Topic: A few questions...

[Tatty]

Hi, could anybody answer these question for me please?

How well would onions and shallots cope with a dry spell - I am ashamed to say I left some to get on with it and they got very dry - have watered them now !

I have some really long thick stems on my rhubarb - do they have to turn red to be ready? these are still green but very big - rhubarb also flowering - does this mean anything?

Would peas/beans cope next to potatoes? I have a bed that is approx 6ft by 12ft - was going to put some pots in there but have realised it would be great to have some frames and grow beans/peas there - any way I could fit in the two? Only for this year as would not buy too many pots next year like I have this time! Don't want to waste the pots so if this wouldn't work they will get the space!

Thank you

[Baccy Man]

How well would onions and shallots cope with a dry spell - I am ashamed to say I left some to get on with it and they got very dry - have watered them now !

Shouldn't be a problem.

I have some really long thick stems on my rhubarb - do they have to turn red to be ready? these are still green but very big - rhubarb also flowering - does this mean anything?

No they don't have to turn red. Flower stem should be removed ASAP as they reduce the vigour of the plant.

Would peas/beans cope next to potatoes? I have a bed that is approx 6ft by 12ft - was going to put some pots in there but have realised it would be great to have some frames and grow beans/peas there - any way I could fit in the two? Only for this year as would not buy too many pots next year like I have this time! Don't want to waste the pots so if this wouldn't work they will get the space!

Peas or beans would grow fine alongside potatoes it's onions & garlic they don't get on with. It could mess with your crop rotation but if it is just a one off then thats not a major issue.

[Tatty]

That is great - thank you for replying so quickly!

Will take off the flowers tomorrow :)

[antipodes]

My rhubarb never goes very red, some varieties stay fairly green. Go by the size of the stalk.

Mine flowered a LOT this year, I cut off loads of flowers and strangely enough the stems are now growing from the flower stalk too  ???  Rhubarb is a surprising plant!

[sarah]

i never water onions or shallots unless there is a really prolonged period of hot dry weather. 

[tomatoada]

I did not know about peas and beans not getting on with o

How well would onions and shallots cope with a dry spell - I am ashamed to say I left some to get on with it and they got very dry - have watered them now !

Shouldn't be a problem.

I have some really long thick stems on my rhubarb - do they have to turn red to be ready? these are still green but very big - rhubarb also flowering - does this mean anything?

No they don't have to turn red. Flower stem should be removed ASAP as they reduce the vigour of the plant.

Would peas/beans cope next to potatoes? I have a bed that is approx 6ft by 12ft - was going to put some pots in there but have realised it would be great to have some frames and grow beans/peas there - any way I could fit in the two? Only for this year as would not buy too many pots next year like I have this time! Don't want to waste the pots so if this wouldn't work they will get the space!

Peas or beans would grow fine alongside potatoes it's onions & garlic they don't get on with. It could mess with your crop rotation but if it is just a one off then thats not a major issue.
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I did not know peas and beans do not get on with onions and garlic.  Any reason for this?

[Baccy Man]

Alliums inhibit the growth of legumes & a few herbs it is more of a problem when the alliums are already established & something is planted next to them, if planted around the same time the legumes often become established before the alliums begin changing the soil chemistry around them.
Try planting a few peas around established onions or garlic & you will soon notice that the alliums are fine but the peas growth is stunted. It's a bit like companion planting in reverse.

[tomatoada]

Thanks.    Interesting.