Saturday, February 12, 2011

Onions

I said last year, after a run of disappointing results with onions, that I wasn't going to grow them this year. So naturally I went to the garden centre this morning and bought some onion sets. Well, it's the sunshine, innit? Makes you all optimistical, dunnit?

Anyway, here they are.

50 Red Baron and 100 Sturon. I'm making a concession to their poor showing last year, and the year before, and..... by starting them off in the greenhouse. There are some shallots in there too, ditto.

It seems to be working well enough for the garlic and the autumn planted shallots, although they did both sit there in a sulk for nearly three months.

And I've been looking at the great survivors. I started the autumn by sowing some "winter salads", the plan being to overwinter them in the greenhouse for a running start this year, and possibly fresh salad at Xmas. Well, Ho-Ho-Ho! The extreme cold in December mostly put paid to that plan. But there were some survivors, and here they are: Radicchio, Spinach and Lollo Rossa lettuce.

There are a few Mizuna too, but that's tough as old boots anyway.

Incidentally - "Great Question of our Time" coming up - why are some garden centres so poor at something as basic as putting the price on things. Don't they understand a basic principle of retail (you offer goods for sale, tell people how much they cost, and if the price is right people give you money for them. Errm? Difficult?)? Are they just incompetent? Can they not be arsed? Why are they still in business? I'm sure I don't need to sketch the scenario out for you but be assured the goods were so priceless I didn't buy 'em. Ha!

10 comments:

Sue Garrett said...

That's a lot of garlic - have you a vampire problem in your area?

Unknown said...

very impressive Woody - nice g/h

You going to the Fed meeting on 21st ? might be an opportunity for 'hello pub' afterwards ?

Gordon Mason said...

Vampire problem? Not now!!

Gordon Mason said...

Hi Michelle. That's not a bad idea. I've never been to a Fed mtg; where are they held and what time?

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Greenmantle said...

Snap! I've also bought Red Baron & Sturon today. The latter of which I've always had good results from in the past. I never seem to have any trouble with them planted straight in the ground though, and would usually expect about a 90% germination rate. I draw out a little, shallow, trench, chuck a handful of multi-purpose compost into it, and plant into that. Then brush some fine natural soil back over them. I'm a firm believer that you should bury them completely, with a covering of about 1cm on top. It stops the bird pulling them up, and with the roots that little bit deeper, they don't fry off and shrivel so quickly in hot weather. Makes them a bit slower to get going than the neighbours, but I usually have the last laugh, as it produces bigger bulbs in the end. The other thing with onions is that as the are so shallow rooted, they are in direct competition with any annual surface weeds for nutrients and moisture. It makes a big difference to the yield if you keep them meticulously weeded.

Gordon Mason said...

Yes, I've found that weeding is key to "getting onions right", and I'm not as good at it as I ought to be (the shame!)

Gordon Mason said...

Thanks Michelle; beginning to worry now!

Nome said...

Hehe! My onions were so tiny last year I bought a giant variety this year, in the hope I might get some normal-sizd ones!

Haven't been here for a while, Woody. Love the new look!

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