O/T:- Elite's onions!

[seriouspie]

I've known an ex Nottinghamshire onion growing (now retired) champ since childhood and bumped into him today. Remembering your comments about an ambition to grow a 3lb specimen I asked a few questions and there seems no reason why this could not be achieved quite easily as long as basic care and procedures are followed. There will be no need for heat lamps or light bulbs to be used ........ just basic regular feeding with planting in a good soil and soot mix starting mid April. Pete has some small plants grown from his own seeds and if interested will let you have half a dozen for £2.50 when they are ready. He used to show (and win) near you at the Moorgreen show but no longer.

If interested I'll post his number and you can arrange to meet at his allotment which is in Southwell. Mind you, although a retired plumber, a lifelong 'Pie and a rough owd country boy ......... don't talk politics or mention Forest!

[Elite_Pie]

Hardly worth it's own thread, but thanks for the offer anyway. I realise that a 3lb onion is a fairly modest target (the UK record is just short of 19lb), but I would like to achieve it for personal satisfaction. That's why I will have to say no to the £2.50 offer, because the whole point is that I have to grow the onion from seed to count. I have no specialist equipment and don't buy any specialist feed apart from digging in a bit of Growmore a month before planting out. If he has any tips for home made plant food I would be interested to hear them.

[seriouspie]

No problem as I appreciate you wish to do the job correctly, ie 'create' from seed to finished product.

I'll ring Pete later and snaffle a few tips to pass on as he told me certain feeds are all important. Pete's old rival is a chap from Halam called Glazebrook who is still competing and grows carrots to over 20ft in length down drain pipes apparently!!

Will post later with tips.

[seriouspie]

Elite ... a few tips

Grow in individual large pots a minimum of 12" deep to allow for roots to expand.

Soil preparation: Do this 2 weeks before you replant your seedlings. Use John Innes No.2 and mix in a sprinkling of soot. Soot apparently is the finest of nutrients for vegetables as after about two weeks it turns into nitrates within your soil. If you can find any (I appreciate the problem for you Townies!) get several pieces of sheep ****, mix with hot water until dissolved and when cool add to your soil as well. We're not finished yet!! Buy (it's cheap) a bag of seaweed plant food and again add a sprinkling to your soil. That completes the soil preparation apart from putting in the large pots and leaving for two weeks before planting.

If you don't have a greenhouse and are growing outside, don't start until the 3rd week in April (or later if frosty).

Apart from watering as required no more care needed except this: When the leaves start to develop put a cane in your pot and gently support the leaves with a piece of string to the cane. It is most important that the leaves do not fall off and weaken growth.

You are probably aware of most of these procedures but veg growing was never my forte. Shooting, rabbiting, ratting and fishing were my boyhood pastimes apart from football and cricket so apologies if I wasted your time on the details. But as I've got older I've often wished I'd learned more about growing veg and flowers ...... it's a hobby I've missed out on and to be honest part of the English way of life. Anyway ..... best of luck son, don't forget to let me know how you get on, it's always nice to succeed and I hope you do in this venture. Persevere seek advice and you'll get there - no problem.

[Elite_Pie]

Thank you for the info. I have read about soot being a useful fertiliser, but where do you get it from? There was loads to be had in the days of coal fires, but they are few and far between nowadays. For a few years I have had a home made compost heap consisting of grass cuttings, leaves, veg peelings and wood ash. I always barbecue with wood, and sprinkle the ash on the compost heap. I actually have two of them, alternating so that they compost for at least a year. I dig some into my veg beds and pots and boxes and it seems to help growth. I'm aware of the importance of leaf growth, because every new leaf that forms is another layer on the onion. I'll look into the seaweed option, anything to get the extra few ounces!

[seriouspie]

I'll check about the soot - shouldn't be a problem ...... I'll put out enquiries for something to do whilst I'm in isolation. Are you stumped for sheep sh1t because this is the main constituent and there must be a field near you where sheep graze. If you follow the recipe with ALL constituents added you'll piss the extra ounces and don't forget the seaweed from your garden centre.

[bobbilly]

Thank you for the info. I have read about soot being a useful fertiliser, but where do you get it from?

Someone with a log burner maybes ?

[CheltenhamPie]

I love this thread. Looking forward to hearing the results from Elite’s trial come the Autumn. On a similar subject, being the wrong side of seventy, I will be spending a lot of time - weather permitting- in my garden.
Perhaps we should invite Monty Don to be a guest contributor to this site. Maybe Swale could make contact and invite him.
Happy digging.

[seriouspie]

I love this thread. Looking forward to hearing the results from Elite’s trial come the Autumn. On a similar subject, being the wrong side of seventy, I will be spending a lot of time - weather permitting- in my garden.
Perhaps we should invite Monty Don to be a guest contributor to this site. Maybe Swale could make contact and invite him.
Happy digging.

Morning Chelts .... nice comments.

I'm no gardener but in these strange times a bit of humour and lighthearted banter away from football and politics may cheer some people up. Like you I look forward to Elite's progress reports on his onions which hopefully will coincide with the virus having passed it's peak when they are ready to be weighed and at least one of them ratified as being 3lb.

[Elite_Pie]

Morning Chelts .... nice comments.

I'm no gardener but in these strange times a bit of humour and lighthearted banter away from football and politics may cheer some people up. Like you I look forward to Elite's progress reports on his onions which hopefully will coincide with the virus having passed it's peak when they are ready to be weighed and at least one of them ratified as being 3lb.

Not much progress to report yet. The earliest ones just look like two blades of grass at the moment, but as I think tarquin mentioned once you've got a second leaf you've done the hard part. The other two varieties were only sown in trays about 3 weeks ago, they look like a single blade of grass. The clocks go forward a week on Sunday, hopefully a bit more light and warmth will see them develop.