts. Goldfinger will tolerate temperatures of -5 C to -7 C but below these temperatures will need protection with heavy fleece covering. This fantastic plant has white flowers in May and the foliage colour changes from butter yellow to old gold as temperatures decrease through Autumn and Winter. There is no plant like Goldfinger and it lives up to its iconic name all plants of Goldfinger like all the other plants in Urban Oasis are produced here in Ireland, exported throughout Europe and many other countries worldwide. I am proud to be associated with this wonderful plant and deligted it gets pride of place in the garden<br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong>Carex trifida Rekohu Sunrise</strong> is Another representative from New Zealand’s native flora. This is the first introduction from the trifida species of Carex and in New Zealand is commonly known as Muttonbird Sedge due to the flowers resembling the feet of the native Muttonbird. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWAH4WnMuI/AAAAAAAAASY/ao56nZTG3NY/s1600/Carex+Rekohu+Sunrise+close+up+low+res.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477925394640745186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWAH4WnMuI/AAAAAAAAASY/ao56nZTG3NY/s320/Carex+Rekohu+Sunrise+close+up+low+res.JPG" border="0" /></a>Rekohu Sunrise was bred by Mr Terry Hatch of Joy Nurseries in New Zealand, During this harsh and prolonged cold spell of January 2010 I found this plant to be even hardier than first thought and is a wonderful addition to the urban landscape palette. Rekohu Sunrise can be cut right back to tidy it up in March / early April and will produce vigorous but compact shoots of wonderful bright foliage take a close look at the flower of this plant as you walk through the Urban Oasis its most unusual in detail. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Ophiopogon nigrascens</strong> and its other mondo grass relatives are some of hardiest, functionally attractive and most versatile dwarf ground cover plants available. Slow growing ground hugging and with wonderful detail in flower and berry what more can one ask from a plant but there is m<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWCQexnl6I/AAAAAAAAATA/6aNoHia5nDg/s1600/ophi+nigra+flowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477927741416773538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWCQexnl6I/AAAAAAAAATA/6aNoHia5nDg/s320/ophi+nigra+flowers.jpg" border="0" /></a>ore. Ophiopogon nigrascens is drought tolerant, will grow in shade semi shade and full sun and is hardy to at least -15 C what more can I say? This Japanese native provides attractive ground cover in the garden but look closely and you will see the developing lilac coloured flower spikes which on mature plants set attractive black berries. Well I have a hidden treasure surprise for you! I can say more because three years ago I received an improved variety of this wonderful plant and its called Blackbeard. Since then we have been exclusively working to produce this plant in the MyPlant laboratory to distribute to nurseries worldwide and now I can tell you more! Ophiopogon nigrascens Blackbeard will be available to the gardening public for the first time ever in limited numbers as 9cm pots here at Bloom in the Floral Marquee! Blackbeard was bred by my friend and wonderful plants man Steve Yandell from Penzance (where else would a good pirate come from). Steve selected Blackbeard for its faster growth, longer leaves and more clumping habit. This is what plant breeders do and Steve has added immensely to the value of this the blackest foliage plant on earth suitable for garden use. Dawn has made appropriate and use of Ophiopogon nigrascens in her Urban Oasis. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWBTfHSymI/AAAAAAAAASw/DWWQrimLCwk/s1600/Tropicanna_PLNT_+3+Colours_6_Web.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477926693535664738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWBTfHSymI/AAAAAAAAASw/DWWQrimLCwk/s320/Tropicanna_PLNT_+3+Colours_6_Web.JPG" border="0" /></a>Canna Tropicanna</strong> is a wonderful Tropical perennial plant introduced by Mr Keith Kirsten from South Africa named and marketed around the world by Anthony Tesselaar International. Tropicanna has led to two other varieties now introduced and featuring in Urban Oasis Tropicanna Black and Tropicanna Gold making a wonderful collection of this colourful and exotic plant. Like all of the plants in Urban Oasis you can read more about Tropicanna on <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> Canna Generally has a reputation for being difficult to grow by some people. Over the last 5 years I have been involved in a project to make growing these Canna varieties much easier. I am pleased to say that from work done by our nursey and plant laboratory we now have young vigorous plants which are easy to grow. As Canna is a tropical plant one can easily be put off in cold damp Ireland but I assure you with the same care as you would give Dahlia, Tropicanna can be a wonderful addition to the small garden and should not be ignored for those of us with foliage colour lust. Tropicanna also has spectacular flowering. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Royal Hawaiian Colocasia Collection.</strong> You haven’t heard of this series before? This is because its another surprise in the Urban Oasis and another first. These Colocasia are again like Tropicanna tropical plants in the Urban Oasis garden and yet another first time display treat for Irish gardeners looking for something special. Royal Hawaiian Colocasia can be seen in more detail on this website <a href="http://www.royalhawaiiancolocasias.com/">http://www.royalhawaiiancolocasias.com/</a> and I am sure will decorate future gardens conservatories and patios. They go on sale in Europe generally in Spring early Summer 2011. In the mean time we have some baby plants available at the MyPlant® display in the Floral Marquee for you experienced gardeners who want to try them out in your conservatory or greenhouse and plant them out in 2011 to be ahead of the rest of Europe with this wonderful collection. The sensational collection comes from an internationally acclaimed breeder Dr John J Cho who has achieved outstanding success with his new line of ornamental Colocasias. