Tears of joy at onion success

As we announce (and as you’ll see from the front page this month) the new record holder is Peter Glazebrook from Nottinghamshire with his massive onion weighing well over 8kg (17lb). It took Peter 25 years of sheer dedication to win the title and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer, more unassuming man, so congratulations Peter from all at KG!

Back to earth and we have a packed issue for you this month. You can read more about the Harrogate show, and Peter’s efforts, starting on page 72, but if standard-sized onions are more your aim then don’t miss KG regular Joyce Russell’s feature starting on page 32 in which she offers her top tips on growing bountiful bulbs.

While we are on the onion family, the ‘garlic man’ himself, Colin Boswell of The Garlic Farm in the Isle of Wight, talks to Jean Vernon and offers his top tips to help you grow your best ever garlic crop (see page 44).

Grafted plants are the new thing in ready-grown plants for your plot and many claims are made as to the advantages they offer gardeners, but do these claims hold true? Read Joe Maiden’s report starting on page 22 to find out.

As well as the onion family we have something of a fruity theme for you this month – highly appropriate considering that many of us will not only be harvesting many types of tree and soft fruit this month, but also thinking about planting. You can join me and meet one of the UK’s professional growers who is at the cutting edge of new growing techniques this month – Paul Walpole. Paul produces many of the soft fruit plants you will find for sale in your favourite seed catalogues this winter and has plenty of top tips to help you get your best harvests ever. We also have fruit expert Jim Arbury bringing you up to date on an old classic – the quince, and on page 52 we learn how one man is single-handedly introducing some great heritage apple varieties to several truly wonderful old gardens such as Haddon Hall in the Peak District.

All in all a packed issue for you this month – I do hope you enjoy it.

Happy plotting.

Steve