Irish Growers

[GERRYFEERY]

Can anyone tell me how close growing conditions in central Ireland would be to those in central England. I read the mag every month and wonder is it ok to assume similar growing times etc.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Gerryfeery, with the weather conditions breaking records nearly every month the last few years, i think the conditions are probably the same for all, unpredictable that is.
We don't know wether it's going to be like the North of Scotland or the South of France here any more.

So i would say yes to the growing times.

[GERRYFEERY]

Thanks OH, just noticed time of your reply. Do you ever sleep? I am attempting to grow onions this year for the first time from seed and the variety I have chosen is........ Bedfordshire Champion. Here's hoping I can do your beautiful Bedfordshire justice in the center of Ireland.

[oldherbaceous]

Evening Gerryfeery, i must admit i only sleep when i'm not awake.

I'm sure you will do the Bedfordshire Champion onions proud, they are a good old variety that certainly kept all the market gardeners in wages for many years, around this area.

Although i have to say, they did struggle a little last year with the exceptionally wet summer we had, but what didn't.

All the best with the growing season ahead.

[GERRYFEERY]

The wet year didnt do us any favour here either. I had a good crop of Stutgarter onions sown from sets but they kept very poorly which I can only put down wet summer. My biggest heartbreak was my beautiful crop of Kerrs Pinks which were first decimated by frost on May29th and then possibly the worst blight ever as they were starting to make a recovery.