BOLTING ONIONS

Why have my onions bolted? H.B. Carn

It's to do with cold temperatures at a critical period in their growth. We've had a few cold wet days over the past month, which may have upset their cycle. Chances are they are the red variety; these are very prone to it.

Horticultural.

DRAINPIPE PLANTING

I saw on a gardening programme that plants can be started in the greenhouse using a long drainpipe/guttering then sliding then into a trench in the garden. Does this work? Cheers Ray by e-mail

It’s an old Geoff Hamilton trick, especially useful for peas... which can then be slid off into a prepared trench the same shape as the guttering, with minimal root disturbance. It sounds easy but there has been a lot of trial and error in the method. Use a pipe about two feet long and don’t put holes in it. The roots go into the holes and stop the soil being slid out. You can use the method with most plants and flowers. If you get the roots quite well developed there shouldn’t be any bother as it comes out in one piece like a grass sod.

Horticultural.