Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: vegmandan on April 07, 2009, 00:30:28

Title: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: vegmandan on April 07, 2009, 00:30:28
I've decided to have a go at growing some giant long carrots as well as my annual giant onion attempt this year.

Please have a look. ;D

Cheers,Dan

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: Squash64 on April 07, 2009, 06:29:51
Loved your website Dan, the photos are excellent. 

We have competitions for the heaviest onion and longest carrot but they are just for fun.  My own carrot last year was 19 inches long but most of that was very fine root with only a few inches of actual carrot!
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: Sparkly on April 07, 2009, 11:59:05
Great website Dan. Very informative and interesting. Ant wants to have a go at long carrots or parnsips so we may be setting something up over Easter.
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: daileg on April 07, 2009, 12:19:12
well that was brill im eager to see the results of the drain pipe carrots

well done for the experiment
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: Tee Gee on April 07, 2009, 15:23:34
I have my fingers crossed for you Dan.

In my first year of growing these I grew them in 45 gallon drums in sand with a crowbar holed drilled and filled with a compost brew similar to you.

Incidently my barrels were in my greenhouse and in the first year I had great success but in the second year they rotted (cooked more like) .

I put this down to the season it was hotter and I think I over watered.

In hind site I should have kept them on the dry side and let them seek moisture lower down the barrel.

How do you plan on keeping your tubes watered?

If the results match the effort you have put into preparation then you are in for some brilliant specimens.

BTW I now only grow parsnips in my barrels and they are oudoors now.

Best of luck.
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: davyw1 on April 07, 2009, 20:30:50
Same from me as TEE GEE mate the best of luck, the hardest part is getting that tap root down the tube.

Now this might be of intrest to you Veggie i have obtained Growing Large Exhibition Onions by K. Foster  If you want a copy pm your addi or email.
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: RSJK on April 07, 2009, 20:38:01
Great website Dan.
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: lewic on April 07, 2009, 22:01:42
Wow that takes some dedication!

The following photos might make you rather jealous.. taken at our local village flower show in 2007. The winner's carrots were about two foot long, the leeks 6 foot and as thick as my arm, and his onions were bigger than watermelons!

There werent many other contestants, funnily enough.

Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: davyw1 on April 07, 2009, 22:53:08
I don,t think he would have bothered benching at our village show.
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 08, 2009, 06:35:58
It must be a bloke thing to want to grow the longest, biggest and heaviest.

When using fruit and vegetables for food, I honestly prefer the small to medium for texture and taste.

Each to their own of course and when one is gardening as a hobby, there are a lot of choices. It is the personal satisfaction that counts.

Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: Squash64 on April 08, 2009, 08:36:21
It must be a bloke thing to want to grow the longest, biggest and heaviest.

LOL, not always!
Our competitions attract lots of interest from both men and women and sex gender doesn't come into it.   ;)
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: chriscross1966 on April 08, 2009, 08:55:43
It must be a bloke thing to want to grow the longest, biggest and heaviest.

LOL, not always!
Our competitions attract lots of interest from both men and women and sex gender doesn't come into it.   ;)


I believe Germaine Greer recently referred to us (I like trying to grow big onions too) as "size queens"......

chrisc
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: gardentg44 on April 08, 2009, 09:08:50
WOW i want i go at that.

what seeds are they dan (KELSAE)

If not, what are they?


or is it so much of a secret if you told me you would have to kill me ;D ;D ;D

Want to do the giant cabbages as well. ;)
Title: Re: Giant Onion and Carrot update.
Post by: growmore on April 08, 2009, 10:23:45
It's a very addictive and fascinating hobby/obsession when you go down the road of trying to grow big onions.
You only get 1 go a year at growing them.
You certainly learn the rudiments of gardening as in PH, Plant nutrients,soil structure,etc etc.
It is a bit of a nod, nod, wink,wink society  ;)
Here's somewhere in deepest South Yorkshire. ;D
(http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6385/p8170027q.jpg)
Garteng44.  You will need a mate up north for the seeds  ;)
 

 








 ,
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal