[simonj]

Yeah! Im back - thanks James, went down the firefox road.

Anyway - been messing around with seakale again.

I use my Grandad's book of dept of Ag leaflets 1941 as a reference sometimes.
It contains advice leaflets 1 through to 111 inclusive.
It cost 2s6d and has been helping the family now fo 70 years.

Coves everything for small holders, poultry, livestock, bees, fruit and veg.

Nice advert in the fly leaf.


Might be of special interest to Michael B.

I'll throw up a few more scans in the coming months on the blog and here.
If I have time, I'll edit the older posts on veg and planting with relavent scans.

Anyway - Seakale.
Seakale is a perennial green, hardy and reliable once established, and that's the trick.
My initial batch had a very poor germination rate, this is I think because the seed is contained in a cork like husk that allows the plant to propagate with the tides in nature.

After some research I found that removing the outer seed casing help's and speed's up germination.

Put the seeds in a bowl of water for a few days,then using a very sharp knife, like a craft knife or scalpel, very carefully and gently take off the outer husk. It's a little like a tiny avocado


Potted up in home made paper pots using my newest toy - a Nether Wallop paper potter.
I have made my own in the past, but that was all flour glue and lacked uniformity.
The paper potter saves time and bother, recycles newspapers and gives good, uniform starter pots.
It's a very simple, clever and cute addition to the seed box.

[michael brenock]

simon j thanks for the memory of the "Departments Leaflets". I remember them well as individual leaflets which were free of charge and the bound copies for 3/6 (three and six pence). In later years when Teagasc took over the function from the Department of Agriculture I was responsible for updating such leaflets as Early Potatoes, Main crop Potatoes, Onions, The vegetable garden and others. I enjoyed doing the job and they (leaflets ) were the definitive word on the growing of those crops in those days. Simon J you bring back some great memories.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[simonj]