[DD.]

I wouldn't worry about the birds with green shoots.

They like to pull up unrooted sets with the whispy bits showing.

32 is very close spacing and will mean you can't get a hoe in between them for weeding.

[Growster...]

now mr growster - dont say I sort of not quite copied you ok....

Your's are a great design, Gavin - not a copy at all!

There are so few ways to make cloches, they're all going to look similar in some way!

(Except traditional 'Barn cloches', which were designed by a spaceman, and were not meant to be repaired, remade, understood, or used for anything other than peering at aand wondering what it did...)!

[Benandbill]

I wouldn't worry about the birds with green shoots.

They like to pull up unrooted sets with the whispy bits showing.

32 is very close spacing and will mean you can't get a hoe in between them for weeding.

That's right DD, exactly what I thought but I just followed the instructions on the packet of White Snowball sets that I got from a nearby pound shop.  It wouldn't be so bad if I'd planted them in one of my narrower raised beds, weeding by hand would be a lot easier.  It seems I've given myself something of a challenge 

[DD.]

Sorry about not hitting the shift key. 32 should of course read 3"!

[gavinjconway]

I wouldn't worry about the birds with green shoots.

They like to pull up unrooted sets with the whispy bits showing.

3" is very close spacing and will mean you can't get a hoe in between them for weeding.

That's right DD, exactly what I thought but I just followed the instructions on the packet of White Snowball sets that I got from a nearby pound shop.  It wouldn't be so bad if I'd planted them in one of my narrower raised beds, weeding by hand would be a lot easier.  It seems I've given myself something of a challenge  

As you only planted them a few weeks ago there is nothing to stop you (other than yourself and rain) to pull up every second one and plant out again.. or pull them all out and start over..

You will have  a big problem trying to keep them clean..

But thinking on the fact that they are winter onions and you have probably just grown one packet growing i'd just leave them and hand weed..  

[Benandbill]

gavinjconway I don't think onions take kindly to root disturbance do they?  I suppose if I got under them deep enough with a hand trowel I could try doing what you've suggested, but  it was as you say, only one packet, and as they're so narrowly spaced I guess you could say I'm treating it as a bit of an experiment

[DD.]

They won't mind being replanted this early, after all, some folk who don't mind faffing about start them in trays of compost before planting out.

[MyAchingBack]

Another weekend I couldn't work on the allotment because of the rain. I'm just worried that if I don't get my garlic planted soon I will miss the frosts.

[mumofstig]

There's plenty more winter left, so I wouldn't worry about that 

You could always start them in modules at home (not indoors) and plant later if the weather stays bad for weeks

[MyAchingBack]

There's plenty more winter left, so I wouldn't worry about that 

You could always start them in modules at home (not indoors) and plant later if the weather stays bad for weeks

Great idea mum. What would be the latest that I could plant Autumn Garlic and Elephant Garlic directly on the allotment?

[mumofstig]

as long as it's in by about February, I really wouldn't worry about it 

[Benandbill]

Checked on Saturday and the Sprint garlic I planted on 21st October has 1" shoots,  Frost is here this morning though, glad I got it all in when I did.  Don't worry MyAchingBack, some varieties (this included) can be planted between September and January, and others can be planted out in March and April if you start them in pots in January or February.

[MyAchingBack]

Thanks Mum and Ben.

[Willow_Warren]

I got 1 planter of onions out and 1 planter of garlic out a couple of weeks ago... trying to find a decent break in the weather to get the rest out in the ground...  Noticed this morning that I have little 1cm shoots on the onions which actaully surprised me... ( I've not grown winter onions before...)

Hannah

[RookieJim]

I planted both of mine a couple of weeks ago and still nothing yet, but we're in no hurry 

My plot neighbour planted Sprint garlic and some Provence Wight a week later than me and hers are showing through about 2 inches above the ground 

Jim