Apologies , If I do not return rates but even though I have downloaded java and hover my nouse corre...
Apologies , If I do not return rates but even though I have downloaded java and hover my nouse correctly I do not see who has rated ny reviews unless you leave a comment . I am writting comments in most reviews I read in case this problem is universal .
I think I must use onions in cooking 2 or 3 times a week I often buy them from the supermarket but I always grow a few of my own. It will soon be time for a spring sowing. I was looking at seeds and thought I would tell you most of what I know about onions. The onion is a member of the Alliums family. Leeks, chives, garlic are all members of this family. There are also some non-edible alliums that are grown for the flowers.
Now onto my onions, growing onions is easy. In spring I could plant sets or seeds . Onions are an annual flowering and seeding in a year.
If I were to be planting sets I could plant them February to April and I would be harvesting July, August when the leaves are dying back if I were storing them they can of course be pulled and used before then. Sets are immature bulbs that someone has grown from seed. These you just put in your soil about 1 inch/ 2cm deep with the tips of the onion just showing above soil place them about 3 inches apart and keep them weed free. Water your onions and you will be rewarded with a good crop Onion sets can also be planted
in the autumn September /October. However I shall not plant sets this year.
Seeds I shall grow my onions from seeds this year. If I wanted large onions I would start the seeds growing in compost in my greenhouse in January and transplant them out in March/April, you can buy these transplants in garden centres.
However I shall sow my onion seeds direct into the garden at the end of March, probably in my Easter hols.
So which onions shall I grow?
Spring salad onions Well I do like a salad spring onion so I shall probably buy a fast growing white Lisbon salad onion, Last year I grew a few red spring onions too. Look on the packet of seeds to check they will be good for early spring onions. The spring onion is pulled while it is young and is small with plenty of unfurled green leaves. These are great to grow in garden as they can be pulled when you want them. If you have only a small garden you can grow these easily, they could always be in your flower border, or grow them in a window box or even just a plant pot. When these onions grow past the delicate spring stage they are fine used in any dish. There are also bunching onions, ones that grow lots of bulbs close together in a bunch
Main crop onions I like to grow a few main crop onions as I do love an onion in my stew or with my burger not sure which one to grow. I may just grow a red onion as I do like red onion rings with my basil and feta salad and red onions are more expensive in the shops. To grow my onions, I shall sow them March April time; I shall make a drill in the soil and sow my seed thinly thinning them out later to 4 inches apart. Crop them before they flower else the bulb develops a hard middle. I do sometimes let one or two of mine flower the insects like them and I could save the seeds. These onions can be kept for winter use they can be plaited together or put in string bags and stored in a dry place. Some varieties are grown for pickling,
Chives I always have chives in my herb garden. Chives are a perennial just keep picking the fresh green leaves to use in your salads or egg dishes. I grow standard and garlic chives. The seeds are easy to get at garden centres or even Tesco’s. Or you can buy the herb growing in pots. If you have no garden they can be grown on the windowsill or look good in a window box or planter. Chives have an attractive flower the garlic chives a white flower the ordinary ones a pinky purple one I tried to get my row alternate colours.
Leeks I occasionally grow leeks. I sow the seeds in March April and when they start to grow I put a hole in the soil and bury the root/bulb and some of the leaves as the leaves grow I will build up soil around them; this blanches the leaves as it grows making the base of the leaves white. Leeks are a mild onion flavour ideal for using in soups or as a vegetable. A Welshman wears his leek with pride in the civil war in1640 they wore leeks in their hats at battle so they could tell friend from foe.
Garlic is an allium too easy to grow just put a clove in the ground and it will grow into a bulb of garlic. Garlic is a great addition to lots of meals, but do remember not to eat too much when going on an important date, as you breath will be very strong.
Onion seeds are fairly cheap from 80p – a couple of quid for a packet containing over 100 seeds a lot of packets have 250 or more seeds. That are easy to obtain most places that sell seeds will sell onion seeds.
Onions are great for cooking with as a child I hated them I love them now. An onion soup is a super winter warmer.
When onions are sut they release a single enzyme - lachrymatory-factor synthase - which generates syn-propanthial-S-oxide. this seems to be what makes peoples eyes water , do onions make you cry ? they do me sometimes. To help prevent the tears try cutting them underwater thyis is supposed to help.
Garlic can help manage cholesterol levels and has antibiotic properties and is a healthy antioxidant. So garlic is good for you as well as keeping vampires away its good for your health. Eat your onions they are good for you, my mum always-said onions were good for a cold. There is modern evidence that says that they help reduce the risk of prostrate and colon cancer there is also evidence that it helps reduce breast cancer risk too.
So stays healthy grow a few of your own organic onions cheaper than the shops.
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Mmm! I like onions, and spring onions, and leeks! I would like to try growing some, but I have no idea where to start when it comes to gardening. Kat x
L0BSTER_QUADRILLE 05.02.2006 13:34
We gre onions ... ours were rubbish. The got mowed eventually. How do you cut oninons underwater?
tekin21 21.01.2006 01:16
Fab review, shame onions don't tend to like me as much as I like them - boo hoo!! Jane x
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