There are no specific courses in polytunnels but it forms part of general courses and Bord Bia website has the general run of courses available or try Teagasc.

How to grow sweet potatoes

Love to grow sweet potatoes but dont know how to get started. I kow it needs a green house but I cant find seeds, seed potatoes or plants? Any advice. aa0020, Tralee, Co Kerry Posted: 31/12/2011

Sweet potato can be grown in a greenhouse from 'slips' which are young shoots about 15cm long taken from a sprouted tuber. These slips are usually planted in a group or in a row about 30cm apart.

Slips or small plants are hard to get to buy but if you get a sweet potato tuber and place it in a tray of compost in a warm bright place indoors early in the year, you should get enough slips for a trial, at least.

Growing Winter Vegetables

My wife and I recently took an allotment for the 1st time this year. I was just wondering about the types of Winter vegetables we could grow and what time of year to plant them. Ploughman, , Co Cork Posted: 21/07/2011

You can get in spring cabbage seed now and plant out in late September

Sow lettuce, spring onions, rocket, white turnips, peas now.

Sow broad beans and garlic in October.

winter vegetables

Are there any vegetables that can be planted outside with no protection ,in the next month? ikaye, new ross, Co Wexford Posted: 16/07/2011

Vegetables that can be sown in August include lettuce, rocket, radish, spinach beet, kholrabi, spriang cabbage and spring onions.

sweet potato

just got one plant aim to grow it in a large pot my question is where should i grow it glassshouse or outside?? 310820091, portmornock, Co Dublin Posted: 09/07/2011

Sweet potato is greenhouse only in this climate. It will grow outdoors when there is no frost but it won't do much.

saving seeds

I have been growing apple cucumbers this season. Could you please tell me how to save the seeds for next season? ROYSTON, NEWPORT GWENT, Outside Ireland Posted: 09/07/2011

Apple cucumbers are a form of ridge cucumber grown outdoors, and unlike the indoor cuccumbers, it needs ot be pollinated to make fruits.

Therefore any fruit left to turn yellow and begin to soften will have ripe seeds and these can be collected. a dozen seeds is probably enough as only a few plants are needed.