Indoor Plants do not just add greenery, they add a multitude of health benefits to your daily life.

Plants are beneficial for both mind and body and here are just some examples of how choosing an indoor plant for your home or office can reap benefits for you and your family / colleagues.

• 

  Plants help to increase oxygen levels.
  Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the daylight hours via photosynthesis. Some plants (Orchids for example) however, take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the night making them ideal for use in your bedroom while you sleep.

• Plants increase moisture levels in the air
  As a result of transpiration plants can account for 10% of moisture in the atmosphere which in turn can decrease the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs in humans.
• Plants remove toxic vapors.
  Plant leaves remove low levels of chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from indoor spaces. Many common house cleaning products such as air fresheners & deodorizers contain formaldehyde which is a carcinogen.
• Plants can help our memory
  Indoor plants can increase memory retention and concentration in the home and workplace.

Want to know more about how houseplants can improve your daily life? Visit www.sustainablebabysteps.com

Call in to Beechdale Garden Centre today to pick up your new house companion! 

Any foodie amongst you will already be aware of the wonderful flavours that herbs add to dishes whether it’s an Italian pasta sauce, roast chicken dinner or even in salads and sandwiches. Buying herbs as you go can be very expensive and is often one of the reasons many people just don’t bother with them- yet if you grow your own herbs you will have access to their fully fresh flavour and a serious love affair with food is sure to blossom.

Here at Beechdale Garden Centre we have a wide variety of popular and some of the more unusual herbs on offer all sourced from quality suppliers. Create a fabulous Kitchen Herb Garden for under €24! Includes Sweet Bay (Great for Stews), Garden Mint (Salads & Cocktails), Oregano (Pasta & Sauces), Chives (Salads & Sandwiches), Parsley (natural breath freshner & great in Salads & Sandwiches too), Thyme (Fab with baked chicken breast), Rosemary (Delish with Lamb), Chervil (add near end of cooking to keep flavour) and so much more! We have a great range of herb seeds available in store and online.

A herb garden can be as big or as small as you like, from pot at the back door or some herbs in a window box, no matter what you have you can start. Or if you are looking for the full bang a small raised bed or  raised planter will be sure to keep your herb game on point.

The main aim of crop rotation is to prevent diseases and pests getting control of an area. By rotating crops these organisms are kept in check plus different crops require different nutrients and some crops actually increase the soils nutrition. By rotating your annual crops your soil will have a better chance of avoiding depletion and thus produce better crops every year. The main idea is to keep moving things around!

You can choose between a 3 year or 4 year crop rotation plan.

Group Your garden / Planting Area into the following sections:

1. Brassicas – these include Brussels sprouts, cabbages, kale, cauliflower, oriental greens, swedes, radishes and turnips
2. Legumes, Onions and Roots – Broad beans, peas, onions, garlic, shallots, leek, beetroot, carrot, celeriac, parsnips, celery, florence fennel…
3. Potato family: Potaotes, Tomatoes.. note that pepper and Aubergine can be grownanywhere int he rotation as they are less susceptible to disease.

Each year move each section forward so that the previous years’ veg arenever repeated using the samne bed/area.

Example Crop Rotation:

Year One:
Area one: Legumes, onions and roots
Area two: Brassicas
Area three: Potatoes

Year Two:
Area one: Brassicas
Area two: Potatoes
Area three: Legumes, onions and roots

Year Three:
Area one: Potatoes
Area two: Legumes, onions and roots
Area three: Brassicas

For a four year crop rotation simply seperate the Legumes into one area and the Onions and Roots into another.

Example:

Year one
Area one: Legumes
Area two: Brassicas
Area three: Potatoes
Area four: Onions and roots

Year two
Area one: Brassicas
Area two: Potatoes
Area three: Onions and roots
Area four: Legumes

Year three
Area one: Potatoes
Area two: Onions and roots
Area three: Legumes
Area four: Brassicas

Year four
Area one: Onions and roots
Area two: Legumes
Area three: Brassicas
Area four: Potatoes

For more information on crop rotation visit www.rhs.org.uk

As always there are plenty of jobs to do in the garden and if you are planning to grow your own veg this year now is the time to plan crop rotation.

Things To Do In The Garden For February:

• Clear away all dead leaves and fallen fruit from beneath fruit trees as both can harbour pests and diseases.
• Start chitting your potatoes in preparation for planting in the coming weeks.
• If you haven’t already protect your more tender plants and spring crops from the February frost.
• Plant perennials such as lupins and delphiniums now.
• Time to plan the summer flowering bulbs you wish to plant for when the soil gets a little warmer.
• Towards the end of the mont plant brussel sprouts, potatoes, onions shallots plus you can plant spinach, leeks and peas (if it is mild).
• Plant your bare rooted trees, fruit bushes and hedges.
• Tidy around the edges of beds to look smart all summer long!
• Don’t forget to check your lawnmower before its time to cut the grass for the first time this year.

