The Potting Shed - come on in, the kettle's on!

Primrose

jollymummy wrote: »

Hello

I did my first gardening of 2011 today, planted some sweet peas and Kelsae onions, we are going to try and grow some whoppers for the country show - never entered before, so wish us luck !!

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What are Kelsae onions? I've never heard of them. Are they a named onion variety? Have heard of Japanese onions, Perpetual onions and one or two others but never this one.

A good type of onion to grow is "Perpetual Bunching onions". They are also known by other names, I think, but this is what I call them. They look and taste rather like spring onions but each individual onion has its own root, and is split off from the bunch and planted individually. Over the course of one season it develops into another clump. Bunches can be split up at any time so that you can pull off a few to use as spring onions or in stir fries, and they're totally winter hardy, dying back a little in winter and resprouting with vigour in spring. I've grown them for over 20 years now, splitting the bunches up each spring and replanting them, and have never had to buy a spring onion during this time. They're almost impossible to buy in garden centres though. I was given one clump by a friend many years ago, and those I've got in my garden now are the decendants of that original bunch.

We get through a lot of them in spring and summer and I always have to be disciplined enough to keep back a few clumps as my "seed corn" so that I can split them up to generate new clumps for the following year.

officeguru

Hi All

Today was the first day I was working in the garden as well... With the sun shining, I went to the shed and got the garden fork out... I used is as a rake, and lightly raked the dead leaves, bits of paper off the surface.. So far, I was able to reach almost everything in my first border, without standing on the soil and I completed half of it before the sun started to go down... It got really cold then... From now on, I will be going out and doing a bit at a time and gradually work all around the garden... I like to get the small weeds and the stray clumps of grass out before they start to get a grip in the spring... I sat in the greenhouse around 4 o'clock and wondered when to start sowing seeds but I think it is too cold at the moment.. I tend not to put the central heating on during the day and I think the house gets too cold to germinate the seeds successfully... so I'll wait until next month... I'll also be sending for some bedding plant plugs as it is more economically for me to order them...

I really felt good starting in the garden.. I'll be working in it from now until October, weather permitting... I'll be in the greenhouse when it is not...

I was a bit disappointed though... I had to put some council grit down on my new monoblocking as it was an ice-rink and when I swept it off today, it has badly marked it all... has anyone any ideas???

Cheers

Primrose

officeguru wrote: »

Hi All

I was a bit disappointed though... I had to put some council grit down on my new monoblocking as it was an ice-rink and when I swept it off today, it has badly marked it all... has anyone any ideas???

Cheers

We had a similar problem when we put down some grit on our tarmac drive during the heavy pre-Christmas snow, which left white stains. However, we've had quite a lot of rain since and the stains have now virtually all be washed away, so you may find this happens with your monoblocking too. Scrubbing with a stiff broom and some soapy Fairy Liquid or similar cheap liquid might also help.

If we have to use grit again, we'll just use it on a narrow strip of the driveway leading from the pavement to the housem just enough for one person to walk on, so that only a small area gets marked, which will make it easier to clean up afterwards.

officeguru

Thanks for your input Primrose, but the marks are almost black.... you would think it was stained by dead autumn leaves .... if it wasn't for the fact that the staining was where the grit was and only where the grit touched... where I had put it on quite thick to get a grip on really thick ice .. I have chickens at the bottom of the garden so I was having to go up and down every day... I was able to keep the driveway clear but the severity of the winter stopped me being able to also keep the garden clear, hence the use of the grit...

Cheers

Zeusiblue

[QUOTE=Primrose

A good type of onion to grow is "Perpetual Bunching onions". They are also known by other names

Hi Primrose i would love to grow this type of onion. Do you know the name as i tried searching perpetual onion but with no luck. Thank you

Primrose

The only place I've found these splitting perpetual onions is on a US website http://www.kitazawaseed.com/seeds_splitting_type.html

I don't know whether any of the seed companies in the UK are now selling them - they're apparently known by various names, such as Welsh onions, Japanese onions, scallions, although these arn't all the same. I've always thought that scallions grew individually like spring onions, rather forming together in a clump as they actually grow.

officeguru

Hi All

Welsh onions are perpetual bunching onions... You plant them and when they are ready you pull out a bunch and put half back... that way you are thining them as you go... I have grown them for years and given plants to neighbours & family... Usually I have to grow them from seed again every few years because my beloved can't tell a plant from a weed... neither does he realise that weeds don't grow in straight rows.. maybe I should grow them in a pot instead but that wouldn't guarantee they wouldn't be thrown out... but they are better grown directly into the ground... I used to grow them near the house so that I could get them as and when needed... They are easy to grow

Cheers All

rhiwfield

Do a shopping google of allium fistulosum if you want seeds of welsh onions.

Alternatively get a neighbour to divide their clump if they grow it.

I nearly seed saved these last year as well but I've got so many growing I dont need any more!

Dustykitten

Hello one and all

I hope you have all seen some sunshine today. Only gardening I've done is repotting some of my house plants. I know it's not spring yet but they are desperate and I have the time now. A few more to do tomorrow.

I got a great bargain on a Tomcot Apricot tree last week at the garden centre. It had grown quite crooked where they strap them to those fence bars to stop them from falling over. I spoke to the assistant and he reduced it to half price (£18 instead of £36) so I was very happy. It will need a prune when I plant it to regain it's shape but I'm sure it will be fine.

I need to move my olive tree, to plant the apricot. The Olive is not happy where it is even though it is in full sun. I think the last couple of winters have just been too cold for it. I'm going to try it in the front garden - would now be a good time to move it? It is usually April before it attempts to grow any new leaves.

shellysue

rhiwfield wrote: »

Do a shopping google of allium fistulosum if you want seeds of welsh onions.

Alternatively get a neighbour to divide their clump if they grow it.

I nearly seed saved these last year as well but I've got so many growing I dont need any more!

I had completely forgotten about these onions, we grew them years ago and found them really good, I must ask around, if not get some seed.

I am bored rigid, its going dark, my seeds didnt arrive today and I thought they would, I want to get going, but so far all I have is salad leaves.
Tomorrow I will plant the beetroot, raddish and spring onions and hope the rest arrive.