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWB8rygUmI/AAAAAAAAAS4/NSxmF4LBjDM/s1600/34DSC05871%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477927401312768610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWB8rygUmI/AAAAAAAAAS4/NSxmF4LBjDM/s320/34DSC05871%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>Cordyline australis Karo Kiri</strong> is a most unusual variety of the common Cordyline we see all over Ireland in our coastal towns and cites. Unlike its species form Karo Kiri is an easily maintained dwarf form which can be cut back to make what you see in The Urban Oasis at Bloom in the Park. Just try it yourself is my only way to describe this plant, you will either love it or leave it. For me it is an exciting option in Cordyline and is versatile in containers or small gardens. Now you can have what looks like a mature muti-branched New Zealand Cabbage Tree but perfectly at home on even a small balcony. Guess what, yes this is another first for the MyPlant Collection and comes from New Zealand breeder and selector Ross Baybliss and now finally after many years of production work we can bring this plant to the European garden plant scene. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Carex oshimensis Everest</strong> is another from my breeding work on the Oshima sedge. I have been growing Carex for 20 years now and having been bought stock of the well known Carex Evergold as a birthday present (another long story) the year I set up <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV-jbO47BI/AAAAAAAAARw/KX_ozEIikGg/s1600/Carex_Everest_Web.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477923668836805650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV-jbO47BI/AAAAAAAAARw/KX_ozEIikGg/s320/Carex_Everest_Web.JPG" border="0" /></a>FitzGerald Nurseries. We are now possibly the largest producer of Carex oshimensis in the world and export many hundreds of thousands worldwide. Carex oshimensis just loves our Irish climate and is a versatile plant for the garden or containers. It is sometimes unfortunately misunderstood and misused leading to unsightly clumps in exposed and sodden landscapes but more about that another time. Everest is ideally suited to sheltered urban gardens, will thrive in semi shade situations and in containers giving the most wonderful white margins seen on any plant. Dawn uses Everest as a total blanket ground cover. Check it out for yourself and use in containers or small garden borders. Everest was picked as an entrant in the recent American Idols plant competition in USA and won a Silver medal at Plantarium in Boskoop Netherlands. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Carex oshimensis Everillo</strong> was first launched at the wonderful Hillsborough Show in <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV-2DtlysI/AAAAAAAAAR4/golG6LguV0A/s1600/Carex_oshimensis_Everillo_Web2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477923988940638914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV-2DtlysI/AAAAAAAAAR4/golG6LguV0A/s320/Carex_oshimensis_Everillo_Web2.JPG" border="0" /></a>Northern Ireland earlier in May. Everillo is a wonderfully cheerful addition to the garden only just discovered in 2008. We are now building up the numbers as limited availability launch in Ireland then full worldwide release Spring 2012. This is how long it takes even a relatively fast to produce plant such as Everillo. Take a look at Everillo in the head containers in Urban Oasis I think its a fantastic addition for shade and semi shade I hope you agree! Remember this plant is a Japanese native bred for its colour right here in Ireland and like many of the plants in Urban Oasis is not to be seen in any garden except Urban Oasis.<strong> </strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong></strong> </div><strong><div align="justify"><br />Phormium cookianum Black Adder</strong> is another selection from FitzGerald Nurseries and <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV_XekDxlI/AAAAAAAAASI/O7wJP_Sp1ss/s1600/BlackAdderWeb.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477924563084101202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV_XekDxlI/AAAAAAAAASI/O7wJP_Sp1ss/s320/BlackAdderWeb.JPG" border="0" /></a>now sold internationally by us to as far away as Japan, Australia, its native New Zealand USA and most European countries. Black Adder selected by me over 6 years ago has been a wonderful success story and adopted by many nurseries including leading New Zealand Nursery Lyndale Nurseries as the number one black / purple Phormium. To be accepted in its homeland as such is accolade enough for me to be proud to present Black Adder in an Urban Oasis. You can find plenty of information on how Black Adder is spreading across the world if you Google Phormium Black Adder. Its amazing how this plant has spread around the world with almost all the production coming from Ireland as tiny baby plants to be grown in local markets to planting maturity. Black Adder won best container plant award for FitzGerald Nurseries at the worlds largest professional Horticulture Show IPM Essen Germany in 2008. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Yucca gloriosa Bright Star</strong> is another winner for FitzGerald Nurseries at IPM Essen 2009 <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWA_yYocCI/AAAAAAAAASg/xVqlUaPYtLo/s1600/Copy+of+Yucca+Bright+StarWeb+.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477926355111276578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWA_yYocCI/AAAAAAAAASg/xVqlUaPYtLo/s320/Copy+of+Yucca+Bright+StarWeb+.JPG" border="0" /></a>and first prize for best patio container plant was presented to FitzGerald Nurseries by Germany’s Federal Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner. Bright Star was discovered at Walberton Nursery West Sussex England by Mr Tim Crowther, promoted by Plants For Europe and introduced into production in Europe by FitzGerald Nurseries. Bright Star is an outstanding colour selection of the hardy and drought tolerant Yucca gloriosa. This plant is a wonderful foliage and flower addition to the Urban Oasis garden or any garden looking for that glow of colour during the dull winter months. A wonderful additional feature of Bright Star is its pink colouring which comes during drought or cold weather conditions. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAV-2DtlysI/AAAAAAAAAR4/golG6LguV0A/s1600/Carex_oshimensis_Everillo_Web2.JPG"></a> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Cordyline fruticosa Caruba Black</strong> is a tropical Cordyline from Anthony Tesselaar and <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWBMGsE_uI/AAAAAAAAASo/Emc5c1B47Gw/s1600/Caruba+in+gardenWeb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477926566719979234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/TAWBMGsE_uI/AAAAAAAAASo/Emc5c1B47Gw/s320/Caruba+in+gardenWeb.jpg" border="0" /></a>produced exclusively in Europe by FitzGerald Nurseries. Unlike its more hardy cousin C. australis Caruba Black needs temperatures over 3 C to maintain its attractive appearance and colour so must only be used as a Summer dot plant to give a tropical exotic look to borders or containers. During the Winter months Caruba Black makes a fantastic addition to conservatory containers and can even be cut back the following spring to encourage multiple stems.