Sean's Allotment Garden #89: Onions, soil problems and Edible Show | March 2015

Tips, Tricks

1. From America, most store bought seed packets are just paper, yet, we can get more expensive seed in zip lock type packets. The best of both worlds is to get little key zip lock baggies they are only a few inches, and put your seed into that and than put the baggie into the paper seed packet so you know what they are and have their description. Hope this helps.
2. Paul Gautschi was mentioned below by rainguynw, I first saw his techniques with using wood chips and its fantastic this thinking is being passed about... https://vimeo.com/28055108
3. Just found your channel and can't stop binge watching. Thank you. I thought I would comment that I just planted Oregon Sugar Pod II for fall snow peas here in Iowa, USA. It's a wonderful dwarf snow pea with HUGE pods, love them for lunch in the garden but my husband always gets upset that none make it into the house. I notice you said not to plant into cold wet soils. I have heavy clay and plant these out into the garden for spring as soon as my finger will poke into the ground and don't have any issues with them rotting. Here in Iowa that is usually beginning of March with snow still on the ground.
4. After seeing your videos of your charming allotment neighbors I subsribed. I too am a long time fan of Harry Dodson. Thanks for showing the Ne Plus Ultra pea. It seems to be difficult to find in the US, except on the Internet. Ilook forward to seeing the results.
5. Your right the compost is crap.
6. I'm a balcony gardener, I enjoy watching you're videos.
7. Leaving these seeds in Greenhouse do you hear it at night? As I have acquired a greenhouse at the cottage and it does not have any electric to it, so just wondering how it works bing new to this? Thanks M
8. Sean, you are a very kind chap to sow so many things to give away! That's what is nice about the allotment I'm sure, there will always be someone to take the excess starts. Sometimes I go a bit crazy when sowing things and I can't always force the extras on friends and family.
9. Excellent episode, look at Back to Eden on youtube, a great advocate of woodchips
    
10. Good to watch another episode. I mainly grow my onions from seed as like Graham R Dyer, I also get many sets running up to seed. I do still use sets as a back up as well. I'm going to try like Graham, saving seed from some onion plants. Been watching Chris's Eden project. I sometimes use straw similarly. Anyways hope to meet you at the Edible Garden Show on the sunday. All the best!
11. Love your videos Sean. I've watched them all back to back during January and couldn't wait for you to start back up again! I've now been inspired to document my own allotment journey as well. Looking forward to your next vid. Best Wishes. Liezl
12. People here in the US have been complaining about fungus gnats in the new bags of potting mix from Miracle Grow, a lot  of people have stopped using it.
    Im not sure what seed packets reclose?...I haven't seen them.
    Winter here was really harsh in the N.East, we have just started to thaw. First few days above freezing ( 0 c ) we've had in months.
    A: Romaine lettuce/ Sugar snap peas
    Im not sure about your yellow tomatoes? Im not a fan... Do you guys grow the "black" Krim Tomato? They are tasty.
    yeah Rusty
    oh and your Robins are so different from ours. cheers
13. Hey Sean, looks like the makings of an OK spring.  Just two things. (1) How old is Geoff - as he looks as though the gardening exercise keeps him fit and young and (2) I would find it helpful if you were to say which day it was when you were filming - as I can lose track a bit.  Best wishes for another good year in the garden and congrats on the number of subscribers. Matthew
14. Your editing is top notch Sean, Whats is your editing software there mate, And why not make a video for the rest of us showing how you put your video's together, For a start it would be interesting to see how you make your films and it would give us less mortal more of a understanding.
    Regards Mark
15. Hi Sean, I too bought J.Bowers seed compost this year. I opened the bag after watching your vid and do admit mine is pretty poor quality also. Disappointed as have used multipurpose in the past and have needed to remove almost the same amount of larger wood matter. Shalt bother with this again for my next batch. 
16. I'm growing mixed lettuce red leaves by Mr Fothergill's Contained Garden.
17. Another great episode Sean.  Really well done.  I am starting to think that this year's seed onions are a bit of a disaster so may supplement with some of those sets.  I have a few days to make my mind up and see if anything else happens but thus far my first attempt at the world record has floundered.  If it was a race horse it would have fell in the paddock.  It was also great seeing you and Chris teaming up.  I am sure a lot of people are really interested in the Eden Project.  All the best and see you at Ally Pally in a few weeks.
18. I've been using the woodchip method for 3 years. As long as you don't mix the raw woodchips into your soil, they won't cause a problem with nitrogen depletion. After they break down, you will be amazed by the soil it creates.
19. Hi Sean, this year I purchased Durstons seed and cutting compost, it was slightly better but not by much. It's a bit annoying as it's not that cheap.
    All the best.
    Ken
20. A great update Sean. I found a lot of twigs too. I tested a bag and will not be buying anymore  and will try another brand  next weekend.