Nursery Focus: Irish Fuchsia Nursery 

Kerrie Gardiner, Bord Bia Bloom Show Gardens and Horticulture Content Manager, presents the silver medal award to Leonie Meehan of Irish Fuchsia Nursery at Bloom 2024 

Leonie Meehan of Irish Fuchsia Nursery in Wexford tells us about life at this specialist nursery, which won a silver medal at Bord Bia Bloom 2024, and offers advice for gardening in October. 

Tell us about your nursery. 

Irish Fuchsia Nursery is an award-winning, specialist plant nursery based in Monamolin, County Wexford. Our main focus is on the propagation and sale of an increasing selection of fuchsias. At this time of year we have a range of spring bulbs and in early summer we produce annuals, including sweet pea and cosmos, herbs, and salad vegetable seedlings. 

What is involved in running a nursery? 

The work is physically demanding and you have to love it. Fuchsias are grown from cuttings taken from over 150 varieties. Plants are pinched out, potted-on and readied for sale. Annuals, herbs, and vegetables are produced from seed each spring. We are out in all weathers and will be glad of the shelter of the polytunnels over the coming months. 

What jobs should gardeners tackle this month? 

It is bulb planting time! As far as fuchsias are concerned, October is the last month to plant out hardy fuchsias before the weather turns cold. Tender varieties should be brought in before the first frosts and half-hardies protected if necessary. It’s time to ready the garden for winter. 

How do you encourage biodiversity in your nursery, and what advice do you give to your customers who want to enhance biodiversity in their own garden/growing space? 

We have reduced our chemical usage to almost zero, favouring natural biological controls and best practice. Fuchsias are bee- and pollinator-friendly plants, as are most of our annuals. Where possible we use open-pollinated organic seed for our vegetables and herbs. 

October may be tidy up month but don’t over-do it. Remember to leave seedheads and berries for the birds, a few overgrown quiet corners for beneficial foragers such as hedgehogs, and a wild patch, including some nettles, for the pollinators. 

What is your favourite plant and why? 

My favourite fuchsia is Fuchsia ‘Delta Sarah’. I originally received this plant as a wedding gift and it has survived neglect, storms, snow and drought. As a mature plant in the wrong place, it was dug up by a mini-digger, root pruned, potted up, and eventually replanted in a north facing bed. I can honestly say it is “as tough as old boots”. The single flowers are creamy white and mauve purple splashed with pink. What a stunner! 

Do you have any tips for novice gardeners? 

Take your time, decide how, why and when you are going to use your garden. How much time do you have to look after it, will you do all the work yourself or engage a professional? Gardening should never become a chore; it should be a worthwhile, rewarding and relaxing experience – even the weeding! 

What does it mean for your nursery to attend Bord Bia Bloom? 

Bloom is the best advertising platform in the year. It is an opportunity to present and display our top-quality Irish grown plants to a wide and varied public. Meeting and chatting with customers is an important part of the business, advising young gardeners, and encouraging seasoned enthusiasts to try something new. 

For more on the wonderful world of Irish fuchsias, visit irishfuchsia.ie and follow the nursery on Facebook @IrishFuchsiaNurseryGoreyWexford and Instagram on @meehanleonie