(New Series, programme two)
Wednesday March 12th 2025
RTÉ Óne
8pm
HOME GROWN returns to RTÉ One with a brand new third series celebrating Irish horticulture.
Industry advocates and presenters Kitty Scully and Colm O’Driscoll once again travel the country in this popular series, searching for stories that highlight the very best in the Irish horticulture industry.
HOME GROWN series 3 explores everything from innovative growing techniques to the extraordinary people shaping Ireland’s green spaces, profiling small producers, and highlighting the generosity of community gardening for a good cause.
This seven part series also goes behind the scenes at Ireland’s largest horticulture festival Bord Bia Bloom, highlighting the resilience and ingenuity of Ireland’s horticulture industry, looks at the intrigues of creating habitats for animals, and explores many other stories that inspire growth and connection.
Colm says:
“Horticulture is such a diverse industry and the full spectrum of this diversity is portrayed this season, highlighting the far reach of horticulture and the important role it plays in our society. I got to see the important therapeutic role horticulture plays in the inspiring ‘Field of Dreams’ project, while I also witnessed how horticulture can be used as a rehabilitation tool in one of our country’s largest prisons.
” Last season we saw how vulnerable Irish growers are to weather extremes, so it was interesting to visit Met Eireann to see the work they are doing to bring advance weather warnings to growers sooner, to help them cope with our ever changing climate. I also visited several enterprises that are bringing us new technology and innovations that aim to improve the sustainability of the industry. From autonomous driving tractors to carbon sequestering fertilisers, the range of innovation is inspiring.”
Kitty says:
With twenty years experience in Ireland’s horticultural sector, and my third season working on HOME GROWN, I continue to be amazed by the industry’s ongoing growth and innovation. This season the sheer diversity of horticulture in Ireland truly stood out. From the grandeur of historic castle gardens, meticulously maintained for generations, using time honoured techniques, and inspiring inner city parks landscaped using repurposed materials; to cutting edge rooftop gardening projects harnessing AI driven robotic weeding technology to maximise efficiency and shorten food supply chains.
“The series highlights not only how horticulture shapes our daily lives, through food, public spaces and biodiversity, but also how every citizen plays a role in protecting and enhancing this dynamic, yet often overlooked, industry.
This season is a powerful reminder that horticulture is woven into every aspect of our world.”
Programme two:
The Power of Small-Scale Organic Growing
Colm visits Kildinan Farm in North Cork to meet Sheila and Rory Magorrian, small-scale growers specialising in organic salad crops. Colm spends the day learning about their dedication to growing naturally, and promoting public awareness about organic farming. They share the challenges and rewards of organic growing, showcasing how natural methods can deliver high quality produce while supporting local communities.
Biochar: A Sustainable Growing Solution
Biochar is a charcoal-like product made from biomass waste such as wood or agricultural waste, paper mill waste or other biological residues.
In Roscommon, Colm explores the potential of Biochar with Shane Layden from Arigna Group, learning about what it is and its benefits as a soil enhancer. Colm then heads to Kildare where microbiologist Dr. Karen O’Hanlon of Probio Carbon in Maynooth, explains how inoculating Biochar with beneficial bacteria promotes good plant health, reduces chemical use, and enhances biodiversity. Richard Bradley, horticulturist, shares his first hand success stories from using biochar in horticulture.
Specialist Propagation at Nightpark Nursery
Kitty visits Nightpark Nursery in Kildare to meet Thérèse and Michael Duffey, who along with daughter Niamh showcase their expert seed collection and plant propagation techniques.
This small nursery in Ireland is making waves on the European market with the specialist propagation, and produces up to 50,000 plants per week in peak season encompassing 600 species. Kitty learns how their nursery has become a key supplier in Ireland and Europe.
Townley Hall Garden: Growing for a Good Cause
In Drogheda, Kitty explores the Townley Hall Garden, a no-dig, regenerative, organic community project at the School of Philosophy and Economic Science. She meets School Principal Rosemary Fitzpatrick, Student Team Leader Hilda Crampton, and many of the volunteers who grow fresh produce specifically for the charity Food Cloud. Kitty highlights the garden’s impact on food security and community wellbeing, and how giving back can be very rewarding.
Home Grown is produced by InProduction TV & Scéal Creative Ltd. and is sponsored by Bord Bia
Press enquiries: TVPR Pauline Cronin 087 2629967
Kitty Scully, Bio 2025
Kitty Scully is a well-known organic gardener and local food advocate. Growing up on a mixed organic farm in Co Laois, she picked up a love of eating and growing good food at a young age. She nurtured this inherent passion with a formal education and by working on organic farms and gardens around the world. An MSc in Organic Horticulture is her highest paper accolade but her practical achievements go far beyond. Kitty has had a diverse career in horticulture to date – from managing a market garden for nuns in North Cork, to spearheading the evolution of the kitchen gardens in Airfield Estate; writing for national papers and co-presenting garden shows on RTE, ‘Home Grown’ being her most recent.
She currently writes a regular column for The Irish Garden Magazine and The Farmers Journal. She also co-ordinates the Organic Growers of Ireland Network and is Head Grower on a private estate in her home county. Kitty is a natural communicator who regularly gives talks, lectures and teaches workshops on gardening using organic methods. Kitty’s energy and enthusiasm for growing, learning and talking about all things soil based is endless.
Colm O’Driscoll Bio 2025
A dedicated exponent of organic horticulture and craft gardening, Kildare born Colm O’Driscoll currently works as head gardener of Lismore Castle gardens in Co Waterford.
A Graduate of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland Colm has enjoyed a diverse career gaining experience in many sectors of the horticultural industry including, landscape, retail, nursery stock, and organic food production.
Colm strives to innovate and introduce new and exciting plants while adopting sustainable methodologies, an endeavour that is clearly seen from his regular contributions to The Irish Garden Magazine, and through his lectures and workshops.