<br /><br /><br />I hope you get time to see all these and more in Urban Oasis at Bloom 2010. Visit Stand N13 in the Floral Marquee to take home some of our plants to begin your own personal Oasis.<br /><br />Pat FitzGerald<br />MyPlant<br />by<br />FitzGerald Nurseries.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-9203349783383734772010-05-19T16:35:00.000-07:002010-05-19T19:06:42.091-07:00Twelve months of Social media<div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SQNhcRxkI/AAAAAAAAARY/t0GxINxORAA/s1600/79B433410713424C8340E09810A6C360-800.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473158009151669826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 324px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SQNhcRxkI/AAAAAAAAARY/t0GxINxORAA/s320/79B433410713424C8340E09810A6C360-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="justify">I have been trying for weeks to get a short post done to give my experience of using social media. The purpose of me looking at social media was for information gathering, promotion of my business and to learn how people around the world are using plants. I hoped also to generally understand trends and broaden my knowlege of day to day horticulture in other countries. This at least was my original motivation. So here is my post its not professionally written , its just my ramblings and in no way meant to be a tutorial so feel free to tell me where I am wrong please.<br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Gone are the days when the phone is your fastest and only sales tool.<br /><br /><strong>Background</strong><br /><br />Over the last ten years I have worked to develop our business from predominantly a Ireland UK sales based business to now selling our plants in 18 countries.<br />During these years I have been developing selecting and breeding some great plants to bring into our nursery business. In addition to these plants I am lucky enough to have some fantastic friends and colleagues in the industry around the world. Having great plants growing them well bulding all the resources we have built in the business has taken a lot of stress time energy and cost. As we all know working ones butt off doing ones best and what one feels is the right thing doesnt always feel good while observing the mayhem and ridiculous behavoir of established wiseguys and so called establishment over the last number of years. All of us in the horticulture world who try to make a living from it must compete with these pretty slick industries selling profitible non perisable products giving sometimes short lived instant but obvious gratification. Of course ours is not the only industry producing great products and not all products with very big marketing budgets are bad. So we have serious competiton for that dollar or euro. Year by year over the decades the bar has risen higher and its become more difficult for small businesses to access publicity and advertizing as good advertizing became more and more expensive.<br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">So how on earth is some guy in the middle of nowhere Ireland going to tell people about these great plants. Now that we have done all the work getting them into production and physically out to far flung places such as Fresno and Watsonville California Angers in France various places in UK Germany Holland Japan Australia etc to be produced locally. Well the short answer is that we just had to hope it happened that people liked the plants and found out about them thorough some of the great people we deal with. Like our nursery these nurseries have to grow lots of varieties these days to stay in business and provide variety for the customer. Its not fair to expect our customers to be thinking of our plants every day. Advertizing isnt a possibility we simply right now dont have the budget for this but its chicken and egg, if we dont make the sales we will never have the budget. We have already spent money in our established markets on advertizing but no way can we do it in countries where we have no sales already as our industry does not give us that much profit that quickly and plants for some reason are not valued for longevity. Ahem maybe a pay by view system? In additon to these issues how do we know we are offereing what people in these countries like or want without a big budget to do market surveys using professional firms. For a small business like ours we just have to do our trade shows, try to put budgets aside for advertizing and hope for the best. In 2008 I travelled from San Diego to Bellingham Washington doing 2008 Pack trials on the way. I learned a lot but I didnt meet any of the retailers, landscape designers or got to chew over what they like or dislike with the very people who might use my plants. Well I guess this is why big companies get bigger and small companies take a lot of time unless they get some lucky breaks noting wrong with that we just got to work harder at it.<br /><br />While reading the Sunday Business Post newspaper in January 2009 I saw an article about Social media. It described Twitter, Facebook, blogging and a few other platforms. I logged online took a look and reckoned yep it's for people with plenty of time on their hands who like to talk about what they ate for breakfast and liked to say 'yay' a lot. However being a nosey git I still signed up for Twitter account 'cos its free' I cant remember exact date but around the end of January 2009. Over the following weeks and months I checked in on it regularly looked at what was going on used it to post up pictures after a while. The main thing was information and seeing what others were doing. I found Facebook and did the same, started a blog connected them all together as its very simple and no course needed but in hindsight a course probably would have saved a lot of time. I already had <a href="http://www.fitzgerald-nurseries.com/">http://www.fitzgerald-nurseries.com/</a> and our brand website <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> so at least there was some window people could look into to see what we do. