I'm going to order my garlic, onions & shallots this weekend, what's everyone's favourites? I had amazing red onions this year but forgot to note the variety... :-[
All overwintering ones?
yes, ones I can plant this weekend.
I'm sticking to my tried and tested faves this year.......
Garlic: Marco
Shallots: Jermor
Onions: Red Electric (er....red), Silvermoon (white). ;D
I agree with Deb on all except the whites! Shakespear for me!
This year I am also going to grow some Isle of Wight Garlic - Lautrec ... they are hard necks and have the most amazing Rocamboles (twisty floral spikes) ... a little extra value for the cook !! ;)
Red: electric, but I can't remember what the white ones are. And I'll probably plant mine today.
Can you plant shallots now? Any variety, or are they autumn specials?
Spring-planted shallots: topper - do very well for me. Good yield, not too susceptible to disease and good flavour.
Quote from: Unwashed on September 18, 2009, 16:03:30
Can you plant shallots now? Any variety, or are they autumn specials?
'Grise' is a tasty autumn planting variety; I can't think of any others off the top of my head.
The shallot I plant is red....... ??? baron I think....brain has gone blank..... too much stress over last couple of days taking my baby off to Uni!
I like it because it's not too small (actually this year some were bigger than my onions!) and it peels relatively easily for a shallot but tastes good too. Easy to grow. I planted 40 last autumn and i thought they weren't going to make it so I got another bag and planted in March just in case now i have a shallot mountain but I can use some for sets and i can give some to people who have given me carpet etc.
Red onion I grow electric and white Radar.
Albigsinian White garlic...again I can use my own this year due to good harvest.
i would like to grow some of the old type onions, you know the ones that made you cry when you peeled them. does anyone know any of the names of these varieties?
Red Electric overwinter and Red Baron for summer
Senschu overwinter and Up-To-Date for summer (Resistant to rust unlike Bedfordshire Champion which DEFRA picked for the British list - I wonder why [not!])
You might also try Sturon, Setton, or Alisa Craig for summer varieties.
Garlic: Purple Moldovan and Albigensian Wight
Shallots: Eschalote grise
Onions: Shakespeare
The shallots make me cry when I peel them, but have a wonderful subtle flavour.
Well I'm going to pop a few of my Topper shallots in today and see how they over-winter.
My white onions are senchyu too.
Hey there folks..! Im gardening in the south east and could you advise me if it is to early to plant out wintering onions/ garlic etc.. I may do one bed and stagger the planting times a few weeks apart until the wet weather comes.. ???
Our plot is like a desert, as we have had 50% less rainfull than usual this year. :(
For overwintering onions we've sown Senshu seed in trays a couple of weeks ago + Shakespear sets
Elephant garlic + Purple Moldavan sets ready to plant out middle of next month
Hytech + Long Red Florence + Prisma to sow in new year
That should cover it ! ::)
Quote from: liefste on September 19, 2009, 13:11:37
Hey there folks..! Im gardening in the south east and could you advise me if it is to early to plant out wintering onions/ garlic etc.. I may do one bed and stagger the planting times a few weeks apart until the wet weather comes.. ???
Our plot is like a desert, as we have had 50% less rainfull than usual this year. :(
About right for seeds, still a couple of weeks early for sets I'd have thought.... straw poll on my sitre a few days ago, those of us putting seeds had just done so or were just about to, the set growers reckoned you want to be week past the equinox or so otherwise the risk of bolting is increased.
chrisc
Crikey, you look away for a day and suddenly there's a hundred answers!! Thanks all, really helpful, I can see a few are mentioned by most eg Red Electric and a few that I will definately try - Isle of Wight garlic. All in all, I am very grateful to all your brill answers! :-*
try garlic solent white very good cropper had loads out of one seed bulb and my airing cupboard still smells like garlic other half not is happy ;D