Corten Steel in the Garden

Corton Steel Planter at the Titanic Exhibition in Belfast

I have a fascination for garden pots and containers. A majority of shop bought ones are made from plastic, terracotta and concrete, but I was looking for something different. My search for variation prompted me to make my own over the past few years and so far I have tried hemp, hypertufa, paper and cardboard, clay and lime - all with different degrees of success (and some I class as a learning experience as they end up in the compost) 

This hasn’t deterred me though and I do find that I look in some unusual places for any type of container that could house a plant or two. One of my favourites of last year was an old 1930’s Bakelite banker’s lamp. I did try to fix the lamp initially but it kept blowing all the fuses in the house so I relegated (or promoted it depending on how you look at these things) to the garden. There it has happily been a receptacle for some glorious succulents that don’t need much space for their roots.  

Steel

This year I have great plans to make some containers out of steel. I have a few old galvanized fire buckets and cement planters painted with my special rusty paint mix (any leftover paint and iron dust if you want to know the recipe) but these just don’t seem to have the old decaying look I am after. I also don’t want to start planting into any old bits of rusty metal as the roses are enough of a tetanus threat already without introducing other hazards.

Titanic

I’m inspired by a visit to the Titanic Exhibition in Belfast this week. Of course the actual exhibition was fantastic, as the ship has always sparked my imagination. I also loved the building architecture and overall design of the public spaces though.  

The ten foot high wording and large ornamental planters have all been made from steel to compliment the industrial feel of the place. It’s not just your ordinary steel though, it has a name-Corten Steel, and I think you’ll be impressed at its uses in the garden.

Corten Steel

Corton Steel is popular with garden designers who have both large and small budgets. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show practically drooled over the 2010 The Daily Telegraph garden installation designed by Andy Sturgeon, which won Best in Show and prominently featured sculptural Corten screens.

Corten—or weathering steel—is typically used for landscaping and outdoor construction. It is made with alloys that cause its surface to develop self-protecting rust when exposed to weather, and this is what makes it different from regular steel. 

U. S. Steel developed the product in the 1930s and trademarked it as Cor-Ten; it was used primarily in railroad coal wagons. The insulating patina resists corrosion, requires no painting or weather-proofing, and doesn’t compromise structural strength. Once you see this steel you can’t ‘unsee’ it and you will realise it’s everywhere in design!

It’s been popular for a long time in building and became a go-to material for modernistic architecture and outdoor art in the 1950s and 1960s. Recently, the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead Tyne and Wear was made from Corten Steel.

Appreciation

Landscape designers appreciate Corten for more than its warm hue and the fact that the colour changes over the months and years. When initially installed it’s just a reflective steel, then it turns a yellow colour before numerous brown and gold tones and eventually grading down to a chocolaty colour depending on the weathering. 

The steel is generally available in sheet and plate form, its strength and durability combined with minimal thickness allows it to serve in situations where a concrete wall, for instance, would not fit or would visually overwhelm its surroundings. Corten has been used for walls, fire pits, edgings, dividers, planters, gate trims, and arbours; its versatility seems to be limited only by our imagination.

The planters at the Titanic Exhibition are delightfully simple and the salt air brings a special colour (and extra rust) to the metal, so I think it’ll be ideal for Inishowen. I even like the fact that over the years, rusty liquid will seep out and stain the concrete slabs the containers are sitting on. For me this adds to the beautiful thing we call the ageing process, and we are all experiencing that.

Small planters can be bought but they do seem to be very expensive so I think I am going to try and replicate the effect myself using anything I find that’s steel and can hold a plant. Old bean tins for a starter painted with rusty and sprayed with varnish.

Avocado Growing

Avocado seeds grow well in the compost bin

Have you ever found something strange in your vegetable crops?   One story I read this week was about a family who found themselves scared witless when they discovered a mysterious hole in their shop bought turnip. 

The offending vegetable was bought from Lidl in the UK and when the woman’s husband cut into it they found what looked like a hole with a spiders web inside (fungal growth probably) They are now convinced that venomous spiders are in their home. The woman said that she was in a “state of shock” at finding the offending hole. 

Lidl are looking into it “as a matter of urgency” and claim it’s an isolated incident. 

I’ll bet that the family don’t grow their own veggies, if they did, they’d find more than just the odd spider in the sink when they are washing them… Oh the stories I could tell of the strange things I’ve brought into the house from the vegetable patch, well not really, it’s mainly slugs, snails, ant and wasps. The squishiest thing I brought in was a blighted potato. Now the thought of that could keep me awake at night.

Avocado Selling

I was making my daily visit to the buy and sell websites and came across an interesting post in the plant section that I had to look at twice in the same manner as the spider story.  A woman is selling avocado plants (or trees) for … wait for it…€120 each, or 2 for €200. Now I don’t know what you think but that price does seem a bit steep for a 10cm tall plant with 6 leaves in a 1 litre pot. They tell us that these plants are really hard to propagate and are worth every cent. I’d like to save you a lot of money here and tell you how you can grow them for free. You might already know how to do it because as of yet, surprise surprise, they haven’t sold one!

