[paintedlady]

I used to grow onions from seed with the same results of pickling onion size as everyone else.  Then I discovered onion sets and almost do not look back, until spring this year when a batch of the over wintered crop developed onion rot (thankfully the other batch was okay and they turned out very nice)

Several other plots on the site also got onion rot and it would seem the allotment shed had got a bad batch in.

So there is a lesson here .... there is a risk of introducing a disease on your plot with onion sets, and it takes several years (7 at the least) before you can grow any of the onion family (spring onions, garlic, leeks etc) in that area.

My friend grew Ailsa Craig from seed, and his crop this year rivals the sets.  His secret is VERY early sowing, such as December/January!