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SQ7ur2-XI/AAAAAAAAARg/CkscBiBRD2Q/s1600/nursery-06-07-06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473158802980665714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SQ7ur2-XI/AAAAAAAAARg/CkscBiBRD2Q/s320/nursery-06-07-06.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I have to say without intent to portray it as a virtue, Horticulture is more than a business to me, to put it simply, I like what I do when I am working and that is not nescessarily a virtue. This is an important point when interacting with people in horticulture as I believe most other people in the horticulture business are the same. Myself my wife Noirin and all our nursery and laboratory staff do really good work and thats what I tweet about and put up on Facebook. Its real its honest and its good so why hide it and its not as if millions are interested anyway but some like what we do and like our plants. As owner of the business I have responsiblility to the 35 staff we have and if I dont promote our plants every day then who will! So it was not so much a optional choice but a responsibility to use this medium where the alternatives were not an option.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>So what is this stuff about.</strong> Two heads are better than one or do we need five?</div><div align="justify"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SRQA2NWqI/AAAAAAAAARo/FaaMw9iJPxw/s1600/IPM3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473159151453297314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SRQA2NWqI/AAAAAAAAARo/FaaMw9iJPxw/s320/IPM3.JPG" border="0" /></a>Not having had marketing training i know one thing is certain. I am making hundreds of mistakes and possibly wasting a lot of time doing things on the cheap and the hard way. For me social media is about being 'sociable' like the local pub or golf course where you get to chat sometimes sort out problems or tell someone youre looking for a second hand forklift, or I need to find someone to landscape the garden or that guy I got the second hand forklift wouldnt know a donkeys tail from a Toyota so dont go near him or other such gems of wisdom. There is no point in trying to manipulate or be selfish with our actions just the same as it isnt good to use your friends without being available to give back if needed or if you see the opportunity without any obligation! If I do do that its by accident so I apologise in advance if thats not believed then I am doing something very wrong. Most of us dont expect anything back when we do a favour and like all giving it can feel better for the giver than the receiver. There are life long givers who simply love doing good are superhuman and are impossible to return kindness to in kind. I dont like to dwell on this part of the whole social media thing as it should be simply common sense to us all and its not measureable in any case as to some a small gesture is gold. I feel its just right to be concious and prepared to share, if you cant invest the time in interacting in this spirit then think about another way of telling people about your work or products.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SGFVN3NfI/AAAAAAAAARQ/OuIo7-HI9ng/s1600/Snowman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473146873314751986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_SGFVN3NfI/AAAAAAAAARQ/OuIo7-HI9ng/s320/Snowman.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify">Keeping up to date with all the tweets, posts and updates is not always easy brrrrrrrrr it makes me dizzy a lot of the time and in fact its impossible. This time of year for me its especially very hard to spend time checking out trends, whats happening and telling people about our business, pushing out other peoples information, shouting out what we are doing and what plants are going out now. This is where the iPhone came in it is in my opinion revoloutionary, some times on Sundays I take pictures of articles in the newspaper Tweet them or email them. This picture below from the farmers journal was just fun didnt take but a click and a tweet. Once I started using the IPhone in July 09 it became so easy to share stuff and thats simply what I do on Twtitter and facebook. Using IPhone I can upload visideso so go to here if tou want to know what I do there. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/patrickjosephfitzgerald?ref=profile">http://www.facebook.com/patrickjosephfitzgerald?ref=profile</a> Its not rocket science.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Over the months that followed using Twitter, Blogger and Facebook, things started happening. There are some amazing people on my Twitter followers list and they know who they are. Without singling out anyone I can assure you there are some very generous and good spirited people with genuine good will. This is my Twitter profile <a href="http://twitter.com/PatFitzGerald">http://twitter.com/PatFitzGerald</a> I want to take this opportunity to thank them all for the last 12 months education. I am a bit hit and miss at times right now but the gardening, designer and nursery community on Twitter and Facebook are exceptional and know no borders in the continent of Social Media. You can see some of their generous posts here.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://thelivengoodway.blogspot.com/2009/08/ballad-of-patrick-fitzgerald.html">http://thelivengoodway.blogspot.com/2009/08/ballad-of-patrick-fitzgerald.html</a><br /><a href="http://gossipinthegarden.com/2009/09/07/the-adventures-of-black-adder-tuxedo/">http://gossipinthegarden.com/2009/09/07/the-adventures-of-black-adder-tuxedo/</a><br /><a href="http://lifeonthebalcony.com/gardening-in-the-internet-era/">http://lifeonthebalcony.com/gardening-in-the-internet-era/</a><br /><a href="http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/05/04/some-garden-ceanothus/">http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/05/04/some-garden-ceanothus/</a><br /><a href="http://spreadfarthefame.com/2009/09/17/the-many-faces-of-pat-fitzgerald-2/">http://spreadfarthefame.com/2009/09/17/the-many-faces-of-pat-fitzgerald-2/</a><br /><a href="http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=3184">http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=3184</a><br /><a href="http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/blogs/graham_rice/archive/2010/02/28/ceanothus-tuxedo-the-first-black-leaved-ceanothus.aspx">http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/blogs/graham_rice/archive/2010/02/28/ceanothus-tuxedo-the-first-black-leaved-ceanothus.aspx</a><br /><a href="http://westsoundgardener.pattisplants.com/2010/03/04/the-beautiful-black-leaved-tuxedo%C2%AE-ceanothus/">http://westsoundgardener.pattisplants.com/2010/03/04/the-beautiful-black-leaved-tuxedo%C2%AE-ceanothus/</a><br /></div><div align="justify"><strong>Summary.