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This method is the same for all forced bulbs, apart from the alternative ways mentioned below: To have hyacinths in flower for the Christmas period make sure you buy bulbs labelled 'prepared' You may wish to wear gloves when handling the bulbs as hyacinths can cause skin irritation The simplest compost to choose is bulb fibre, especially if the container has no drainage holes. Alternatively, John Innes Multi-purpose compost can be used, provided it has a good, open texture and is moisture-retentive but free-draining. It is not necessary to use a fertiliser-rich growing medium or to feed the bulbs after planting Wet the fibre or compost first and place a layer in the bottom of the bowl or pot Set the bulbs on the fibre or compost. They can be close together, but not touching each other or the sides of the container Fill around the bulbs with more fibre or compost, leaving about 1cm (½in) between the compost surface and the container rim to aid watering The tops of the bulbs should just be showing at the surface Forcing Bulbs Bulbs may be forced into early growth for indoor display in winter. Keep in a dark place at temperatures above freezing but no higher than 45 degrees F, for at least 10 weeks to allow roots to develop. When shoots are about 1 inch long, increase light and temperature gradually. Water carefully, avoiding wetting the shoots or waterlogging the soil. After flowering, forced hyacinths may be planted in the garden and they will flower again in subsequent years. Growing hyacinths in bulb vases This is an alternative method for growing hyacinths. The bulb should be slightly smaller in diameter than the vase so that it sits snugly in the vase. Fill the glass with water to the neck and then place the bulb in the top. The water level should be just below the bottom of the bulb. The plant can then be treated in the same way as potted hyacinth. Margaret's tip Just as your hyacinths are beginning to flower ,you can add a personal touch by adding a few stems of variegated holly , some pine cones and contorted hazel. Gardenstone Stepping Stones are ideal for random paths through borders and across lawns. When using in a lawn, the top surface should be kept level with the turf to ensure easy mowing. Ingredients: Method: Top the salmon with cajun spice, then place the fish on a pan with olive oil and butter to cook at a low gas level. During that time, dice the plum tomato and red onion, chop the garlic and mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Add the chopped coriander, salt, pepper and the jus of lemon, olive oil. Turn the salmon and take the pan off the gas. Tulip Angelique A Tulip as good as 'Angélique' comes along once in a lifetime. This exquisite semidouble bears 2-3 blooms on each stem, and the individual flowers are soft and slightly ruffled, with a full flush of the most delicate pale rose shades against a creamy white self. At 12-14in, 'Angélique' is just right for the front of the border or, of course, a vase. This remarkable variety belongs in every garden. It is our best-selling Tulip by a mile. One of the best Doubles for forcing. Late mid season. Tulipa ‘Showcase’ in a pot Tulipa ‘Showcase’ also grow wonderfully in a flower pot. Make sure you use fresh potting soil, John Innes multi-purpose and place a layer of gravel or perlite at the bottom of the pot. Plant the bulbs in a hole that is three times as deep as the height of the bulbs. For example, a bulb of 5 cm should be planted in a 15 cm deep hole. The planting distance of the tulip ‘Showcase’ in a pot is about 7 cm. Add extra colour to your pot by planting low growing anemones or our hardy cyclamen just above the tulip bulbs, which will flower beautifully below the tulips and give you lots of colour all autumn and winter. This is so different and refreshing looking,'Tulipa 'Exotic Emperor' grows well in a flower pot or patio container. Make sure you use John Innes multi purpose and put a layer of gravel or aeroboard or perlite at the bottom of the pot. Place the bulbs in a planting hole three times as deep as the height of the bulb. The planting distance of the Tulipa 'Exotic Emperor' in a pot is about 7 cm. For extra colour in the pot, plant low growing violas or trailing pansies and these will flower beautifully below the tulips.cover your pot with slate mulch or grit and you will have no need to water. Margaret tip for planting Tulips Soak your bulbs in a solution of tomato food for a few hours before planting or over night if you wish. This gives the bulb an extra supply of food which will result in longer and better flowering in the Spring. If slugs are a problem, sprinkle a few organic slug pellets in with the bulbs - this will sort any slugs intending to feast on your tulip. Bulbs for