My Tiny PlotOnions and Shallots planted
Last year the onions we grew on mtp were very successful. We grew Red Baron from sets, planted them straight in the ground around March time and come the end of the season we had 30 or 40 huge specimens to store over the winter. We just ate the last one a few days ago. So in year 2 my aim is to not only have the same success as last year but to build on that and become completely self-sufficient in onions for the whole year! Yes I know it’s not very Tom and Barbara but going for one vegetable at a time means it’s not so frightening. So we’ll be planting more Red Baron in March, but for now I have started off some Stutgart onions and more Longor shallots in small pots under tiny cloches. Hopefully, this will mean I can harvest these onions slightly earlier than the rest. Obviously, the self sufficiency bit doesn’t start until the first one is pulled and eaten. Oooh… look at me – making up my own rules! The first person to guess which are onions and which are shallots is very smart indeed…
Just thought I’d mention – I am planning to put them in the ground at some point.
Hi there
Very impressed with your website. I am due to choose my plot this weekend (can’t wait!) and am keen to get started. I’m told the site is fairly neglected and the plot is being offered rent free the the first year (sounds a bit ominous). Anyway, I look forward to following this years progress and picking up as many tips as I can (I’ll need all the help I can get!!).
You are always so enviably organised! Any chance you can come over to Brum and sort me and my plot out??
All my organisation may soon be for nought because we may be moving house which will take me far away from mtp :(
………….no……………………………………. I won’t go!
No! That would be gutting!
At least you take your experience with you so you’re ‘armed’ when setting up TNTP (the next tiny plot).
Thank you! I’ve been trying to get round to planting my onions for ages now but will follow your example and actually get it done!
I’m sure the local council will have plenty of new plots where your going. And I’m also sure that the person who inherits your old plot will be eternally grateful for the work you have put in to it.
Disaster avoided – for now. We are not moving to the house that is miles away from mtp. Phew! However I’m determind to find a house with a big enough garden so that I can simply ‘move’ mtp to a new home :)
Stumbled across your beautifully presented site by accident and found myself engrosed. I will be following what you do with interest having just established 4 beds at the bottom of my own garden. I confess to possess not one clue about how to do this but like you last year have the determination to get out there and try it!
Last weekend i sowed my parsnip seeds in one bed together with my shallots which I have under fleece as its so cold. Will they or wont they make it? Good luck its nice to be on board.
Hi Stuart, I’m no parsnip expert so I couldn’t comment there. But I find that’s it’s best just to try stuff and if it works out you can do it next year, if it doesn’t then you have extra composting material. Disasters last year included:
1) the carrots – (totally infested with carrot fly)
2) the rocket – (totally munched by flea beetle)
3) the cauliflower – (totally lunched on by cabbage white catepillars)
4) all the blackcurrants – couldn’t find the time nor the inclination to find out what to do with them so they all died on the bush.
Things will be SO different this year :)
Did you heear back from the person that inherited you old garden plot? I have just moved to a new gardening plot in durham and the soil here is fantastic