Planting and Caring for an Orchard

Afternoon Cookery Classes begin at 2PM, however please try to be at cookery school for 1:45PM.

Guests will get a copy of all recipes and tastings of all dishes at the end of the demonstration. Please note you will be joining our main student body for this demonstration.

Details of Recipes to be demonstrated are published approximately 2 weeks in Advance.

This comprehensive course provides step-by-step guidance on how to plan, design and plant a thriving apple orchard. Perfect for beginners and hobbyists, as well as those considering commercial apple production, the course covers everything from site selection and tree varieties to planting techniques and orchard management.

Our teacher is Christopher Troy, a member of Future Orchards in Upper Glanmire, and a commercial horticulturist with 40 years of experience. Christopher trained in Kildation Horticultural College and from there travelled around Ireland working on various farms. Having worked in a great number of orchards around the country, both commercial and private orchards, Christopher has a diverse and varied knowledge of orchards. A lot of Christopher's knowledge about apple growing has not only developed with experience but also from the history of the older orchards of days gone by.

Nowadays Christopher grows all of his fruit organically at home and is a great advocate for organic farming, encouraging all those he works with to practise organic methods.

What You’ll Learn:

The students will have a greater understanding of the work involved in not only planting an orchard but also how to plan and maintain the orchard.
Also the students will know how to plan to have fresh apples for at least 5 months of the year.

Course Elements:

This course is a comprehensive introduction to planning and planting an apple orchard.
There will be practical demonstrations on how to site an orchard as well as planting the trees and how to place the stake correctly.
The aim of this course is to show the students how they can grow apples organically.
This course will also show students how they can have fresh apples for 5 months.

Good to Know:

As we’ll spend time walking and learning around the farm please bring suitable clothing and footwear - and allow for changeable weather!
Refreshments and Lunch included; eat alongside our students, cookery school teachers, farm staff, gardeners and visiting experts
Tea and Coffee with whatever’s fresh out of the oven will be served from 8.45am so please arrive early to sign in, meet other students and get ready for a busy day of hands on learning
The course is held at Ballymaloe Cookery School’s Organic Farm and Gardens in Shanagarry, Co. Cork P25 R274

The prestigious Ballymaloe 12 WeekCertificate Course is run three times a year, with courses beginning in January,April or May, and September.

The course is aimed at anyone with a passionate interest in food. Many of our students use the course as a springboard to become a professional chef; others use it to equip themselves with a marketable skill.

Others still take the course simply to maximize the pleasure they get from cooking at home.

Students develop a deep and detailed understanding of food and how it is produced. The emphasis is on recognising the best ingredients and knowing how to showcase them.

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