Allotments 4 All

My onion bed and garlic bed, look like dried out river bed,  the soil has cracked all above the surface with a thin layer of dry soil.

The onions and garlic look fine, however the onion sets seem to be poking out the soil alot more but are growing normally.

Never seen soil look like this in the UK before... can anyone suggest what is going on? 

Thanks.

Mine does the same if I dont keep hoeing in and around everything,especially in a dry spell.

I would give it some water and start hoeing otherwise the cracks will get bigger

QuoteI would give it some water and start hoeing otherwise the cracks will get bigger

I agree although not sure about the watering.

But before you start hoeing top dress with a high nitrogen fertiliser such as ammonium sulphate and hoe that in at the same time.

If you don't have ammonium sulphate use a balanced fertiliser.

When you get a chance, add loads of organic matter. An inch or two of organic mulch on those sets now wouldn't do any harm; it's how I grow them. They're probably rising out of the soil because the roots are beginning to grow, and haven't got hold of the soil yet.

 ::)probably global warming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D,everything else in this country gets blamed on this poor old thing. ;D ;D ;D

Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on April 03, 2008, 20:15:52
When you get a chance, add loads of organic matter. An inch or two of organic mulch on those sets now wouldn't do any harm; it's how I grow them. They're probably rising out of the soil because the roots are beginning to grow, and haven't got hold of the soil yet.

Is manure ok?  I have tons of that.

Quote from: Tee Gee on April 03, 2008, 19:42:01

QuoteI would give it some water and start hoeing otherwise the cracks will get bigger

I agree although not sure about the watering.

But before you start hoeing top dress with a high nitrogen fertiliser such as ammonium sulphate and hoe that in at the same time.

If you don't have ammonium sulphate use a balanced fertiliser.

Is growmore ok? 

I usually work in some growmore before we start but it's better than nothing...
:)

QuoteIs growmore ok?

Yes that will do! as I recall it is either 1:1:1: or is it 7:7:7  ??? so it is a balanced fertiliser.