Ask Gerry

I tried growing onion shallots in a poly tunnel for spring use. I couldn't find any so I bought some in the supermarket. I planted on 1/10/11 but out of 15 planted only 2 have sprouted and are only 2 inches long. The rest have small roots only. Have they been treated to keep them dormant or what?

Our sprouts are doing rather well (see pic). At the top are cabbage-size growths. Is all this greenery edible (leaves and centres). Sure seems a shame to waste it.

I planted garlic cloves on Oct 18, and now, 3 weeks later, I can see 5cm shoots above the ground. Is this normal? I had somehow thought the cloves were meant to lie dormant over the winter.

Can I plant potatoes next year in the plot i used this year?

What should I put on rhurbarb now to feed it for next year. I cannot get old horse manure. I was wondering if "sea mun gus" (fish-seaweed-humic acid. would suffice.

Some of my 'Record' potatoes have purple flesh. What causes this and are they edible.

I sowed seeds of purple sprouting broccoli direct into the soil in the spring and transplanted them on 8th April to a sunny spot in a cage well spaced and fed with comfrey tea. They should be harvested at the end of winter but they seem to be maturing now but they seem to be going to seed. Some of the heads are the size of a sink stopper but most are tiny.

What can you plaint in the garden or plaint in the Organic garden in Ringsend?

I have very large scallions can i dry and store these like onions,

How far into the soil should I plant garlic bulbs?

I made some compost tea in May (using nettles and comfrey) and gave everything a good feed with it. Now there is still plenty left but I'm wondering is it a) too old and b) too late to feed plants this time of year?

I want to start preparing my garden for winter.. do i need to put down compost AND mulch and if so which do i do first? which is the best compost and mulch to get?

What causes black spots on brussel sprout leaves . Starts at the bottom leaves and works it's way up.

My cabbages are getting eaten and as i have seen earwigs at them assume they are the problem. i have put wet newspaper down in the evening to trap them without much sucess, any help would be great