West Kerry Live - Corca Dhuibhne Beo - News Sports Features and Entertainment on the Dingle Peninsula

Are there many different varieties of mint i.e. lemon which grow easily in our climate? - Arty Clifford, Dingle
There are many fantastic varieties of mint which can be easily grown here in Kerry, particularly because, unlike Thymes, they can tolerate excessively wet conditions. Grow them in pots as most are highly invasive. Try Lemon, Peppermint, Eau de Cologne, Lime,
Spearmint, Applemint and most exciting of all Chocolate Peppermint. The only one I tend to find less hardy is Gingermint, it is very ornamental with gold striped leaves. A new addition is Indian mint. This is a trailing variety which combines scent to hanging baskets and tubs!

My Garlic tends to get rust like spots on the leaves half way through the growing season and the bulbs remain small but edible. What is causing this? - Brita Wilkins, Baile an Trasna, Ventry
I have never had this problem with Garlic so I am guessing a little on this one! I imagine it is mainly due to the dreadful wet summers in recent years. So diligently improving soil drainage may help. Ensure to add sufficient sand (horticultural sand may be purchased in Garden Centres) and grow on drills or raised beds. If you can, use a cloche to give some cover from excessive rain mid-summer. Rust, like blight is a fungal disease which is  infectious, so foliage must be burned as it can spread to other crops, like wise in reverse your Garlic may be getting infected from other plants nearby which may be carrying rust disease so check around. Excessive leaf growth caused by too much nitrogen can promote the disease so go easy on fertilizers. This year just add potash to try to balance out the soil composition. If the bulbs remain undamaged then the dreaded white rot is not the problem, if this was the case I would advise you not to grow Garlic in that area of soil for 8 years!

Greta McCarthy,O'Brien qualified in Amenity Horticulture at Botanic Gardens Dublin in 1983 and has been growing herbs in Annascaul for over 10 years.

Herb Nursery, Back Road, Annascaul opens Thursday to Sunday 2-6pm other-times by appointment. Greta’s Herbs are also available at Dingle Market every Friday morning & various other outlets.  Contact Greta 086-3169716  www.gretasherbs.com