If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse or polytunnel you can begin to sow Aubergines, Tomatoes, Peppers, Melons, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Rocket, Radish, Carrot and Beetroot now too. All of which are available to buy online, click here to see our range.

Time to start planning your Potatoe crop for the year ahead. Here at Beechdale Garden Centre we have 16 varieties in store with First Earlies, Second Earlies and Main Crop Potatoes to choose from including:

First Earlies – Plant End March, Harvest June-July

• Accord
• Arran Pilot
• Colleen
• Duke of York
• Home Guard
• Pentland Javelin
• Red Duke Of York
• Sharpe’s Express

Second Earlies – Plant Mid April, Harvest July – August

• British Queen
• Carlingford
• Charlotte
• Sarpo Una (Blight Resistant)

Main Crop – Plant Mid – Late April, harvest August – September

• Arran Victory
• Cara (Blight Resistant)
• Desiree
• Golden Wonder
• Kerrs Pinks
• King Edward
• Maris Piper
• Salad Blue
• Setanta
• Sarpo Blue Danube (Blight Resistant)
• Sapo Mira (Blight Resistant)

STORAGE / CHITTING POTATOES:

Remove potatoes from all packaging and place them nose end up (where most eyes appear) into either egg boxes or wooden trays containing 2.5cm ( 1″) of dry soil or compost. Store them in a light, frost-free room until several shoots (chits) appear. If there is a danger of frost, cover them lightly with dry compost and fleece for protection. When the shoots (chits) are about 2.5cm (1″) long the potatoes are then ready for planting.

PLANTING POTATOES:

Potatoes can be planted in any type of soil but should not be planted where they have already been grown within the last two years.  Before planting dig the soil well adding compost and a general fertiliser. Plant the potatoes about 15cm (6″) deep with 30cm (1ft) apart, except for Main Crop potatoes, they need more room, about 45cm (1.5ft). In dry weather water liberally especially when the tubers have started to form. Protect early varieties from the late night frosts by ‘earthing up’ the soil around the shoots or covering with fleece.

HARVESTING POTATOES:

Carefully remove the soil from a small part of the ridge and if the ‘New Potatoes’ are about the size of ‘hens eggs’ they are ready for harvesting. Early varieties are ready for harvesting when the flower opens or the bud drops. Remove ALL tubers from the soil after harvesting to prevent pests and diseases.

Magnolia trees are a popular ornamental tree loved by many due to the showy perfumed flowers they produce in white, red, pink, purple or yellow. With over 200 species of Magnolia to choose from you’re spoilt for choice!

Magnolias can be grown in almost any climate if you can provide protection from harsh conditions such as exposed windy locations. They like an area of the garden that gets full sun to light shade. and grow best in moist, well-drained, slightly acid soils althought they care also suitable to neutral – slightly alkaline soils, however avoid wet or poorly drained soils.

If you’re looking for a superb Magnolia then visit us here at Beechdale Garden Centre or browse our online shop where we have a wide selection of suitable Magnolia trees and shrubs available and free advice on how to choose the best one for your garden.

Magnolia Trees in stock include:

• Magnolia Cambelli Charles Raffill
• Magnolia Cambelli
• Magnolia Cearhays Belle
• Magnolia Charles Coates
• Magnolia Galaxy
• MagnoliaGrandiflora
• Magnolia Kobus Dr Merrill
• Magnolia Lilliflora Nigra
• Magnolia Macrophylla
• Magnolia Raspberry Fun
• Magnolia Sieboldii
• Magnolia Star Wars
• Magnolia Stellata
• Magnolia Stellata Royal Star
• Magnolia Susan
• Magnolia Vulcan
• Magnolia Wadas Memory
• Magnolia Wilsonii
• Magnolia X Soul Lennei Alba
• Magnolia X Soul Angeana
• Magnolia Thompson Olmenhof
• Michelia Fairy Magnolia White

Deciduous magnolias usually flower in spring before leaf emergence. Magnolia grandiflora (bull bay), the most commonly grown evergreen, flowers in flushes from summer until early autumn. For more information on how to cvare fro magnolias visit www.rhs.org.uk

Independent.ie and Sunday Independent readers shared their favourite Irish restaurants and The Wildflower Cafe at Beechdale was one of them!

The Wildflower Café is the cutest little retro cafe homed inside Beechdale Garden Centre, Moneytucker, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. It is like a stage set, where you can be anyone or anywhere you want in your own play. Outside in the Mad Hatters Tea Party Garden you can transport yourselves to a lovely fictional sunny summer. A Brigadoon nestled in the busy garden centre. Crockery is china and nothing matches so it’s like visiting a dearly loved auntie. There are paintings by local artists displayed on the fabric covered walls which are inset with internal windows. William and his staff are so unfailingly friendly and efficient. The food is delicious, beautifully served and reasonably priced. There is also a small wine list. A delightful little treat for locals and those touring the south east. Noreen Ryan