Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 23 Entries. Saturday, January 17 View Page Onion update,not that happy with them really I think I had them too warm at the start and one of the two strains (the one I was relying on) has proved susceptible to fusarium basal rot.The pic shows 4 weeks growth compared with the second sowing in the windowsill its impressive now but I don't know about prospects in the long run.I'm growing potatoes and carrots organically as well this year and am certainly going to learn a lot. Monday, February 16 View Page My first sowing of Onions had outgrown their 9" pots so everything got moved out into the tunnel inside a smaller tunnnel with soil warming cables and a fan heater. Lights just on from 6.30-8.00am and 5.00-6.30 pm. Friday, February 20 View Page This is my best plant,just got its thirteenth leaf this morning.Thats good but what isn't is that I have lost 6 plants to doubling in the last 10 days and have just 8 left! My second sowing in the background in 4" pots have had a much less intense upbringing and I anticipate less problems with them. Saturday, April 4 View Page Last week my best two onions doubled which was disappointing.I think its because they were too warm at the start either directly or indirectly by growing too fast and being at too advanced a growth stage at the end of the 6 week period of 24hr lighting. Still there are 2 left and you only need 1 don't you lol. At least they are together at one end of the bed,which has now been replanted with my second later sowing. Saturday, April 4 View Page The Tomato seeds in my EGVGA package persuaded me to have a go. Got 3.18 Smit,some Big Zac one Giant Belgium and a Russian F1 that is supposed to do 2kgs.Don't know about that one they might just be buying our seeds and selling them back to us. Friday, May 1 View Page Finally got around to putting a few seeds to soak. They are 769 Lombardi,462 Thomas,830 Raymont,1188 Paton,949 Zoellner and 961 Blalock*. Started some Marrows as well. Thursday, May 14 View Page Put my plants in the ground this morning,462 Thomas and 1188 Paton with the 769 Lombardi as backup/pollinator.In the front of pic are some Marrow plants. Friday, June 12 View Page Best plant at the moment is 462 Thomas about 5 ft long. Friday, June 12 View Page 1188 Paton is not far behind at 4 ft. 769 Lombardi is smaller and remains as a backup. Friday, June 12 View Page I have been down to one last Onion for a month or so. Its 19.5" C and has 20 leaves.Growing slow and steady at the moment. Wednesday, July 1 View Page First Pollination of the year 462 Thomas x 769 Lombardi at 12 ft.Good weather has brought the plants on well Thursday, July 2 View Page And just a day behind is the 1188 Paton x 769 Lombardi also at 12ft. Sunday, July 5 View Page 462 Thomas x open (oops!)at 13.5ft Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1188 x 769 @15' Monday, August 10 View Page Injury,illness,local village show and Daughters 18th birthday have conspired to keep me out of the patch for 5 weeks no pruning burying or feeding during this time.I do at least still have 2 pumpkins but they are much smaller than they could have been. This one on the 462 Thomas is about 265lbs. Monday, August 10 View Page And one on the 1188 Paton about the same size. Monday, August 10 View Page Marrow on my Thomas plant lurking in the undergrowth. Monday, August 10 View Page My last heavy onion rotted at the beginning of July when it was 23.5" the change to overhead watering with the pumpkins didn't do it any favours but it was a very poor result considering the resources it had,my previous best 25" was planted straight outdoors on the 1st of April. My Quality veg faired better their work being done before my absence from the patch.These are my Onions drying out 18 from 18 plants as opposed to 0 from 33 with the earlier sowing totally different result with similar culture?? Monday, August 10 View Page Potatoes are probably my best chance of success this year. These are my earlies from the village show but hopefully there is better to come next month. Monday, September 7 View Page Chilling out today after an epic weekend of showing veg. 631.4 Raymont (462 Thomas x 769 lombardi)5%ish heavy. 3rd place at Bath and West very close contest this year. Thursday, September 10 View Page Did very well with the quality stuff.This was my mini collection. Saturday, September 12 View Page Meanwhile back at the patch I've had no growth for 3 days on the 1188 fruit its 716 est.and has stem issues from stress back when I was out of action,so that might be it for this year. Wednesday, September 16 View Page Yep its a gonner,thin walls at stem end were the problem.