Irish Moss
New varieties of vegetables appear every year. Generally
they are so similar to the originals they go unnoticed but occasionally a new
plant appears in the catalogues that catch my eye. Browsing through this year’s seed catalogues
a cauliflower type jumped out at me and it goes on the list of new plants to
experiment with this season. We have a
few interesting cauliflowers already, the Graffiti F1 is a vivid purple , the Sunset
F1 is bright orange and the fractal like Veronica 'Romanesco' type produces a head
made of several 'spears' . This year we have the Chinese Sprouting plant which
is eaten as sprouting stems, just like broccoli. Vibrant green stems are topped
with a white floret. It’s not the prettiest variety, it looks like a ‘blown’
cauliflower when ready to harvest, but it’ll be a real treat for gardeners who
like something different.
There are a few veggie seeds we can plant now as well as
cauliflowers: carrots, broad beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, some herbs, cabbage,
broccoli and shallots can all go in.
Wildflower Strips
Research showing most farmers could slash their pesticide
use without losses and a UN report came out recently denouncing the “myth” that
pesticides are necessary to feed the world.
One solution on trial is to create long strips of bright
wildflowers planted through crop fields to boost the natural predators of pests
and potentially cut pesticide spraying.
A few test strips have been planted on 15 large arable farms
in central and eastern England last autumn and will be monitored for five
years, as part of a trial run by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Concern over the environmental damage caused by pesticides
has grown rapidly in recent years. Using wildflower margins to support insects
including hoverflies, parasitic wasps and ground beetles has been shown to
slash pest numbers in crops and even increase yields.
The idea for the strips to be in the middle of the field is
an adaptation of an idea to put flowers on the perimeter of the field. It’s
said the insects don’t go into the centre of the crops making them more
effective.
Similar field trials are also underway in Switzerland, using
flowers such as cornflowers, coriander, buckwheat, poppy and dill. The majority of crop protection advice given
is from agronomists tied to companies who make their money from selling
pesticides. One team member said “There is a commercial drive and they will
tend to take a prophylactic approach.” It’s hoped this strip method will
eliminate pesticide use all together.
One wild plant that appears to be suffering because of grass
fertilizers, the loss of habitat or coastal management is “Irish Moss” Which
has seen numbers decline rapidly in the last few years. This plant isn’t actually Irish as such and
also isn’t moss.
Sagina subulata –
Irish Moss
This plant is a perennial also known as pearlwort is a
mat-forming species which in Ireland is now confined to rocky open coastal
heathy grassland. There are 20 or so varieties but the one I am looking at –
called ‘Subulata’ can be used as a groundcover for the garden in much the same
way chamomile is used for making a lawn alternative or an attractive rockery
plant.
Species description
It is a member of the campion family, which apart from the
showy carnations, pinks and campions, includes a number of smaller, weedier
species. There is a procumbent pearlwort (Sagina procumbens), which may be
commonly found on pavements and also can be invasive in a lawn.
The rosettes of heath pearlwort that now only reside along
the North coast, also form low cushions, but with attractive pure white starry
flowers on hair-like flower stalks arising from around the margins. By
comparison the Sagina subulata is welcomed in the rockery, lawn and between
paving stones. Other names are awl-leaved pearlwort, is more descriptive as the
short linear leaves have a bristle-like point at the tip.
Flowers are presented from June to August — long enough to
attract insects to cross-pollinate plants, but despite its showy flowers,
little nectar is produced and they receive few insect visitors. Instead,
flowers automatically self-pollinate. Seeds may persist for years in the soil.
Sowing
The BSBI Atlas2000 project highlighted the apparent
disappearance of this species from many of its former sites along the north
coast; this includes often-visited sites such as the Giant’s Causeway which is
a good enough reason to plant a few seeds.
I bought and planted some of the tiny subulata seeds last
autumn. I’m pleased to say they are growing well and I am going to do my own
field test for a year to see if they are a worthy, practical addition to the
garden for making small lawn alternatives. They will be up against the lawn
chamomiles for durability and hardiness which is a hard act to follow.
