All things Allium - Leeks, onion, shallots etc

[zazen999]

Next stage in garlic development...

I harvested a garlic today, sown in September. Until now, when they were sliced they just looked like small onions [although they did indeed smell like garlic].

Today's garlic however, the bulb has swelled a tad more, and when sliced - it is possible to see the little garlic 'cloves' just forming around a central circular area.

Just thought I'd share. Back to my leek and potato soup now.

[julesapple]

Wild Garlic Frescui (fritters)

We were on the Gower Peninsula last Friday, truly gorgeous place, and passed lots of wild galic in copses.

It smelled divine so I picked a lot of the white blossoms. We took them home, dipped them in a light batter mixture and deep fried them. Fabulous!

It's not growing garlic I know, but it is food for free!

Jules

[Meschuee]

Hello

Are leeks particularly slow growing? I have some in a tray in the greenhouse, which I've just started leaving outside to harden-off, and they seem to stay at the same stage for weeks and not grow on. The seeds I planted straight into the garden haven't appeared after three or four weeks.

Penny

[zazen999]

Hello

Are leeks particularly slow growing? I have some in a tray in the greenhouse, which I've just started leaving outside to harden-off, and they seem to stay at the same stage for weeks and not grow on. The seeds I planted straight into the garden haven't appeared after three or four weeks.

Penny

Yes, they are ready in 9-12 months.

Once they have a good root system, which is hopefully what they are growing now, you can pop them in the ground in a corner somewhere and then plant out in final positions once the space becomes free [after spuds for example].

[Meschuee]

Thanks for the advice, Andrea. I take a look at the roots to see how they're developing.


Penny

[Meschuee]

The garlic I planted last autumn and which is growing well has started to form what look like flower spikes. Is this usual? Should they be removed?

Thanks.

Penny

[Meschuee]

I've just harvested my first ever garlic corm. How do I deal with it, please? Do I leave the leaves on and or cut them off? I intend using the garlic and not storing it for a long period.

Thanks.

Penny

[Mi Jardín]

I harvested one tub of garlic today!
We picked one yesterday for dinner and it was perfect in size, so to free up the tub for something else, I decided to pick the rest. We have been picking them for the last month or so, so there weren't many left in the tub, just 8. Two were tiny and will be used in the next day or so, but the other 6 were lovely. I have made two little plaits and they are drying in the conservatory as we speak.
The only problem is they are stinking the house out!!!!

[Storming Norman]

Can I ask a stupid question?

I have never grown spring onions before. I have some north holland blood red maturing and they are really alarmingly tall. Mostly tall leaves, with a normal spring onion beneath them. Are they normally this tall, or am I silly to expect them to look like supermarket onions?

Thanks, Ann

[zazen999]

When you say alarmingly....what do you mean?

6ft?

3ft?

2ft?

If it is 2ft then I wouldn't worry. 6ft I would. They will continue to grow and will eventually bulb up...NHBR can be eaten as either spring or bulb onions.

[Storming Norman]

They toppled over - so about 3 foot I suppose. They are next to the peas, and are nearly as big.

It just seemed odd - nice thought that I can leave them to bulb.

I just had a very nice cheese and onion omlette so maybe they won't last that long......

[miffy]

When can i pull up my onions they are yellow japanese ones Shenshu i think they are called?

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I'd been planning on planting my Stuttgarter onion set this week, but with the hot weather I haven't been able to dig the bed.

Have I missed the boat this year?

[zazen999]

When can i pull up my onions they are yellow japanese ones Shenshu i think they are called?

Sorry, I didn't see this earlier. I've been pulling the biggest of mine since the start of May.

I'd been planning on planting my Stuttgarter onion set this week, but with the hot weather I haven't been able to dig the bed.

Have I missed the boat this year?

Well, if you have sets that aren't in, get them in - they won't grow as big as if they were in earlier but it's better than throwing them away.

[butter fingers]

to day i have weeded out my last bit of onion bed and noticed a few gaps, so im planning to put my spring onions in these,since my leek seedlings have got bigger than the spring onions its grow or bust. my onions vary in size from pickled onion size to bragging rights size.
garlic is going great guns and i assume like onuions when they brown and flop around august you pick and dry ?
Fellow allotmenteers say i have a lovelly bunches of shallots so ill be keeping an eye on these.