Spring colour are something you should think about! What could be better than the surprise element of snowdrops, anemones, crocus,minature daffodils and dwarf tulips? It's all so exciting even just thinking about it! I so love bulbs popping up in places I had forgotten I ever planted, the element of surprise can be electrifying. I know summer isn't over, especially with the great September forecast, so forgive me for talking about winter and spring, but good gardening is all about planning ahead. Bulbs only take a few minutes to plant, and in return you will get weeks of pleasure throughout spring. Remember to keep active in your garden - you will feel so much better in mind and body. Being out in the garden is a very spiritual thing and I feel it allows us to put life into perspective, reminding us what is important in this world. Anger and worries seem to disappear in the garden - could it be the garden fairy who banishes all our problems? Margaret's tip: Soak your bulbs in a liquid feed of maxicrop tomato food before you plant - this will make a huge difference to their performance. If I am to be truthful, my favourite specimen plant for a container has to be Cordyline torbay dazzler This stunning foliage plant has spiky, variegated leaves with bold cream stripes and margins. A native of New Zealand, it makes an excellent container plant for patios and elsewhere. The beauty of this cordyline is it doesn't shed leaves like its green relative. It needs warmth and shelter, and is not quite hardy inland but does very well in Cork/Kerry. If we get snow or severe frost, plants are best protected before the winter frosts by bundling up the foliage in a sleeve of sacking, wrapped around in several layers and then covered with a plastic bag to keep the leaves dry. I find the secret of success of keeping this plant healthy in a severe winter is to use plenty of grit when planting, so plant into 50% John Innes Multipurpose compost and 50% grit. I managed to keep one alive even in the arctic winter two years ago by wrapping the container in bubble wrap and placing it on top of some aeroboard. Positioned in the right place, this cordyline is like rays of sunshine all through winter, which is much appreciated . So what can I underplant these cordylines with? Your choices are plentiful: winter pansies winter violas cyclamen winter cabbages trailing ivies
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At Griffins, we have been selling Kelkay products for the past few years: stepping stones, walling, edging and sleepers. People love them because they are so easy to work with, without
These products come in a range of 2 colours: Cotswold stone and greystone.
Gardenstone edging has been proven as the perfect finishing touch to paved and gravel areas. They are also ideal for retaining soils when creating beds and borders. having to employ someone to do the job. Logstone captures the weather worn authenticity of wooden sleepers - using the joining post along with the sleeper you can create an interesting raised bed.
Stepping stones
Gardenstone stepping stone are ideal for random paths through borders and across lawns. When using in a lawn, the top surfaces should be kept level with the turf to ensure easy mowing. Gardenstone is great for growing your own fruit and veg, or as a feature of a bed at a raised level. For anyone who has wet soggy soils a raised bed is an ideal way of getting plants to grow where normal soil conditions prevail.
Margarets tip of the week:
Are your primroses lasting for a long time or do they rot after a short time? Does this happen to your cyclamen as well? It may be that your soil is heavy, and needs to be dried up somehow. But rather than spending a lot of extra money on a drainage system, what you can do is add lots of grit when planting! If you find grit is too heavy for you to lift then the feather light 'Perlite' will do the same job. Always keep your plants raised a little off the ground and tilt them to the side - ever notice how primroses grow on a dry ditch and at an angle so that the rain runs off! For more of these helpful hints check out the Griffins Garden Centre Facebook page.
• 1 piece of Salmon
• 50g of cajun spice
• 50g garlic butter
• 1 red onion
• Chopped coriander
• Salt & pepper
• 100ml of olive oil
• 100g of butter
• 1 large plum tomato
• 1 clove of garlic
• 6-8 baby potato
• 1 lemon, 1 lime
In a pan put garlic butter, dice boil baby potato, warm up the mix, add salt and pepper, then dress the dish with the baby potato, then the salmon and finally the salsa on the side. Enjoy!
Tulipa 'Exotic Emperor'
OPENING TIMES
Mon-Sat 9am - 6pm
Sun 10am - 6pm
Bank Holidays 9am - 6pm
Restaurant open til 5:30pm
LOCATION
Dripsey, Co. Cork.
Tel: +353(0)21 7334286
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