</strong><br /></div><div align="justify">Can I tell you what has been acheived to date for the business from my social media efforts. I cannot tell. Yet! I do know many hundreds of good horticulture people know more about our plants and our business than could ever have been possible.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Has this added to our bottom line? I havent a clue, right now we are having a very good sales season but cant tell if this would have been the case anyhow and has more to do with the hard work of staff and the things that have to be in a business with or without social media. I have not figured out a way for people to pay us just for a picture, tweet of our plants or talking about them :-).<br /></div><div align="justify">Am I glad I use social medai as a buiness tool? Yes.<br /></div><div align="justify">Do I feel it is a worthwhile investment in time? Yes but I probably should have done more formal training and analysis and maybe I will.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">What advice would I give to someone new to social media trying to use it for their business? Keep the day job! Dont listen to me talk to a professional! The product must be the key and unless youre some real Einstien nobody is probably going to pay you for your opinions, most of the old rules apply. At least thats what I think.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Its a whole new area, I am not sure even the gurus know what they are talking about but I suspect its not such a new phenomenon just more public. The Sandwich board man or the guy holding the arrow to a shop down a back street or the blimp may be just simplified versions of social media. </div><div align="justify">Maybe if you just make a good product people will seek you out. However these days there are lots of people making products just as good as yours or on the high street making lesser products but much more accessible or better known and trusted. Tune in next year and if I am around I might know more.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">End</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-42198461537785496922010-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:002010-05-17T17:20:43.064-07:00Sweet Potato Planting 2010<div align="justify"><div align="justify"><strong>Sweet Potato Planting 2010.</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong>Kildalton College of Horticulture, Piltown Co, Kilkenny.</strong></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPTNDJrxI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/28YrKXSfJZc/s1600/Drilling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472382951059205906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 358px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPTNDJrxI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/28YrKXSfJZc/s320/Drilling.jpg" border="0" /></a> After our successful trial of Sweet Potato at Kildalton College in 2009 organised by Mr Jim Kelliher Senior Nursery Advisor with Teagasc we have gone back for a much larger trial this year. Unfortunately this time Jim was not with us to do the planting. I am very sure however Jim will be with us to harvest the resulting crop and myself and Dermot Callaghan on left in the picture here look forward to this event. Without the input and drive of Jim the 2010 trials on sweet potato growing would not have gone ahead. I wish to take this opportunity to thank Jim for getting the trials to this stage.<br /><br />Today we planted 5 rows at 1 metre centres with 30 cm between plants so 400 plants in total have gone into the trial. This trial will give us a fair indication of the value and return from Sweet potato growing in greenhouse conditions in Ireland. The purpose of this further trial is to asses the viability of this crop commercially and promote this wonderful healthy vegetable as an alternative commercial crop for organic and amateur gardeners. This crop will be grown using organic methods therefore no fungicides, insecticides or herbicides will be used in the production. The trial will continue until September / October 2010 at which point we hope to harvest a <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPZYgjBLI/AAAAAAAAARA/xkX6o182fG4/s1600/Dermot%26Pat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472383057214506162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 237px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPZYgjBLI/AAAAAAAAARA/xkX6o182fG4/s320/Dermot%26Pat.jpg" border="0" /></a>wonderful crop of sweet potato. In addition to my last blog piece please see here information on our trial in 2009 <a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/10/sweet-success.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/10/sweet-success.html</a><br />During the planting I overheard a student in the greenhouse next door say something about the first time he came into the greenhouse. This sparked my memory back to when I came into the greenhouse as a student at Kildalton. I suddenly realized to my shock, it had been almost exactly 30 years since I first set foot in this greenhouse. Michael Minihan RIP and Michael Conlon RIP were part of the lecurer team there at the time, both wonderful guys but both sadly passed away before their time. The glasshouse where so many hundreds of students have learned their first lessons in Horticulture took on a slightly different meaning bringing memories and echos of past afternoons into the mix of humans and plants. Myself and Dermot "perspried" in the heat of the greenhouse on a wonderful May day. I couldnt help remebering 30 yr old trickling beads of sweat on Michael Minihans red complexion as he tried to explain some salient Chrysanthemum growing tip. During that period in the early eighties it seems to me there was more experimentation hope and expectation from horticulture even though the economy was even worse than it is today. Hopefully the powers that fund Horticulture in Ire<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPecOlGDI/AAAAAAAAARI/kWTtAsVoFPk/s1600/photo+(2).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472383144112232498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPecOlGDI/AAAAAAAAARI/kWTtAsVoFPk/s320/photo+(2).jpg" border="0" /></a>land can take a step back and ask should we have drifted away. Maybe we can go some way back to those times and invest more in the real skills of Horticulture and plant science which have serious economic and social values that may have been forgottten for a while. I do believe we have lost some of our hunger and drive from those times and we need to direct resources back towards skills like Horticulture before it becomes more difficult to do so.