Planting Onions & Garlic - Plus a Free Compost Boost

If you walked into the greenhouse this week, you’d know straight away what was growing in there. The smell of onions and garlic was everywhere, which is great if you love it, not so much if you don’t! But that aroma was a good sign. It meant things were growing well and ready for the next stage.

This week’s session had two main jobs:

• Getting potted onions and garlic into the ground

• Giving the compost heap a free nitrogen boost

Getting Rootbound Plants into the Ground

The onions, shallots, and elephant garlic had all reached the same stage…..rootbound. Roots were circling the pots and growing out of the bottom, which is the plant’s way of saying it’s time to move.

At this point, you either pot on… or plant out. With the ground wet and workable, planting out was the right option.

The soil was already in good condition thanks to earlier feeding with chicken manure and Strulch. Before planting, I scraped this back and added some of the broken-down manure into each hole. This gives the plants a gentle boost right from the start.

Each elephant garlic bulb was planted deep, with just the top showing above the soil. Because they’d been growing in an unheated greenhouse, moving them outside shouldn’t shock them, as the temperatures have been similar.

Once in place, the mulch and manure mix was pulled back around the plants to:

• Lock in moisture

• Suppress weeds

• Keep feeding the soil

Planting Out the Onions

Next came the onions. Many were just starting to spiral their roots, so timing was perfect. Each one was planted into moist soil with plenty of organic matter and visible worm activity, which is always a good sign that the soil is healthy.

With the amount of rain we’ve had recently, there was no need to water them in. The ground is already nicely saturated.

Winter gardening is always a bit of a lottery. Some days are mild, others bring frost. You can plan, but you can’t control the weather, and sometimes you just have to give it a go.

A Free Nitrogen Boost for the Compost

With the planting done, it was time to give the compost heap some attention.

First, I lifted off the cardboard layers that help trap warmth. Then in went kitchen scraps, like lettuce, tea bags, and other bits that would otherwise go to waste.

The real boost came from used coffee grounds, picked up for free from a local coffee shop. Used grounds are perfect for compost:

• Rich in nitrogen

• Not too acidic

• Help speed up decomposition

After spreading them in, I added a little water to stop everything drying out, followed by more cardboard and brown materials. This keeps the balance right and helps retain heat.

In a couple of weeks, the heap will be aerated again to keep things active.

Why This Matters in Winter

Even though it’s cold, both soil and compost are still working away in the background. By:

• Planting at the right time

• Feeding the soil

• Keeping compost active

you set yourself up for stronger growth in spring, with less rushing and fewer problems later.

Finished for Now

With the elephant garlic and onions planted, the compost boosted, and more plants still growing indoors, everything is ticking over nicely for winter.

Some jobs may slow down at this time of year, but there’s always something useful to be getting on with.

➡ Watch the video :

• https://youtu.be/7ZtDAjONL5A

➡ Explore more winter growing, greenhouse protection & seasonal tests:

• DavesGardenVine Playlist

• Winter Veg & Frost Protection

• DavesGardenVine Shorts


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