Autumn planting on the Allotment

Planting out the garlic

Now the nights are getting colder, we decided it was time to plant the garlic and autumn onion sets. They were planted where the broad and dwarf beans had been grown, so all that was needed was a quick fork over and some compost added. Onions planted in the autumn are ready a few weeks before it is time to make the spring plantings – this year we are growing ‘Senshyu Yellow’ – and are a useful addition to the vegetable plot. This year we planted two new-to-us varieties of garlic, both softneck: ‘Garcua’, described as having a strong flavour and a good storer and ‘Topadrome’, ideal for early harvesting and also a good storer.

The green manure sown on this year’s onion bed was cut down and added to the compost heap and the soil forked over. The apples were checked for ripeness, the new canes on the boysenberry tied in and the hoe was in action.

Jobs for this week

• Take down the runner beans (unless there are still beans coming)
• Keep on with the weeding
• Check potatoes and onions in store for rot
• Add wood chip to the paths