<br />Finally back to the sweet potato. Just as myself and Dermot had finished planting the very last cutting Mr Jim Mahoney Head of Horticulture with Teagasc dropped in. Jim on left with Mr Brian Lyons Glasshouse section Manager at Kildalton as you can imagine was dissapointed having missed helping with the planting. We however were delighted to assure Jim that we will not forget him when the spuds need to be harvested in the Autumn. We expect to have plenty of help on hand for that occasion when the proof of the pudding will be in the eating!<br /></div><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S_HPecOlGDI/AAAAAAAAARI/kWTtAsVoFPk/s1600/photo+(2).jpg"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-4677033699457457942010-02-27T17:35:00.000-08:002011-09-06T04:14:02.238-07:00Nurserymans Tip to Growing Sweet Potato<p align="justify"><strong>Nurseryman's Tip</strong></p><br /><br /><p align="justify"><strong>Sweet Potato.</strong></p><br /><br /><p align="justify"><strong>Full Name: Ipomoea batatas ‘Beauregard’<br />Leaf: Heart shaped, green<br />Preferred Location: In the soil/big growing containers<br />Likes: Well drained, sandy soil/Full sun<br />Dislikes: Over watering and temperatures below 5°C</strong><br /><br />Sweet potatoes are becoming increasingly popular as part of a healthy diet in Europe. Home<br />production of Sweet potato can be done in big plastic containers, on the patio and therefore<br />makes the crop available for a wider range of gardeners. This crop is especially interesting for<br />younger people or those without a large garden who want to grow something special. Anyone who has traveled to countries like USA, Australia, Middle East and many of the Pacific Islands where Sweet potato is a common vegetable. The dietary and health advantages of Sweet potato are now well recognised and Sweet Potato is commonly recommended by dieticians for very young babies beginning their solid food diets.</p><br /><br /><p align="justify">In 2009 I posted this blog piece showing ourtrials on Sweet Potato. You can see this post here <a href="http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/10/sweet-success.html">http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/2009/10/sweet-success.html</a></p><br /><br /><p align="justify">I have put together the following detailed tips for your information in growing and storing your own SweetPotato this year.</p><br /><br /><p align="justify"><strong>Growing instructions<br />- Optimum of 4 - 5 months of continuous growing between 10°C night and 30°C day required<br />- ‘tuber’ growth starts during the shortening days<br />- Well draining, sandy soils, pH 6 to 6.5, minimum 20 to 30 cm deep<br />- Planting of the rooted cuttings in rows 1 m apart, 30 cm within the<br />rows or in individual growing containers<br />- Water in when planting the rooted cuttings, but overwatering during<br />the growing period can cause root damage<br />- Requires less fertilizer than most vegetable crops so do not overfeed<br />- Keep weed free during growing<br />- Relatively free of pest and disease problems, but can have root rots caused<br />by cold and wet soil conditions<br />- Harvest in dry weather where possible<br />- Harvest before the first frost and with care as sweet potatoes are sensitive to bruising<br />- Store the roots by over 25 °C and a minimum relative humidity of 90% for 2 weeks to heal<br />the wounds, reduce weight loss and convert the starches into sugars<br />- Savour the Sweet potatoes boiled, mashed or fried accompanied by a nice glass of chilled white wine</strong></p><br /><br /><p align="justify"><br /><strong>Nutrition information<br />Sweet potatoes are :<br />- fat-free and cholesterol-free<br />- have only 130 calories per serving (one medium<br />potato)<br />- are a good source of fibre – 3.9 grams<br />- are an excellent source of:<br />Vitamin A – 7860 IU/serving<br />Vitamin C – 29.51 mg/serving<br />Potassium – 265.2 mg/serving<br />Calcium – 28.6 mg/serving<br />Iron – 0.79 mg/serving<br />Folate – 18.2 mcg/serving</strong></p><br /><br /><p align="justify"><strong>Special notes on harvesting & storage of sweet potato.</strong></p><strong></strong><br /><br /><p align="justify"><br />It is desireable to leave your crop of Sweet Potato for as long as possible before digging out. The top growth will not die back like the normal potato unless it is hit by frost. I recommend you target to harvest some time end of September if growing out door and mid October if growing in a greenhouse. It is important that they be harvested befroe grond temperatures go too low and certainly before any early frosts.<br />When harvesting Sweet Potato it is desireable to have dry soil conditions. If this isnt possible take special care to lay the roots out in a dry warm location. Sweet Potato have a very thin skin so care should be taken not to bruise or cut the skin surface as this can lead to rots during storage or curing the potatoes.<br /><br /><strong>Curing. </strong></p><br /><br /><p align="justify">For best it is desireable to cure sweet potato after harvest. Curing brings out the best in flavour. Proper curing has been shown to increase the sensation of moistness and sweetness, enhance the aroma, and decrease starch content while increasing sugars. Curing also drys up any skin damage and prevents rots in storage. Curing also helps harden or set the skin which helps prolong storage. An idea temperature for curing is between 25 C and 29 C with humidity of 85% which helps avoid weight loss. </p><br /><br /><p align="justify"><strong>Storage.</strong></p><br /><br /><p align="justify">Ideally cure the tubers for at least a week you can then store the tubers between 10 Celcius to 13 Celcius for over 6 months. Ensure the tubers are stored at a reasonable humidity 80% to 85% is perfect but good air circulation should be maintained by storing in layers. Do not the potatoes storage environment to become excessively dry or weight loss can occur. It is also important not to allow storage temperatures rise too high as sprouting will begin at about 15 Celcius or 16 Celcius.<br /><br /></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-41862994837698576672010-02-07T16:38:00.000-08:002010-02-07T18:09:31.042-08:00Honest Scrap<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29sCFPli1I/AAAAAAAAAPY/qkawz3gxciA/s1600-h/honestscrap12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682058282568530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29sCFPli1I/AAAAAAAAAPY/qkawz3gxciA/s320/honestscrap12.