Avocado Growing

When we have finished with our avocados I put the stone/seed in the compost bin and forget about them. When it comes to emptying the bin in winter/ spring, I just scatter the compost onto the beds in the polytunnel and fork it in gently. 

The forgotten and neglected avocado seeds go in there too without much thought. So far every one of them germinated and produced healthy green leaves on sturdy stems. The trees grow in the humid regions of Mexico and Central America and the compost bins replicate the warm, damp and humid conditions needed to sprout the seeds. 

There are alternative methods, however, if you don’t fancy rooting around the compost heap:

Pierce the seed with toothpicks and suspend it, pointed end up, over a glass of water. Roots should start to develop within two to six weeks. Then pot up the plant, leaving the tip just poking out of the soil. However, not all avocado seeds will germinate, so if your seed hasn't sprouted after six weeks, try again with a fresh seed

Leave the seed in direct sunlight until it starts to split. Then pot it up.

Place the seed in a pot, and cover it completely. Water well, allow to drain, then leave in a warm, dark place, such as an airing cupboard. Check on the pot every week to ensure it is moist, and water if necessary. As soon as the shoot starts to show, move the pot to a sunny spot, such as a windowsill.

Avocado Care

Use rich, peat-free potting compost and use a pot that has good drainage. After your plant is roughly 30cm tall, cut it down to around 15cm. This makes the plant grow bushy, rather than tall. Once your plant has filled its pot with roots, transplant it to its permanent home – the largest pot you have room for. Fill with rich, peat-free compost, which you should top up with fresh compost each year.

Avocado trees can take up to ten years to bear fruit and indoor-grown plants don’t always live that long. However, if you provide it with a moist, fertile soil and plenty of sunlight, and keep it in humid conditions such as a greenhouse or conservatory, your tree will have a fighting chance of fruiting.  Mine only last the year as I don’t move them when they grow, although I might do now and sell them on the web for loads of money!

Hign Protein Vegetables

It’s that time of year again when the dieting companies prey on our overindulgence and hope to make a lot of money.  Another well publicised issue is that globally we are eating far too much meat which is contributing to health issues, land deforestation, flooding and global warming. 

Living without meat is achievable; in fact I’d go so far as to say it’s easy. I was a vegetarian for years but started dreaming about a butchers shop window display and succumbed to the message that I needed to tuck into a pork chop. 

The main reason we think it’s be difficult is that we wouldn’t get enough protein. I’m also pleased to tell you that you can get more than enough protein by eating vegetables and pulses.

Here is a list of vegetables we can grow which are really high in not only protein but the other elements needed for a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.

Peas.  Peas are an excellent source of protein and can be enjoyed fresh or frozen and have some of the highest protein available of any vegetable. 

Spinach. This vegetable is loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and within that deep dark green colour is also plenty of protein.

Kale. Truly one of the best greens and vegetable choices out there, kale is the definition of a super food. Make it into a salad, add it to soup or casserole, or blend a handful into a green smoothie, knowing that you are getting your protein.

Broccoli. As well as protein, broccoli is also high in fibre, antioxidants and minerals. With a broad range of vitamins on offer, you can use cooked or raw broccoli as a main menu item.  One cup of chopped broccoli has 2.6 grams of protein all on its own.

Brussel Sprouts. This cruciferous vegetable is not only high in protein, but also fibre. Try roasting them in a baking tray with a drizzle of oil and a dash of sea salt for a delicious variation. You might need to chop them into pieces this year as the mild weather has made them bigger than ever!

Artichokes. You can eat artichokes in many different ways including blended, steamed or roasted. They are so delicious and filling (thanks to the high protein) that you may very well may make them the main part of your meal.

Asparagus. Not only are asparagus high in protein, but they also assist your body with detoxification. Asparagus are also high in fibre, which fills you up and leaves you feeling satisfied and satiated after eating. Just 100 grams of the green stuff contains 2.4 grams of protein.

Sweetcorn. In addition to its high fibre content, a serving of corn packs a solid protein punch. Best eaten fresh from the cob, you can also get the benefits off-season through frozen or canned kernels.

Soybeans. With more protein than any other bean variety, cooked soybeans have about 28 grams per cup, roughly the amount of protein that can be found in 150 grams of chicken. More important, soybeans are one of only two complete plant proteins, the other one being quinoa.

Quinoa. A food so healthy that NASA hopes we’ll grow it on interplanetary space flights, quinoa looks a lot like couscous, but it’s a lot more nutritious. Full of fibre, iron, magnesium, and manganese, quinoa is a terrific substitute for rice and it’s versatile enough to make muffins, fritters, cookies, and breakfast casseroles. Quinoa has 8 grams per 1 cup serving. I’m getting some seeds this year to grow as an experiment.

