Potash of Sulfate and Allotment Bags

Hi,
I have a couple of questions, if I may.

1. I planted garlic at the end of December 2013, and followed the advice given by the garlic farm where I bought the cloves, to apply potash of sulfate in February. This time, my mother planted hers in October, and I just planted mine today. Do we adjust the date when we apply the potash of sulfate accordingly, or is it still February?

2. I have a two large 'allotment bags' that I bought, and I want to use for basil, coriandre, dill, and maybe some parsley. These bags are pretty big. So the question: when do I plant them? And do I plant them inside at first (pretty hard to do as they're so big), or do I do what I did last year, and plant the seeds inside in pretty small pots? Do I move them outside in Spring (I kept them inside all year last year)? Are these herbs hardy enough to stay outside in South East London (UK), or will the frost kill them? If so, how do I keep them going throughout the winter? Do I take them out of the allotment bags in winter, and move them back outside in Spring?

Thanks for your advice.

 

I don't feed mine usually, but thinking about it logically, feb would be when the top growth gets going (mainly root growth in the winter, although there can be some top growth) So i'd apply it when you see them start to get away, regardless of when that is

Basil is not frost hardy, corriander and dill aren't too keen on root disturbance so you could use bog roll tubes to start them off indoors and then plant the tubes into the compost.

All best left till spring now though.

 

For Garlic this is what I have done in the past

Sulphate of potash for potassium in January.
Sulphate of ammonia for nitrogen in March.
Superphosphate every 3 years in winter.

N for Leaves
P for Roots
K for Fruit


with Basil it requires a long hot summer to grow properly and I have found under glass is best so this needs planting last out of all your crops as it just wont grow if it gets a chill

 

I'm slightly confused about the application of potash in early season, Jan, then followed by nitrogen in March?

I think I'd go for nitrogen in March, followed by potash in June/July maybe?

I agree on the Basil, not very hardy even in summer in the UK, best under glass.

 

And away from Slugs

 

I've always added a top dressing of chicken poo pellets in Spring.

 

Ta muchly. So, is that one application of potash, or do I apply it several times?

Thanks also for the tip about toilet roll holders. I'd never thought of that. But once I plant them, what happens next winter? Do people replant herbs every year, or can they be brought inside over Winter, and mollycoddled until spring 2016?

 

Yes, everyear