Onions

Blowin · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:46 am Post subject: Onions

I planted 3 rows of white 'Hercules' onion sets on 7 March and two of red 'Red Baron' on 30 April.

The whites have roared ahead with huge tops on them and are beginning to show signs of swelling out nicely. The reds, however, are producing quite a number of seed bulbs on their tops, which I'm pinching off as soon as I see them, but is there a reason why the two types should behave so differently? Is it the type or the different planting dates? One can't buy reds until much later than whites.

Edlyn12 · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:53 pm Post subject:

I presume it's the different times and it could be because of different varieties.The Red Baron might flower more than Hercules lets say.Keep pinching off the flowers and I will try and fix your problem

Edlyn12 · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:56 pm Post subject:

The Red Baron sets you have bought mustn't have been heat treated as heat treating prevents bolting this is why I think growing them from seed is easier.

Blowin · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that. Another Mr Middleton product.

Wes · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:16 pm Post subject:

Blowin · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:06 am Post subject:

Sorry for the delay, Wes, but I've been in the UK for a few days.

In the 'price of a p' thread I voiced some concerns about the Thompson & Morgan seeds I bought via Mr M, so I sent them an email telling them they'd been mentioned in the forum (in case they didn't know, being UK based) and added the following:

'You may also like to clarify who exactly represents you in Ireland? Living in Co Cork, I can tell you that John Hosford in Enniskeane ceased trading some time ago but Mr Middleton’s (Dublin area) don’t appear on your list. They do, however, claim to be your representatives and some of the contributors to the above forum item did, in fact, obtain your product from them. Their website only shows a small number of things like Potatoes, Onion sets and Garlic under ‘Vegetables’, yet their catalogue includes one of your red printed order forms with prices in £s and €s. Is there an underlying reason for this confusing situation?'

To date, no substantive response (they have acknowledged it) but I'm always a bit wary of 'back door' styles of trading which can influence quality, either of product or service.

tagwex · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 11:59 am Post subject:

Hey Blowin, I said I would keep you informed about the Thompson & Morgan pea seed germination rate. Glad to report that I am happy, over 95% germination. They are the ones in the right hand drill from the center of the picture to the background. Putting a fence up on them today.