Medwyn Williams shines a light on his onion seedlings
...and some heat in the greenhouse!
Back from Malvern, as soon as I tidied up the mess I’d left behind on my plot, I turned my attention to the electrical wiring and connections in the greenhouse because it’s almost time to put the heat and lighting back on.
My heater’s now in its third year and works from a tank of central heating oil positioned just outside. I always get an electrical engineer to check everything over, particularly the smooth running of the heater, burner and nozzles. I simply can’t risk it failing when leeks and onions are growing away well.
My leek stock plants have produced some lovely clean heads of bulbils. A lot of rain can start premature rooting within the head as well as starting to rot off the head’s root plates, so they went into the polytunnel a fortnight ago to keep heads dry, clean and disease free. I’ve five varieties available this year – three blanch leeks and two pot leeks, including the new John Soulsby, called ‘JSN’.
Now’s also the time to check that all lamps, tubes and the all-important time switch are working correctly. The two new light units I put in last year are the best I’ve ever used. Plants grew exceptionally well with a much better colour and stronger root system than under other lights. These Maxibright Daylight 315W CMH (Ceramic Metal Halide) lamps are now available on my online shop (item 0001 with free delivery).
My ‘Aristocrat’ shallots were boxed up during late August after drying them in my polytunnel and they’ve dried really well in the hot weather. I can’t stress how important it is to keep shallots dry – they’re notorious keepers, prone to rotting around the neck and root plate, and you’ll lose a lot in damp conditions. l Follow me on Twitter @medwynsofangles.