Planting onions/garlic

[veggirl]

Hi All

I don't post on here very often but `lurk' most days. Would appreciate all you knowledgeable peeps giving some advice, we are moving house shortly and as time is ticking on I am desperate to make sure I get some onion sets (have bought both white and red) and garlic in the new garden.
Now for the question... can I just dig up a patch of the lawn and plant my sets into the soil? or is that taboo, will the soil need feeding,digging,manuring first?.
Apologies if this is a stupid question but as I said I am bursting to get started as soon as we move in.

thanks!
VG

[veggirl]

[supersprout]

Hi veggirl :)

This is a really good q and I look forward to all the different answers you'll get  ;D
A lot depends on the state of the soil under your new garden, but nice idea to go for a quickie with the onions and garlic - they are tolerant of most conditions imo :P
Once everything has been marked out with string, I'd cut, peel back and turn over the turves in the lawn one slab at a time in the planting area, plant into the upside-down turf as normal, and mulch between the rows.
Onions and garlic won't want any extra oomph til the soil warms up after winter, and hopefully you'll have got to know your soil by then and whether/what soil improvers you might need.

good luck with your move ::)

[Robert_Brenchley]

As the turf rots, it will improve the soil and give much of what the growing plants need. They may be small the first year - I don't get good crops the first season after I clear ground - but you should definitely get something.

[veggirl]

Hi SS and Robert

thanks for getting back to me so promptly - wow I never gave a thought to turning turf upside down and planting into it! how soon will it rot down and what do you suggest mulching in between the rows with please?.
I guess the soil will be quite compacted as the present owners have goalposts on the spot we have chosen so after a few years of footie playing it may take some digging up!.
As you say Robert I may not get show bench onions this year but at least I am in the mix.

Thanks for the best wishes with the move - looks like we are going to need it!!

cheers  VG....

[Robert_Brenchley]

It'll rot over winter; grass doesn't take long as ir's got lots of nitrogen in it to feed the bacteria.

[supersprout]

Mow the lawn before you dig it up and mulch with the grass clippings (not too thick)! Straw, compost and leaves too - good time of year for mulching material :)