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">So this is a most unusual post for me it is a challenge or a passing of the gauntlet from Rebecca Sweet who is an amazing garden blogger in California with her <a href="http://gossipinthegarden.com/2010/02/02/honest-scrap-award-gulp-here-goes/honestscrap12/">Gossip in The Garden </a>blog site. Rebecca has put some interesting facts about herself in this blog piece and thats the general idea so when you</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29sCFPli1I/AAAAAAAAAPY/qkawz3gxciA/s1600-h/honestscrap12.jpg"></a></div><div align="justify">get to number 2 on my piece I will wake you up by conveniently giving you a link to Rebeccas blog piece.<br /></div><div align="justify"><div align="justify"></div><br />Nothing outstanding or startling included in the following just simple frivilous facts.<br /><br /><div align="justify">Here goes.....</div><br />1. Ok this is going to be a big admission, I was never interested in nursery production when I went to Horticulture college. Whats more I couldnt see the point in producing ornamental plants when it was so obvious they cant be eaten and people will always need fruit and vegetables. That was the logic of an 18yr old. This didnt change during my hort studies and ahemmm it was my worst subject even though I won two student of year awards for Fruit and Vegetable production and did my main project on the storage of Onions and the growing of Japanese onions :) .<br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29s394ml-I/AAAAAAAAAPo/gG0hMmRlJtA/s1600-h/barrylyndon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682984020056034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29s394ml-I/AAAAAAAAAPo/gG0hMmRlJtA/s320/barrylyndon.jpg" border="0" /></a> 2. When I was about 11 I tried to get a stand in role in the movie Barry Lyndon as it was being shot nearby they rejected me :( but my sister got a part in the crowd. My movie career cut off so young. rejection was so painful. SO you never hear of the movie Barry Lyndon starring Ryan O Neal? Aha well now you know why!<br /><br />3. Before going to hort college I went to school at St Kierans College where in first year class I sat behind Ralph Fiennes the actor I cannot say anything remarkable other than he did use the term piss off Fitz more than once or <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29scB3xUsI/AAAAAAAAAPg/pQtGPDNziNM/s1600-h/ralph-fiennes-20050912-70236.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682504053969602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29scB3xUsI/AAAAAAAAAPg/pQtGPDNziNM/s320/ralph-fiennes-20050912-70236.jpg" border="0" /></a>twice as for some reason he didn't like being poked in the back during class. odd thing about some people. Ralph left St Kierans after one year hmmm now I hadnt thought about that and why he may have left :). He just didnt come back, whaaaattt I didnt poke him that hard. He wasn't the Dali Lama though so here is where you can go to <a href="http://gossipinthegarden.com/2010/02/02/honest-scrap-award-gulp-here-goes/honestscrap12/">http://gossipinthegarden.com/2010/02/02/honest-scrap-award-gulp-here-goes/honestscrap12/</a><br /></div><div align="justify">4. After college I worked on a vegetable farm for a year then a hop farm for a year before finally spending 6 years working with and managing a Horticultural Workshop for people with special needs and this was my first entry into nursery production. My friend Patrick Murphy began the workshop / nursery and I took over from him when he left to be a landscape designer in USA and now operates a successful Landscape business in New Jersey. Pat actually picked up an application form I was after getting from the American Embassy as I was considering going to USA on an Agricultural working Visa. I managed the workshop and nursery until 1990 when I left to set up FitzGerald Nurseries and it was the most fulfilling work I can imagine we had about 35 trainees all with varying forms of special needs and all very special people. There were too many funny, interesting and good times to recount from Special Olympics outing to various other events with the lads.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29t4SpGj-I/AAAAAAAAAPw/b_caqVrAWOE/s1600-h/garss+gardenweb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435684089103814626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29t4SpGj-I/AAAAAAAAAPw/b_caqVrAWOE/s320/garss+gardenweb.jpg" border="0" /></a>5. This one I probably will be sorry for bringing out but its fact. As you know Carex is a big thing for the nursery and we have our own varieties now all coming from my work on Carex Evergold. In 1989 having bought me beautiful Omega watch <em>(yes which I still have)</em> for my birthday Noirín my then girlfriend now my wife asked me what I would like for my 26th birthday. So this guy who didn't study nursery production too well at school but now working in it and had decided that year to set up my own nursery. So I said ummm how about buying me some Carex Evergold plants so I could start producing some. I thought it was a pretty simple and very attractive evergreen so I couldn't go wrong. So Noirin bought them for me :).</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29vMMQGD4I/AAAAAAAAAP4/6_eBkmYLsKo/s1600-h/nursery-06-07-06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685530497322882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S29vMMQGD4I/AAAAAAAAAP4/6_eBkmYLsKo/s320/nursery-06-07-06.jpg" border="0" /></a>6. FitzGerald Nurseries produced over 500,000 Carex oshimensis Evergold last year has introduced 3 other varieties from using mutated selections of Carex Evergold. In 2010 we expect to sell close to 1,000,000 Carex oshimensis in 4 varieties all coming from plants received as a birthday present back in 1989.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">7. No matter how I try I can never remember the jokes properly I love listening to them but when I go repeat them they re gone. Very annoying.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">8. During by first year at college while making my first cold frame I cut my knee badly with a chain saw, that same summer I was passenger in a serious car accident and missed a summer job in Netherlands. I am a terrible carpenter and totally useless at DIY jobs so dont ask me to fix your shelves!