"Bob Hobden" wrote in
:

"Roger Tonkin" wrote ..

Onions are ripening nicely, the leaves have turned over, so it is
about time to lift them.

Convention/experts say pull them out of the ground and leave them on
the soil to dry. ----- WHY?

I have always put them in the greenhouse (if there is space) on dried
them on an old sheet on the patio or in the garage if the weather is
wet. If you leave them on the soil they will surely rot or atract
pests - perhaps I'm missing something!

Well a dry greenhouse in sun would be the preferred option, ours is
very humid and over full of plants so I couldn't get my onions in
there anyway. They were out on the ground with the bases facing the
sun but realising there might be rain (joke!) we picked them up
cleaned them and laid them out in our garage to dry two days ago.

-- Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK


Something I have been thinking about
You know, when I think of how much overtime I can get at work and then
think of how many hours I spend faffing around at home and in the garden,
I could be much better off financially.
An hours work is £18 bare time. It takes me at least an hour average
every day during spring/summer and digging in autumn is time consuming.

Working this out over the year AND outlay such as seeds /fertiliser
/consumables it costs more than the stuff can be bought from the shop!
£6570 just for my time, and if it were overtime at work it would be times
1.5, making it £9855.

This works out at £200 p.w. or £821 p.m. Plus outlay

So, Yes it matters if the onions are dry and the bases are facing the
sun, even if rain threatens and we have to move them. We do this because
we want to, even enjoy it all.
I still like it simple though, IS there simple, in the garden?

When we go to the shop(supermarket?) to get our essentials at this time
of year, milk, bread, cheese etc. and see produce in better shape and
form than our own we know that ours will be fresher and tastier and we
know how they have been grown, does this justify how much money we are
wasting, or at least not earning?.

A "home" study would reveal how much it costs a household to have fresh
veg. Is it worth it at all when costs, pros and cons are added up?

Baz


































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