Ok have not planted my onion sets or shallots yet. I was hopeing to get them in this year a lot earlier as with every year but what with one thing and another I have not managed ro plant anything out yet.
I am interested in mulching the onions this year. What would be the best thing to use to mulch onion sets. I understand that you are not supposed to plant the set to deeply so if you mulch it may get covered up.
What would be the best thing to use?
Thanks
The_Snail :)
Why do you want to mulch them?
Is it for weed supression, moisture retention, feeding, or all three?
I do not mulch mine as I get a perverse satisfaction from weeding, but last year I planted a few spare sets at the end of a runner bean bed that I mulched with horse manure that had a wood shaving base. The ones that were mulched grew to the same size as the unmulched but did not want to ripen so I had to remove the mulch.
I am sure that there is a reason and this year I am going to mulch half the bed as an experiment.
I have not got an onion page yet on my site buth the shallots looked good.
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_shallots.html
I\d like to know the answer to that question too - I've got a few onion sets and would like to get them planted ASAP - probably in a pot
I put spent hops around mine last week, because huge cracks are appearing in the ground!
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/ninnyscrops/DSCF0100.jpg)
Those cracks really are bad news at this time of the year. I remember my childhood in the 50's in Loughton in Essex and cracks in the ground. In 1955 we moved north and have never wanted for water since!
All the books talk about adding organic matter to clay soil as if it was easy, but I should imagine it would require the whole of the peat bogs of Ireland to cure the problems where you are when rain is missing.
Do NOT look at the sandy fertile soil on my site.
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_onions.html
Ah, but Ninny's soil will hold on to nutrients while they leach out of yours. Other things being equal, yours will dry out quicker as well. What I'd suggest for that soil is loads of organic matter every year. Will a local gardening contractor deliver grass cuttings to the site? They're usually glad to get rid of them, since they have to pay to take them to the tip.
I'm on my third season with this soil and it seems no matter how much compost, manure or spent hops I put on and in it, it still cracks if we get a warm spell. The only way to stop the cracking is if I keep digging it over but I can't do that once the crops are in. I will not be beaten though, so keep your suggestions coming.
Just keep going. You can make a lot of difference to a soil in a couple of years if you really pile the organic material in.
despite the cracks, Ninny, them hunions is coming along lovely. :)
I likev to top-dress as much of the plot as possible with compost or horse manure. Why? Because it makes them look nice.
Thanks RB I think I'll leave it a little while before I shovel any more muck on after yesterday!
Glad you like my hunions MM, I've got two other beds with them in, plus English and French garlic and just sowed my leeks. Just got to find room for the rest of the veges now ;D ;D
Total agree with you Eristic - one's got to keep up appearances!