Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: fletch on September 30, 2007, 11:46
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What's the latest I can plant these? I bought a bagful yesterday but don't actually have a bed prepared yet.
Thanks,
Fletch
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get the bed done today n plant in the morning, or evening if ya at werk :wink:
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I've not had time to get mine in yet but next week is the week I hope :)
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Funnily enough, I was speaking to a commercial supplier of onion sets last week, about autumn-planted sets, as I've always been of the, 'Bung in early, get bigger'uns,' approach to gardening.
She said that no farmers/producers would even begin to plant out the sets until the first week of October [gnomey squint at calendar: ooh! Tomorrow!!].
I bought two bags and planted some out last year in an unusual frenzy of activity, as soon as I got 'em, and using - in addition to garden implements - what I considered would pass as logic: the sooner planted, the larger, bigger, better onions I would get. Sooo, in they went in early September.
I then found the misplaced other bag of the same variety, same brand. These got planted in my next frenzy of activity in early NOVEMBER. I planted them with a sinking heart, and a head full of curses for tardiness, procrasination, money down drain, etc.
By spring, the September-planted ones were slightly ahead of the other batch. Then
The September-planted ones were rubbish: they didn't bulk up. Then they got white fungal rot.
The November-planted ones were the best onions I have ever grown. They were enormous, healthy and, if an onion can be described as such, vibrant. Almost architectural, they were. People came from other plots to gawp at them, even.
Both lots were grown within inches of each other, adjacent blocks on my lotty: one lot went on in the half-row where the first bag had run out.
I'm going to plant some successionally this year, Just To See What Happens.
Mind you, I've managed to order a SACK to sell on to us at the allotment to save loads: they are about 20% of the price of garden centre-bought ones. The commercial grower is doing me a favour, as she usually fufils orders that would cover a small African nation knee-deep in sets, I discovered.
Conversation:
Gnome: I'd like to buy some sets, please.
Her with the Sets: How many would you like?
G: Oh, I was thinking, er, um, one or two?
HwtS: Yes, that would be fine. What size lorry load would you like to order?
G: !!!
HwtS: Hallo, anyone there??
G: [squeaky high voice, faintly] Do you do, um, BAGS??
HwtS: Yes, but they're only 25 Kgs.
And so on.
Anyway, I mentioned my marvellous differences in results to The Lady, and that's when she came out with the gem of info at the start of this overlong post.
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Bought some this morning. Hope to put them in next weekend.
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I've planted 300 of my 400 sets. A couple of them were starting to sprout :shock: They are in rows, each set is about 8 inches apart, maybe 8 to 10 inches, each row is a foot apart, and they are sown so the tip of the set is just poking through the surface. I don't know if this is the correct way. i wanted to seperate the plantings by a few weeks because i don't want them ready all at once. I'm planting the other 100 tomorrow. I've also got 3 garlic bulbs to split into cloves and plant. Where are they going to go???! I'm running out of room!!! :shock: :shock:
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I've planted 300 of my 400 sets. A couple of them were starting to sprout :shock: They are in rows, each set is about 8 inches apart, maybe 8 to 10 inches, each row is a foot apart, and they are sown so the tip of the set is just poking through the surface. I don't know if this is the correct way. i wanted to seperate the plantings by a few weeks because i don't want them ready all at once. I'm planting the other 100 tomorrow. I've also got 3 garlic bulbs to split into cloves and plant. Where are they going to go???! I'm running out of room!!! :shock: :shock:
If the tip is poking out, try & get some netting over them as the birds love to pull them out. On of my neighbouring allotmenteers didn't do that & it looked just as though she'd just thrown the bag of sets on the soil.
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:shock: :shock: :shock: ok i'll do that as soon as i've finished work tomorrow - cheers for the tip. I was led to believe by someone on the plot that they needed the tips showing - i'll give em a covering with compost.
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:shock: :shock: :shock: ok i'll do that as soon as i've finished work tomorrow - cheers for the tip. I was led to believe by someone on the plot that they needed the tips showing - i'll give em a covering with compost.
Most books etc. do say to leave the tip showing. I follow my Grandfather's way and only just bury the whole set, leaving nothing showing.
