An Introduction to the Ballymaloe Cookery School Diploma in Practical Horticulture
by Susan Turner, Senior Lecturer
This is a practical course. At the end of it you should be in a position to design, plan, establish and manage your own fruit, herb and ornamental cut flower garden. The full, month-by-month syllabus will be ready by the end of January. In the interim, however, I thought it might be helpful to summarise all the key topics we will be covering. I have also prepared a description of a the first week, so that you can get a feel for what will happen on a day-by-day basis. Do please remember that the weather will play a role and so the planned schedule may have to be adjusted to take advantage of good weather and to avoid bad weather.
The core subjects to be covered
Keeping a diary
Keeping a diary is essential. In it you will record everything you do each day and making notes of future activity that you need to plan.
Cropping and sowing plan
You will learn about what to sow, when to sow it and when to crop it. We will work with chefs at Ballymaloe House and in the cookery school to hear what they need and when.
Understanding Latin nomenclature
Plants may be referred to in plain English but it is important to have an understanding of the Latin names and also how those names are given.
Identifying plants, companion planting and rotation
By the end of the course you will be able to identify and describe all the major plant groups including native hedging and trees, beneficial insect and attractant plants, green manures, weeds, wild flowers, ornamental flowers, hedging materials, shrubs, herbaceous plants, vegetables, herbs and much more besides. You will also learn about the principles of companion planting and plant rotation.
Complete guide to organic gardening
Why organic gardening is so important. The main regulatory bodies. How to establish or convert an organic garden. The financial advantages of being organic. Recommended, permitted, restricted and prohibited practice. Market outlets and labelling (how to harvest, grade and prepare organic crops for market).
Identifying and managing pests and diseases
How to recognise the many pests and diseases that you will encounter. Information about predators. Different ways of avoiding, managing and destroying pests and diseases including barrier methods, pest traps and organic pestacides. Understand the importance of the ecosystem within and around the crop in the management of pests and diseases.
Garden history
A short but comprehensive history of gardening with a particular emphasis on our food heritage.
Keeping chickens
Chickens play a valuable role in the garden. Why to keep chickens. Different varieties. How to look after them.
Choosing, using and maintaining equipment and machinery
We will be covering everything from sharpening knives to reversing a tractor with a trailer attached to it, from strimming to ploughing, and from mowing to operating a hedge cutter. Plus we will explain how to choose the right equipment for the task and how to maintain it properly.
Mixing cement, fencing and other basic garden building
The skills you need to mix and use cement. How to use a level. How to put up a fence. How to lay a path. How to create an outdoor work area. Drainage.
Soil
A complete guide to soil – its structure, types of soil, PH and soil management. How to apply the information to your gardening decision making.
Structures
Developing basic carpentry skills so that you can handle essential tasks such as making your own peach leaf curl frames or cold frames. Building live willow structures and willow weaving.
Weed control
A comprehensive understanding of weed control to include mulching, hoeing, flame weeding, stale seed beds, crop rotations and green manures.
Poly tunnels
How poly tunnels work. The different types available. Choosing a poly tunnel for your needs. How to erect a poly tunnel. Accessories.
Plant nutrition
How to help your plants stay healthy including the preparation and application of liquid and other feeds.
Water and irrigation
Land drainage and water divining. Installing an irrigation system in fields, raised beds and in a poly tunnel or greenhouse.
Lawns
Establishing and organic management of lawns. You will learn how to do so using organic methods.
Wildlife
The importance of wildlife to any organic enterprise. Different wildlife habitats including meadows, woodlands, ponds and hedgerows and coastal regions.
Fruit
Creating a fruit orchard. Rejuvinating an old orchard. Different methods of pruning and when to apply them. Training fruit trees including how to create fans, espaliers and cordons.
Pruning
Pruning of ornamental shrubs and climbers
Propagation
Seed sewing, taking cuttings, division and layering.
Growing indoors
Choosing indoor and conservatory plants and their management.
Compost making
The role of compost. How to design, build and manage your compost system. Vemiculture.
Seeds
How to save and store seeds from your own garden. Choosing varieties of seeds. Preserving our food heritage.
Treats and trips
We will be visiting a number of organic gardens and other horticultural growers during the course. There will be trips to farmers markets. You will also be invited to attend relevant courses being run by the main School including bee keeping, preserving and foraging.
Sign Up
If you would like to sign up or simply register your interest please fill in your details here.