Hey veggiefaery, If it is getting hard,there is not enough organic fluff (leaf and grass compost),if it is hard,I am assuming clay ???? If clay,add Decomposed granite (lots) and Pumice again.... lots, and then tons of compost... Your clay is wonderful, but you have to teach it to behave.... a Treatise on Decomposed Granite: Decomposed granite is a rock powder and is an excellent amendment for clay soils. All rock powders are great sources of minerals and micronutrients. All growing soils need them. As the microbes and macrobes like earthworms, digest the insoluble minerals, they break down into the various soluble micronutrients that all forms of plants need. For example, limestone rocks are rich in calcium. Granite rocks are rich in potassium, etc. Seaweeds of course are the king of micronutrient fertilizers and soil amendments. There can be up to 70+ trace elements in seaweed. In locations where seaweed is not readily available; rock powders is one answer to the problem. Research continues to reveal that insoluble tiny particles like rock powder minerals, can be easily digested or absorbed via microbial activity, over time, into the anatomy of growing plants, thriving in the presence of rich organic compost, and other forms of powerful biostimulants like aerobic compost teas. Obviously a heavy clay soil is very difficult to initially dig, whereas a sandy loam is much easier. Heavy clay soils can be improved considerably by adding a lot of sawdust and mason's sand. DO NOT use beach or river sand! Mason's sand, being crushed granite, has sharp edges and actually loosens the soil. One of the least understood aspects of gardening is that of capillary action of the garden soil. It is a proven fact that compressed earth has a better capillary action than undisturbed soil. That is why gardening books tell you never to walk between rows in a regular garden, as that encourages weed growth. And of course people are told never to step in a French Intensive bed and thus compress the soil. But the capillary action is absolutely necessary to bring water up to the roots of growing plants to promote good and deep root growth. In regular garden rows, it is easy to roll a heavy 2 or 3 inch wide weighted wheel (mounted on an axle and handle) down the row directly over the freshly planted seeds, which will then promote deep root growth along that line. The spaces between the rows are than rototilled to eliminate footprints prior to the initial watering. The basic concept of French Intensive gardening is that raised beds are created which have humus added, and the whole bed is light and fluffy to a depth of two feet to promote fantastic root growth. The beds are typically 4 feet wide and 12 or more feet long, with 3 foot paths between the beds.

I think you are underestimating your onions! They are perennial, you know, and in my experience they 'bunch' at least once a year, and sometimes twice. Right now mine are in the middle of dividing, and it's not unusual for one plant to morph into 6. You are late getting them out, but I bet they will still bunch in the fall. Then, you dig up the clump (which has now grown to 12 inches across), replant a few divisions, and eat the rest. Next summer, the ones you replanted in fall will bunch. I do think it's a good idea to move them to a new spot each time you replant to avoid problems with root maggots.

Marg, when I plant the sprouted seeds, I put them in cups with holes punched not only in the bottom but around the sides, too. They are kept in aluminum foil roasting pans full of water (or water + fertilizer) at all times and do not allow them to ever dry out. I transplanted the first seedlings to white hydroponic pots since that's the only white ones I could find on-line. The pots have quite a few holes on the sides, so I keep the pools full of water. I tried buying more pools, but it was too late in the season. So most of my seedlings are growing in pots, but they aren't doing nearly as well as those in the pools. Daylilies love water, and growing them in it is not a problem. I haven't experienced any root rot or damp-off. My dogs do sneak a drink out of the pools sometimes, but they know they'll get in trouble if they do. They don't like me getting mad at them. Mosquito Dunks and/or Dawn apparently didn't harm them, but I try to keep a close watch on them when I let them outside, as the pools are right by our patio. I may get a pool just for them and hopefully they'll learn that it's O.K. to drink in that one. Nancy

What flora described, is almost exactly what I did last year coping what my Grandad, Dad and Pops did, in fact it is exactly what they did, to the point flora described about the size of yogurt pots, and that is exactly what they all used for peas, beans etc, yogurt pots!, my Pop used his pension every week to by us a individual Ski Yogurt on a Thursday, so 5 pots, every week of the year, I had never had them til he came to live with us, but Dad, Pop had been posted in Europe in their Army Service, so where "new men 1970 style" :) and I did the same thing last year in NE not realising that was not what to do, no probs! you just don't like on some plants disturb the roots, when pot bound, just leave them, I did a bit of each, seed sown and transplanted on Runner and Pole beans, didn't bother with peas, I am currently after transplanting 100% germination and transplantation success only did 6 of each, sown seeds same day as transplantation, from the same batch of seeds, no freezes, fluctuation in temps 80's down to early 50's in temp and I am planning something else.. 3/4 out of 9 in each case have come up, I suspect little furry creatures, as the ground has been disturbed :) I think 2 year in to gardening, a lot of America has harsher conditions than the UK but I wonder if this isn't and old wives tale? that has due to American hard winters, stood fast, but now with greenhouses, sun room in my case (read conservatory Flora) I have to say I am really loving the US and opportunity to grow Toms outside, I freaked last year when my toms where over 6 foot high! I had never seen toms that big outside the greenhouse. give sowing peas and beans ago this way, may work may not but it's just a few seeds :-)