Tweet
Hello Everyone!
After an horrendous 2008 when I made an aborted attempt to sell up and move to the country I decided for sanity's sake I needed to literally put down roots; so dug up my front garden and as soon as the soil warmed up planted potatoes- easy to grown and difficult for the oiks that live in the area to pinch!
Since then I've planted something edible in every available spot with magnificent results when it comes to tomatoes, disasterous results when it comes to onions and leeks. And I must say not a jot of trouble from the oiks.
Not only do I have a freezer full of passata and oven roasted tomatoes ready to be made into delicious meals, being in the front garden I've spoken to more neighbours and locals in the last couple of years than I have in the 20 years I've lived here. Everyone interested in what I'm doing and a couple gently telling me where I'm going wrong! However as I've no real idea what I'm doing any positive critisism and hard earned experience is always greatly appreciated.
Having said that I'm still having trouble with my onions & leeks and no book I've read explains what the problem might be hence my googling for info and coming across the Grapevine and you lovely people.
I'm hoping that someone can tell me why my onions reach the size of small golfballs only for the tops to flop over months before they reach maturity. Also, leeks I started from seed in Feb 2010, planted out in May 2010 are STILL the size of a thick pencil. Sainsbury's are selling 7 of these babies for £1.50 so I'm really rather rich in leek terms but they should be thumping great things now and I am at a loss as to what to do now. Do I lift them and plant somewhere else, leave them alone or gently saute them in butter and savour them with a glass of rather nice homemade plonk?
Looking forward to any replies and thanking you in anticipation.
Mango B
After an horrendous 2008 when I made an aborted attempt to sell up and move to the country I decided for sanity's sake I needed to literally put down roots; so dug up my front garden and as soon as the soil warmed up planted potatoes- easy to grown and difficult for the oiks that live in the area to pinch!
Since then I've planted something edible in every available spot with magnificent results when it comes to tomatoes, disasterous results when it comes to onions and leeks. And I must say not a jot of trouble from the oiks.
Not only do I have a freezer full of passata and oven roasted tomatoes ready to be made into delicious meals, being in the front garden I've spoken to more neighbours and locals in the last couple of years than I have in the 20 years I've lived here. Everyone interested in what I'm doing and a couple gently telling me where I'm going wrong! However as I've no real idea what I'm doing any positive critisism and hard earned experience is always greatly appreciated.
Having said that I'm still having trouble with my onions & leeks and no book I've read explains what the problem might be hence my googling for info and coming across the Grapevine and you lovely people.
I'm hoping that someone can tell me why my onions reach the size of small golfballs only for the tops to flop over months before they reach maturity. Also, leeks I started from seed in Feb 2010, planted out in May 2010 are STILL the size of a thick pencil. Sainsbury's are selling 7 of these babies for £1.50 so I'm really rather rich in leek terms but they should be thumping great things now and I am at a loss as to what to do now. Do I lift them and plant somewhere else, leave them alone or gently saute them in butter and savour them with a glass of rather nice homemade plonk?
Looking forward to any replies and thanking you in anticipation.
Mango B
. We give our advice freely and receive it gratefully here, don't be afraid to join in.
. The lovely thing about gardening is, there's always next year 
Comment