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We stopped to have a look in a garden centre we were passing on the way to Harlow Carr at the weekend. I'm glad we did as they were selling lots of different potatoes by the tuber. I know they sell them this way at potato days but I've never come across them being sold like this in a garden centre before. I've got my Arran Pilots on order and I'd like to get some Anya too, they didn't have any for sale in this particular garden centre, but I thought, seeing as they were selling them loose like this, I'd pick up a few extra tubers to try. I went for Sherine and Vales Emerald, both first earlies, and Bonnie, a second early. I bought three tubers of each so nine in total and they cost £1.32 which I think is very reasonable considering that some garden centres sell packs of five for £1.50.
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I didn't grow any dahlias last year but I've fancied growing Bishop Of Llandaff for quite some time now so I treated myself to a tuber. I shall grow this in a container on the patio.
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I need to get the onion sets in to modules so that they can get an early start before being planted out on the plot, and the potatoes will be set out to chit, but I'm still holding off sowing any seeds yet. My fingers are itching to get in the compost though.
Oh it's an exciting time of the year isn't it Jo? I only grow a few onions each year and pick them when they are a big spring onion size. You have a nice selection of spuds there. Still to order mine. My fingers are getting very itchy too :)
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to get excited about the gardening year ahead now that it's so close, a busy time is coming up. I've grown the same potatoes for the last few years so it will be good to try some new ones this year.
DeleteI can tell that you are raring to go! It is an exciting time of year for gardeners isn't it! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'll be sowing something before too long, it's too exciting not to.
DeleteSounds like you are quite organised, its very temping to start a bit too early. It will be interesting to see the yeald you get from your tubers. xcx
ReplyDeleteIt's a matter of wanting to do something now that the new gardening season's nearly here. I'm going to be growing these potatoes in containers so I'm looking forward to seeing how they do.
DeleteSturon are my onion of choice. I have to say that what you paid is rather pricey!
ReplyDeleteYou've got some interesting potato varieties, it'll be good to see how they do.
If I had more space I'd grow some dahlias. Your last sentence made me smile. Flighty xx
I know that in the grand scheme of things £1.72 is neither here nor there, but when you price them up against similar I think it's quite expensive. I'm not sure if I've grown Sturon in the past, I should look back over my records really to see. I know you grow Vales Emerald and like them, that's what made me go for those actually, but I've never heard of the other two varieties before so I'm looking forward to trying them. I don't grow many dahlias, those that I do grow I grow in containers. I've been wanting to grow this variety for a while so I'm pleased I've finally got round to buying a tuber.
DeleteI love this time of year, they were a tad expensive but on the positive side you got to pick each and every one. I bought a mixed little bag of sets red, white & brown. Just for a bit of fun really x
ReplyDeleteIt's a great time of year, looking forward to all the year has to offer. A mixed bag of onions is a good idea, I look forward to seeing how they all do for you, the red ones always give me problems and I've never tried white.
DeleteWhich garden centre did you stop at? I'm hoping our bishop makes it through winter.
ReplyDeleteI think it's called Crimple Hall. Fingers crossed for your Bishop. I've been meaning to tell you, I read that Saville's on Garforth Cliff, which closed down last year, is set to be demolished very soon and apparently the owners are going to rebuilt it later this year. Good news for me as it's within walking distance.
DeleteThat Dahlia is my favourite! I bought one last year and it did very well. I have kept the tuber over the Winter in a pot of dry compost, so I hope it will be OK again for the Spring. I hope to be able to divide it and make more plants.
ReplyDeleteI remember you buying one last year and how well it did for you. I'm sure it will be fine after storing it over winter. I'll be interested to see how it does once it's been divided.
DeleteI've got some potatoes chitting too and must start off the shallots, I usually start them in pots to establish them before planting them out. I love this time of year :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a great time of year, looking forward to everything that's yet to come. I always start my onions and shallots in modules, it seems to help them on their way when they've been given a head start.
DeleteI like the idea of selecting your own onion sets rather than buying a bag. Although you gets lots in a bag too many are very small and some are soft by the time planting time comes around. Sturon usually performs well for us and produces some decent onions.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true, there are some very poor specimens in the pre packed nets of onions. I made sure I chose three dozen good sets so they should do well. I can't remember if I've grown Sturon before, but I know they're a recognised variety so I hope they grow well.
DeleteI need to grow things now! But my head says wait, sat here wishing away a few weeks. Your onions should be a better quality, often the sets you get in the packs have a few sad looking ones.
ReplyDeleteThose few weeks will pass by quick enough and then we'll be very busy. I've picked three dozen good looking onion sets so I'm hoping for good things from them.
