At the local garden centre and spotted a good deal, so purchased 200 over wintering onion sets. 200! My daughter was gobsmacked, but as I pointed out to her, I do probably use an onion, almost every day, so I am actually another 165 short. I also planted 55 garlic cloves - 2 varieties, a french one, whose name escapes me, and one called Marco. They usually fail on the plot, but I haven't tried now for a few years, so having another go. Last thing that went in was about 25 broad bean seeds - Aquadulce, the ones that are hardy enough to withstand winter. Fingers crossed the hungry mice leave them alone. Plot number 2 is now totally planted up for winter and next springs use. Plot one is still covered in veg, but when I clear the pumpkins I will plant the rest of the onion sets, and get some shallots in. The roots will stay in situ through the winter for me to dig as I need them. Finally I will try to find some room to plant a row or a wigwam of sweetpeas. I want to try getting them in over the next couple of weeks as again, they will happily overwinter insitu. Hopefully, both plots will be in full production all winter.
NO, you didn't go overboard, you showed great restraint, no one would think that you got carried away, at all, at all. Your gardens will be lovely and prolific (perhaps a bit smelly with all those onions and garlic, but who cares?). Have you thought of putting wire mesh over the broad bean row? It keeps diggers from getting at seeds or bulbs, and the greenery will come up through the mesh. We use 1/4 inch hardware cloth to protect seeds from birds. For some reason they just love our English peas before they sprout!
Two hundred sounds about right to me. I probably use 5 onions a week. And then there are leeks (which I love) and bunching onions for salsa and salad.
I think you did well to curtail your spending to just 200 onion sets EJ. I use onions more often than any other vegetable, including potatoes, so I would probably have bought a whole lot too. Sometimes I wish I had more garden space for growing vegetables especially when I see what you produce.
That all sounds good to me EJ. I hope that you have a 100% "take" rate. It's an ambitious undertaking, but not OTT, I don't think. I am afraid to tru Aquadulce's until I see some softening of the winter temps. I haven't planted them since a couple of years ago when I lost almosy all of them to a deep penetrating frost.
Am I the only one who's shocked at the amount of onions here? We don't use a lot of them, but when EJ explained I understood it's not overkill at all. Good luck with them!
Lets see,,, I planted a pound of sweet 1015 sets and didn`t think that was enough so I planted another half pound. I just hope I have enough to last the winter. Guess I can pray for an early spring if I run out.
See, now you all make me think I might need a few more. I do have to get some shallots to plant, so I think I have probably grown enough......
