Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: BB on December 11, 2018, 11:21
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Planted these late. The bulbs are definitely not ready. Leaves are well grown. Should I cover them in a fleece?. Thinking it will make sure they don't get water logged and stop a severe winter killing them off. Then just uncover in the spring. Think they can take cold down to -5°.
Anyone done this in the past.?
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Looking at a previous thread on these it seems they can be planted any time between Nov and spring. If you've got leaves now then the bulbs will have rooted nicely and shouldn't need any frost protection unless we have an exceptional cold snap. They won't start bulking up and forming a clump of smaller bulbs until spring so I think all is ok.
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I have never covered shallots, and they managed to survive incredibly wet Winters and ones with lots of snow, so I'd leave them be, BB :)
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Well that's decided then!
I may, just may cover them if we are down for loads and loads of rain. Its terraced garden, clay but I put 10-12" of topsoil on top. I assume the fleece will stop or at least reduce the amount of rain that gets through.
Thank you both.
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I always thought Golden Gourmet didn't form clumps like the banana type shallots?
I put mine in in Sept and like you I have heavy clay topped up with a foot of looser soil. I think fleece lets water through so might not have the desired effect though I doubt it's necessary as they can handle the cold and wet.
I'm growing them for the 1st time this year so I'm no expert but I do think fleecing them might be a bit if a waste of time.
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Golden Gourmet certainly do form clumps, and are a very reliable variety, at least in my local conditions.
The warm, dry conditions at harvesting time this year made it much easier to dry them quickly and completely for storing, and I've lost far fewer so far than in previous years. :)
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I've grown Golden Gourmet two or three times and don't put them in until January or even February. They don't mind it pretty cold either. Always had a decent crop come July.
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Golden Gourmet certainly do form clumps, and are a very reliable variety, at least in my local conditions.
Interesting, this will be my first time growing them on open ground, only ever done them in pots and they just sort of swelled like Onions!