GOING GREEN IN MARCH

KILMORE CARE OF CREATION

Inspired by LAUDATO SI’ Encyclical Letter written by POPE FRANCIS

ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME

GOING GREEN – PLANTING

“There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven (Eccles.3:1).”

Spring is here! Try your hand at growing summer bulbs and vegetables with these useful tips. All you need is a little space and some time and effort. We recommend you start with organic gardening practices as these are free of harmful pesticides and herbicides. You can plant directly into the ground, build raised beds, use containers, window boxes or pots. If you are concerned about the quality of your soil, take a sample and get it tested to ensure it is free from chemicals. Alternatively, you can erect raised beds and source healthy soil making sure that it is free of peat (derived from ecologically sensitive bogs) and fertiliser (petroleum-derived). Prior to planting seeds, mix an organic fertiliser through the soil approximately one week before sowing. Re-fertilising soil is important. If you want the best growth time and harvest from plants make sure to fertilise soil every 4 weeks during growth.

“What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.” – Meister Eckhart.

Summer Bulbs: Gladioli, Freesia, Agapanthus, Lilies and more

Soil: Plant bulbs upright in well-drained soil.
Sunlight: Place in greenhouse or cold frame before planting out.
Water: Light watering until shoots appears and then water as and when required.
Growth: Already established bulbs bloom faster than growing the same plant from seed.
Space: Plant at a depth of three times their size.

Potatoes: Colleen, Sharpes or Express

Soil: Loose soil with good drainage and nutritious compost.
Sunlight: 6-8 hours of sunlight. Potatoes themselves should remain covered with soil otherwise they will turn green and spoil if exposed to sunlight.
Watering: 2.5-5cm of water per week.
Growth: Time: Small potatoes 10 weeks. Larger potatoes 15 weeks after planting.
Space: Space planted potatoes ~30 cm apart and fully cover with soil 10-12 cm deep.

Carrots / Parsnips

Soil: Well drained and loose soil. Grows best with sandy soil one part sand one part compost.
Sunlight: Partial shade is best to prevent foliage growing more than root. If partial not available place cover over carrots most of the time and remove to allow for 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Watering: Water with 2.5 cm of water spread over soil every four days. 5 ml as they grow larger roots.
Growth Time: 12-16 weeks after sowing.
Space: Plant seeds 10-20 cm deep and 10-15 cm apart.

Cabbage

Soil: Loose soil with good drainage and nutritious compost. For best results, plant in alkaline soil.
Sunlight: lots of sun exposure and >8 hours of light a day.
Watering: Give a good soak every 10 days during dry spells. Using a sprinkler attachment for the leaves and then a soaker attachment for directly watering the soil underneath the plant helps.
Growth Time: Variable depending on type of cabbage but reach full maturity in 4-6 months after sowing seeds.
Space: Space seeds 25-30 cm apart. Note that some larger cabbages will need up to 45 cm apart. Plant 1-2 cm deep.

Lettuce

Soil: Loose soil with good drainage and nutritious compost. PH can be neutral to alkaline so can share some soil with cabbage if co-habiting the same container. Lettuce prefers some more moisture retaining properties in its soil so adding some clay to soil mixture can help.
Sunlight: Preferably planted in a sight with lots of sun exposure and >8 hours of light a day.
Watering: Give a good soak every 10 days during dry spells. Using a sprinkler attachment for the leaves and then a soaker attachment for directly watering the soil underneath the plant helps.
Growth Time: Grows quickly. During summer mature after 30-40 days so if growing in a row, save space by growing a small number and replanting seeds after digging up a fully grown lettuce. Just make sure to keep soil fertilised between these regrowth’s.
Space: Space seeds by 30 cm apart and ~1 cm deep into the soil.

Sacred Scripture tells us to ‘till and keep’ the garden of the world (Gen. 2:15). This implies a relationship of mutual responsibility between human beings and nature. Pope Francis reminds us that each community can take from the earth whatever it needs for subsistence but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations” (LS67). In the documentary ‘A Life on our Planet’, David Attenborough offers some good advice “when we take care of nature, nature will take care of us.”