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">9. When I worked for people with special needs I sometimes used to just blend in with them when people from outside wandered into the nursery. I would let them assume I was one of the lads so they wouldn't ask stupid questions about plants which took up our time from what we were really meant to be doing. OK there I have admitted it :) .</div><div align="justify"><br />10. These are two among my favourite songs, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Khy9A1mT4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Khy9A1mT4</a> my favourite group is Meatloaf this is another one of my favourite songs corny as it may be <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-2mxuj_ttQ&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-2mxuj_ttQ&feature=related</a> My favourite month is September and colour blue.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631831557344390656.post-59736433234038030322010-01-22T01:37:00.000-08:002010-01-22T16:33:27.703-08:00Nurseryman's Tip<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S1o1ZGWQLJI/AAAAAAAAAPI/euhbqZsdmQs/s1600-h/Cordyline_revival.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429711006065503378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S1o1ZGWQLJI/AAAAAAAAAPI/euhbqZsdmQs/s320/Cordyline_revival.bmp" border="0" /></a> Coming out of winter in this part of the world we can start to get the garden back in shape. Sorting your container plants can be a task tackled even on wet days in the dry comfort of your garden shed or greenhouse.<br /><br /><p align="justify">Like the rest of the population us gardeners are watching the pennies or cents to make ends meet while still maintaining comfortable and attractive surroundings. However we want pleasant surroundings and love to garden, that should not change and indeed it should get even stronger as the garden becomes our refuge. So for many of us thrifty is the new nifty. </p><p align="justify">FitzGerald Nurseries are producers of container plants that you can see at <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/">http://www.myplant.ie/</a> . I guess one might assume we like it when people have to replace plants? not necessarily so! Like any good professional we want to give value and help your plants mature into a feature in your garden. We want to be as proud of your plants as you are. You may or may not buy less but you will recommend our plants to your friends and family and hey we dont need to sell millions as we are not some big mass producer of disposable products. I personally like it when our plants give you value and you are interested enough to keep them alive, we all need a bit of maintenance now and then. Besides large container plants can be expensive to replace with like sized specimens so I want to give some tips I have learned as a nurseryman when I want to save that plant that's special to me. Over the years I have seen the behavior of plants and their fight to survive far outweighs our comprehension. Plants like humans vary in their resilience but give them a chance and they are survivors. Remember the basis to a healthy plant is similar to the basis of a healthy human nutrition, water, shelter and suitable climate environment so choose your care plan to match your plant. Choose your plants to match your realistic care limitations.</p><p align="justify">My first tip of 2010 is in relation to containerized Cordyline which is one of the most popular temperate region container plants, and one of our best sellers. Cordyline is used now even in colder regions of the world for its exotic looks. Compared even to 10 years ago there is an amzing range of shapes and colours available. I have often used the following trick this time of year as root growth begins again. This trick is ideal for larger Cordyline that have become unstable or had root rot over winter. I come across a lot of<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S1o2GWVwmcI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/k9tx48387EQ/s1600-h/nz_cabbagtree%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429711783452514754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQbh0emsqRU/S1o2GWVwmcI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/k9tx48387EQ/s320/nz_cabbagtree%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> one off attractive mutations in my work which cannot be replaced easily and this little trick has saved many of these special Cordyline over the years. </p><p align="justify">Here is how you do it.</p><p align="justify">Take your plant out of the container and using a sharp knife cut off about 40% to 50% of those damaged roots shaping a tidy root ball. A bit more may be necessary if roots have badly rotted but ensure a sufficient core remains that will keep the plant anchored stably in the container. Plunge at least 6 to 8 inches of stem into a pot of moist well drained potting compost. Fill the container the rest of the way to the top. Ensure you use a good quality compost, I use a compost with 30% well composted pine bark but other good quality materials can be used. Firm the compost gently against the stem to help minimise movement as you fill the pot to the brim with the compost. Keep your Cordyline patient in a very sheltered spot or designate some sheltered hospital recovery area in your yard, garden or ideally a greenhouse. After a few weeks new roots will appear and begin to sustain the plant. During this period I must stress again it is essential to keep the plant stable in the container. Cordyline roots very easily from a trunk as old as 3 to 5 years once given the chance. I have even re-rooted a completely rootless plant with a 3 ft stem by burying in good garden soil in March and tieing to a strong iron rod for stability.</p><p align="justify">If the top growth on your Cordyline has also been damaged you can peel off some of the damaged leaves but be careful not to take off functionally sound leaves even if unattractive for for a time. Some removal of leaves will prevent the plant catching the wind if kept outdoors and reduce rocking in the wind as the plant establishes. You need your foliage to help your root recovery by allowing photosynthesis to occur. Keep the compost moist as Cordyline does like moisture but does not like cold waterlogged conditions. My experience has been that Cordyline treated this way given a little care for the rest of the season will go on for many more productive years in larger containers.</p><p align="justify">I hope this helps and if any questions just make a comment below.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18398665604151936565noreply@blogger.com0