Comments on: Planting onion sets for Spring!

By: Soilman

Soilman — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:18:00 +0000

I don’t feed my onions, Gerald – I just incorporate tons of manure into the soil the autumn before planting – but I believe you need to be careful not to give them too much nitrogen. So Growmore’s probably the best option.

By: Gerald Howden

Gerald Howden — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:50:03 +0000

I put my Onion Sets in a little trench of compost about 2″ x 2″. This gives the ‘Set’ a chancr of ‘getting hold’ B4 reaching the natural soil. This year they look a picture, bnoth the stutgart and the challots. But what is the best feed I can give them?

By: Soilman

Soilman — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:15:39 +0000

Robert hi

Sorry, I know nothing about peppers – don’t like them, so don’t grow them!

Can anyone else help Robert with this question?

By: robert

robert — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:08:54 +0000

hi i have a question about planting bell peppers and banana peppers, how far apart do they need to be to keep from cross pollinating? thanx for the help your amatuer gardener robert.

By: Soilman

Soilman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:02:12 +0000

You’ll be all right with the onions and spuds, Matt, but the carrots may well not work!

By: Matt Houldsworth

Matt Houldsworth — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:05:56 +0000

I got onions, first early potatoes and carrots in 2 weeks ago and was then told by my mother that it was far too early… we will have to see what happens, but isn’t that half the fun?

By: Soilman

Soilman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:50:01 +0000

It’s OK to dig the soil thoroughly once a year, Diane – in fact, it’s pretty much necessary. I do one annual thorough digging (during autumn/winter), incorporating horse manure and compost as I go. But yes, not a good idea to be continually digging and turning soil. Especially if you’ve got a bad back!

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:17:18 +0000

Thanks so much for the advice! And for looking up the US geography for Pittsburgh, PA.

I wanted to ask you one more question…and thanks for the help again.

Do you have any particular opinion about tilling the soil. I’ve read in a few books that it isn’t good to disturb our hard-working worm friends…thanks again!

Diane

By: Soilman

Soilman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:16:22 +0000

Celia: Top ideas for budget eating! I fear, though, that planting for the recession will mean – in practice – planting stuff that other bastards nick. I suspect theft is going to be the big allotment/community garden story this year.

Diane: That’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania… right?!?

Sorry about my ignorance of US geography. Pennsylvania’s pretty northern, so probably a zone colder than the UK, where the Gulf Stream gives us an unusually warm climate for 52 deg North. I’d estimate you should plant your onion sets end of March to mid April (when there’s no more snow on the ground, basically!). Just dig the soil a bit, then push the sets into the ground so they’re three-quarters buried. About 5″ apart. And voilà – that’s it. Done. Now you just need to keep the weeds down – onions don’t grow well if they have to compete with weeds.
Best of luck.

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:47:31 +0000

I bought the onion sets…my first time to do so.

Now I’m searching around the internet trying to figure out how to plant them, when to plant them, where to plant them…and found this page.

I live in Pittsburgh, PA…is it too early to plant? Thanks for your help!