looking good

[Aberdeenplotter]

Cleaned my big onions down to a clean skin today ready for lifting. Two of 11 at 17.5 inches, one at 19.5 Inches and the rest are 18 - 18.5 inches. The 18.5 inch ones will be lifted first and the rest encouraged to make that size but they are looking super at the moment. A split skin now will be a disaster so fingers are crossed.

[Snadger]

You still got snow up there AP? They ARE looking good btw!

[Potstubsdustbins]

AP don't suppose you would care to donate one to my mature chedder sarnie, pretty please.

Good job mate well done.

Colin

[Aberdeenplotter]

lol what are you two like. I'll consider a price per onion ring

[snohare]

And I was so chuffed with my puny wee shallots !
Well done, you are inspiring me to greater (tooth-gnashing) efforts.

[Aberdeenplotter]

And I was so chuffed with my puny wee shallots !
Well done, you are inspiring me to greater (tooth-gnashing) efforts.

I won't be able to this year because I have none of that variety of onion down to seed but at the end of next year, I should have plenty seed available. An awful lot of success in growing for showing is down to having the right varieties(and the right people who are willing to share seed around)

[mrpaulbradley]

Nice one AP. Well impressed. I've never been able to grow decent onions. I'm not into showing anything (too useless for that!) but would love to grow close to that kind of quality for the pot. (I make a mean French onion soup!) .
What do you feed them with, if it isn't stealing a closely guarded secret?

[BUFFS]

Cleaned my big onions down to a clean skin today ready for lifting. Two of 11 at 17.5 inches, one at 19.5 Inches and the rest are 18 - 18.5 inches. The 18.5 inch ones will be lifted first and the rest encouraged to make that size but they are looking super at the moment. A split skin now will be a disaster so fingers are crossed. [ATTACH=CONFIG]25207[/ATTACH]

they look like they are tucked up in bed,very nice looking crop,well done...

[Aberdeenplotter]

Nice one AP. Well impressed. I've never been able to grow decent onions. I'm not into showing anything (too useless for that!) but would love to grow close to that kind of quality for the pot. (I make a mean French onion soup!) .
What do you feed them with, if it isn't stealing a closely guarded secret?

Paul, it's no secret. They get started off under artificial lights in December with bottom heat in ordinary seed compost. Transplanted into small pots in a 50:50 mix of gp and JI3 with only some liquid seaweed being added occasionally. next potting is into 3 " pots in the same mix with some vermiculite and slow release fertilise added and then into 2 litre pots with same mix. next move is into the polytunnel where fym has been dug in and some vitax q4 added to the top 4" of soil. No more feed after that. Just water.

[BUFFS]

Paul, it's no secret. They get started off under artificial lights in December with bottom heat in ordinary seed compost. Transplanted into small pots in a 50:50 mix of gp and JI3 with only some liquid seaweed being added occasionally. next potting is into 3 " pots in the same mix with some vermiculite and slow release fertilise added and then into 2 litre pots with same mix. next move is into the polytunnel where fym has been dug in and some vitax q4 added to the top 4" of soil. No more feed after that. Just water.

no bother at all then ,i wish i had your patience,me,i bung my sets in with the parting "get on with it",and it generally works,i do like to see it done properly though,last year i gave the last of my gooseberries away to a neighbour,and later that day went to the local show ,where my "rejects" would have lifted the prize,wont make that mistake this year.....

[snohare]

An awful lot of success in growing for showing is down to having the right varieties(and the right people who are willing to share seed around)

I'll remember that last point Frank if my chaotic lifestyle ever allows me to hold onto an allotment for long enough to really get organised and get past subsistence growing !
Meantime, you are living up to my signature, and gladden our hearts in the doing.

[mrpaulbradley]

Paul, it's no secret. They get started off under artificial lights in December with bottom heat in ordinary seed compost. Transplanted into small pots in a 50:50 mix of gp and JI3 with only some liquid seaweed being added occasionally. next potting is into 3 " pots in the same mix with some vermiculite and slow release fertilise added and then into 2 litre pots with same mix. next move is into the polytunnel where fym has been dug in and some vitax q4 added to the top 4" of soil. No more feed after that. Just water.

I'm going to give it a go. I've been wanting to experiment with some LED lights that a pal of mine is working on. Little or no heat from them, and low power consumption.

[endymion]

They look amazing!

What variety are they?

[Aberdeenplotter]

They are off the world record strain grown by John Sifford which I assume is derived from Kelsae.

[Aberdeenplotter]

John actually died shortly after achieving the world record.