The Senior Gardener and volunteers at Florence Court’s Kitchen Garden have offered some reminders for exhibitors at this year’s Fermanagh County Show, which takes place in the new setting of Castle Irvine Estate, Necarne, Irvinestown on August 11 and 12.

The Florence Court volunteers have been regular exhibitors at the Show, winning many awards over the years.

This month, they are continuing with seed sowing as well as preparing to plant potatoes and other vegetables and, of course, some exotic fruit.

This year is different for them because this is the first season they are using their new glasshouses, built as part of the restoration project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

With heated grow boxes and the benefits of the warmth of glasshouses, they are able to sow tender seeds early to have them established before planting out in the beds.

The Senior Gardener, Ian Marshall, has also begun the planting of new peach, nectarine and apricot trees as well as waiting on the arrival of lemon trees and vines.

Ian, along with Kathy Dunphy, the Senior Project Co-ordinator, are in the midst of spring activities in the Kitchen Garden, having welcomed around 500 primary school children and their teachers to participate in the Secrets of Spring programme, where they learnt about the life cycles of plants and got the opportunity to sow some seeds.

The Kitchen Garden volunteers, who meet twice a week, have also had an away day at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, making connections there and attending a ‘no-dig’ workshop with Charles Dowding.

Fermanagh County Show is encouraging existing and new exhibitors to plan ahead to have produce available for the wide variety of fruit, vegetables and flower classes.

Details of the various classes will be released soon in June at the Show launch.