DeleteYes, you do have to keep an eye on the prices of bulbs, especially if you can buy the finished product sooner!
ReplyDeleteI'm growing that dahlia too so it will be good to see how we both get on, it is a pretty single variety isn't it, I've gone off the big blousy ones.xxx
I used to like all the double flowers but I've really gone off them, the simpler the better these days, and the single varieties are better for bees too.
DeleteI don't bother with red onions any more either, I don't find they store very well. I like to buy loose onion sets from my little local garden shop, they always seem quite good value, and I can buy as few as I want. I haven't bothered with shallots this year either, they are a bit fiddlier to prepare when I'm making tea in a hurry! I love Bishop of Llandaff, it's a really fantastic flower, I hope yours does well. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI like red onions but they're so fussy, I've only had one decent growing year with them. I do like shallots but we don't use that many so even if I only grow a few, I end up with far too many. I'm looking forward to growing my Bishop Of Llandaff, it's such a lovely flower.
DeleteI tend to use red onions more so than others ........ but, dare I say this, cheat and buy them !!
ReplyDeleteDahlia's great to grow, look forward to seeing your display later this year ?
All the best Jan
I totally agree with you. I love red onions but it's very hard work growing them so they'll definitely be in my shopping basket instead of my allotment trug from now on. I love dahlias, I missed them last year as I didn't grow any so I'm looking forward to growing some again this year.
DeleteI have always bought my onions loose, I didn't know you could buy them any ther way! I haven't even thought about what I am going to grow let alone been out and bought anything........
ReplyDeleteI always start planning what I'm going to grow the following year in September as I buy most of my seeds in the 50p Wyevale sale, it saves me a fortune. It does mean than I have to be quite organised though.
DeleteI try to grow just the amount my husband and I can eat plus a bit extra to give away to family, so I cut down on onions last year. I should plant less lettuce, as I always have much more than anyone wants. I started some pansy seeds today -- bliss! P. x
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to grow just what you need, especially when there's so many more seeds or sets in a pack just waiting to grow. I'm still holding off sowing any seeds yet, though I doubt I'll last much longer.
DeleteI've been out and bought potatoes and shallots. I buy them in nets but will swap some with my allotment neighbour for some garlic and onions, so we both save money! I too have not had much success with red onions, shame because I love them raw in salads xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea to swap half of what you buy, that will definitely save you some money. I love red onions in salads too, it's a shame they don't grow so well.
DeleteHI Jo,
ReplyDeletenice to see you as organised as ever!! I have got some of my potatoes but still need to get some more. I know what you mean about buying the onions in nets but I have found it works out cheaper too so just give the extras away!!
I've still got to get my Anya's, I'm having a job finding any. I suppose I could do as I've done in the past and grow the extra onions as spring onions, it will work out cheaper in the long run.
DeleteI wish we had potatoes days here or that garden centres would sell the seed potatoes individually, I did suggest it only last week when we went to buy our seed potatoes ,the centre said they would think about it, so who knows, maybe next year, the smallest amount they had on sale was 1kg at 4.95 euros. We also don't have as many varieties as you do to chose from .
ReplyDeleteIt's a good way to buy tubers if you want to try different varieties or if you don't want many. I bought half a stone of Arran Pilot from our allotment shop, so just over 3kg, and they cost £2.25 so 4.95 euros for 1kg seems very expensive. Still, you'll make a saving on what you'd buy them for in the shops, and they'll be tastier too, home grown always are.
DeleteHi Jo I'm growing onions for the first time this year so excited to see how they grow. I can never seem to get my potatoes to grow any bigger than baby potatoes any ideas? Hope you have a good season.
ReplyDeleteIf you're growing potatoes in containers as I do, they need plenty of water as containers tend to dry out very easily and potatoes are guzzlers. Also, you need to make sure that they get the length of time to grow that they need, earlies take about ten weeks, second earlies about thirteen weeks and main crop can be anything from fifteen to twenty weeks. It will depend on the variety you're growing as to how long to leave them for. On a plus point, I adore baby potatoes so it's no bad thing for me if they end up small. Good luck with them.
DeleteThanks I'm a fan of baby pots as well so no great loss I keep them in till plant dies off so maybe more water this year is needed although I thought I gave them plenty but I shall try and see everything in my garden is trial and error so it's all worth a try.
DeleteGardening is definitely trial and error, I had some last year which were very small, whereas others planted at the same time had grown well, there just doesn't seem to be a reason for it. I think that's the attraction of gardening, it's always a case of never knowing how things will work out, but we can always try again.
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