The Allium Thread

[zazen999]

Even an unheated greenhouse should be warmer than the outside air if the door and windows are closed; if it is really that cold, can you pop them in there but with some insulation around it like a little cloche [I got 2 from tescos last year that unzipped so I use them for an extra layer], or an old t-shirt over some wire or something?

[Incy]

Knit jackets for them?

Thanks for the laugh.
Seriously though, I have space in the house but had been advised it was better not to keep them in the warmth too long. As I have never successfully grown from seed before I really don't know what is best for them

[sarraceniac]

I was planning to move my germinated onion seeds to the unheated greenhouse once they reached the size they are now, but with the temperatures we currently have particularly at night I'm a bit hesitant. Won't -15 c be too cold for them?

Knit jackets for them?

[Incy]

I was planning to move my germinated onion seeds to the unheated greenhouse once they reached the size they are now, but with the temperatures we currently have particularly at night I'm a bit hesitant. Won't -15 c be too cold for them?

[Pies]

My Golden Bear onion plants are at the 'crookneck' stage now.

Is this were the tip is pointing south? Hope so,as mine are pointing south never seen anything germinate like this

[Bex]

I've had about 80% germination rate too, they are doing ok although I have had a couple wilt and die. I sowed about 80 Marco onion seeds and 50 Red Baron.

I've also sown 3 half trays of leeks, a tray each of Bleu de Solaise (sp?), Apollo and Musselburgh, nothing through yet.

[Snadger]

My Golden Bear onion plants are at the 'crookneck' stage now. Sowed 60 seeds in a plug tray and about a dozen have'nt germinated (yet?)

1 seed to a plug and 80% germination aint too bad!

I've taken the clear plastic hood of now because they need as much light as they can get on my bedroom windowsill!

[SarzWix]

I've just sown a half seed tray with Robinson's Mammoth Red Onion seed They're on a heat mat in the porch, but right next to the window, so hopefully that will keep the temp down a little...

[gojiberry]

Have moved the germinated onion seed out of the propagator but still trying to keep them above freezing point. The onion sets out on the lottie are looking a bit sorry for themselves but then that is no surprise considering the length of sub zero temperatures we have had.
I will be sowing a few leeks this afternoon but will leave the bulk of them till mid Feb. I find that trying to get leeks out to early can result in them going to seed, especially if we have a mild early winter.

Ian

[Snadger]

Just out of interest, and hope I dont look too naive here but what is the lottie shop you mention? I have seen it in several posts here and there. Is it something all allotments have? Or is it an actual shop?

Thanks

Quite a few of the allotments have there own shop. Ours doesn't. but another larger site a couple of miles up the road does.
The shop is actually two large steel shipping containers...............one which stores the compost and parrafin and the other with an array of racking and shelves, old fashioned scales for measuring seed potatoes..........basically everything you would find at a Garden centre at a fraction of the price.
I understand that the profit made at this sites shop manages to subsidise the individual plot rents by about £6 per plot per annum, which although this doesn't sound a lot, on big site is a goodly sum.
They manage to sell Kings seeds at half the packet price .......so just think how much the garden centres must have as a mark up.

The paraffin is at least half the price of GC stuff.

They also get large pallets dropped off for free and the guy who runs the shop strips them down and they sell the long lengths of timber at 50p each for fencing rails.
It usually opens between 11.00am and 1.00pm each day and old Joe the shopkeeper has a plot nearby so he can be available at these times.

I and others try to patronise the shop if at all possible because its cheaper for me and it is keeping a good cause alive

[northepaul]

Just managed to buy some Golden Bear seeds cheaply (£1,45 for a large packet of Kings seeds from the lottie shop)today so hopefully will get them started tomorrow!

Just out of interest, and hope I dont look too naive here but what is the lottie shop you mention? I have seen it in several posts here and there. Is it something all allotments have? Or is it an actual shop?

Thanks

[Bex]

Of course it's not too early. New Years Day is the traditional time for sowing show leeks!

Thanks Snadger, it will give me something to do tomorrow.

[Snadger]

Can I start off some leeks or is it too early?
I've got really itchy fingers

Of course it's not too early. New Years Day is the traditional time for sowing show leeks!

[Snadger]

Sowed about 50 to 60 Golden Bear onion seeds today in modules. Still have half the packet left for a later sowing.
They will now go in propagator on my bedroom windowsill.

I grew Golden Bear last year because of there disease resistance. I grew them in an area affected with onion white rot as a trial and none of them succumbed. They were on the small side though, so this year I've sowed them early to hopefully get rteasonable sized bulbs.
Don't think I'll bother with the large Kelsae onions from seed this year as they take up a lot of ground space ( at least 12 inches apart for decent sized bulbs) and don't really keep well.

Whilst I was in the greenhouse with the woodburner making it nice and warm, I transplanted two large moduled trays of the vegetatively produced leeks I've grown from grass. They are good sturdy plants from a show leek strain.

[Bex]

Can I start off some leeks or is it too early?
I've got really itchy fingers