POTATO ONIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20862, 2 May 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

POTATO ONIONS.

PLANTING OF THE BULBS. The planting out of potato onions can be proceeded with during tho present month. The bulbs at this time are practically dormant and invariably succeed better than when the planting is delayed until the sets have started into growth. The advantage of this crop is that useable bulbs aid produced earlier than the ordinary varieties, and where onions, except the imported .varieties, are often scarce This onion is of easy cultivation and usually succeeds well in any good garden soil that has been well worked and manured for a previous crop. The rows should be arranged from 20in. to 2ft. apart, and the bulbs placed from lOin. to 12in. apart in the rows, single sets in each instance being planted. The subsequent treatment consists in hoeing and keeping the soil around tho sets free from weeds. If hoeing is special care must be taken not to cut or injure the bulb in the operation.

Shallots may bo planted anytime during the present month. These are a very useful and profitable crop, especially for small gardens, and they come into use quite early. These can bo planted in ■rows 12in. to 15in. apart, the bulbs arranged about Bin. or 9in. apart in the rows. In planting, press tho bulbs into the soil until they are about three-parts buried. These, like the potato onions, succeed well planted in soil that has been previously well worked and manured for a previous crop.