Lentils. From string beans to chickpeas, beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein. When it comes to legumes, lentils are among the winners. They contain about 18 grams of protein per cup when cooked, and at 230 calories per serving, they're great for anyone watching their calorie intake.

Pumpkin Seeds. Once you've ground that gourd into a delicious pie, you might find yourself wondering what to do with the seeds. Roasting them provides a good snack alternative to crisps. One ounce provides more than 5 grams of protein, more than half of the protein found in an egg.

Mung Bean Sprouts. Whether incorporated as part of a veggie stir fry, a topping on a turkey-and-cheese sandwich, or as an added crunch to a salad dish, mung bean sprouts are a great choice for some additional plant-based protein.

Hempseed. This relative of the popular drug contains significant amounts of all nine essential amino acids, as well as plenty of magnesium, zinc, iron, and calcium. They’re also a rare vegan source of essential fatty acids, like omega-3s, which can help fight depression. Hemp contains 10 grams per 2 tablespoon serving.

Mycoprotein (Quorn). Originally developed to combat global food shortages, mycoprotein is sold under the name “Quorn” and is made by growing a certain kind of fungus in vats and turning it into meat substitutes that are packed with complete protein. Admittedly, it’s a little weird-sounding, but mycoprotein is sometimes considered part of the mushroom family.

Mushrooms. With a firm texture and immune boosting properties, mushrooms make a tasty, nutritious and filling main meal although my sister in law won’t eat them as she is a vegetarian and, rightly states that they are closer to animals than they are plants.

New Year Gardening Waffle

Who's eaten my tree then?

It’s a great spring we’re having this winter. I still have my cacti outside and they are looking more than happy.  After saying that, they are sheltered from the cold and rain under an eve.

I’ve solved the hassle of recycling my Christmas tree too. I found out that my dog has a bit of a taste for fir and has managed to reduce the branches to shreds. More about that pest later....

Loads of other trees have buds forming, my nasturtium seeds have sprouted and the broccoli doesn’t know where it is and has been throwing out florets since November. My grass is still growing like it’s summer and we’re still getting autumn mushroom growing on tree stumps.

The frosts will come though, that I am sure and we do need them to keep the annual cycle of living and dying going smoothly. But for now I’ve been doing some jobs I would normally do in March.

Getting on with it

I couldn’t put off cleaning up the tunnel any longer as it felt very humid and musty, even with the doors open.  It’s been so mild that the tomatoes and squash plants haven’t died off completely but they did get a serious dose of damping off. As you brush past what’s left of the plants they throw out millions of tiny spores which are thriving in the mild damp conditions. I’m composting most of the plant and hopefully the frost will kill off anything else as I prepare the soil for spring. I’m expanding the beds a bit this year too so I can grow more salad crops this year. It sounds very organized but what I really mean is that I am pulling back a couple of sheets of woven fabric to uncover a bit more soil for planting. Job done. 

The tunnel will also be the place for new vegetable seedlings so I am giving the tables a thorough cleaning too to keep diseases to a minimum. I have seed containers from last year so those will get a bit of a scrubbing too.

Decisions

I haven’t decided what to grow this year, but I’m sure it’ll be mostly the old favourites (broccoli, kale, tomatoes, beans, peas) with a few newcomers thrown in for good measure; I quite fancy growing gherkins for pickling. I might try some root vegetables this year for a change and work on why I don’t usually have much success with them. It might give me a chance to assess the soil and planting spaces to see elements I need to improve on. Gardening is very much a trial and error/ learn as you go affair so later on this year I’ll hopefully be telling you of my parsnips with metre long roots and beautiful straight, tapering carrots. 

Don’t forget the flowers

I’ll also be putting in a few flower seeds for some summer colour, and also so I can talk about them here. I do tend to go on about vegetables a bit more than flowers as you may well have noticed so that could address the balance. The  two planters I made up for my father in law as a present has inspired me to be a bit more colourful and reminded me that when we lived in Clonbeg and sold bedding plants, I’d be making planters like these up every day.  I learnt my lesson at that time that less in a planter is best. I did cram them in for people hoping they would get more value for their money but it didn’t work out like that as a lot of plants suffered in the small confines of the pots. Less is more definitely, giving the plants room to grow.

Another doggie dilemma

I’ve had a few of the neighbours calling around recently. Instead of bearing gifts, they were coming to me with the news that one of our dogs has been seen enjoying night time raids on bird tables, compost bins and left over cat food around the area. It took me two weeks but I think I’ve finally made the garden secure enough to keep her in. It took a new back gate, a lot of rolls of chicken wire, and blocking off any tiny hole that I see. 

I am amazed at her dedication to roaming free, it must be the lure of birdseed, and it got to the stage where she couldn’t run anymore because of bloating. She’s just waddle along beside us around the park instead of rummaging in the hedgerows as normal.  She’s secure for the time being until her next great escape. In the man time out garden now looks like a fortress and gives people the impression that we are trying to keep people out instead of the dog in. That’s my excuse for now getting many visitors over the holiday period anyway.