Ask Gerry

What can you plaint in the garden or plaint in the Organic garden in Ringsend?

I made some compost tea in May (using nettles and comfrey) and gave everything a good feed with it. Now there is still plenty left but I'm wondering is it a) too old and b) too late to feed plants this time of year?

I tend to get gardening type presents for birthdays, fathers day, etc etc which include plant nutrients such as fish meal & bone mixes. Do these things have an expiry date (as I seem to accumulate of lot of boxes of different types of veg supplements?)

I want to start growing Veg & Fruit in my garden. I have a large enough garden but want to know am I better using raised beds or digging up the soil? Also, can I start now with some winter veg or am I better off waiting til Spring time to get going? Do I need acid soil in a raised bed for growing blueberries, or what is the best way?

Could you please explain about composting wood shavings and why there can be a problem (bacteria using up all necessary nitrogen, or something?

Over the years as I dig my vegetable plot I have found bits and pieces of old household waste, i.e. pieces of old china, glass, small chunks of burnt coal, etc. Once I found a small scrap of lead. The property used to belong to a house dating from about 1830 and I think my plot is sited on top of an old household tip. My concern is more about possible contamination from dioxins or the like from the remains of coal fires than about the small annoyance of a few bits of china or glass. Also, for some years our neighbours used to burn garden clippings. and some bits of household waste and the smoke would drift across the ground. More dioxins?

I have 4 tomato plants growing indoor, Shirley, Moneymaker x 2, and Shipsaint. One growing outdoor Tomatoberry. The plants seem weaker than other years and the leaves are all getting a heavy brown spotting. All are forming fruits but I think there should be more. They were planted in the first week of May. Is there something I can do to sort this out this year, or otherwise for next year

When we open the lid of the compost bin (first season using it) there seem to be hundreds of flies which all swarm out over the person lifting the lid. Yeugh! So the best option is throw the lid back and run. Are we doing the composting correctly. We seem to be following the instructions? Are all these flies normal in a compost bin?

Where can I buy a Loy spade also known as a ridging spade?

I got a present of an electric propagator. I have planted some seeds about a week ago (mixture of lettuces and coriander). Nothing has happened so far which is okay but the soil appears to have some mould on the top and there is so much condensation on the covers. I am worried that the seeds are going to be too wet? Is this normal I wonder?

Is it ok to put a raised bed on a patio - am worried about how to ensure proper drainage and that the patio is not wrecked from it. Might be building it and if so what should I use as a base? The one I have seen for sale is of solid wood and I cannot recall if it has any drainage holes in the bottom - would this be a problem If I do decide to buy something similar instead?

Just wondering can i use seaweed in my compost heap,if yes dose it have to be dried out or can you through it on straight and can you only use certain types.

I was told you could use seaweed as fertilizer in the veg garden, so I got myself a ton of it. Do I wash it first and then put it in the base of the drill before planting potatoes etc or how is it applied?

I am starting from scratch with a green field site. Should I spray the area i want to plant out before rotavating?

I have recently obtained an alotment. I have to be careful with my back and my osteopath has recmmended to me that I use a long handled garden spade / fork etc. I have tried the usual outlets to no avail. Could you please recommend to me an outlet where I may purchase long handled garden tools.