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sharonl Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:08 am Post subject: Planting onion sets |
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Hi all,
I finally got the onion bed dug and want to put in onion sets this weekend. Is it too early? Also, really basic question, when planting the sets, is it fine to just bung em in and then water, or should I water the bed first before planting the sets. I've never grown onions before so I'm a complete noob! Final question, is it too late to plant garlic?
Thanks
sharon
_________________ Sharon
www.plot103.blogspot.com |
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James Kilkelly Rank: Site Admin

Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2173 Location: West of Ireland
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sharonl Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:50 am Post subject: |
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Thanks GPI the pics are really usefull, at least I know now how they should look.
sharon
_________________ Sharon
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Gill Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 4
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi... Im in exactly the same position as you with the onions.... just planted them last sunday. Fingers crossed as I too am new to this.... good to see the photos that actually really helps . Good luck
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michael brenock Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 1275 Location: cork
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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just press the sets into the ground about half inch.Plant any time between mid march and early may. Plant garlic now about 2 inches deep, divide up a garlic bulb into cloves the natural division within the bulb.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Sharon. Hi! The fact that you've made the conscious decision to grow onions in the first place means they obviously have a value to you.
Too late for this year but, around September time (possibly August), have a trawl through the websites and you'll find various types of onion and shallot sets that are planted around October and sit in the ground right through the winter to provide an earlier crop the following year - around June. As always, cover with some sort of netting to stop the birds pulling them out.
Using this facility plus the more orthodox spring planting, you should keep yourself in onions for 90% of the year. I've still got the remains of last year's 'rope' hanging in the garage and, whilst some have gone off, there are still enough rock hard ones to meet our needs.
If, as I am, you're fortunate to have a commercial strawberry grower nearby, many of them grow their crops in commercial cropping bags (growbags) which they throw out at the end of their crop. I get these, turn them over and carefully slip off the plastic to reveal a nice smooth surface of compost and I then dib holes at the required intervals for the little onion sets.
It seems as though strawberries and onions use different types of nutrition as I always get a good crop from these bags. It's also a long time before the weeds come through the compost and, once the onions have been lifted, you're left with the rich dark residue to dig into your soil and improve its general quality.
If you have difficulty sourcing winter sets within Ireland, I know Dobies of Paignton do them every year.
_________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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ian Rank attained: Ash Tree


Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 237 Location: Tallaght
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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plant them now if you have room and see how they go here is a pic of mine red. white and shallots planted only 3 weeks ago under glass in rotted manure and peat compost mix, no harm tryin'
regards ian.
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