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Post by roofgardener on Sept 19, 2015 8:54:40 GMT
I've just re-read markb's comments above, and notice that I missed out the Toughball. I did a little googling, and some other growers agree with Mark. They mature early, produce a decent sized bulb, and last for a long time in storage. Sadly, it seems that neither Unwins or T+M stock these seeds, so I may have to spread my patronage a little wider. daitheplant ... do you do shows yourself ? I never heard you mention any ? What was your experience of them ? |
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 19, 2015 9:05:29 GMT
Goodbye, Plan A
Hmmm... it now appears that my Parents use 6 onions/week, not 2-3. So my overall estimate is now up to 10 onions/week. That would be over 500 alliums for the full year. " We canna do it Cap'n; we just doon't have the Puwer " Well, the parents will be growing their OWN onions, it transpires. Not many, but it may buy me a couple-or-three weeks. Perhaps I will have to limit my Allium Ambition to just lasting through to December, rather than the whole year ?  I wonder if I could plant some in my Sisters garden without her noticing ?  |
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Post by dianthus on Sept 19, 2015 19:53:53 GMT
I think I may have suggested that you would need to hijack your sister's garden or is there onion guerrilla garden potential anywhere near where you live...... thinking here of an older person who has a garden they cannot keep up with, and would be happy to see cultivated? A postcard in the local post office may find you a host garden.
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Post by SueA on Sept 19, 2015 21:24:41 GMT
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 20, 2015 9:27:08 GMT
Thanks for the link SueA. Curiously, the D.T. Brown Toughballs don't mature untill August. There's an internet seed company called "Exhibition Seeds" that offer an F1 Toughball that canbe harvested in late May. Apparantly they don't need to be sown (in a greenhouse) until January, so I've got a bit of time in hand to make a decision.
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Post by markb on Sept 20, 2015 10:08:54 GMT
Morning Roofy, I have my Toughball seed from DT Brown but always sow it now to overwinter, if sown in January it will not be ready to harvest until late summer.
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 20, 2015 12:11:40 GMT
Ahhh.... right you are. I think I'll order some in that case. Presumably if I sow them NOW (and germinate them), then they might be ready by late May/early June ?
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Post by markb on Sept 20, 2015 13:54:58 GMT
Ahhh.... right you are. I think I'll order some in that case. Presumably if I sow them NOW (and germinate them), then they might be ready by late May/early June ? Yes, they should be ready when you say. |
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Post by SueA on Sept 20, 2015 20:11:21 GMT
I've just remembered another company you might be interested in Roofy, Robinson's Mammoth Onions, I went to their nursery a few times years ago & bought some seeds & baby plants, I tried to grow a few 'mammoth' onions but only ended up with 'large' as I didn't do all the fussing & feeding they needed, they tasted good though! You could grow a few mammoth, they grow up to 6lb, & tell your mum one should last her all week!  Robinson's sell online now, lots of varieties of onion, shallot, garlic & other veg. including some exhibition ones. Robinson's Mammoth Onions |
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 21, 2015 6:15:33 GMT
Thanks for that SueA. Funnily enough, I was browsing their website last month, and was originally going to order from them. They also give a link to a helpful "how to grow huge onions" page which, as you say, involves a lot of faffing around. To follow it, I would have virtually had to create my own compost (tricky on an asphalt roof). For some reason, I went for the traditional Alisia Craig (I may have mis-spelled that) from Unwins, but I may try Robinsons next season ! Reading their 'how to' page was not an entire waste of time however. I learned a new word... "Haulms", and a term .. "the crook stage".. both of which caused me some initial consternation. |
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Post by dianthus on Sept 21, 2015 10:33:11 GMT
A few plants have haulms.... potato foliage, for instance.... so probably just means 'top growth'
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 21, 2015 15:06:16 GMT
Indeed Dianthus. I have since discovered that Pea and Runner Bean stalks are also valuable haulms for composting. (though only the stalks that have the pea/bean pods on... not the general plant stems.). There was some debate about carrot foliage though. Some suggested it was a potential problem. Apparantly, it was traditional to heat the folliage up first on an old-fashioned wood-burning hob stove. Hence the old song... "Haulm, Haulm on the Range...."
(Groooaaannn..... )
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Post by dianthus on Sept 21, 2015 17:51:06 GMT
 he he
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 21, 2015 19:33:18 GMT
Sorry |
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 24, 2015 15:15:23 GMT
OooooKAY.... Toughball F1's and some Bohemiam Garlic ordered from D.T. Browns. With luck, they may even arrive by the weekend. Thanks to markb and SueA for your help with this  Have one on me....  |
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Robinson's sell online now, lots of varieties of onion, shallot, garlic & other veg. including some exhibition ones.
he he
