Onions from seed.

[Vince G]

Yeh, fair point about local growers, pulling your leg as you well know. Before getting the lottie and being able to grow most of the veg Mrs Vince and I need, I was the same. Food miles is a real bugbear of mine, eating with the seasons is much nicer anyway, and all we buy out of season is onions and pots when our stored supplies run out, plus the odd bit of fruit and we try and buy British with that, although submit to the odd bit of exotica occasionally. Why on earth would anyone want to buy green beans from Kenya at this time of year anyway, it's root and brassica time! That said, we've just received the usual box of Christmas oranges from an Israeli client of my Dept - shame to waste 'em!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Todays hint, for the next potting on,you will need GP compost, John innes 3 and some vermic or perlite.

[cptncrackoff]

Too good an oppurtunity to miss, on the job training - i'm in!
Bedfordshire champion, but i'll be happy with 'tennis ball' size.
Starting this weekend!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Looks like your going to have quite a following AP thanks again for the advise.

Colin

[Aberdeenplotter]

It's your fault matey, you started this ball rolling.

p.s. You'll need some slow release granules as well but don't tell anyone I told you

[Bigmallly]

As we are starting to sow onions, would it be fair to say that we can also sow leeks as they take forever to get to a transplanting size.........or thay do in my case......

[veggiechicken]

I have a pot of leeks that still aren't big enough to plant out! They haven't grown at all Most peculiar

[Aberdeenplotter]

Given that pips which have already a head start have been grown by exhibitors since october, sowing now would seem sensible if you want an early crop. Bear in mind that the exhibitors are looking for mature specimens for shows starting as early as August and that leeks are usually looked on as a winter veg for kitchen use.

[bearded bloke]

Nicely balanced post there AP

[Aberdeenplotter]

kind of you to say so matey .

[bearded bloke]

Credit where it is due bud,I got my onion & shallot seeds out when this thread started & like BM thought about doing leeks at the same time (using the same logic),but the seasonality for usage had not crossed my mind at all,so thanks for drawing our attention to it

[veggiechicken]

But you can eat leeks all year round - they don't have to be kept for winter. So staggered sowings would mean longer cropping period - yes?

[bearded bloke]

Ahhh,but then they are not a "seasonal treat"

[Aberdeenplotter]

But you can eat leeks all year round - they don't have to be kept for winter. So staggered sowings would mean longer cropping period - yes?

absolutely correct VC and my intention wasn't to discourage folks from growing in that fashion. I was more looking at it from the traditional standpoint.

[veggiechicken]

Traditions! Pah!!
Eat leeks - let's hear it for the Leek - bring it out of its Winter woollies and eat it in Summer.
I hereby declare myself Defender of the Leek. Just wish I had some.........