@Camelliad, I've looked back at my emails and they are called Ballyrobert. The plants were lovely when they arrived, and I would buy from them again, I'd just be more careful next time!
@bullfinch yes you're right!!! I've ordered from Ballyrobert and have had both lovely plants and a wrapped chocolate! How could I forget. I love the narrative on their website. Thank you for checking.
I have used Wickes compost because they are one of the only large companies that deliver; and they often have free delivery. I have found it fine.
Last year I ordered Wickes manure and it was so full of urea I had to leave it behind the shed for six months to let the smell offgas. An unbelievable whiff, that suggested there was some major error somewhere.
Browsing http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about8248.html will reveal that just over 4 years ago I published my findings on using weed control membrane with holes cut in it as an 'onion experiment'. Whether or not that prompted a man in Galway to develop 'Growgrid Fabric' I've no idea but, like my experiment, it has limitations.
The pic above uses roofing felt for similar purposes and that sheet plus a smaller one, together produced my this year's crop from one €2 net of sets. Pic attached. Once the greenery was through and well established, I eased the sheet off them, moved it to another plot and used it again to plant my leek seedlings through.
Even though I'm 6ft tall, I had some difficulty/discomfort reaching into the middle of the 1 metre sheet, but I imagine Growgrid, @ 1.5 metres or 5ft in width, would be virtually impossible? My sheets are now safely in the shed, bone dry, and ready for next year at a fraction of the cost of the alternative. My holes were achieved using a circular hole cutter attachment for my drill which tended to produce a sticky substance from the heat generated but, once in several years I can tolerate that.
Failures...mainly involved my roses in one form or another. Two, Windflower and Gentle Hermione, had been replanted to 'better' spots, but unfortunately ended up being swamped by the Verbena bonariensis, and consequently just seem to give up for the Summer, and will be moved to pots in the Autumn. My new foray into hybrid tea's was a disaster, suffering from either rampant black spot or blooms which just disintegrated on contact with any rain, and all have subsequently been binned. And not getting on top of the sawfly issue soon enough Successes...not too many because of the awful Summer we've had up here, but Graham Thomas the climber has had it's best season since planting it 4 years ago...oh, and the Verbena, it might have turned out to be a bit of a thug, and will either have to be reduced or moved, but it has been spectacular.
Not really been a stellar year in the garden TBH. Bulbs in pots did ok in spring. Peas - disaster - old seeds (my fault) Radish - rubbish - no germination Courgette - pulled 'em due to the scare about toxicity issues. Beetroot - fair. Lettuce (Little Gem) - ok. Kohl Rabi - ok. Turnips - eaten by slugs. Probably last time I'll bother with them. Swede...we'll see. Kale.. looking better after cabbage white attack. Roses - fair. Brugs in pots - fair. Bog garden plants - ok Cosmos in containers - lots of green - no flowers. Calendulas - good show. Zinnias - hopeless. Phlox - good show French Beans - ok Carrots - disaster - clayey soil. (my fault)
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The pic above uses roofing felt for similar purposes and that sheet plus a smaller one, together produced my this year's crop from one €2 net of sets. Pic attached. Once the greenery was through and well established, I eased the sheet off them, moved it to another plot and used it again to plant my leek seedlings through.
Even though I'm 6ft tall, I had some difficulty/discomfort reaching into the middle of the 1 metre sheet, but I imagine Growgrid, @ 1.5 metres or 5ft in width, would be virtually impossible? My sheets are now safely in the shed, bone dry, and ready for next year at a fraction of the cost of the alternative. My holes were achieved using a circular hole cutter attachment for my drill which tended to produce a sticky substance from the heat generated but, once in several years I can tolerate that.
Successes...not too many because of the awful Summer we've had up here, but Graham Thomas the climber has had it's best season since planting it 4 years ago...oh, and the Verbena, it might have turned out to be a bit of a thug, and will either have to be reduced or moved, but it has been spectacular.
Bulbs in pots did ok in spring.
Peas - disaster - old seeds (my fault)
Radish - rubbish - no germination
Courgette - pulled 'em due to the scare about toxicity issues.
Beetroot - fair.
Lettuce (Little Gem) - ok.
Kohl Rabi - ok.
Turnips - eaten by slugs. Probably last time I'll bother with them.
Swede...we'll see.
Kale.. looking better after cabbage white attack.
Roses - fair.
Brugs in pots - fair.
Bog garden plants - ok
Cosmos in containers - lots of green - no flowers.
Calendulas - good show.
Zinnias - hopeless.
Phlox - good show
French Beans - ok
Carrots - disaster - clayey soil. (my fault)
All I can think of for now...