All things Allium - Leeks, onion, shallots etc

[miffy]

Onion tops falling over and turning brown does this mean they are ready to pull up on mass?

[zazen999]

Allium Update

Autumn sown onion sets [the biggies].

Spring sown shallots [small darker ones]

Spring sown jiffy 7 springs [small light ones]

Autumn sown seeds [red ones]

Winter sown garlics [white ones]

September sown garlics [purply ones]

[Snadger]

Allium Update

Autumn sown onion sets [the biggies].

Spring sown shallots [small darker ones]

Spring sown jiffy 7 springs [small light ones]

Autumn sown seeds [red ones]

Winter sown garlics [white ones]

September sown garlics [purply ones]

Not a bad haul for 50p Zazen!

[zazen999]

Not a bad haul for 50p Zazen!

LOL!!!

You're very quick tonight; as per usual.

[gojiberry]

Nice selection of alliums Zazen. Never thought of producing a combined picture like that. I have a good selection but all seem to be at different stages at the moment. The garlic still has good strong green growth so am not going to pull that yet. Autumn sown sets have produced some really good sized onions but am leaving them and using as required. Spring onions very slow to grow.Autumn seed sown onions only produced slightly smaller than golf ball sized onions and they have been dried off and ready for use.

Ian

[taff]

I sowed some shallots for a friend to pickle, they're quite large now, about the size of a golf ball. I need the space to put something else in, so is it ok to pull them up, and do they need any special treatment, or just leave them to dry a bit somewhere?

[COMPOST CORNER]

Planting over wintering onions

What types should I be looking for, and when should I plant them?
I've never done anything over the winter, I usually stop growing in Autumn, with the end of the Tomatoes.

[Meschuee]

I realized it isn't too late to plant spring onions and planted a variety called "Deep Purple" today.

Your selection is very good, zazen.

Penny

[Edwardo82]

Hi Taff, I am in the same position as you and the shallots definitely need harvesting. I think you dry them exactly the same as onions by lifting them with a fork then leaving on the surface on some netting to dry in the sun. I think you need to seperate the shallots as well to help them dry better.

I am going to set up some netting so they are suspended, I think I will be lifting them next week as they say it will be a heat wave and that should be a nice bit of sun to dry them out.

All the best

[zazen999]

Nice selection of alliums Zazen. Never thought of producing a combined picture like that. I have a good selection but all seem to be at different stages at the moment. The garlic still has good strong green growth so am not going to pull that yet. Autumn sown sets have produced some really good sized onions but am leaving them and using as required. Spring onions very slow to grow.Autumn seed sown onions only produced slightly smaller than golf ball sized onions and they have been dried off and ready for use.

Ian

Thanks - I prepared them for my brother and his family, so wanted a selection - my nieces [6 and 2] were very happy for most of the day using the garlics as drumsticks and asking everyone if they liked drumming...

That's the best way, having a good selection all at different stages, so that you can use them as and when you need them.

[taff]

thanks Edwardo, I pulled them up yesterday and it started picking to rain, so i made a cover thingy from the neighbours donated windows.
Wasn't sure whether to leave the leaves on or not since I assume when they're fully ripe, they die back first and flop over, but these were still springy, so after a bit of dithering about moisture content and stuff, i've twisted them all off.
Bit of a give it a go and see what happens kind of thing

[zazen999]

I've harvested some shallots; because I want the others to have more room to fatten up.

I bring them [onions, shallots, garlics] home, give them a wash and remove any manky skin loose, then they go into the greenhouse for a few days, and they will get used next before the next lot of onions/shallots are pulled. Any with a little rot on them get stripped until the manky stuff is gone, then go into the fridge in an airtight container [or they will stink the fridge out] for immediate [within a few days] use.

[taff]

I just pulled up the elephant garlic, the bulbs are huge [woo!] but there are also little cloves growing off the main bulb. Can these be planted as bulbs later on this year, has anyone does this, or is it best to use the main bulb when it dries out?

[stevemac]

This is my first year growing Most things and definately a first for garlic and shallots.I just got a surprise when i went to check on them.Are they OK?
I confess i have'nt paid too much attention to them as i thought they mainly looked after themselves but they and the bed they are in are covered in flies.

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Should i pull the lot up/dump them? or are they doing what they are supposed to do?

Oh and some of them are not as big as the ones in the pics.

Thanks for any help given.

Steve

[zazen999]

Steve

Had you had alot of rain - they look like they have fallen over en masse? Or perhaps a cat leapt right in the middle of them - very strange.

Have a look on the roots, I can't see any white rot - and the leaves don't look too yellow - so if they haven't got anything wrong with them I'm sure they will be fine.

What worries me is the fly thing - are they covered in flies because the ground is too wet? Or have you got onion fly. I'm hoping the former.