All things Allium - Leeks, onion, shallots etc

[shirlthegirl43]

Hokay - finally I have found some enthusiasm (not sure where so anyone else trying to find it don't ask me where I got it)

Sowed just now, a good sprinkle of The Kelsae as per PW's recommendation in a 4" pot. John Innes seed compost and covered with a layer of vermiculite (what I had to hand). Same of Ailsa Craig. Sure I have more seeds but CBA looking for them at the moment (not that much enthusiasm found)

They are sitting in the kitchen to annoy Madmax!

[Seahorse]

The first of my onions and shallots (sown 11th Jan) peeped through the soil yesterday

[Snadger]

Sowed half a packet of musselbro leeks today and they are now in propagator. Just out of interest I also sowed a few 'real' potato seeds

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

All of my onions are fine and dandy All have been repotted in a raised bed, covered in fleece (temp wavers around 7-8 C at night). Fingers crossed.

[burnie]

So my autumn planted garlic is growing nicely,do we feed it and if so when do you guys start?

[Jenegade]

Planted Musselburgh Leeks, Ailsa Craig Onion and Red Baron Onion seeds today. Also planted some Garlic outside and hardening off the ones that I grew inside.

[Lazgaot]

Joining in on this....I planted some Kelsae onions on Boxing Day and some Red Brunswick on the 31st. They were all up on the 9th. I've pricked about 24 of the Kelsae out and put them in root trainers in the greenhouse to grow on before planting out. Any ideas how big these these can get? Should I put the rest in root trainers or just plant straight out?

[snakeshack]

stuck in 24 shallots and the rest of my garlic today at the lottie,already have 50 garlic showing at my mums veggie patch.bought the garlic lovers pack from the garlic farm I.O.W. can't believe how many cloves there are

[Herbie]

Friday 16th.

I have sown Banana Shallot seed. Sown in multi-purpose compost, light covering of vermiculite and placed in a bag on a south facing window cill.

Looking forward to trying these so hope I am rewarded

[emilymup]

Yesterday, wednesday 21st, I sowed Porvite and Blue de Solaise leeks in multipurpose compost! Have not covered them with propagator lid or plastic bag - should I??

I have put them in the kitchen till they germinate and will then harden them off and put in newly built cold frame!!

[shirlthegirl43]

My Ailsa Craig and Kelsae have popped through today - they look like little green threads!

[Herbie]

Friday 16th.

I have sown Banana Shallot seed. Sown in multi-purpose compost, light covering of vermiculite and placed in a bag on a south facing window cill.

Looking forward to trying these so hope I am rewarded

Banana Shallot seeds have germinated Yipee
Checked today and have 10 - 20 that have poked through. Will be keeping a close eye on these as I want to try and save the seed for future years.

[BrideXIII]

still only have 2 out of 6 italian red onions showing, that's pretty disappointing germination

the leeks are 6 for 6 though.

[BrideXIII]

ok, had to give in and transplant , should have done them a over week ago according to the moon, ( if they are classed as root), but they weren't ready, and now they are too ready and need to be moved , can't wait another 3 weeks

still only have two red onions, but they are at present 4- 5 inches long

so i have transplanted all leeks and onions into newspaper pots, , six inches tall, so that they can be put into the ground pots and all, when it's time, made deep holes and dropped them right down leaving about 2.5 inches above the compost ( no idea if that is right). They are all still on the kitchen windowsill facing south, approx temp 68 deg.( more likely less cos of the window).

[Cutecumber]

I'm not sowing for a few weeks yet, but I can highly recommend the bunch-sowing method (i.e. a small pinch of seeds in a module or plug, planted out together or pricked out individually as you wish) for shallots.

I wrote before about how easy and productive my shallots from seed were last year in comparison to my previous highly variable results from sets. I grew all available varieties - Ambition (yellow, the largest), Matador (middle in size and red) and Prisma (smaller, but sowed a little later, red).

For me personally, with little ground space but plenty of small containers, they proved to be ideal. I don't have to waste soil space with a set that might give me 12 but might give me 2 - I know how many I will get when I plant them up.

I still have a good few dozen shallots hanging in a bag in the garage and they are storing very well, so, I shall be doing the same again this year.

I wish those with shallot seed every success. I hope it works for you like it did for me.