[hammers07]

can someone explain why when planting red onions sets it states to plant them 2" under the soil whereas for white onion sets it says to plant them with thw tips just showing. What would happen if you planted the white onion sets completely covered and the red onion sets with the tps showing .?

[DD.]

I've never seen differing planting advice. Where did it say this?

Personally I plant so the tip is just below the surface, so it gives nothing for the birds to play with!

[hammers07]

The packet on the red onion sets said plant 2"" below the surface.
I have read a number of articles on the internet and in gardening books
that differ. Some say plant 2" below the surface others say plant with teh tips showing.

I don't know what is going to give me the best crop or whether in fact it actually makes any difference. Last year I planted some red onion sets and they all bolted. The white onions i planted with the tips just exposed gave an excellent crop but were a little small.

[DD.]

I don't think it will make an awful lot of difference, although 2" deep seems a little far down.

Red onions are prone to bolting, so it may not be something you've done.

What time of year did you plant them last time? If it was this time of year it is a little late which could explain the small crop. Mine went in over 2 months ago.

[hammers07]

last year i planted them in early April.

I have had a bad back this year which is now betetr so I am playing catch up. I planted them yesterday. red as per the packet, white as per last year with tips showing but have one more pack of white onions left.
will probably just stick with tips showing.

[DD.]

Just watch the birds then!

[hammers07]

i will compromise and sow with tips just covered then i am doing it three different ways. will be interesting to see which gives best crop (if any)

thanks

[fluffybunny]

Please forgive my ignorance, what do you mean by 'bolting?'.

I just shoved all of mine in at fairly random depths and they all seem to be growing at the moment!

[DD.]

Please forgive my ignorance, what do you mean by 'bolting?'.

Running quickly to flower/seed before their time.

A bit like me.

[Snap Dragon]

I caught one of my onions trying to produce a nice little flower for me!

I pulled off the flower stem but does it mean that that particular onion will have given up growing any bigger now?

Should I pull him up and show him the stock pot for his sins?

[DD.]

Now, will grow bigger, but won't store well. The bit of the flower stalk inside the bulb will go soft. These should be used first, but as I said will get bigger.

Eat it if now if you wish!

[Snap Dragon]

Nah... I'll grant him a stay of execution for the moment on the understanding that he puts some effort into putting a bit of weight on!

None of them are big enough to pull up yet.

[gobs]

PLANTING ONION SETS THE CORRECT WAY

Make a hole and chuck them in - root way down helps no end - regardless of colour, religion, etc.

To deter some interested wild life you cover them properly.

[compostqueen]

I did put mine in deep but they were soon back up  :roll:   Moles  :evil:

Birds too.  I planted mine beneath the surface but birds still hoik them out when they see greenery showing.  It's a jungle out there  

[iwantanallotment]

Mine are all 'under' the surface too, which I *was* worried about til I saw this thread - because pictures of everyone else's always shows them only 'half' planted, with half sticking out. Mine are BURIED, good and proper  
No birds have taken mine, all got massive long shoots now....but WHY? There's wood pigeons about - one perches on my chimney often - aren't my onions good enough??
Did gently pull one up a few days ago for a sneak preview, cos it had a really thick stem and I thought there must be summat good at the end of it - but was just a soggy brown thing, no bigger than when I put it in.
I'm taking heart from the experts here who have said they won't start bulbing until July. If they don't alter after that they'll be used as fat chives.
Sorted  

NB - Talking of wood pigeons, anyone else had them wedged down the chimney?
Had to call the sweep out last year cos fire was misbehaving - he swept out the culprit, a wood pigeon that flew off blacker than the ace of spades