[sloegin]

I've been looking at allotment photos on here as well as flickr etc and i see people with loads of onions, shallots etc.  Is it possible to know whether you'll get a glut or not? Want a good few onions but not a 100 . I know they'll keep well if i store them properly & i'll make loads of chutney etc

[peapod]

Sadly no, you get a 'feel' for what grows well on your soil, and hopefully you tend your soil to 'best fit' your chosen crops, but you can't predict how well or poorly you will do.  There's a lot of variables involved in veg growing, not least the weather.

My germination and amount of peas were fab this year, much better than last year as I was very careful this time.  A lot of my second sowing had pea moth, never had it before.
Same with chillies, rubbish this year though I did nothing different to last year, in fact I probably worked harder!

[pigeonpie]

Growing veg is sometimes the most rewarding thing and sometimes the most frustrating.  Each year is different and has it's own successes and failures.  There is always a pest, whether it is slugs, caterpillars or even cats that insist on poohing in your nicely tilled soil, to contend with.  It takes up a lot of your time and needs regular commitment, even controlling when you take your holidays unless you can get someone to help out.
But you know what, I wouldn't swap my veg patch for the world.
Once you've tasted home grown it's very difficult to go back to shop bought.  For about 6 or 8 months of the year we manage to live off home grown veg, only buying mushrooms.  We try to make enough chutney, jams and jellies to last until the next season.  We often have completely "free meals" and just being in the garden seems to let all the stresses and strains just melt away.
Go for it.  Just get used to crying over black fly covered beans and slug eaten lettuce!   

[DD.]

Want a good few onions but not a 100 .

Only plant 50 then - simples!

[sloegin]

Thanks for your replies. I make all my meals from scratch so it figures i should grow all my veg for my meals. I don't really eat that much meat and i'd rather eat fruit than sweets anyway

Pigeonpie was thinking if you'd started writing in your reply "life" instead of "growing veg is sometimes... " it makes an interesting story!   

Can't wait now to get digging & sowing when i get my new allotment!

[slowcompost]

Best bet is to try as much variation each year as you've got room for.  Some years one thing will do well another year it'll be something else.
 Peas and carrots, for example never done anything for years but very good this year. Sweetcorn don't usually have any problem but not developing at all ??
All down to weather and timing i guess.