Ask Gerry

Making raised beds at the moment and i was wondering what type of soil should i put them because the soil in the ground is stony. Should i put multi purpose compost or or something different?

I recently got free compost in coolock recycling centre. I'm wondering how organic is compost from municipal brown bins? Should i only use it on ornamental plants and not on my vegetables?

I have found non- flying flies in the dirt around my lettuce. They are walking all around and are fairly slow - I can catch them if I get them before they burrow back into the dirt. What are they and how can I get rid of them?

Is it true that nettle brew is a good nutrient for veg plots, lawns & shrubs compared to other enhancers or do you still need to give those areas another fertilisers boost.

Could you please tell what plants like Ammonia Mostly in the veg plot

Can i use sleepers around a raised vegetable patch that have been treated with cresote.

Can i grow potatoes, carrots and leeks in a glasshouse?

We are preparing a small area of garden to put raised beds in to grow some vegetables for the first time and have found numerous June Beetles in various stages of development. Should we continue to prepare the ground or is it a waste of time. Is there any control we can apply safely given we want to grow veg? We are very very new to all this veg growing!

I have a 2 acre field which I would like to use for growing vegetables but I'm not sure where to start. It's a level field and good grass. I want to grow potatoes, carrotts etc. There was corn grown in it 3 yrs ago but nothing since. I'm not very green fingered but really want to this with some help from friends.

What is your advice with regard to light ploughing (8-12 inch), rotavating and then planting vegetables over a percolation area?

how is 10-10-20 used on potatoes and veg garden in general (before or after planting, is there a need to turn over soil after spreading) and is the procedure repeated during the growing season.

I'm going to start plating veg from seeds in the back garden. I've already dug up weeds and grass and am just wondering can you give me any advise before I plant the seeds.

What type of fertiliser should i use for my veg patch i have my own compost i don't think that is enough though

My garden soil is very hard, in dry weather it is like concrete hindering the growth of vegetables, my potatoes failed last year, the onions sets didnot grow in size. Tilling this is difficult even with a mechanical tiller. What can I do to make his soil gardenable as the gardening season is about to begin.

My allotment has bog/peat soil and has been really wet so it's been impossible to dig up over winter. Is it too late now to dig over and spread manure?