Fruit and Veg have always been on the market. When the export of goods around the world became a trade, the return trip from the Far East, India and such like, brought niceties such as herbs, spices and exotic fruits and vegetables. Not to mention that ‘Parrot’.

Visiting Manor houses and castles, I find myself in a gravitational pull to the walled gardens. Did you notice that these gardens are almost always in a square? Four divisions for crop rotation. A discreet large opening away from the main entrance, this may seem obsolete, but it’s the nerve centre of the garden. While the general public come in at the cash desk. This is where soil and manure, seedlings and plants, tools, wheelbarrows, water hose and insecticides are delivered or taken out. The workshop and for all intents and purposes, a mini-laboratory for the head gardener to experiment with cross pollinating new flowers or plants. Not to mention the kettle for the cuppa tea. 

The main wall may be of limestone or granite, faced on the inside with red brick. In a temperate climate, it’s amazing what two or three degrees of heat can do. The brick will retain heat giving an earlier and longer growing season. The walls also give protection from wind, frost and the bane of every gardener’s life, The Rabbit. In the more lavish gardens, there were the heated walls. A double wall, with the red brick on the inside. Then very ingeniously, elevated fire places between the walls, with draft openings, moving the heat along and chimneys at the corners to allow the smoke to escape. Everything had to be systematically. 

I once asked a retired gentleman gardener, in my innocence, “Was there a particular height that all walls had to be?” “Well, he replied, it all depends on the height of the ‘Rascals’ who are trying to climb over, they would empty a garden overnight”. That ended that conversation.

With the end of the Window Tax in Great Britain and Ireland in 1845, Glasshouses became the desired obsession, for the Grand Houses. These were erected against the south facing walls, with raised beds inside. Vines trees were planted outside the glasshouses and then trained in through the windows and along the rafters. Trimmed to perfection to allow as much sunlight in as possible, for other trees and fruits that were grown in there. Peaches, plums and fig trees, aubergines, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs parsley, thyme, sage and basil. The usual, cabbage, carrots, parsnips, onions, early potatoes. 

The main crop of potatoes was grown in the fields, because of the quantity of potatoes needed, and for crop rotation on the farms, cereals; oats, barley and wheat had to be produced. 

Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Co. Galway. Once the residence of Mitchell Henry, his wife and family. They had a most magnificent walled garden, with splendid glasshouses, over 5,000 feet of piping to heat these houses. The Benedictine nuns, bought this property in 1920 and opened a girl boarding school, it continued until 2010. It had a 6-acre garden that was capable of producing enough food to keep the convent and school supplied. With the shortage of labour because of the First World War, the gardens were neglected and over time all but disappeared. The nuns began a restoration project in 1995, with government grant aid and donations from the community. The gardens were reopened in 2000. It’s a fantastic extra included with the tour of Kylemore Abbey. Mainly flowers, plants, shrubs and trees are here today. The head gardener’s house and Bothy (the building for the regular garden workers) have also been restored. The tool shed, showing what these guys had to work with back then. Long hours and dangerous too. Sprays that were being developed and experimented with, were used for pests, fungi bacteria, viruses and insects’ control but were deadly dangerous to humans.

Mildew was a major issue, as was the potato blight which devastated Ireland from 1845-1852. Copper sulphate and washing soda, were discovered by scientists in 1882, a solution that could be sprayed, before the fungus gained root. 

Listening to the weather forecast in Ireland, in the month of May or June, farmers are warned that Weather Conditions may be Susceptible to the spread of potato blight. Spraying is needed.

Studies had shown that sprays having been developed were having a detrimental effect on humans and hot-blooded animals. 

Muller who had won the Nobel Prize for Medicine, with his manufacturing of DDT during WW II. A chemical that was used the world over. Now outlawed in most countries.

The size of the gardens depended on the size of the estate or what status the owner had in the community or the country. A politician for example would entertain large groups, on many occasions. They had to make an impression, votes may be at stake, or the marriage of a son or daughter, could depend on the spread that was laid out. Choice was a must. A head gardener was a valuable asset, and in big demand, sometimes being encouraged to join another estate. In large estates the gardener had a Villa and perhaps his own servant. Should the Estate owner be a keen gardener and participate in flower or garden exhibits the head gardener would accompany him. 

The King Pine. Pineapples were first grown in South America and the Caribbean. When pineapples were first grown in England, it became the centrepiece on the dinner table. Or a lavish array of fruit on a side table, with the pineapple sitting on top, its leaves in a crown like decoration, declaring it King of Fruit.

So famous had it become, that a portrait was commissioned of King Charles II, being presented with a pineapple in 1677 by his gardener, John Rose. By the way. John Rose was also the gardener of Charles’ mistress, the Duchess of Cleveland. Maybe it was symbolic gesture between Charles and the Duchess.

The pineapple has been incorporated into architecture, sculpture, entrances to parks and gardens. On St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, there are two golden statues, not crosses or anything religious but Pineapples.

In literature by Charles Dickens and others, references have been made to King Pine.

I’ll go finish my shopping.