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And they still get dug up, mushy, listen to the net bit :wink: :wink: :wink:
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And they still get dug up, mushy, listen to the net bit :wink: :wink: :wink:
I bury them AND net 'em.
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each set is about 8 inches apart, maybe 8 to 10 inches, each row is a foot apart
That is a big spacing - approx 84 sq inches per set. I'd have twice as many in that area ... Mmmm ... thinks ... is that why Jap Onions don't do so well for me?
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I would not think so, WG, I do pack them in more than that, leave the rows almost a foot or so apart though.
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6" apart in rows 12" apart.
"Werks for me".
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Is it worth planting them in succession? One row per week, say?
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No - bung 'em all in
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each set is about 8 inches apart, maybe 8 to 10 inches, each row is a foot apart
That is a big spacing - approx 84 sq inches per set. I'd have twice as many in that area ... Mmmm ... thinks ... is that why Jap Onions don't do so well for me?
Don't think I did it that way because I know anything - I know nowt and this is my first time planting these things. The geezer who sold me them said 8 inches or thereabouts.
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each set is about 8 inches apart, maybe 8 to 10 inches, each row is a foot apart
That is a big spacing - approx 84 sq inches per set. I'd have twice as many in that area ... Mmmm ... thinks ... is that why Jap Onions don't do so well for me?
Don't think I did it that way because I know anything - I know nowt and this is my first time planting these things. The geezer who sold me them said 8 inches or thereabouts.
Don't think they need to be as far apart as 8", but going that way is better then cramming them in. The important thing is being able to get the hoe between the sets!
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And they still get dug up, mushy, listen to the net bit :wink: :wink: :wink:
whoops - okok right thats hmm right need to see if ive got enough netting. wow thats a lot of netting :shock: :shock: :shock: . How tall does it need to be?
30 sets per 20' row and 10 rows @ 1' to cover thats 30' x 20' = £££
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what am i saying - it's 20' x 10', whew! :oops: :lol:
how big do they need to get before digging up isn't a danger?
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what am i saying - it's 20' x 10', whew! :oops: :lol:
how big do they need to get before digging up isn't a danger?
On my plot - that is NOT a lot of netting.
something like this will cover you (example only, please shop around)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GARDEN-NETTING-2-PACKS-2M-X-10M-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ140161355378QQihZ004QQcategoryZ519QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
They don't need to be big, just putting roots down & anchoring themselves is enough. My netting is only 6" off the ground,
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you do not need them nettings forever,just while they put some roots down, so they can't br that easily pulled up
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you do not need them nettings forever,just while they put some roots down, so they can't br that easily pulled up
I said that!!!!!!!!!!!!
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:shock: :D in retrospect, yeah it's not a lot of netting, it's just more than i've used in one go so far :lol:
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fer get the netting get some reels of fishing line some 10 inch canes n spread em out around the plot then tie the line across to each cane, the birds dont see it an dthey trip up .werks for me :wink:
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interesting! how high for the fishing line?
oops answered my own question - 10 inches
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so tie the line in like a zigzag? think i'm getting the picture now
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no canes are 10 inches .stick 4 inch in the ground and string the line across then .whats conveniant for you but has to be off the ground to catch em .soon puts em off :wink:
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My onion set barely doubled in size and my garlic was a disaster too. Don't know why but will keep trying.
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fer get the netting get some reels of fishing line some 10 inch canes n spread em out around the plot then tie the line across to each cane, the birds dont see it an dthey trip up .werks for me :wink:
Is this (http://www.profishingtackle.co.uk/shop/line_31/) what you're talking about Munty? Do you use this instead of netting always? Is it worth getting a reel and having some in 'stock'? Which one of that lot would you recommend?
Too many ???, I know. I'm learning from the best here and I'm mega keen! :wink:
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never seen onions netted before,all i do is get my a string line for your row,plant your sets and tighten and lift the string line leave it there a few weeks.job done
and like DD says bury em just below the soil
werks for me :wink:
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Where can I buy winter onion sets in bulk
I need about 15 to 25kg for our allotment shop
Ron Drinkwater
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Is it worth planting them in succession? One row per week, say?
I wouldnt have thought so as they store fairly well so if they are ready about the same time then that ok. Unless you want to experiment on the best time to plant!